Baby Biker Hoodie II

One of my most favorite things in the world is surprising people. I just love it.

When Kate's son was born a year ago, I knit him a little blue cardigan and was thrilled beyond words when I saw photos of him wearing it (in the garden, no less). So for his first birthday, I thought he'd need another sweater. I used the same pattern and some lucious red and white wool. For the past few months at our knitting group (which Kate is part of ), I've been lying about who the sweater is for. Tee hee.

This is actually my second Baby Biker Hoodie-- the first is probably the first of many. Who can resist a baby sweater with bikes on it?! Kate and her family love biking. I even got to go on a bike ride with them recently. So fun.

You can see some photos of the sweater in action here. Caution: cutest smile ever!

The Big Three

Karl and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary this week! It was on Tuesday night, and since he had to study and I had banjo class, we snuck in a special early dinner. We had figs, stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped with prosciutto, as an appetizer (sounds fancy, but they were really very easy-- the perfect appetizer to make ahead). Then we had salad, roasted potatoes, and a yummy rolled beef dish in the slow cooker. The beef recipe called for kitchen twine... I just used cotton yarn. No one's been sick yet, so I guess it was okay. I've always been terrible at photographing food, so I'll spare you most of the images and just share these:

It was still light outside when we had dinner, but I wanted candlelight anyway!

There it is... thin beef, wrapped around parmesan and parsley, rolled up and tied with kitchen twine.... er, cotton yarn from my knitting basket. Trust me, it looked good in person.

I ordered a mini version of our wedding cake from our favorite bakery. This also looked good in real life... geez, these photos are terrible. Just picture the best meal you've ever seen, okay?

I can't believe it's been three whole years since our magical day. I'm so lucky to have the best husband ever. Apologies to all of you other girls out there.

This is just to say

We picked up these plums last weekend at the farmer's market, and they've been ripening in a bowl on the counter ever since. I just love them. They remind me so much of:

• My grandma and the plum cake she used to make



• This scrumptious poem by William Carlos Williams:

This is Just to Say

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

This is why I'm not allowed in thrift stores.

Today I had to drive to Portage, a town about an hour away, for a work meeting. I grabbed my ipod, loaded with a very addicting audiobook, and headed out.

After the meeting, I really had no choice but to stop at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Portage. And then at the St. Vinnie's Dig and Save when I got back in to Madison. I don't drive very often (usually I'm on my bike or the bus), so this was a rare chance for me to fill up our little car with thrifted goodies. It's a good thing our car is small, because I was really on a roll today and very nearly tried to tie a humongous hutch onto the canoe rack. It's such a darling hutch. I might go back tomorrow to see if it's still there.

Want to see what I brought home?

I know a little girl who calls these "corners."

There's a fine line between need and... well, it doesn't matter. I needed this globe.

Just in case our current tent ever malfunctions. Now we have a backup. Plus we might have kids someday and they'll want to play with a tent in the yard.


Lately I've been drooling over projects like this one. Soon the hideous light fixture in our guest room will be replaced by a work of art by yours truly. And even if it doesn't turn out to be as gorgeous as I imagine, it can't be any worse than what we've got in there right now.

Another project-to-be. I'm seeing blue paint... maybe I can use the same color on the light fixture and the table. Hey, what's that on top of the table? Is that a mug? Yes, yes it is. Why on Earth would a girl who already owns one million mugs need another one? I can't answer that. All I can say is that they regularly call to me from thrift store shelves and garage sale tables.

Come on. It has smiling lemons on it.

I've been thinking about trying pressure canning, but I didn't want to make a huge investment. Problem solved. And this is the second white enamel stockpot I've found this summer. This one might become a give-away for some lucky blog reader... since I've done so many give-aways this year (zero).

An embroidered tablecloth! My dream kitchen is red and aqua... this will fit right in. In twelve years when we actually get around to creating that dream kitchen.


In the course of taking these pictures, I managed to knock down our blinds and almost poke a huge hole in the couch. That will not surprise any of you. Just thought you should know. xo

I'm in the middle of reading this treasure...



Here's my favorite part so far:

In September's world, many things began with pan. Pandemic, Pangea, Panacea, Panoply. Those were all big words, to be sure, but as has been said, September read often, and liked it best when words did not pretend to be simple, but put on their full armor and rode out with colors flying.

I just love the idea of words putting on full armor and riding out with colors flying. Yes, please.

I've Got My Hush Puppies On: Labor Day Recap

Do you want to know a secret? Anytime I have to say "Labor Day" or "Memorial Day," I quickly remember which is which by thinking of Come Monday by Jimmy Buffett. One line says "Headin' out to San Francisco for the Labor Day Weekend Show" and then later "Yes, it's been quite a summer." So if it's been quite a summer, then Labor Day must be at the end of the summer, right? So the other one is Memorial Day. There ya go, a little hint to make your life easier.


I adore three-day weekends, and this past weekend was no exception. A few highlights:

• Organizing our Tupperware drawers. Is it weird that I love this? I could organize Tupperware all day every day and be happy as a clam. My mom could have told you this when I was about three days old, and it's still true. Plus our Tupperware area is now completely revolutionized.



• Making Ginger-Pear Preserves with pears from Kate... it turned out delicious and lovely. If you try the recipe, I recommend immersion-blending it right before putting it into jars.



• Canning salsa with tomatoes from my mother-in-law's garden. Our pantry has never been so full of home-canned goodies! So far we've got pickles, salsa, diced tomatoes, and at least four kinds of jam.



• A nap! I love naps. So luxurious.



• Going on a nice long bike ride with Kate, Jeremy, and Jr. We rode from Belleville to New Glarus on two state trails. We had perfect biking weather-- sunny and cool.



• Several picnics and walks with my sweetie



• Working on my knitting project, a red hooded baby cardigan. Would you like to see it? I'm not finished... it's still sleeveless and the hood is just one big rectangle, but here you go...
  

I hope you had a lovely weekend and are enjoying the short work week!