Have you ever made something, that you thought was too tight, so you block the you know what out of it, and then it is too big?  Yeah.  Me, too.  I'll be back after I re-block with all the specifics.

The beginning of the summer pretty much kicks my butt every year.  I have visions of days like this saturday... but they are anything but that.  I will get used to all this running soon.  I am sure of it.
Last Sunday was a bit of what I had been wanting.  A day at home.  I mean ALL day at home.  I spent most of the day in the kitchen, with an occasional helper floating in and out.  There was a fathers day breakfast of challah french toast, granola and bagels (didn't make them) with vegetable cream cheese. Then, hummus, pita chips, lots of  raw vegetables, grilled shrimp with mango salsa, grilled vegetables, a huge salad, corn on the cob, sour dough bread with garlic scape pesto, and warm peach cobbler.
I marinated the shrimp in lime juice, olive oil and cilantro.  For the mango salsa, I used 2 mangos diced, 1/2 red onion, minced, lime juice and a pinch of cayenne.
My absolute favorite was the bread.  I posted a photo on flickr asking what it was.  I have never seen a scape.  Seriously! I know! And Julie mentioned Brian's post and the next thing I knew I was making this.  I spread the scape pesto on sour dough bread, sprinkled feta cheese and criss crossed roasted red peppers on top.  Baked at 350˚ for 20 minutes.  Sliced on the diagonal about every 1 1/2 inches.  Seriously delicious.  My sister makes this bread with an Italian loaf,  basil pesto and jack cheese.  Still including the red peppers.
It stayed light until around 9:15 pm.  Love that.  It was just long enough to knit two rows before falling into bed.  Not nearly enough knitting time, but I plan on changing that this week.

Last friday, after I put my kids on the bus, I hopped in the car and headed for Columbus, OH, for TNNA. Meeting my sister and mother there for the same reasons as before.  If you don't know anything about TNNA, it is where the retailers go to buy for their shops.  When I tell people where I am going, most look at me like I have lost my mind.  They can't believe I actually enjoy this sort of thing.  My kids call it the "knitting show" and I do believe they still think that I am on the stage, knitting.

Andrew's pick for cookie of the week. "Chocolate", was all he said.  I found this recipe.
Hit our s'more stash for the chocolate.
And voila, chocolate cookies.  My dough was a little like brownie batter.  You know, a little thinner than cookie dough.  So it required a couple of hours in the refrigerator.  Also, the recipe said it will make 3 dozen.  I got 16 cookies out of it.  They were chewy in the middle and crispy on the outside.  And if we had more would have been seriously delicious with ice cream. Unfortunately, those sixteen disappeared before they even had a chance to be served with ice cream.  Maybe next time.

Don't you just love being the first one up in your home? Nothing but the birds and your coffee and the sunrise. And to steal a couple of moments alone to knit or read or be. I know! It is the best.

I wanted to share the squares that I received from the other participants of the twelve square. Remember the concept?
Back in January I mailed out little bundles of fabric to eleven women.  I told them that the finished quilt will be for Libby and that "anything goes".  Just have fun.

Wow. You guys are the absolute best.   Thank you so much for all the plisse love.
Here is the thing though.  If you can make a knit stitch.  And you can make a purl stitch.  And okay, maybe fix a dropped stitch.  Then YOU can make anything.  Honestly.  YOU can.  
The hardest thing about knitting is reading the pattern.  And I guess actually knowing what it means.  However, if you have someone that can help you decipher a pattern, then you can make anything.  
The first thing I ever knit was a sweater.  I learned how to cast on, knit and purl, all within that first project.  My mother helped me and I actually had her sitting next to me every step of the way. (Blessed and lucky, I know.) I was in college on my three week winter break.  Cold weather in Florida meant movie time and okay maybe I should learn to knit time.  I did.  And actually headed back to college wearing my new sweater.