Summertime, Cocktails, Books, Afghans, Food....What are you up to?

 

Shades of Fall is the latest afghan.  It's been laundered and is drying/being blocked as we speak.  This is yet another afghan that will be donated.

It's oriented differently in this picture before I started edging and joining.  As you can see the squares weren't all the same size, some are knitted and some are crocheted.  Some are a bit more rectangle than square, so they weren't all edged with the same number of rows.  And I ended up moving a few squares around for sizing and color from this the original layout.

I enjoyed more Elin Hilderbrand books.  I've never been to Nantucket, but her books make me want to go.  This book will remind you of a movie, "Same Time Next Year".  I know you'll enjoy it.  Lots of different emotions come to light in this book.

Three women with problems need to escape their routine lives so they head to the beach.  Can 3 women get along in such a small cottage?  Can lives be repaired?  Can love blossom?  Lots of intrigue, hope you'll enjoy this book; I certainly did.

This book of Elin Hilderbrand has lots of emotion!  How does a dead woman control the events leading up to a wedding from the grave?  Love, scandals, betrayal......all take place.  Add this to your list, take it to the pool or beach with you and enjoy.

No, I haven't completely stop reading heavier books.  Maggie Haberman, A Whitehouse News Correspondent gives lots of back story how this sleazy man came to be.  While I knew of lots of his antics both before and during his time occupying our Whitehouse.........this book leaves no room for doubt about what a truly horrible human being he is.  The way he treated people makes you want to scream from the roof tops.  He is a true danger to us all.

I've added a new cocktail to my repertoire.   A Paper Plane.  Such a refreshing cocktail for summertime.

This is what you need to make the delicious cocktail: Lemon juice, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and Bourbon.  Garnish with a slice of lemon and or orange.  I  had lemon on hand..

Summertime isn't complete without a dinner of kababs.  Love veggies cooked this way, pair with pork, chicken, or beef.  We opted for chicken this time round.  Both Veggies and chicken were marinaded in olive oil, garlic, and paprika. 

Will show update on my shawl next post, with some exercise stats such as they are.  Hope you're all doing well and staying hydrated with the intense heat much of the country is experiencing.

Knitting, Reading, Yard Work and More

 

Current Project, a triangle shawl.  Love the colors.  I bought the variegated several years ago on girls trip with my daughter.  It's Knit Wit Yarn, wonderful feel.  They had a National Park Series, Grande Portage Natl. Memorial.  Didn't think I had enough yardage so this past month when she, hubby and I were spending a week in Park City, I visited the yarn shop there and found the yummy blue and green to blend with it.  After starting with the variegated, I stripped it with the blue every two rows to get the shaded effect, then did the solid blue, then stripping again to fade out of the blue, variegated next, stripped with the green to fade in.  Hope using all 3 skeins will give me a nice size shawl for the upcoming fall and winter.

A beautiful baby blanket my Darling Daughter knitted.  It's being block here after it got a soak bath.  Click to enlarge to see the cool texture.  I've always loved blue and green together.

The beginnings of the curly lilies.  Love how this look ruffly.  Such a vibrant color.  

Book #1 of a 3 book Series.  Yes I'm on a Elin Hilderbrand kick of late.

Book #2

Book #3.  Family life gone amuck!  Follow the money....fowl play, double life, mystery family, mystery....who's going to jail?  LOVED the series.  Add this to your fun summer to read list.

And because one can't really ignore real life, please please add this book to your list, SOON!  Jonathan Karl has known trump longer than any White House correspondent.  Didn't most of us think after Jan 6th, we had gotten rid of this man, or maybe it was just wishful thinking and hoping and praying.  

At some point I'll go and add up my steps/miles; as it's been awhile since I've documented and reported on it.  Sadly I've had too many interruptions in my exercise program.  The Dental Surgery really did a number on me.  I am back to walking, doing yard work, and mowing; but haven't restarted other exercises.  Why is it so hard to restart once you break the habit?

We're approaching The 4th of July.  If you're traveling to celebrate with friends and family, please be safe.  

MIA, Catching Up

 

It's important to know the difference and why you should not say Happy Memorial Day to anyone.  That's like saying Happy Funeral Day.  My Father, Uncles, and Grandfather all served; but I am lucky that they all returned safely, so I honor them on Veterans Day.  For those of you who have lost a loved one in service to the country, I honor and remember them and am sorry for your sacrifice.

As a person that doesn't really like winter, it's I think a bit odd that I decided to read/listen to this 4 books series by Elin Hilderbrand, but I've been taking a break from some of the heavier books I've been into of late (WWII, politics etc).  This is book #1

This is book #2

This is book #3

And this is book #4.  Lots of characters in this series.  At the center of things is The Quinn Family, owners of the Winter Street Inn during the Christmas Season.  Eggnog, and Whiskey and prison terms, a surprise pregnancy, Santa kissing who?  Subplots a plenty between a hedge fund manager, a drug addicted wife, a music teacher with an interesting and frustrating love life, a bartender, a French maid, a marine in Afghanistan, and a Famous TV Anchor.  NEVER a dull moment.  I've enjoyed many books by this author who writes about Nantucket, her home.  A fun, and entertaining diversion from life and all the things in the news currently.

Catching Up:

• I've been MIA since returning from Hilton Head with lots of appointments.  The most involved was dental surgery, Gingival Graft that turned out to be far more involved than was anticipated.  I'm 5 ish weeks since, but not yet completely healed.  Eating and exercising have been difficult until just recently.  
• I am now back to going for walks and mowing; but have no exercising stats for several months to record
• I've been involved with the planning of our 55th high school reunion which will be at the end of the summer
• hubby and I have finalized the details of our upcoming tour of Sicily in the fall

We recently finished watching this series.  I really like Jeff Daniels; though the series is a bit dark...........realistically so when you think about small towns in the rust belt.  Thus far there are 2 seasons, and there's debate about whether or not there will be a 3rd season.  Just have to wait and see, I guess.

I'll post a picture of the almost finished afghan, the last one I worked on while still on Hilton Head Island, in the next blog post.  For now, I'm anxious to get blog walking and see what you all have been up to in my absense.