Olallieberry

We Have a Nice Deck Now

That's right, the Mr and twelve-year-old K worked very hard over the last couple of weeks to finish this deck project which has been on our "to do" list since we moved into our house over four years ago. It's a little late in the season for us to get much enjoyment out of it now, but the smell of cedar is strong in the air and I absolutely love it. Not only the deck itself, but the memories of watching the whole father/son bonding thingy and the son-learning-about-tools-and-working-through-to-see-a-job-get-done thingy too. A prideful moment let me tell you. Now comes the fun part for me and E which will be shopping for deck furniture. The main considerations will be: Comfort, durability, and looks... in that order. Of course price will play into that equation as well, but if we get lucky we should be able to find something that fits the bill on a good end-of-season sale. Fingers crossed. Oh how I am enjoying being able to walk outside directly from the kitchen without having to clamour and descend what felt like a small scale obstacle course. I was so used to it I didn't even notice it anymore. Funny what you get used to...

So Nice

It's been such a humid summer-- odd for August on the prairies. We've had showers almost every night followed by beautiful sunshine throughout the day. Perfect summer weather. Or maybe it just seems perfect now that we've been able to find respite with the air conditioning. Normally I melt into a completely useless and unmoving glob of grumpiness that never leaves the couch around this time of year. I do not handle heat well. Especially during stretches of more than a couple of days in a row. Honestly, this year has been the nicest summer I can remember in a very long time.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing all the ravelry love on the Cuddliest Kitty Slippers knitting pattern! It's finally put together and available here. Easy to knit and awesome to wear, walking around in these cuddly cuties is just too much fun! You'll feel like a kid again. Seriously... try them! 

As for now, I think the kitties and I will walk over to the kitchen and cook something yummy together. I like to talk to them as I work, they keep me company.  Mr Mylo watches intently, waiting for just the right moment to pounce when he thinks I'm not looking. (Okay, massive eye rolling and snickers by family members occurring here. It doesn't help that I follow everyone around the house meowing at them and animating the kitties with my feet... )

See? ...Fun for everyone!! Hope your weekend is purrrrfect! (Oh stop already.)

xox

Golden

While summer is here in all her glory, I can't help but think how fall is just around the corner. I can feel her presence in the coolness of the evening breeze, and I catch glimpses of her in the lengthening shadows cast by the early morning light.

The leaves are beginning to change.

For the very first time we pull beautiful frames of capped honey from the hive. The strawberries are finished, and the tomatoes are beginning to ripen on the vine. The Mr works on the deck we've been planning for so long, and I imagine myself sitting out there in the mornings wrapped in my quilt with only my tea and my knitting for company. I imagine all of us out there spending time together sharing, eating, talking, laughing. 

I am off work again for a couple of weeks vacation time and plan to savour these moments leading up to September in the most leisurely manner possible. I've thrifted some books: Runaway by Alice Munro, and The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra. I rarely have the time to sink into a good read these days, so this time is to be savoured and treasured.

Oh, by the way, I'm knitting these socks in Tosh Merino yarn... to be ravelled soon. I'm not altogether crazy about sock knitting, but I absolutely love the yarn which happens to be perfect for this pattern. So I make the sacrifice and will get on them in earnest... eventually.

Lazy golden summer days. The best days. I am captivated by it all.