Short Story Long

Today I found some new blogs; just what I needed to inspire some fall decor for September.  A Creative Mint Rose Hip Ann Wood LOVE the boats.

(You know, because SpiderMan calls her MJ instead of MaryJane.) I started these cute little booties with my left-over sock yarn for fun, and then when Audrey told us she was expecting, I knew just who they were going to!  So this is part of my Pay It Forward to Audrey, who was one of my first three commenters; I also made her a book bag with the sock monkeys.  Afterall, it's back to school time, and who couldn't use another book bag.  These booties are so cute and easy.  I could have finished them in one night, but I needed a crochet hook to make the button loops, and it took me a few weeks to find it on my craft table!  The buttons are vintage, from my dear grandmother's tin of saved buttons.  I'll definitely make more of these!  

We've had a weird growing season here in the Metro Denver area. Lots of rain - bonus! Not a lot of sunny - bummer. Finally, I found a red tomato in my yard. How delicious was it?!!? Only the dog knows. That's not a metaphor; luckily I took a picture of it a few days ago. A generous woman at church invited the boys and me to her home this week. What is the definition of a farm? She grows A LOTof her own veggies and cans most of it, but it's all for her own family. She showed me how to use a pressure cooker, and gave us free access to her green beans and corn. We canned a batch of beans at her house, and a batch of beans at mine, and then I did the last few jars by myself. It is fulfilling to be a little more self-reliant and know that we don't lean so hard on the big machine of society. (Why isn't it called "jarring?") Oh! I had the most aggravating time yesterday, trying to find school supplies. Apparently I was the nincompoop, waiting until I needed ...

Two of my cousins from Lincoln came to town on Wednesday and it just worked out that we had four tickets to the Rockies game that night. On our way home, we took the scenic route and passed this giant milk jug and BFJ said, "OH!" Apparently he'd been told about this tremendous ice cream but hadn't ever seen the giant milk jug. And then, there we were, so we figured we better stop and get some ice cream. I got chocolate, just plain chocolate, and it really was the best just-chocolate ice cream I'd ever had. (I'm very partial to Haagen-Daz's Belgian Chocolate Chocolate, but this might edge it out... Maybe I should try them both again.) BFJ had Butter Pecan and says it was awesome. One cousin got chocolate, and the other got both mexican chocolate and coconut gelato. I tried the gelato, it was heavenly. I better take my dad there sometime. Oh shame on me, I forgot to post pictures like I said I would. I made these for the Bijou Basin trunk show, possibly ...

I hope you all had a nice S'mores Day on Monday. We did! Summer is winding down, here, with less than 20 days left til school starts. Unfortunately, the storm we had a few weeks ago took out a lot of our plants, or at least set their growing season back several weeks. BFJ moved this rose for me at the beginning of the summer and it has never bloomed so much! I guess it needed a new spot. It is either Distant Drums or Distant Thunder, I can't remember which. I have been working on several knitting projects, and hope to be done with them in time to mail them tomorrow... I hope to share some pictures with you, also. We'll see!

Second summer, second arm, second cast; same kid. At least this time we didn't have to spend 18 hours in the ER.

So far this week, I don't have a lot checked off the list. There are piles of clothes everywhere but we have all the wedding invitations assembly and addressed, and I made a sock for Marly.

I've cut back on soda and brewed myself some green tea instead. Speed insisted on trying it and then said, "It tastes like the zoo smells." Appetizing.

You might have noticed I haven't been here much, lately. My sister got engaged! I am pleased to be her Matron of Honor and have been trying to help pin down dresses, locations, invitations, etc. with her. I immediately volunteered to address the invitations, because I LOVE doing that, and no one else seems to... The wedding is in October! Between that, the storm , and being out of town , I just haven't had time to write or read blogs lately. I've also been working on some test knitting, but I think we are getting back to normal around here. Back when I was starting out as a mom, I really wanted to nurse my kids, but one of my friends told me, "It's so hard, you'll never be able to do it." Of course, that made me more determined to try, but I was really afraid she was right. Luckily I did some research and found a great book about nursing. One thing that stuck with me from that book was the author talking about how being unable to nurse is an American co...