Door County

For the first time in 4 years I was able to join my mother's extended family for their annual trip to Door County (the thumb of the mitten that is Wisconsin for those who are unfamiliar). We had a great time. The weather was fabulous and the sunsets were decent.
While the picture of myself below is not at all flattering, it does prove that this was not a knit free vacation. I cast-on for my first BSJ in mission falls cotton. I'll update that soon (or so I say).
Fun for everyone:

Happy Father's Day to all the Daddies

baby blanket

I need a present for our friends baby and I need it fast, so it was time to dust off the old knitting needles. I used my new swift and ball winder my husband got me for my birthday to wind the newly purchased knitpicks swish bulky into perfect balls. Then I started building:I love the log cabin concept. It's so fun for baby blankets and it's even better with bulky yarn - instant gratification! I sort of wish I'd of done something different, but with each of these I do I learn something new and I'm pretty sure I'll never get sick of making them. I need to catch the knitting fever again, I've been such a slacker.

Garden Goods

Things are going well over at our little garden. We've harvested a ton of spinach and many radishes. The carrot tops are looking lush and the pea plants are growing like weeds. By next week we'll have to cut down the lettuce. Tomato and pepper plants are in and growing. Stay tuned.

I heart Cyndi

Friday night I went to Milwaukee's Pridefest to see Cyndi Lauper.  She is AWESOME! Plus, pridefest was a perfect place to see her - you get the full force of songs like time after time  and true colors. 

Facebook ate my blog

Here's what I've been up to:

1. Starting a new knitting group - we're calling it "knit lit" because it's a hybrid knitting/book club - we're meeting on Sundays.
2. Gardening - we have a CSA plot over at the Urban Ecology Center just a block from our house. We're growing spinach, lettuce, radishes, peas, carrots, cucumbers, and zucchini; we are failing to grow green onions (not enough sun?), beans (perhaps a squirrel or bird ate the seeds?), and beets (damn rabbit or gopher or deer); we are about to plant peppers and tomatoes; later we're going to try growing ochre.
3. Going to California to visit friends and family and important dissertation advisor people.
4. Going to Colorado for a graduation, to see family and have an awesome time.
5. Reading, writing, revising, repeating.
6. Wishing I were knitting more.
7. Taking Scarlet to the dog park to hang out with Sprocket, Pearl, Mogli, and her myriad of other dog friends and their parents, who are fast becoming our friends.

My personal thanksgiving

Today is my birthday. Birthdays, unless they are big ones (like last year's), have for a long time been less about parties, cake, and presents and more about quiet reflection for me. When I lived in CA, Matthew and I would spend my birthday quietly at the beach. Today's not so much beach weather here in Milwaukee, it's more misty memory weather. So I wanted to make a list of people I am thankful for.

1. My husband - who despite not being perfect, is the perfect husband.

2. My mother - who is my best friend.

3. My father - who is an eternal optimist.

4. My sisters and my girflfriends -  I don't see them enough, call them enough, tell them enough - I love them

5. My dog - who is the best damn dog a girl could ever want

6. My family

7. Anyone who still reads my blog after such neglect and such self-indulgance