In the "dog" days of summer...

Some of us sack out on the nearest horizontal space...

Often while trying to catch a little breeze.

Others, meanwhile...

...must venture forth into the heat to satisfy a little mouse craving -- you know how it goes, right? Just like running out to 7-11 at 10 p.m. when you just have to have ice cream ;-)

(BTW: I stepped out the door with a basket of laundry -- our machines are in an attached shed -- and found myself face to face with Blackie [the aptly-named Black Rat Snake]... So, like any normal person, I apologized for scaring her/him, went back inside, and snapped this picture. I love rural living!)

And me -- on the sultriest of days, I like to...

Well, what did you expect?

In the "dog" days of summer...

Ice Cold

It's just been that kind of week. Cold and hard. I sure could use a little spring right about now. How about you?

Things will get warmer. And easier.

After all, summer is as inevitable as winter, isn't it?

Ice Cold

Summer Knitting

First things first...Welcome back! Apparently I really DO believe in blogging without obligation, huh?

The top photo is of some cute little guys I made for the Little Critter Swap, sponsored by Meghan over at Stitch It! Podcast. The pattern is from an Amigurumi book. I think it's called "Happy Eggs."

By the way, if you listen to knitting / spinning podcasts, you should give Stitch It! a listen. It's funny, touching, entertaining, and enlightening...Meghan's show is one of my favorite things ;-)

Speaking of spinning, I've been doing a little lately:
I spun this yarn -- which I'm calling Ply Me! for now -- on my Kromski Sonata. I'll give it a real name after I do some bobbin juggling and decide what kind of finished yarn I want. I'm leaning toward two-ply sock-weight. The pretty colors are courtesy of All Things Heather, purchased at KPixie.com

I've also been doing lots of knitting. I have other photos to show you, but for now, I'll just post this one...
They're Mom's "spring socks" (Carolina, Last Queen of Naples, by MonkeyToes). I made these two-at-a-time on one circular needle, using Plymouth Happy Feet yarn.

Unfortunately, I packed them for shipping before taking photos of the finished socks! So I'll have mom model them for me and send a few snaps.

Wow! The Summer Solstice has come and gone -- amazing how time flies! And speaking of come and gone, we've also had visits from my mom, my sister, and my mother- and father-in-law during the past six weeks. Every visit was thoroughly enjoyable, and thoroughly enjoyed.

Summer Knitting