the tank was on empty ~ a post by Melissa

Last night at 10:30 while I was online on consumer reports trying to figure out what we are going to get to replace our desktop computer with that got fried during a thunderstorm power surge last weekend, my husband remarked that I looked tired.  Boy, that was an understatement.  I felt like I was in a fog all day yesterday and by dusk I was trying to figure out why I felt like all my energy was zapped.  So, doing what I do best (and I know a certain Swanski that will appreciate this!), I sat down and made a list of everything I've done this week and all of a sudden I felt better because holy cow, I've been busy!  Aside from working all week and having quite a few sleep deprived nights calming a storm-frightened puppy, here's what I've been up to:

Batches of blueberry and strawberry jams were made with my farmer's market haul from last weekend,

and a triple batch of To Die For Blueberry Muffins were baked from the leftover berries for my husband to bring to work (I asked him to please not bring any leftovers home since I would eat them but not to worry, he phoned me and said they were devoured by 10am!).  I tweaked the pattern recipe just a little ~ I used regular size muffin tins (a triple batch made 24 filled-to-the-brim-with-batter muffins), baked at 375 degrees for 25 minutes, and substituted a sprinkle of Turbinado sugar before baking in place of the gut-busting streusel topping).

I started a book that I've always wanted to read, as it's been on my mind since following Loritimesfive 's May and June blog posts about her trip to Africa (a side note ~ it's a blog worthy of your time ~ she wrote a travel journal like no other you've seen and the pictures are breathtaking).  It's the first book that I'll actually finish since I started knitting, and I used to read a book a week before I became yarn obsessed!  I also took a peek at both my Elizabeth Zimmerman books for hints on pi shawl increases since I started this 2 days ago:

It's Dinner in the Eiffel Tower Shawl that I'm knitting along with Kelly Lightbeam while we're waiting to begin our July 31st knit along.  The pattern calls for dk weight yarn and I'm using lace weight so there are some modifications I'll have to make to get a shawl large enough to wear...which means adding at least one increase section and thanks to EZ, I at least know where that increase now needs to be, even if I don't know exactly which sections I want to repeat, and where, to maintain the integrity of the design.  This is fun!!!

I've also been getting our newest guest bloggers for the upcoming Girls in Sheep Clothing Anniversary Knit Along up and running as authors on the blog so they're able to officially join in the fun ~ I've already mentioned Kimberly and as of yesterday we've added blogger number SIX, Pamela!  I'm so excited that she's decided to play along since she's declared herself my official stalker on Ravelry and she's a wealth of knowledge and alot of fun!  This is getting really exciting and I'm looking forward to our cast on date of July 31st with more anticipation every day!  There's still time to join ~ the more the merrier ~ just let Kelli or I know if you're interested.  And it just got a WHOLE lot easier to get started since Kelly Lightbeam, with her past experience of guest blogging, was nice enough yesterday to post a very useful tutorial for logging on and getting started once you've received your official invite to join.

That's it for now.  I'm well rested ~ my husband made a thermos of French Press Italian roast coffee for me and let me sleep in this morning before heading out to look at new computers so the day is starting out so good!  He's making dinner tonight (bonus!) ~ homemade taco-truck-style carne asada tacos (and they are dang tasty!!) ~ so no cooking for me today!  Just a few chores and working the edging of my Bridgewater shawl closer and closer to the grafted seam.....I'm sooo close! 

Here's to a peaceful and relaxing weekend for everyone, especially our newest blog followers!  I love to see new little faces pop up over on the sidebar every once in awhile!  Blogging has been a fun adventure I think for both Kelli and I and we love that a few of you enjoy reading along!  Hope everyone does something fun today!   ~ Melissa

Watershed & Watership Down

This photo is just for Tamra!

Photos of my latest taken in my knitting attic!  It's coming together, slowly but surely...I obviously still haven't gotten around to putting my books in the bookcases!  ~ Melissa

(If you haven't read Watership Down by Richard Adams, you should.  It's a classic and a wonderful read.  And if you love bunnies, you should check out this post from Snohomish Shepherdess.  Adorable!)

Vacation ~ Vol 7

 

Last night I grilled beef ribs and my husband decided it would be a neat thing for Dozer to have his first real bone.  He gets very little 'people food' so he wasn't sure what to do with it.  Sniff.  Lick.

And then, it was like a feline with catnip.  He went bonkers!  Happy, happy, joy, joy......  He raced all over the back yard and then flopped down and wrestled with it and rolled around in pure ecstasy!

 

I think he had far more fun playing with it than chewing on it!  He sure is a spirited dog ~ he keeps us laughing all the time.

I spent the entire day today unpacking boxes of books ~ 10 to be exact ~ and doing a second purge before putting them in my new bookcases.  I donated about 10 boxes last summer and managed to fill one more today to give away.  The rest of the day was spent making lists.  I am a huge fan of lists (I know, Kelli, you're rolling your eyes and thinking 'VIRGO!').  It's time consuming, but I now have lists of all the books we've read and purged (hate to buy the same thing again!), a list of all the books that I will keep forever (most are classics and a few are just well loved and have been read many times), and a list of books that I'd like to add to our collection.  I am so stinking organized now!  Well, at least the books are.

I haven't read much since I started knitting.  I used to be a voracious reader but I can't seem to finish a book anymore since I put them down for too long a period of time before I've finished with them and then I lose interest or my place or the gist of the storyline.  BUT, I did actually finish my first book in over a year last week, The Best Short Stories of the Modern Age ~ edited by Douglas Angus (1962).  It was excellent and a keeper so it goes back in the bookcase tonight.  AND, I started a new book today, A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines.  I'm already about a quarter of the way through and it is also a good read so I'm certain this one will be read cover to cover and in short order! 

I didn't get any knitting done today but with tomorrow being World Wide Knit in Public Day, knitting is all that's on the calendar!  Make sure you get out and be seen....and if you're local, come on down to the fountain at Seattle Center (11:00-3:00) and hang out with Kelli & I and the rest of the guild members and whoever shows up with needles and fiber in tow!  See you tomorrow!  ~ Melissa