My neighbor was having a garage sale last weekend and she had a box of china for sale decorated with roses. It reminded me of the china I bought on eBay a couple years ago for the sole purpose of having tea parties with my daughters. It was still in its box in a closet in Veronica’s room, and we had never used it. I like the set because it has everything, including luncheon plates. The girls like it because it is covered in gold and flowers. So I dug it out a week ago, washed it, moved some dishes around in my dining room to make them easily accessible, and have declared Tuesdays our official day for tea parties.

Last week I made pressed butter cookies in the shape of flowers and butterflies. (The girls got to choose the shapes). Today, we’re having the most amazing zucchini bread you’ve ever tasted. Olivia has already brought to my attention the irony of having tea parties all through the summer when tea is hot, and so is summer. (She was actually stern with me. I could have died laughing. Still, she is quite interested and involved in forecasting the guest list).

So this is what we’re up to today. I know you want to come.

In knitting news, I am up to about 5 inches on Veronica’s Kimono. My friend Shauna pointed out that it’s the exact color of tanzanite. So I’m enjoying it very much.

My friend, Gayle helped me realize that I’m not knitting the Shoalwater Shawl with Silk Garden, I’m knitting it with Kureyon. I’m losing my mind, obviously. I’m still not completely decided on what to do with it. Right now, I’m thinking that I might put her back on the needles and see it through.

BUT, I have yet another new project to show you. This one is for Veronica…

It’s in the back of the Summer 2003 Issue of Interweave Knits that also has the fabulous man-cardigan I want to knit for Nate. Here’s my swatch…

It’s not the best picture. The color is an amazing blue/lavender and it is Lamb’s Pride. The fronts and back are knit in one piece and the sleeves are knit separately then seamed. I’m 3 inches up the main body right now.

It’s looking to be a completely glorious day. It’s already warm and fragrant outside. It’s also the first “official” day of Summer Vacation. I’m not quite sure yet what the day is going to hold for us, other than laundry. And lots of it.

Good morning! How are we doing? I haven’t started back on my exercise yet, but I’m making strides in the healthy eating department. I made the YUMMIEST Black Bean and Rice Salad this week.

Rice-

1 quart (4 cups) chicken broth + 1/2 cup water
2 1/4 cups brown rice
2 bay leaves

Salad-

4 cups cooked black beans, rinsed
2 red bell peppers, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 medium red onion, diced
1 medium bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

Sauce-

1/2 cup olive oil
3 Tablespoons orange juice
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt to taste (lots of salt for me)

garnish with cilantro sprigs, serve on a bed of lettuce

Bring the chicken broth, water, bay leaves, and rice to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook 45 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Toss with remaining salad ingredients and sauce.

This recipe is fabulous immediately when it’s still warm, and it’s great refrigerated the next day. We eat it in pitas with romaine lettuce and sour cream, or in tortillas, or as a side dish. It makes tons.

I’ve been doing the wheatgrass thing, and I’ve run out of grass. I had no idea I would go through that much grass that quick, so today I’m going to go get some more topsoil and seed trays so I can increase production. And if we get all that done, I might just jump on the treadmill.

She’s done! I wasn’t loving the way the cable dress was knitting up, however I also know that sometimes you don’t know if something is going to work until it’s done, so I plugged on. Once the body was knit and stuffed, I realized that she could be salvageable, but it was going to be up to the hair.

I had to knot every. stinking. strand. of hair to keep it from unravelling (it is Lion Brand’s Homespun after all), but I think it turned out really cute. I was going for a “blonde” effect, but she turned out a little more “bleached” than I’d imagined. It’s hard to tell, but her hair is light pink on a darker pink face. It gives her more of an “edgy” look, and I like it.

In Cable-Eight news, we’ve got Katie’s finished top! Good job, girl.

Let’s see, Meg has decided to change her “honorary” status back to “active”. We’re happy to have her back. :-).

I’m still a slacker. No news here. Did I miss anyone? What’ve you got?

I really appreciate the emails and comments answering my questions the past couple of days. Thanks!

While looking through the issue of IK I linked yesterday, I saw another really cute sweater. It’s a kimono that I think has to belong to Veronica. So I swatched for it. I used some Silky Tweed that I had lying around, and it isn’t going to work, but Veronica is already excited for her sweater. I must be restless as I’m looking for new projects and not settling down to any one in particular. I’m sure it’s a phase.

Yesterday was a beautifully sunny day. I played outside for a good portion of it with the girls and Abner. We played with water. Plus, my juicer finally arrived! And what did I do first?

I juiced my wheatgrass! The girls were very excited. They’ve been watching it grow, and hearing me talk about it. They were anxious to try the juice, and can you guess how it was received?

Not well. I thought Liv was going to throw up. Poor kid.

I take it from my searching on the internet that Plymouth doesn’t make Silk Merino anymore. Does anyone know about this yarn? I’ve been wanting to make this…

for Nate for some time. (Here’s the link). It calls for Plymouth’s Silk Merino. Unfortunately, the gauge given in the pattern is over a ribbed stitch, so I’m going to have to do some swatching to find out what weight of yarn we’re talking about, unless someone out there can help me….

I don’t have much to report. I’ve finished two skeins worth of Noro on the Shoalwater Shawl. I have stopped and taken it off the needles to see if I want to continue. It just isn’t working up the way I want. This pattern is one of the few I’ve ever seen where I wanted EXACTLY what was pictured. Usually when I see a pattern, there are any number of changes I want to make. But this one is different. I want it exact, and I can’t have it. It kills me. So I’m trying to find a happy compromise, and I’m just not sure if Noro’s Silk Garden is it.

So I guess I have another yarn question- can anyone suggest a good yarn, fingering through DK weight, that has long bands of varying blues? That is hopefully not too expensive? If not, I may just have to try my hand at dyeing after all. Now where did I put that book?

The other option would be to buy a bunch of blue rovings and spin it myself. I actually really like this option. If only I had a spinning wheel. But you don’t want to hear about that again. That reminds me… my consolation prize (the juicer) is due to arrive via UPS today. There’s some happy news!

I am so excited! My time means a lot to me, and I’m looking forward to the freedom of summer vacation! I don’t have to make meals at any particular time. We can go to the cabin for days at a time. Quite frankly, I want to LIVE at the cabin for the next few months, but that isn’t practical. I’m READY for this BREAK! Woo-hoo!

I know I promised pictures today, and I have one. The funny thing is that I didn’t remember to take the picture until 8:45 last night, so I was lucky to have enough light.

I love seeing the waves in the color pattern. I really wanted it that way, and had the hardest time finding a yarn to do it. I didn’t necessarily need full-on stripes, but I wanted each color band to be long enough to show the waves (like in the pattern picture shown yesterday).

I got to work on it a bit yesterday, but not much. I worked my butt off yesterday rearranging Veronica’s room, moving furniture, (BIG furniture), etc to make room for her bed. Yes, she is finally graduating out of her crib and into a toddler bed. She is very happy. Add to this the laundry and other routine chores and I was beat!

I don’t have any pictures, but I’ve been busy. I’m still working on the cable dress doll. She needs to be stuffed and she needs her appendages, face, and hair. I won’t know if she works until she’s stuffed.

I’ve FINALLY swatched for the Harry Potter sweater! I’m using Silky Tweed by Elsebeth Lavold, and I’m knitting with size 6 bamboo needles. I still don’t have the perfect color for the “H”, and it looks like there’s a new color out that will work. Does anyone happen to have it? Depending on which website I look at, it’s either color #11 or #12. Whichever of those colors isn’t green. I’m looking for a light, straw yellow. I only need one ball. I will trade for it. Can anyone help me?

I was at the yarn store Friday night, as always, and while looking through shawl patterns, I came across this…

Here’s the link if you’re interested. While it looks to be a very easy shawl, and it should be, it’s kicking my butt. I’m knitting it in Noro’s Silk Garden. It isn’t quite what I wanted in terms of texture, but it’s the only yarn available to me that will stripe the way I want it to. I’m looking for a warm, blanket type shawl, and this one should do nicely.

To be honest, before deciding to try the Noro, I was giving serious thought to dying my own. I even brought home a book before deciding I was insane and went for the Noro. (I’ll get to the book, someday).

I’ll have pictures tomorrow, I promise.

One whole year of Health Group! How exciting! Am I skinny yet? No. But I’m fine with that. I am ecstatic that Health Group has lasted a full year. That seems an accomplishment to me, because even thought I’ve had bad weeks, and even though my weight loss has been stagnant for a number of months, I haven’t given up. I’m still here, and I’m still trying to be healthy.

Well, I’ve unfortunately put on a few pounds. I was 224 this morning. It’s hardly surprising, because I’ve been sick three or four times this year, and that means my exercise has been severely interrupted, and I haven’t had the energy to eat well. Surprisingly, I’m not upset. I’m not going to let this get out of hand.

Today, for example, I’ve eaten really well so far. I missed breakfast, which is bad, but since breakfast time ended, I’ve been snacking on homemade hummus on celery sticks, I made a great lentil and chard soup, and we just had what I call “potato fries”, which is cut up russet potatoes in their skins baked on a cookie sheet with olive oil and salt. SO good! And quite healthy.

I’ve been thinking this past week about things I can eat to feed my body well. I’ve written them down every time I’ve thought of something. I’m going to make a plan, and I’m thinking about picking up my FAVORITE cookbook, Cookbook of the Year, to get me in the habit of making healthy dinners again. I’ve been in a lazy “I’m too sick to cook” rut, and I’m ready to get out.

It’s strange how I have complete confidence that I now know what I need to do to shed the pounds, and yet, I’m not doing it. I blame illness, which has certainly been a factor, and I am hopefully done being sick for awhile.

How is it going for you?