Busy summers are no excuse not to blog since June, but that's the only one I have. This summer we went to France and Italy, and I realized that I was supposed to be an European and somehow the stork accidentally dropped me in Chicago. Then it was off to Canada last weekend for a wedding, and to top it all off we are trying to close on our place by early next week. My head is spinning, but I know things will calm down soon...

A couple weeks ago I remembered that this used to be a blog primarily about knitting, and so for those who still check it hoping for some knitting content here you go.

I have started, well almost finished, a pair of booties for my new niece. Her arrival is only a couple weeks away and I am so excited. The colors are crazy, hopefully not too crazy for my sister...

Clown shoes:


Also for long time readers, you may remember these socks, which never reached completion, have been once again resurrected. When I head to bed I drag this project with me. Complete a few rounds and I'm out. Maybe that's why I didn't finish sooner...

Only the toe left:


Lately my friend Anya and I have been hanging out alot. It is so fantastic to be around someone who loves so many of the same things I do. Besides sewing, quilting, and being all around gifted she is an amazing woodworker...I wish I had her skills! A couple weekends ago we hit up some garage sales and the Bucktown Arts Fair. Check out my prizes from the day.

Yellow ceramic lamp, quilting goods, Pampered Chef casserole dish, and basket purse (all that for $12.50):



I also went thrifting with my sisters and found a couple cute things.

Apple vase, printed glass plates, and another wooden handled utensil:


I have never understood those who don't thrift, junk, whatever you call it. It may be that people only appreciate it if they grew up that way? I don't know.

Since graduation, life has kept us on the go, work, guests, et cetera. All this busyness has kept that fact that school is really over from sinking in. It just feels like summer break. But I can feel a certain relaxing air moving in. Whether it is just summer or a budding realization of being done, I appreciate it all the same...

I appreciate bare feet in the kitchen, and back porch doors being left wide open...



I appreciate delicious ingredients...



I appreciate the extra time to craft...



I appreciate my lovely friends, and the chance to finally finish a birthday present due in April...



And I appreciate the extra time to blog...

So it's over, and here is a picture walking home afterwards...

(I always overdo the smiling in pictures.)

Posts have been scarce with school finally coming to a close. I feel a massive relief knowing I am really done for good, not just for the summer or winter breaks, but for good...

Sad and happy news on our home front... Herman died. I think Clem was more attached to him than I was. Anytime I left the door open she would race to the bathroom, and peer over the edge of tub at him. I wasn't surprised when I found him dead; after all he was the most battered turtle I've ever laid eyes on.

Our happy news is something we've known for a while now, but I haven't mentioned. We have been approved for a loan, and are going to buy a house. I grew up in Chicago, in a household rich with love and low on finances. I never even considered that there might be a day when I could buy my own home. And now that it is here I feel a little awe-struck and very blessed. I am so excited that Luke and I will finally have the opportunity to create and appreciate a space that is our own...I think I might have to start a second blog to document the whole process.

In closing, I hate to post without any pictures (usually I include too many) so here is a photo of some of my favorite vintage cooking utensils I took a while back...



...the variations are fantastic, and I have to wonder why they don't make 'em like they used to.

Today on our walk Clemmy and I found a friend...



We've brought Herman home, as we've dubbed him (of course it's possible it's a her, in which case we might need to make a name change).



Herman is a precious little turtle who was quite bruised and battered when we found him. Two large piece of his upper shell are missing, and he was caked in mud. It appears someone didn't take very good care of their pet. I had quite a number of pet turtles when I was a kid, as well as many other reptiles, and to this day I am still a sucker for them. I'm not sure if we can keep Herman with Clemmy around so if there is anyone in the Chicago area who might want to give Herman a permanent home let me know.

Update: Since we found Herman, A lovely reader of this blog, April was kind enough to send us info on what type of turtle Herman is, and what we should feed him. Thanks April!

I've been truly enjoying my new camera. The photos are so much more clear, and I can photograph things I never could before...

For instance, I have been fascinated with these two sweet potatoes I forgot to bake. The sprouts are so lovely, and my camera catches them just the way I hoped for.



Or this picture of Clemmy that would have been a shadowy mess if taken with my old camera.



The simple things are really making me smile these days, and yes, I did just slip in a dog picture under the guise of photography...

Update: I have a Kodak C875 Camera, for anyone who is curious. It is a pretty basic camera, but takes great photos.

The happenings at our household this weekend have been slow and relaxed. I came down with a bad cold / throat thing, and spent most of Saturday lying on the couch piling up the Kleenex. Sick of watching tv and my head too fuzzy to concentrate on a book, I remembered an embroidery project I planned to start. I loved that one issue of Martha with all the bird embroidery. So I printed out the pattern from her website, and kept myself happy (or as happy as one can be confined to the couch) with a few hours of redwork.



I am so happy with the results I plan to frame it, and I have almost completed a second one to make a lovely pair.

The only other excitement Saturday brought was a copy of a book in which two of my knitting patterns were published. Eons ago I was contacted by a publisher asking if I would be willing to contribute two or more patterns to a teen knitting book destined for release in the Fall of 2006. Even though I think there are way too many teen / kid-based knitting books out there, I couldn't turn down the offer for a little cash, and who doesn't like to be published. I should have been prepared for how long it would take to get my copy of the book, after all it was months before I received my copy of SNB Nation after I was published there. Anyhow here are a couple snippets of what I contributed.



Sunday morning brought some relief to my sore throat, but my head it still quite stuffy. The warm breeze blowing in woke me up early, and in a simple celebration of the summer-like weather I had strawberries and cream for breakfast.



And finally before I forget, here is the promised photo of the dress I made a couple weeks back. It's comfortable and the pattern was so simple...

Both dress and top are finished, but I have only had a chance to photograph one. I finished the Navajo fabric blouse first. I used the length of the mini-dress the pattern offered instead, and added little gathers in the front to create a more flattering fit.

Forgive the indoor, bad light pictures...winter decided to make a comeback in Chicago:



A closer look at the gathers I added:



Photos of the adorable new plaid dress to come soon...

I'm a quarter of a century old today. Twenty-five always seemed like scary age for me, but now that I'm here I realize it's not nearly as old as I always imagined. Luke surprised me by coming home from work early today, and presenting me with a beautiful pair of pearl earrings to match the lovely pearl ring he gave me for Christmas. And tonight he made reservations at my favorite French restaurant Bistro Campagne. What a guy!

In honor of getting older here is a photo I found a few days back. What a messy ballerina! Check out the stains on my leotard and the toe poking through my tights.



In crafting news I am pulling out the sewing machine to make this top and dress. The orangey Navajo print is for the top and the blue plaid is for the dress.



And finally comps are over...just now the brutal waiting for results.