And Monday Rolls Around. 6/15/26

 Hello My Friends,

After a few days away from the computer (and screens in general), it is nice to be back in this space.  I loved my quiet mornings - time to sip coffee slowly and do some reading, or knitting, or stitching.  Taking time to play with Mabel and just relax.

Despite the return of typical Eastern PA weather (i.e., HHH or hazy, hot and humid), this sweet girl and I have been enjoying time together on the patio (or, in the case of Mabel, on the grass at the edge of the patio).  There has been a noisy catbird around scolding Mabel constantly.  Damon spotted a nest in our apple tree and my guess is that it is the catbird's.  When the scolding becomes too obnoxious, we retreat indoors for a little bit.

We do have a bit of a mystery.  When we adopted Mabel in October of 2021, she had a kink in her tail.  Pretty pronounced.  Our vet said most likely it happened in utero as opposed to it just being broken at some point.  Anyway, when I was petting Mabel on Friday I noticed that the kink is gone!  Now how can that happen?  I keep checking and I keep asking Mabel what happened to her kink, but she is not talking!

We spent Saturday afternoon over at Colin & Mailing's celebrating Iris' 1.5 year birthday.  Hard to believe that girl is 18 months already.  She was spoiled with a lot of gifts and we all enjoyed some delicious food (and, of course, beverages).  Family time is the best time and we are so lucky that C&M&I live nearby.

Meanwhile, things outside seem to be thriving in the HHH weather.  Our Seven Sisters Rose has started to bloom.

This rose came from a cutting Fletcher's Mom gave us years and years ago.  The original plant is on the farm where Fletcher's grandparents lived.

And lettuce is thriving!  I thought it would have bolted by now, but it is going strong.

There are 5 or 6 varieties of greens there and we have been having salads a lot of nights.  I also discovered that my parsley plant came back.  I have not planted parsley in a couple of years, but we keep having a big plant in the garden!  Can't complain about that.

That's about it for now!  I'll be back tomorrow with a TNT update and on Wednesday I'll have a knitting and reading update.  Today will be spent with Iris.  I hope your Monday is filled with joy.

No Kink!!  LOL

Tiny Needle Tuesday 6/9/26

 Good Morning!

I hope this morning finds you rested and feeling fine.  It was a bit cooler here yesterday...chilly enough in the evening that Fletch fixed hot chocolate!!  Yesterday was filled with good things.  I got some new gloves and set about doing a bit of weeding.  Not my usual activity, but Fletch can't do it like he used to.  A visit to the library (including paying a fine for an overdue book), some reading and a bit of (unsuccessful) swatching.  And now it's Tuesday and time for a TNT update.  Progress!!!  The tree that the rabbit sits under has been completed - all the fruit, all the leaves, and the endless brown trunk...all stitched!

And here is an overall shot off where things stand at this point.

Next up will be the creature to the right of the rabbit.  You will notice there is also space to the right of Eve.  That will include some words (And All Was For An Appil) and yet another creepy crawly creature.  Those will be the last things I stitch.  First I want to do the creature under the tree!

Today will include a trip to get wine, a trip to get groceries and (hopefully) (successful) swatching.  I also picked out yarn to start another pair of socks.  And, of course, our Zoom RWU tonight to discuss "Good People."  Looking forward to seeing a number of you tonight!

Friday Cooking and Other Things

 Hello My Friends,

Today is a later-than-usual post from moi.  My morning was busy, but all in a very good way.  Our temps are rising (as is the humidity) and I knew I wanted to get a crostata in the oven before the heat of the day.  And voila!  A blueberry/peach/rhubarb crostata was made.

I wish there were sniffable monitors - this just smells amazing and I cannot wait to try it (but I will!).

My socks were finished this morning!  They are matchy-matchy up until the very tip of the toe.

Sock #1 on the left has a little bit of the next color showing in the toe.  The sock I finished this morning had no need of that additional color.  Maybe I knit tighter?  Maybe the length of colors was slightly different?  No matter...matchy-matchy doesn't matter to me and I am very happy with this pair of socks.  They are now tucked away to be gifted later (recipient TBD).  The yarn is from Fibernymph Dyeworks    - Lisa is amazing with her dying.  The color way is "Mountain House Winter" but they remind me of polo or rugby stripes.  Whatever, they are lovely.  And, if you have not tried Lisa's yarns (I know most of you have), you really should give them a try.

After that, I had a massage booked for 11 a.m.  Bliss!  Mallory, the massage therapist I have been seeing for months now, is a miracle worker.  She found knots I didn't know I had - lol.

When I got home, Fletch and I had lunch and then I started cooking again!  We want a cold dinner tonight, so I set about making a Lobster Orzo Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette.  It's fast to make and quite tasty.  I used Langoustinos (tail meat) that I found at Trader Joe's instead of lobster.  It tastes like lobster but is much, much less $$$.  It is now in the fridge chilling.

We'll have some more radishes from Colin's garden and sugar snap peas to go with this.  An easy, fast, cool dinner for a warm/hot day.

Did any of you see the MDK post about the road trip to Florence, Alabama and The School of Making?  So tempting.  I would love to do that, but I don't think the timing is good for me right now.  Are any of you considering it?

And with that...let the weekend begin!  We have no plans (which is so nice).  I want to get to Target (I need printer paper).  Maybe I'll do some laundry...maybe not.  I'm sure I won't be doing cleaning.  I hope to swatch this afternoon for a Shakerag and maybe pick out yarn for the next socks.  I'd also like to sit down with my stitching.

Here's hoping you have some fun ahead of you!

Unraveled Wednesday 6/3/26

 Hello All,

Our gorgeous weather continues in Eastern PA.  Yesterday was yet another stellar day.  And though the temps are gradually climbing, it is still quite pleasant with cool nights (perfect for sleeping with windows wide open).

It's Wednesday!  The first of June 2026 and time to link up with Kat and her Merry Band of Unravelers to chat a bit about what we are making and reading. Do be sure to check out all the links that Kat has - you will find so much inspiration (and even a bit of enabling I'll bet).

While Damon was visiting, my making and reading both slowed down.  I was busy cooking (even more than normal) and chatting (much more than normal).  But this week I can show progress on my second polo sock:

I am now roughly halfway down the foot!  A reminder that this yarn is from Fibernymph Dyeworks and the color way is "Mountain House Winter."  But (to me) the way the stripes are knitting up reminds me of a polo shirt.  Thus I've named them Polo Socks.  Anywho, I predict that this one will be finished soon and then I will cast on for something (or somethings...) new!

Only one book to report on, but it's a great one!  I finished The Artist and the Feast by Lucy Steeds and I absolutely loved it.  I found it to be sexy and delicious.  And, really, what's wrong with art, food and Provence in the 1920's?

Fletch and I are now reading (well, I'm reading it out loud after dinner) "In a Pig's Eye" by Karl Schwenke.  Small town Vermont life.  It's ok - a few laughs, but nothing great.

Today will find me back with Iris.  I need to get over a little earlier than usual due to a meeting that Colin has.  Whatever is on your agenda, I hope it's fun!

Tiny Needle Tuesday 6/2/26

 Hello!

Today is the first TNT of June 2026!  Sunday afternoon found me with the opportunity to do a bit of stitching, so I sat down and did just that.  And voila!  Progress was made on my Appil piece.

The bunny has been clothed!!  LOL. The fruit has all been stitched on the tree and more of the trunk was stitched.  It just goes to show that when you settle down and concentrate, you can do something.  I'd like to get the leaves finished and the trunk and then concentrate on putting in the last large creature between the tree and Adam.

Here is an overall shot of how things look right now.

Sorry it's a bit lopsided and the upper right is cut off.  I was pretty tired when I took the picture last night.

It's had to believe that it was one year ago (on Sunday - 5/31) that I started this piece.  I knew it would take some time, but I had not guessed a year.  And now it will be a year plus before it is finished.  Oh well, no race and (importantly) I am still really enjoying stitching this piece.  Yes, I get tired of the brown, brown, brown when stitching the trunk or the green, green, green when stitching the leaves and the grass.  But I love the way it is coming together.  With any luck, I'll find more stitching time this afternoon.

Here's hoping everyone finds time to do something fun and enjoyable today.  It is shaping up to be another beautiful day here in Eastern PA!

Weekending 6/1/26

 Good Morning and Whew!

There goes May!  I hope your weekend was a good one.  Unlike Memorial Day weekend, this past weekend was just perfection in the weather department.  Blue, blue skies with lots of sunshine and temps in the mid 70's.  For me that is perfection.  It did get a bit windy, but overall was just wonderful.  

Our weekend was filled with resting, catching up on chores, cooking...the usual.  Damon left on Thursday after being here for a week and what a lot of wonderful things he did for us.  In addition to all the pruning I mentioned last week, he repaired a crack in our basement floor and re-did the entire end of our patio (cement) where it had been peeling, cracking, crumbling.  What a job!

On Saturday I baked a strawberry-rhubarb-peach crostata.  This is definitely something I'll be making again and I think (so far) the peaches are wonderful this year!

I'll be taking half of it over to Colin & Mailing today.

I also made something really yummy for lunch.  Take some sliced Italian bread and brush it with EVOO.  Then put it in a hot oven (400 or so) to crisp up and start to brown.  Then add a layer of bruschetta and then a pile of sautéed spinach with shallots and top with a little bit of shredded sharp cheese.  Stick it back in the oven to melt the cheese.  YUM!!

I also made quesadillas using turkey taco meat, peppers, onions, and black beans.  I forgot to take a picture, but they were really good.  We do love to eat!!

While I was doing chores and cooking, Fletch managed to plant some seedlings and seeds in the garden.  Cuke and cantaloup seedlings are in the ground and yellow beans have been planted.  My parsley came back in the garden which was a nice surprise.

Yesterday was our anniversary (46 years!!).  Fletch and I sat on the patio in the late afternoon with glasses of Prosecco.  The scent of honeysuckle was very strong and we noticed the first apples in our tree!

I'm surprised to see red on the apples already!  It seems early.  And they are still so tiny.  And see that blue, blue sky!

Anyway, the weekend was full of good things (and chores).  I even snuck in some knitting and stitching and reading!  Now it's back to routine.  I'll be caring for Iris today and am anxious to see her again.

Happy June Everyone!

Tiny Needle Tuesday 5/26/26

 Good Morning!

The sun is out for the first time in days!  It has been a very wet Memorial Day weekend here in Eastern PA.  I even received notice that various local parades scheduled for yesterday were cancelled due to the rain.

Despite the weather, Damon and Fletch have gotten a lot of things done!  The apple tree has been trimmed - dead limbs cut off and also those horrid tent caterpillar nests; the tree my clothesline is connected to has also been trimmed and many of the vines around it removed and my lilac has had a very good haircut!  We don't have central air, so room air conditioners have been put in place.

Saturday afternoon we headed over to C&M's for dinner with them.  Colin grilled (inside) some wonderful sausages.  I made an eggplant caponata and a corn and black bean salad to go with that.  We had freshly baked sourdough bread and a wonderful rice pudding tart for dessert.  YUM!!!

Most of my time has been spent in the kitchen cooking up a storm to feed those two guys, so not too much stitching has taken place.  In fact, my stitching only came out one afternoon for a very short period of time.

Just the start of the lower fruit on the left.  I'm hoping to have much more to show next week.

Meanwhile, we are having some gorgeous iris blooms in our boggy area:

And the snap dragons that we picked up the other week at the greenhouse have budded and now are open!

I love the variety of colors.

Time for more coffee.  I've a busy day ahead of me so I'd best get moving!