Two Shear Spirits

buttoned up in Taos

By the time I left for New Mexico a couple of weeks ago I had just finished my Montana tunic. But there was no time to look for the buttons that were the last step. So I packed a tiny swatch of yarn and hoped to find something perfect along the way.
I thought surely Taos, with its active arts and crafts community, would offer something just right. And indeed when I stepped into La Lana Wools (where Laura was unwrapping a gorgeous selection of first-cut Wensleydale yarn that was unbelievably soft) I found a mesmerizing display. There were beaded buttons, shell buttons, handcrafted buttons in myriad shades. There were so many, I actually had to come back twice before I could make a decision. but I finally chose some medium size antler-horn buttons that had a kind of western look and went with the yarn I was happy I brought!
Here are the buttons. As soon as I find a minute to sew them on, there will be photos of the sweater, too.

shameless self-promotion

I think of myself as the retiring type, but something about an athletic club locker room must do away with inhibitions. It was two weeks before Christmas and one of the women was lamenting the difficulting of shopping for her sister. There I was, draped only in a towel, but I piped up nonetheless. "Why don't you buy her one of my books." I was referring to  Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of California. She loved the idea. In fact, by the time I was dressed, she'd put it on her list for several friends. ("They don't ever see each other," she said). Emboldened, I added, "If your friend is a knitter, she might like my next book, Shear Spirit It will be out before Mother's Day." She liked that idea too. I need to spend more time in the gym.