Goodness, where has June gone? It seems just the other day it was June first and now it’s June 29 with July first right around the corner. At the end of each month, I tend to think, what have I done this month?

Before I forget, Bryan thanks you for the birthday well-wishes. It was quite a birthday. With some birthday money, he’s anxiously awaiting his big gift of a keyboard that hooks up to the computer so he can compose his own music.

So here’s a bit of a recap (these are mostly things I didn’t blog about before):
My dad turned 65 early in the month and retired a day after his birthday. Although he still had a business trip through the end of the following week, neither he nor my mother seemed to complain too much about having to spend a few days in Savannah, Georgia. Now he has more time than he knows what to do with. I think he’s feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of the projects he has planned and just doesn’t know where to start, with each item on his list, there is its own list.

I’ve worked quite a few hours this month, I worked on the trace list trying to find books that patrons had returned but we couldn’t find in the library, not a good thing, but when I found one it felt like a mini celebration.

T was in town for a few days in the middle of the month for her last on-campus day for library school. She’s a full-fledge Librarian with a capital “L” in August. To think she was just starting the program when we got married, boy, time flies.

One of my big accomplishments for the month was reading four books in four weeks, it may not be a lot for some people but it’s an accomplishment for me. I hope to continue the trend into the rest of the summer. Here are the books I read: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld, Matilda by Roald Dahl, The Man of My Dreams by Curtis Sittenfeld and Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins. I started The Slightly True Story of Cedar B. Hartley by Martine Murray on Sunday and it’s quite entertaining so far. In recent months, I’ve become very interested in young adult books. They are a fast read but also there is a part of me that would really like to be a young adult librarian.

I also made a slew of cards for birthdays and Father’s Day. Most of them are posted on my cards page.

When I didn’t have my nose in a book, I was knitting. I feel like I haven’t done a lot of knitting and I’m still plugging away on the Log Cabin blanket (see “artsy” photo above). Looking back at previous posts, I realized that I have knit quite a bit and I’ve actually made some progress on the blanket too. My knitting accomplishments have been on some instant gratification projects such as baby bibs and washcloths, for the count, I’m at four washcloths and three baby bibs for the month. Last week, I finished my third of four baby bibs for two baby showers in July and started a washcloth for Bryan’s birthday. In October, I bought some Blue Sky Alpaca’s Organic Cotton yarn to make basic washcloths for us. Then after I knitted the other “Ball Band washcloths” from Mason-Dixon Knitting, Bryan decided that he wanted his washcloth to be in that same pattern. I learned quite early on when the yarn broke while I was casting on that maybe this organic cotton yarn isn’t well suited for washcloths. But did I immediately stop knitting the washcloth, nope, I worked with it a bit more thinking that the yarn breaking was a fluke. As I worked with it more I quickly realized, this yarn is definitely not suited for washcloths. Now I have two beautiful balls of organic cotton yarn that I have no idea what to do with. They each have about 150 yards and I don’t want to add another two balls of yarn to the potential scarf pile. I think the organic cotton is better suited to something delicate that won’t get a lot of agitation.

I’ve also gotten a bit back into spinning, the weather seems to effect my spinning mood more than anything else. When it’s too hot to knit, I certainly don’t feel like spinning, which seems like it should be the opposite. There are days that I feel like I’ve been spinning on the pink “cotton candy” yarn for ages but in reading my previous posts, I realized that it’s only been a few weeks. I’m nearing the end of the “cotton candy” fiber so I can start on it’s mate the bright pink fiber. Or if I’m really feeling adventurous, I’ll cable the Lemondrop yarn that I “replied” a few weeks ago.

It’s been cool in the evenings the last several days and we’ve been enjoying them as much as possible by going for walks and bike rides. Last night, I was tired but the mood to bake bread snagged me. So I baked some focaccia loaves with rosemary and olive oil. We haven’t tried them yet but I’m sure they’ll be very good. Even with it being a bit cooler out, having the oven on at 450° made the kitchen unbearable to be in.

Finally, for those anxiously awaiting news on Mrs. Tomato. Her babies are doing well. I found two teeny new ones yesterday when I went to water her, they are about the size of a green pea. The largest baby tomato is getting to be the size of a plum. We should have tomatoes to eat very soon! Our lettuce plants are still producing enough lettuce for us to have a salad or two each week. It’s so satisfying to pick some lettuce and then eat it in a salad.

Thirty-four some odd years ago, a little boy was born in the northern suburbs of Chicago. They named him Bryan, with a “y.” He grew up to like the Beach Boys, even had some kids in the third grade convinced that he was a member of the Beach Boys. After several years in the high school jazz band as the pianist, he graduated and went to college to earn his bachelor’s degree in English. Then it was on to Miami University of Ohio where he met some wonderful friends. A review of the band Juned, while preparing a music order for the library, prompted him to do a search for the band and he came upon “e’s little world.” Who was this e? Why it was, me. He emailed me just saying hi and that he liked my website. I took it as just another nice email from someone far away. That nice email turned into a correspondence and a “date that wasn’t really a date” two and a half weeks later.

Bryan and I are both avid readers an afternoon reading on the couch is a special one for us. We eat 99% of our meals together at the kitchen table and just talk. It’s so wonderful to spend that time together, it helps me wake up in the morning and it also gives us an idea of how each other is doing that day. I’ve been the proud wife the last few weeks with Bryan having poems published in two journals recently and he’s working on a writing project that I’m just so impressed with his dedication for. He’s also a talented collage artist, many of his collages decorate the walls of our apartment. My favorite he gave to me framed as a birthday present one year. He also shares my passion for good food and vegetarianism. We’ve made Indian, Mediterranean and Asian foods part of our normal diet and I love it. Now if I could just convince him that olives and pickles are good. He’s also the best person to knit for, he wears everything I make him proudly and loves to show off his hand-knit socks! When I said I was ordering a “leetle knits” t-shirt for myself, he said he wanted one. What a husband!

Today, we both took the day off of work and went to a state park for a picnic and a hike around some of the lakes there. It was so peaceful and we got in some good exercise. We got a little bit lost on the trail back but it was a lovely day nonetheless. Tonight we’re going to see Look Both Ways.

Happy birthday, my Dearest. Many happiest to come.

Like I’ve mentioned before I go through phases where I just don’t want to near the computer for more than five minutes at a time. This summer has been one of those. First it was no A/C, then it was interesting books and now it’s those silly, easy, cute garter stitch projects. But today I’m reviewing some of the blogs that are part of the Midwest Knitters blog ring that I manage and I thought, I’m reading all of these other blogs, I want to post something. So here’s my something.

My fears of ending up with a dud tomato plant went out the window last Thursday when I went out to water Mrs. Tomato. She and Miss Oregano have been having a grand old time hanging out in the sun all day and that day I noticed a teeny tiny baby tomato. The baby tomato was probably about 1/4″ (0.65 cm) in diameter.

I was so excited that when I came in the house I told Bryan, “Mrs. Tomato is expecting.” He laughed and looked at me like I had grown a third head for the moment then I explained that Mrs. Tomato has a baby tomato growing. Now there are four baby tomatoes growing with the largest being about an inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. Mrs. Tomato herself has grown more than six inches in the last two weeks.

Sunday, I finished the second of two dishcloths from leftover yarn from the baby bibs. I also finished and started another color block on the log cabin blanket. It’s coming along slowly but surely and I hope to be finished with it in about two weeks. I’m not going to hold my breath, though. As soon as I’m finished with the second set of baby bibs and my obsession with dishcloths settles down a bit, I’ll be able to finish this blanket. Of course, with this dishcloth obsession, I’m tempted to get out the organic cotton yarn that I bought for Bryan and I last fall and knit us some nice washcloths. So much yarn, so little time.

Somewhere in all of this, I’ve managed to get a little bit of spinning time in. Getting my feel for the merino and tencel again took a bit of time but now it’s moving along a bit. On Guenny, my Ashford Traveller, I don’t spin quite as fast as I did on the Lendrum, but I have fewer problems than I used to. I think I’ve just become a more cautious spinner in both good and bad ways. Part of it is getting used to a new wheel and part of it is paying more attention to the yarn that I’m spinning.

Happy Summer Solstice. May the longest day of the year be wonderful. I always feel like there is something magical about the longest day of the year. It’s sort of sad though, now we’ll be losing a couple minutes of sunlight each day until December 21.

I think every knitter goes through an obsession once in her knitting life, some go through socks, shawls, washcloths and others are obsessed with a particular fiber. This just feels like more than obsession. I mentioned Mason-Dixon Knitting a few weeks ago. Well, my own copy arrived last Tuesday and that’s when the true obsession started. I love this book! Not only am I knitting the log cabin blanket from this book but last Tuesday I started the Mason-Dixon washcloth for a friend who is having a commitment ceremony this weekend. That led to making a washcloth out of the Pinwheel blanket pattern (not in this book) for her partner, which will be packaged with handmade soaps. Last Thursday, I started the first of four baby bibs. Sunday, I finished the first bib and started the second. Thursday, I finished that second bib, started a dishcloth for B and I out of the leftover yarn from the bibs and washcloths and finished it on Friday, only to immediately start another one because I have so much left over yarn. I had no idea I could have so much fun with simple garter stitch patterns. These great little projects are causing me to ignore the other projects that I have - the Hobo sweater, socks, etc. I swear it’s the heat and the fascination with making cute things in garter stitch, all the while thinking why didn’t I think of this before. With summer reading and wanting light-hearted books, I think my summer knitting wants to be “light-hearted” quick projects. There are also three women who are having babies in early August and I’m knitting all of their gifts, so I need quick projects, too.

The interesting thing is I’ve been reading more than knitting although you wouldn’t think so. I finished The Man of My Dreams by Curtis Sittenfeld, which I loved. Now I have to wait another year or two before her next book comes out. Bummer. I can’t recommend Prep enough and now I’m going to be recommending The Man of My Dreams to anyone who loved Prep. I’ve been anxious to start another book but wasn’t that excited about the next one on my list, even though I know it’s a really good book, I wanted something a bit lighter, so I’m trying out two Young Adult books at the moment. When I decide to continue with one, I’ll post it. They each are getting the 50-page trial and after that if I’m not into it, I’ll start something else. A book I really want to read is Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins but all of the copies are out of the library right now.

No, I haven’t disappeared, I’ve just been sucked into the library and some books. I’ve picked up some extra hours at the library trying to track down books that people have returned but we can’t find, they’re usually shelved in the wrong place for whatever reason. The books that have sucked me in lately are Matilda by Roald Dahl and The Man of My Dreams by Curtis Sittenfeld, the same author as Prep, which I adored. My goal this summer was to read five adult books and one children’s book. I’ve already read one and a half adult books and one children’s book and it’s only two weeks into summer.

It’s summer and the last place I want to be is in front of the computer, I completely blame being a software programmer and tester for five years for that one. I’ll post soon.

I knew I couldn’t stay away too long. What and miss all of the lovely comments from my adoring fans? At least I hope you’re adoring. Bryan wakes me up some mornings with the kitties meowing outside the door and says, “Your furry fan club is waiting.” It always strikes me as so funny. I’ve been keeping a list of what I must write about so that I don’t forget. First of all, the headaches are gone. I had a few days where I thought my head would explode but it didn’t and I’m fine now without the need of Excedrin. Once in a while I seem to forget that because Excedrin has caffeine in it that taking it everyday will cause me to have caffeine withdrawal headaches, which are never fun.

This is a bit of a catching up post, just bear with me.

Memorial Day weekend, we went to visit Bryan’s sister, her husband and their daughter, Paige. Paige is adorable and so sweet. She was born two days before our wedding, so she’ll be two in September. Hearing her laugh at the beagle they have is so cute, just the dog running around the yard makes her laugh. We had a nice visit with Bryan’s sister and her husband. They are expecting their second child this summer so there’s lot of excitement about that.

Also last week, I received my May Project Spectrum postcard from Jennifer. It’s a really cool paper collage. I love getting mail that isn’t bills but getting these Project Spectrum postcards are really fun to get because I never know what’s going to appear in my mailbox except that it will be the color of that particular month.

We’ve become somewhat regular visitors at our local farmer’s market and Memorial Day weekend, I finally bought a tomato plant. Her name is Mrs. Tomato because she’s going to give us baby tomatoes, at least I hope. Miss Oregano is keeping her company. On Saturday, I found a little hole in the pot, it appears as though one of the squirrely friends around the neighborhood decided to do a little digging in the pot. Who knows what they left behind. I also bought some lettuce in a container this weekend, so we’ll have fresh greens to eat, too. Last week, we bought the kitties some cat grass. The first day they completely ignored it and then when we moved it into the office, they discovered how exciting cat grass can truly be. Now it’s in the living room. They love chomping on it but also just laying next to it. We think it makes them think they are outside hiding in the “tall” grass. Of course, there are still a few arguments that start over the grass because the other one was there first.

On Thursday and Friday with the cooler weather, I managed to do a bit of spinning and finished plying the Lemondrop flame yarn. It didn’t quite work out the way that I was planning. I had split the fiber down the middle to get nearly “perfect” matching stripes. Well, that didn’t work because I don’t think I split it evenly but the finished product is really wonderful. Each time I attempt to spin something a certain way, the spinning universe decides otherwise for me. It’s almost as though I need to learn the lesson that I’m not supposed be perfect even though I strive for perfection. Also that I should learn to appreciate the yarn I’m spinning even if it doesn’t turn out the way I had envisioned. This yarn is about 8 wraps per inch so it’s definitely a bulky yarn. I think it will make a really great scarf or hat since I only have about 120 yards. I was thinking about making it the cuff of some socks that I’m hoping to make with the cabled Lemondrop yarn that I’m planning to start cable-plying later this week. There was no way that yarn would work as a 2-ply, it was just too loosely plied. After I get the Lemondrop yarn cabled, I plan on working on the bright pink that matches my cotton candy yarn.

The log cabin blanket is coming along well, I’m still in the never-ending blankie zone. Thank goodness every 18 rows I change direction and color or I would have set this blanket aside a week ago. It’s a great thing to work on while I’m catching up on Days of Our Lives episodes or watching a movie because I can knit without having to think about it. I keep reminding myself I’ve only been working on this blanket two weeks and I’ve made a lot of progress. I’m sure the baby bibs that I have in planning will go much faster, or so I think. My obsession with the Mason-Dixon Knitting book hasn’t subsided and I ordered a used copy on Amazon last week.

Speaking of books, I finished Prep yesterday. I loved this book! It had me thinking about high school a lot and how I dealt with things. I didn’t particularly like high school, it was a difficult time for me, as it for most people. I highly recommend this to those who like coming-of-age stories.

And finally, I finally got around to ordering one of my own leetle knits shirts. Bryan wanted one and has been wearing it proudly. It seems so strange to see something I drew on a t-shirt.

I seem to go through this about every few months and maybe it’s just the day. There are times I’m just tired of blogging, it seems like so much work and I don’t feel like doing it. I’m sure part of this current phase is the heat or should I say was the heat (the landlord installed a new A/C unit yesterday). I haven’t felt well since Sunday. I’ve had a headache everyday since last Friday that I think is heat-related. Today, even though it’s only 68 degrees outside, I think it’s because I’ve been taking an Excedrin or an Aleve everyday to relieve those headaches. Once again, I have a headache because my body has gotten used to my taking something to relieve the headache. Sort of like caffeine withdrawal.

So I’m taking a few days off from blogging. Don’t worry I’ll be back soon. And don’t be surprised if tomorrow I’m over all of this. I have photos from the weekend and a photo of Mrs. Tomato with her friend Miss Oregano that I’m growing. Hopefully, in a month we’ll be celebrating our first baby tomato.