College Student Request

My oldest daughter is taking a statistics class this summer and she needs some data for an assignment. Would you mind taking a quick survey using the link below to help her out?


http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C27BMK2


Thanks a bunch!!

Summer List

Yes, summer is here and it is hot, hot, hot. We're trying to keep the AC set at 80 degrees and using lots of fans to keep cool. I'm also listening to Bela Fleck's Throw Down Your Heart Africa Sessions, to try and embrace the heat.

I went to the library booksale Saturday and was lucky enough to buy a copy of Sark's book, The Bodacious Book of Succulence for $1. It reminded me that I want to have a summer fun list, in addition to a summer to-do list. And although I could only come up with two goals (for now), they are pretty broad ones: Add more color to my life and add more creative time.

So after I got home from the endodontist this morning, (yes, my third root canal, thank you very much) I decided to make a bird bath from stuff we already had on hand. I may end up painting the bottom of this clay saucer to prevent the water from seeping out too quickly, but then again, it may work just fine as is. I put a couple of seashells in for decoration. What do you think? So far, no birds have been sighted, despite the stale breadcrumbs I put out to attract them. I'm thinking about making a collection of birdbaths.

Stef got home from Sicily, and she gave me this plate, isn't it cute? I love it!





I made some bread on Saturday as well. One loaf has cheese in it and the other has garlic and rosemary. I think I'm going to make some raisin bread next. This counts as a creative endeavor, I think.And despite the heat, I made homemade mac n cheese to welcome Stef home.

Last night the girls were kind of bored and so I gave them my Moosewood Cookbook and The Enchanted Broccoli Forest cookbook and told them to find something to make for dinner. Here they are working on the deliciousness that is Broccoli and Tofu with Peanut Sauce. Over rice.





It was yummy! I decided to make the Lentil & Bulgur Salad as well, since I had most of the ingredients, including some lemon infused olive oil that Stef brought us from Sicily! It's a cold salad that keeps very well in the refrigerator; perfect for hot summer days when we're trying to avoid cooking!





Finally, I'm working pretty steadily on my mom's summer sweater. Tomorrow will be one week from the start date and I'd say I'm close to half way done, especially since it's going to be short sleeved. I'm trying to stay monogamous with it, but I am really tempted to start some more new things! So much knitting, so little time, to coin a phrase.



What are you doing during these hot summer days?

Beach Week

Our family has been doing Beach Week for about fifteen years now; it's a gift from my parents to our ever evolving family and we all try to be there. As the years have gone by, the grandchildren have sometimes missed a year due to summer jobs or classes, but they come as often as they can. This is one of the reasons that Beach Week is so important to me; it's a chance for our family to spend some quality time together.


This is my very youthful looking mom and my youngest daughter, along with my mom's dog, Bailey.

And here they are having a lovely chat together, while Steve and I took a little walk. Although Melissa couldn't be there the entire week, she did have the weekend, which was better than nothing. And although most of us live within twenty miles of each other, we don't always get the kind of one on one time that we get during this week.

This year was wonderful! We had great weather, lots of family time, lots of resting, and lots of knitting! I got the stripe study shawl started, and with help from barefoot rooster, figured out how to do it. Now I've set it aside for my July train trip; I think it'll be a perfect traveling project.

I also got my niece knitting again. I had taught her a few years ago during another beach week, and she started up again this year. Does life get much better than this?

Steve and I visited The Island Bookstore in Duck one day during the week, and I saw this fabulous book.

I would have loved to buy it, but am trying to keep our expenditures down. I am putting it on my wish list however, and hope to get it for a Christmas gift. From what I saw of it, it's a great one.

Since I set aside the stripe study shawl, I decided to start a summer sweater for my mom. Knitting Addiction had their stock of Mission Falls 1824 wool and cotton on sale for 50% off, so I bought a sweater's worth of the cotton for her and about six skeins of the wool for future baby gifts. Actually, my mom bought the yarn, which made it a win-win for both of us: she gets a sweater and I get to knit it! I'm three skeins into it and hope to finish it for her within a week or two. It's actually more teal than this photo shows. It's nice having a bigger goal, now that I have the free time to work on it.Just as Steve and I were leaving last night to come home, we saw this gorgeous sight. There had been a rainstorm after dinner and we waited it out. I'm glad we did, because this was beautiful, don't you think?

Now it's back to normal. Which isn't too bad, since I have the summer off and I live at the beach!! Lucky me!

It's Vacation Time!

I'm in the Outer Banks enjoying lots of knitting, sleeping, reading, eating, and family time. Lots of sleeping. Brought my camera and computer, but forgot the cable to upload photos, so they will have to wait until I get home. Meanwhile, I'll just keep on relaxing and see you all when I return!

Thanks to barefoot rooster for the help with interpreting some of the Stripe Study Shawl directions for me!! And a thank you to Jeanne and the girls at Knitting Addiction, still my favorite yarn shop of all time. Did I mention that I got my youngest niece knitting again? She's knitting so fast, we had to make a run to the shop for more yarn. Ah, the sacrifices we make for our family. Happy knitting, y'all!

A Tulip and A Zinnia

I don't know why I haven't blogged/bragged about this particular FO before, but here is my first Tulip Sweater. I absolutely LOVED knitting it and I LOVE the finished product as well. I made a teensy error when knitting the sleeves, but I don't care.

I still love it and can't wait to knit another one, maybe in primary colors next time. This one goes in the wicker trunk where all the knitting that doesn't have a designated recipient goes. The next person who has a baby girl gets it!

The zinnia patch in one of our flower beds finally had a bloom today, which is what prompted the impromptu photo session. (Can you use impromptu in the same sentence as prompted? Hmm, probably bad form.)

Enjoy the rest of your week!!!

Brought to You by the Letter B

The final countdown is on for the end of the school year. The 8th grade dance on Saturday was lovely, as always, and tonight's academic awards ceremony was wonderful as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the exam periods today, as I was able to clear out masses of papers. At least five baskets worth.



By the way, the bread I made yesterday was fabulous!! Apparently using King Arthur flour makes a huge difference; my bread is so light and delicious. (I know, it sounds like a commercial, but I promise you, no one is paying me to say it.) I put some raisins and sugar in the regular shaped loaf, and I used our fresh rosemary on the boule shaped one. That way we had one each of sweet and savory.









And although I'm not sure when this picture was taken (last Monday?), I wanted to include it, as it shows Steve and Melissa at the beginning of a long walk on the beach. My exercise was limited to reading and knitting, equal amounts of both, I'd say. And to answer Liz's question, that's pretty much what I love to do on the beach. During the summer, I have a bunch of women from work over for Beach Fridays every week, so add talking with friends to the list. And if I'm on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I love to go shell hunting, but our beach doesn't really have decent shells, although I do find some interesting pieces of driftwood sometimes.




***Want a great bath recipe, meant to soothe and cleanse, especially after going to the beach? Add 1 cup Epsom salts, 1 cup baking soda, and 5 drops of lemongrass essential oil to your bath next time. It's my newest pleasure!

Mostly Bread

Made bread again today. I made one loaf with raisins and one with rosemary; both are delicious! I started the dough, went to the beach for a few hours, came back and punched it down, formed the loaves, went back to the beach for another hour, then came back and baked it. Not a bad day.



I've been eating brie and ham on pretzel bagels since Thursday, when a coworker gave me one to try. Delicious! My new favorite. Now I'll have the same combo on my rosemary bread.


No pictures today; maybe tomorrow?