It's not summer until I've made sweet tea.

Mmmmmmm, minty.

Today was a perfect day, mid 70s, sunny, clear, light breeze...I was sad to be in an office today.

The heat broke and of course I promptly turned on the oven to make a cherry and nectarine Clafoutis and scones.


I also finished the first sock for my Sock It To Me pal. I hope she likes them because I kind of don't want to send them. The pattern is Bloody Mary (every time I think the name of the sock I think it in a spooky voice) and the yarn is Mountain Colors Bearfoot.

Niçoise

Thank you Fig & Plum and thank you Bittman.
I steamed the green beans over the boiling eggs last night so I didn't need any heat at all to make dinner tonight! I dressed the plate with a little brown rice vinegar, peanut oil and pepper.

*Pssst, don't want to sign up for NY Times? Find a log in name and password here.

Tuesday Was a Good Day

I took Tuesday off to hang with my family. It was bloody hot outside but we had a good time. Elah and I went out to breakfast and then ran to the grocery store. Next we went to the park and Grayson came along. We don't see him nearly enough; he's sleeping when we get up in the morning, gone by the time we get home and we're in bed buy the time he gets home at night. He leaves for UNCG on August 14 so I've been trying to spend time with him as often as I can.



We ran into my mom at the playground because she was doing a plumbing job at the school and my step mom who was dropping my mom off after lunch so we had a little impromptu family gathering. Playing at the park when it's so hot works up a sweat so we stopped by the corner store to grab a bag of ice and went home to enjoy some iced Red Zinger tea.

Next Elah and I went through all our clothes and ended up with 3 kitchen trash bags and a large box of clothes we took to Salvation Army. Elah normally doesn't like to part with anything whether it's broken or doesn't fit or whatever but she did a great job. Later she told me she was trying to be generous.

For dinner I grilled chicken marinated in lemon juice, oregano, olive oil, salt and pepper. I also grilled corn on the cob and made potato salad. Elah helped me prepare the food and we pretended we were on our own show on Food Network. For dessert I made a peach galette.

Finally, after dinner and after Elah was in bed I got some time to knit. This picture is from Tuesday morning.



The first sock is now done and I brought my camera to work today to take a picture. The pattern has been fun and I've been thinking about all the horizontal design possibilities it opens up, i.e. cables around the leg.

The good times ended this morning when we woke up to this:



That crane is taking that entire tree (what you see is only part of it) and putting into that wood chipper. It. Was. Loud.

Best Weekend Ever

We had a busy, perfect weekend. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures from Saturday because I didn't think to bring my camera. But Saturday I packed a picnic dinner with fried chicken, potato salad, roasted asparagus and watermelon. Then Elah and I had a picnic with Reba, Ron, Galandrielle and Lucy at Oakledge park. We also did a little kite flying (except me, I did some kite dragging).

Sunday started with Elah, who loves to get up at 6:30 on the weekends, sleeping until almost 10!

Sunday we swam at the pool.


Marveled at the clear sky.


Took Flat Scout to the A&W in Middlebury, along with Reba, Ron, Galandrielle, Lucy, Emily and Bill.


Saw this creepy church sign.

I get the point they're trying to make but it's flawed in two ways:
1) It sounds stalkerish and gives me the heebie jeebies
2) People don't live any better when they're being watched, think Flavor of Love or Big Brother.

In knitting news:

One finished Fetching fingerless glove.


One mystery project.


One finished pair of footies for Elah.


Pattern: Generic
Yarn: Cascade Fixation
Color: Hyacinth - 9989
Source: I think I got it at Creative Habitat
Needles: 2 Addi Turbo, US3, 16"
Size: 8 years - Women's Small
Started: July 30, 2006
Finished: August 2, 2006

172

What I Did On My Summer Vacation or Evil Orb

So my long weekend was extended by a day due to my lack of flexibility. Saturday I went to Indian Brook to go swimming with my friend, Misa. Rather than ask for help I, in my brilliance decided it would be a good idea to apply sunscreen to my back all by myself. Well, I didn't quite get all of it and 3 hours later the evil orb got the best of me.

The next day, back at Indian Brook I actually asked for help applying my sunscreen and wore a t-shirt. Wet t-shirts don't actually offer any protection but I figured it would be good when I was on the raft and the shirt was dry. My genius mind failed to realize that swimming in a t-shirt might rub the sunscreen off. Here's the result of my brilliance...

Isn't it pretty?
Today my choices included strapping a bra across my back, wearing a bathing suit to work under my clothes, letting the girls go free range or taking the day off; I consider it a vacation day well spent.

I also had some quality time with Bill, Emily, Reba and Ron on Saturday and took my daughter and her friend, Awa, to the fireworks Sunday night. Monday was a day just for Elah and me to have some good quality mom and daughter time. I was over it by Tuesday and took her to school so I could get something accomplished on my extra day off.