Finally, pictures from my Tour de Fleece 2008 challenge. This is the cashmere that I spun on my spindle during the alloted time...

 

 

....and the BFL sock yarn....

...that came from this...

The challenge was easier for me than I thought it would be, and my only real obstacle that would crop up from time to time was my desire to do something besides spin (usually knit socks).

So the Ravelympics are coming up on Friday, and I have set myself a difficult challenge for this one. First, I'm going to complete a pair of (cabled) socks in those 17 or 18 days, when a pair of socks usually takes me 3 weeks or so, if I concentrate. And on top of that, because I am darn sick of not being done with it, I'm going to finish a work-in-progress (wip) that I've been working on for over a year, my Icarus Shawl. That should challenge me. Or put me in the hospital. Either way, it will be interesting.

For more pictures of our summer, I'd like to introduce the newest members of our family,

River

and Simon.

A brother and sister pair named after the brother and sister in Firefly. Greg wanted to name them Luke and Leia, but the children pulled a veto.

Finally, we've been spending a lot of our summer doing this...

at our friend's pool. Happy Summer!

 

My first baby turns 7 tomorrow, and so she is a hot commodity around here. She was invited to stay overnight at her friend’s house for a couple days, and then later this week, it will be an overnight with Grandma, who will also be taking her on a shopping trip. It’s no surprise to me that everyone wants to celebrate with her; I think she’s a really awesome kid and I’m glad that other people know it, too. What surprised me was the depth of her little brother’s sadness that she’s not around. When we were on our way to drop her off last night, my girl was a little sad, thinking of missing her family, even though she knew she’d have fun. Sethy was the one cheering her up, telling her what a good time she’d have. But on the way back, he cried and cried. He’d talk himself out of being sad, saying that he knew he’d see her in just a couple of days. Then some random thought would pop into his head, and he’d say, “Sissy!” and cry again. He slept in her bed last night. It’s heartbreaking, on the one hand, to see my sensitive boy so sad. But I’d rather have that issue than a sibling rivalry that overshadows the family. Bonus for Seth: He lit right up this morning when he realized that he wouldn’t have to share computer time with his sister.

I'm fairly sure I'm the only one still here in my department. It's tempting to leave a couple of minutes early (except for that pesky phone policy), but I actually like staying when it's quiet like this. I can get my work done without interruption. Except the interruptions I give myself. Hah. I can listen to my podcasts or music, chug along, or not chug along. It's peaceful, and I like it.

Still, I'll be leaving in two short minutes to go perform at another Jazz Vespers at a local church. This will be our third time playing there, and it's pretty laid back and fun. It's also a short gig, over by 7 PM, so I get to be home before the kids go to bed. I like that, too.

Happy First Day of Summer (not Spring, as I texted to Greg earlier. No wonder he didn't text back).

I do so love summer. I love the early morning quietness, when the sun is golden and the birds are singing. It’s so much easier to get out of bed on those warm days, even on those days when I have to get up and go to work. There’s no cold air to deal with after poking my nose out from under the electric blanket, no desire to stay in the hot shower for a few hours and delay the chill present when I turn it off. I love being able to walk out the door without bundling up the children and trying to find that persnickety, persistently lost mitten. I love being able to start the car up and go, rather than let it run for twenty minutes as I brush a foot of snow off of my windshield. I love the afternoons spent outside, playing “camping” and “pirates” and “chase Momma around the yard”. I love coming home from work and spreading a sheet in the yard for a picnic dinner of cheese, bread and fruit. I even love the summer storms, wild and furious, and over in time to reflect the setting sun off of every drenched leaf. I love having the windows open to the evening birdsong, and then the crickets and tree frogs as night deepens. Things in general seem so much easier in the summer, lighter and less serious. I am so thankful that summer is almost here.

We went roller skating last night! Well. I went roller skating last night. Jade tried on the skates, almost fell and was done. Seth put on the skates, saw the play area with a slide and ball pit, and was done. Greg never even put skates on. So I, who haven't skated in I-don't-remember-how-long, put on some skates and amused all the elementary school kids by trying not to fall. It was fun, and if I had actually built up any speed, would have been good exercise. Next month (it was Jade's school's skate night), Greg promised to skate if Jade would. This should be fun!

Now, I am going to go lie down and try to shake this lovely bug that I have. At least it's a Friday.