Smiles...

One of my best birthday memories of this year happened without me, but I smile everytime I think of it. While we were in New York City my sister treated me to a spa treatment. So, while I was with her, Andy had to find something to do with the boys. They decided on the ESPN Zone, but first they made a quick stop into Sephora for a birthday present for me. The boys have been in Sephora with me before and ultimately it ends up with me, asking one of them, to stop playing with the make-up or the tester bottles of perfume. It's way too much temptation for two boys. But this time they asked some nice young woman to help them. So she took them to the bath and body section and my men stood there and smelled each and every type of bath wash to see which one fit me the most. They settled on the guava. And I'm here to tell you it was the perfect choice. They also gave me the spray oil and the body butter (which Matt said was just plain wrong to put butter on the body...somedays he is really brilliant and then others... I'm not sure about him). But the real kicker was the lipstick that they picked out for me. Ryan was quite concerned that it was too dark, since I usually just wear clear gloss. His concern just makes me smile more.

And FYI

ilee has her new calendars up for 2010. They make great gifts and look great on your desk.

When visiting etsy I found these. I don't crochet but thought they looked really cute. Her shop has some cute stuff in it. It's Saturday...time to go shopping!

Happy weekend everyone!

News From the Knitting Front!

Having the flu hit our house helped me to finish up this project. It's waiting on buttons, which really, literally, pulls the whole sweater together. And I do mean literally. Without the buttons, the sweater hangs off my shoulders in a big mess. I'm hoping I'm going to like it better once the buttons are on.

I'm also making another Wisp. I adore this pattern. This one is for a special friend.

Next up on my sweater list is this beauty from Berroco. I'm not usually a huge Berroco fan, but I love this sweater. I have different yarn that I bought when a local yarn shop was going out of business that I'm planning on using. I just need to get my kiddo back to school so I can go buy the pattern.

This last one is also from Berroco. I'm seriously thinking of attemping it. So cute. And will go well with those Frye boots that I'm coveting. I can even recreate this whole modeling scene, seeing that we have a hat (and a few woodpiles) like that around here. Actually, we have three of those hats, one for each male in the household. Next week...I promise...a finished picture of the cardie. Really!

Five Things...a little early.

Wow, I can't believe it's been since August that I visited this space. I knew I was behind, but not by that much! I guess we were just enjoying the last weeks of summer.

So without further adieu...may I present Five Things.

1. Our trip to NYC was as eventful as always. New for us this year was a stop in Brooklyn where we visited my sister's apartment and ate pizza under the Brooklyn Bridge. I felt like I was instantly transported to every movie that I have ever viewed as soon as I stepped under "the" bridge. Also, new was a trip to Chinatown, Little Italy and Dylan's Candy Bar. All a unique experience in its own right. And for those wondering, of course I went to Purl.

2. We finished out our summer in the Adirondacks. After four years of very poor weather we were blessed with a glorious week. Temperatures in the low 70's with not a cloud in the sky! The best quote of the week was from Ryan when he emerged from one of the cabins where all the "teenagers" were hanging out. Ryan to me, "Is this all teenagers do: hang around and talk? I want someone to play with me." As if we ordered it up, a mother bear and her three cubs came to join us on Sunday night while entertaining friends. The whole compound was mesmerized by these wild animals. My friend and I were the smart ones and stayed far away during the viewing.

3. School started the day after we returned from the mountains. First week was labeled a success! Both boys turned from me quickly and told me NOT to walk them into middle school. My heart broke, wishing for my little boys just once more.

4. So then my friend sent me this. My heart broke one more time. Then my mom sent me this managing to make me cry, again.

5. So I looked on the bright side and remembered that my husband was starting work on Monday and all was good in the world again!

Pieces

My pieces are coming together. Soon they will be connected and on the road to becoming this. Hopefully, I will be able to wear this before summer ends. If not, it will be packed up for the season and pulled out in the Spring. Sorry about the colors. I lost my light this evening while reading blogs. opps.

I'm anxious to start knitting for Fall, but will be sad once the cooler weather arrives. It was a quick Summer, due to the cool and rainy July that we endured. Many knits are on my to-do list: this and this and both of these to name a few. My goal is to work through some of my stash, however, I'm on my way to New York City this weekend and that always means a stop at Purl and they sell Spud and Chloe. Let's see how good I can be.

5 Things....

1. The boys and I went blueberry picking this past weekend. Twenty minutes is all it took to pick four quarts. I froze most of them for a taste of summer in the middle of winter. We will go back to pick more.

2. As we were picking, I looked over the countryside and was thankful that my husband could find a job around here. I would miss looking at this beautiful land each and everyday.

3. After picking we went here. Not the actual show but for the massive flea and antique sale along the road to the show. Dealers set up a week in advance and you can shop until you drop. This is where you find your best deals...if you can beat the dealers to it.They tend to buy on the outside and then resell, at a greater price, on the inside.

4. I'm reading this. The recipes look good and very simple. As I have not been to Paris, the culture and food that he relates to goes right over my head. Someday, though, I will get there!

5. Ta DA! The finished treehouse. Here are a few pictures for now. I have a ton of others that I need to edit. As soon as they are done, I will put them all up for your viewing pleasure. The boys are super excited as is my husband. My family room didn't get painted on his stint at home, but this is much, much better. Well done big guy!

Back to the Basics

Well, I finally got off my lazy behind and took a few pictures of my latest project. As I said before, this was a very basic knit, yet very satisfying. Blue Sky Organic Cotton is simply yummy. I have already used this wrap/shawl/rectangle to cover my shoulders while I took a ten minute nap in my favorite chair. I know, very old ladyish. I think that I might use this yarn again and again for the many baby presents that I need to knit. It comes in wonderful colors and knits up perfectly. I have heard that it sheds, but have not seen any evidence of that yet.

I can't believe it's the middle of August already. Of course, we didn't get to half the things on our list and the boys are now screaming boredom from every pore in their bodies. Here are a few pictures from the boring summer that they have been declaring that they are living....enjoy and oh yeah...that last picture of my husband...way too relaxed for not having a job! Thank goodness we received great news today and he will be dutifully employed come September 14th!

To Die For Muffins

This is to make up for my granola fiasco last week. Go, hurry use up those blueberries that you have. These muffins are "to die for" or at least that's what the recipe says. Who am I to argue? But just for the record, the three that I ate yesterday and the one that I'm about to have for breakfast were "to die for," seriously!

5 Things...With One Extra!

1. My plan to post three times a week isn't going very well.

2. I tried to make granola bars from here. It didn't work too well. They look good, but had a terrible aftertaste. I think the honey was old.

3. But then I made this blueberry tart and all was good again. Recipe is from this month's Real Simple. Doesn't look much like their picture, but it was declared very good by Ryan and he should know...he's our dessert expert!

4. The tree house is coming along nicely!

5. Ryan's team won the championship for summer ball in our area! Yay Ryan!

6. Saturday evening was spent with 100 of our closest friends. Well, we didn't know everyone, but many we did. It was a wonderful night to be at the lake.

Have a good week everyone! I can't believe it's August already!

5 Things...

I love my kindle reader app for my iphone.

I could eat pizza every single night.

My boys make me laugh and...cry.

Currently, I'm reading Bad Mothers.

image courtesy of daisy jane

and I found this new site.

Happy week everyone.

It's a Wrap...and a Sock!

A while back, my friends at flickr got to see a peak inside my knitting bag. Thankfully, knitting has commenced once again!

After, my husband was "retired" I sorta lost my mojo for knitting and had a really difficult time finding motivation to choose a project and stick with it. One day, as I was cleaning my desk, I found a long lost gift certificate to Jimmy Bean's Wool and decided to spend it recklessly on something that was, by far, the easiest project that I have ever made. Just a long rectangle with a seed stitch border. Easy, yet I know I will use this all the time during the summer and at the beach in April. The cotton is heavy like a nice warm beach towel. No kid prints will be allowed!

This will be all mine...ahhhh...

Mac and Me

Summer Wrap Blue Sky Alpaca's Dyed Organic Cotton
Honeydew

I plan on showing the finished project next week!

And finally, another set of socks are in production.

Sknitches

syncopation

mint mocha latte