and good mail.  This surprise came to us from Robyn.  She really shouldn't have, but I am soooo glad she did!

Two packages:  one for me and one for the girls.  Do you see that she wrapped mine in that lovely Amy Butler fabric?  Yippee!

For the girls:  a wonderful craft kit from Klutz.  Robyn said she never knew what those lanyards were called - me either.  Now we do:  Scoubidou!  I remember making this at camp as a kid and can't wait to make these with the girls.  And wasn't Robyn sweet to think of my kiddos?

For me:  this lovely decoupaged frame (see all that green?).  Robyn had read over on Susan's blog that this song hold special meaning to Fatty and me - he cries each time he hears it.  I cannot believe she remembered this - it really is an incredibly thoughtful gift.

Thanks so much Robyn!  You are kind and generous soul.

As good as it is to get away for awhile, it is always good to come home.

I started reading this book in Telluride.  I like it.  I enjoy reading someone's actual experience mixed with information instead of just information.  It has given me a lot to think about.

We returned home to an empty refrigerator so a trip to the grocery was first on the to-do list.  (Well, second, really - I had to get a new car battery first.  Nothing fun about coming home to a dead battery for the fifth or sixth time).  I was happy to see some local cucumbers and yummy summer squash.  I'll have some of those, thank you very much.  Asparagus from Peru.  Hmmm....not today.  The organic kiwis looked good, too.  From New Zealand?  OK, maybe not.

Now, for many of you, this may be second nature, but for me, it really isn't.  Now I am thinking about buying produce and meat (if I can find it - any ideas on that, Serena?) that comes from close to home.  I want to support my local economy.  I want to have healthy food around for my family.  I want to make some kind of an effort.  Not to say we won't buy our fair share of California berries or Georgia peaches - I am being realistic, here.  I am thinking before I buy, though.  That has got to be a start.

So for lunch today, I had locally grown, organic heirloom tomato with homegrown basil on a whole grain bagel with a tiny schmear of cream cheese.

Yes please and thank you very much.

Fatty arrived today - hooray!  I was so happy to see him.  Being apart for 10 days is hard.

And now he's gone again - off to camp overnight with Kate.  She requested her daddy and he couldn't refuse.  Here and then gone.  Like the rain that comes every afternoon.  Beautiful blue skies in the morning and by 3:00 the clouds roll in. Cue the thunder.  Cue the lightning.  Big storms.

I hope my campers stay dry.

I am going, too.  Back next week when the vacation is over.

While I knit away on Elisa's Nest Tote (it's going smoothly this time), I thought I would share some finished projects.  Before we went on vacation, I finally sent Marianne and Sasha their prizes from my birthday giveaway.  It was about time.

This one went to Marianne.  I must admit I like this one so much that I almost made another one for myself.  I may still.

Here's Sasha's new belt.  I used some of my Denyse Schmidt fabrics and couldn't be happier with how it all came together.  I just love these fabrics.  And for you observant types, yes, that's the belt up in the new banner.

Because I was so tardy in getting these prizes made, I whipped up something extra for each of these ladies.

These little clutches are from Amy Karol's book.  Super fast and easy to make.  I didn't have elastic cord on hand so I used some 1/4" elastic and it worked just fine.  The vintage buttons and the fabric are all from the stash.

Thanks for all the anniversary wishes!  I wish I could report that Fatty and I had a nice night out, but, alas, I am in Colorado and he was in Chicago.  He is joining the girls and me here on Wednesday and my parents have generously offered to babysit, so we can go have a nice dinner together.  Hooray!

I need a change of pace so I put the crochet hook down and picked up the knitting needles.  I wanted to knit Elisa's Nest Tote that I saw on the Purl Bee.  It's cute, it looked quite simple and the pattern said that it takes a few hours.  Perfect for vacation knitting.  I cast on the 41 stitches and started.

Oh, Elisa's Nest Tote, why do you taunt me so?  This is try number two.  The first go didn't work out so well.  I like knitting fast and I have a tendency to drop stitches.  Not good when you are knitting lace.  I can never figure out how to put the yarn back on the needle with all those decreases and yarn overs.  So, I frogged number one.  I got 20 inches into number two and then realized I only had 38 stitches on the needle....wonder what happened to the other 3?  I painstakingly took out about 8 rows over the course of 40 minutes and counted 39 stitches.  Still missing two, I frogged again.

I cast on again last night.  The plan:  knit and watch movies, enjoy some down time while the girls are at camp.  They say the third try is the charm.  I sure hope so.

I love you.  More.  Thanks for choosing me.

Funny....I see some themes.  Fruits and veggies and lots of pretty fabric.  Not that surprising, huh?  If you click on the mosaic, it should take you to flickr where you can see the credit for all these lovely photos.

I've been working on the blog a bit - see the new banner and flickr badge?  I need to update my links in a BIG way.  I am wondering if any of you use blogrolling or have used it.  Any insight there?  I want my links to be organized (alphabetical order, specifically) and I can't figure out how to do that in Typepad without reworking the whole link list.  Last time I did it, it took something like two hours.  See why I have been remiss in updating?  Any advice you want to pass on would be welcome!

In the meantime, here are some blogs that I have been enjoying recently:

Mia Stella - Marcia, my real life, in the flesh, craft swap friend is an extremely talented photographer and all around crafty gal.

good-ness - Leslie lives in Japan and has a wonderful aesthetic.  I especially love her photos and am extremely jealous of her proximity to not one, but a few good fabric stores.

Blue Yonder - Stefani is a loving, caring mama to three boys.  She has a quick wit and paints beautiful pictures with her words.  I wish I knew her in real life.

Plush-a-holic - Dawn is sooooo talented and makes the most beautiful stuffed creatures.  See those conjoined rabbits in the top row, third photo.  Yep, those are hers and I think they are just brilliant.

wiksten-made - Jenny designs clothes.  Really cute, fashionable clothes.  I wish I had that talent.  I also wish I lived closer to her so I could take pattern grading lessons.  Really.  I would pay money to have someone teach me how to do that.

OK - that's it for now.  Hopefully, I will get my links figured out soon.  Happy Thursday!
 

When we are in Telluride, the kids are all about s'mores.

Good times, people.  Good times.