My Summer Girl

I've got a lot swirling around in my brain right now.  I'm thinking about school plans for the Fall. I'm thinking that my theme for the year will be Streamline. (I think that might be another way to say Less is more.)  I'm thinking about how quickly the summer is slipping away (I know. Glass half empty. I'm terrible.) I'm thinking I can almost see my Mammoth sunflowers growing every day. I can't wait to see them. I'm thinking about sewing quilts for the twins and I'm thinking about getting around to sewing the cupcake quilt for Tess. Since I've been thinking about sewing, I've been thinking that I need to finish the little apple dress for Tess as well. I've settled on a pirate themed quilt for one of the twins, but I haven't come up with the other theme. I'm thinking that Idon't really have time for another quilt project, but I can't help myself from thinking about it. I'm thinking about yarn and books. I'm thinking about Christmas projects. (Yes, Christmas!)  I'm thinking I don't feel like cooking right now despite all the veggies from our CSA. I'm thinking about feeling conflicted about trying to relax during the summer and still trying to do it all.  I'm thinking about capturing more summer moments. I'm thinking about popsicles and homemade ice cream. So much to ponder every day....It's fun to dream even if I won't be able to get all of these things done just yet. School plans to follow. I intend to get my act together the first week of August so that Luke can begin on September first.

On knitting:

I know my little girl is featured frequently on my blog lately and well, it's because knitting for girls is just so much fun (although I do have some fun plans for boy sweaters too. I better start liking knitting for boys. Don't you think?) Here she is in her new Haltermelon.  This is another pattern by Alana Dakos. I knit this last year in the pink and green, buy my aunt Rosie recently gave me 4 balls of this Ty-Dy cotton yarn and I thought it would it look great in a halter. Using yarn that resembles a tie-dye shirt seems sooo summer to me. I knit the size 4 even though she's 2 1/2. It came out a little loose on the back, but a ribbon through the eyelets cinched it up perfectly. As you can see, it fits nicely. Details on Ravelry.

Yarn Along- Knitting in the car

We returned late last Sunday night from an epic driving vacation. We drove to California and spent hours and hours in the car. I know it was ambitious with our minivan filled to capacity and knowing the older three kids didn't have much room in the back row of our Sienna. However, I still looked forward to the time to knit in the car. I eagerly packed several projects' worth of yarn in my knitting bag. On that first incredibly long day in the car, we arrived in Vegas around 10 at night after spending something like twelve hours driving  and I did spend a good chunk of that day knitting. I manged to knit the body of a sweater for Liam, but I didn't feel like digging out the DPNs to work on the sleeves so I started another Eyelet Brim Cotton hat and despite all that time in the car, it's the only project I finished. Here's Tess at the Tamarisk restaurant in Green River, Utah. Of course, she's very serious about those sugar packets! Anyway, this is an easy hat, but picking up the stitches for the brim is tedious. As for reading, I didn't have much time last week. Mostly, I'd sneak in a few pages of Generation Me when I was nursing at night. It's an interesting read.  I'll be reviewing it on Goodreads soon.

Don't forget to head on over to Ginny's for more yarn tales!

9 months of double cuteness!

I took this picture with my phone today.  I really wanted to get a picture on the blog today since the twins are 9 months today (also my  15th wedding anniversary!).  Although I know that James is on the left and Liam on the right, this is one of the first pictures where I thought I could easily mix them up! They are looking more and more alike lately. I discovered that James has two little teeth on the bottom, but none for Liam (yet). Although I wouldn't call it crawling, James is also mobile.  I'm not really sure how he moves around the room. It must be his stealth powers! Liam likes to stay in one place right now. They are so different, but both are equally happy.

Summer hat

     My reluctant little model showing off the summer hat I knit for a friend's little girl.  I am loving summer
     knitting!