It's what the sunflowers do

Sunflowers are in bloom these days – another new-to-me treat discovered since our move from the city.

A heliotrope, their round yellow faces track the seasonal trajectory of the sun, marking our fleeting days of summer.

You can see I’ve been doing my research.

Across cultures and time, I learned sunflowers have symbolized happiness, adoration, loyalty, longevity, and the continuous search for positivity and light. Hoping to pluck a knit name or two, I searched the internet for all things sunflower, and found this, reportedly from one of Helen Keller’s journals.

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It's what the sunflowers do.”

I like the advice.

Taking my lesson from nature, and Helen –
watch for I’ll Follow The Sun, my latest knit design, coming soon,
and (with a nod to the Beatles I could not resist), Tomorrow May Rain, a second one, soon after.

Celebrating the space

Following my newfound head-clearing routine, I made my way once again to the Dog Park. The sun was out and we just had a big snow. I was eager to see the white landscape.

Without boots, I didn’t walk its perimeter this time. I took photos by its edge instead – and exhaled.

But others before me had come prepared, their footprints left dancing all over the snowy field, adding perfect texture to my view,

and inspiring my latest knit names.

One Step Ahead, published 3/8/2026,
followed by Stepping Out, on 3/19/2026.

The Dog Park

Sometimes the names for my knit designs come to me quickly, other times I have to dig a little. Either way, they seem to reveal themselves only when they’re ready, and for my latest knit, this was turning out to be one of those digging times. After spending too long searching for that loving memory or inspiring object among my collected stuff, I caved and took the afternoon off.

Our local dog park is especially beautiful on a sunny day. I headed there to walk its perimeter. The wide openness always clears my head, something I’m not used to after 40 years of city living, and this time it put me on to something new. There’s a lesson there.

Sunshine on my Shoulder, published 12/14/2025 and
Walking on Sunshine, my latest, published 1/21/2026.