I've had grand plans for the better part of week to sit down and write a post about what has been keeping me busy. We've had two sets of houseguests and in between visiting and cleaning and the never-ending laundry, I've been slowly and painfully working on the last two swoon squares and staring at an unfinished pink sweater that needs just a little attention.

And I've been cooking.

I don't know if it is the change of seasons or the beginning of the school year or some other cosmic force, but I've been spending more time in the kitchen. This is more than your average "it's dinner time so let's throw something on the grill and put a salad together". This is "let's see how much we can fit into the freezer" kind of cooking.

I started by poaching one chicken.

I reduced the poaching liquid for stock, put a quart in the refrigerator and froze the rest in 1 and 2 cup portions.

With the meat, I made two pans of Mad Hungry chicken enchiladas - one pan of 8 for dinner that night, the other pan of 8 for the freezer.

There was still meat left over so I made some Mad Hungry chicken pocket pies. I doubled the dough as I had twice the amount of cream cheese that was needed. I figured I'd freeze the extra pastry for later. After making the first batch of chicken pocket pies, there was still meat left and I had the dough so I made another recipe worth. These 12 pies are now frozen.

I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies - baked half, froze the other half.

I made my favorite Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day dough - the peasant loaf. That batch makes enough for four loaves over two weeks. Perfect.

And that was all on the first day.

Now, I don't want you to think that I spent hours and hours slaving away in the kitchen. I made the bread dough and the cookies while the chicken was poaching. While the cookies were baking, I whipped up the enchilada sauce and assembled them. While the pastry for the pocket pies was chilling, I made the filling. It did take some time, but less than you'd think. And I figure if I'm going to make a mess, it might as well be a big one.

Right now I have a HUGE pot of sauce bubbling on the stove. I'll use some to make a spinach lasagne for tonight and the rest will be frozen in 2 cup portions for later. I'm not good about menu planning so these made-ahead meals are my saving grace on busy nights. All I have to do is remember to pull something out of the freezer that morning, or even the night before if I'm really on top of my game. Add some fresh veggies and that's a family meal with little fuss.

Other ideas I have include doubling up marinades and buying family packs of meat to make one meal for us now and two meals for later. I'm also thinking about making small, individual frozen pizzas for those days when the girls have longer and later sports practices and need a little more to hold them over for dinner time.

Got any good freezer ideas you care to share? Menu planning or big batch cooking ideas? I'm listening.

I fixed the quilt square and I took a nap. Nothing else got sewn.

The kids had no homework. It's been like this since school began. They are finishing the math problems before they get home and reading, reading, reading. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Seriously. But it hasn't.

Jane passed a big Kumon test. I'm so proud of her. She has worked hard and long to get to the place she is and she now knows that dedication and endurance pay off.

I ran three miles before it was light outside. The air was cool and crisp and my legs felt good.

I spent the morning with some girlfriends and had a piece of birthday cake at lunch. This group of ladies always helps me feel centered. I'm lucky to know them.

I had popcorn for dinner after the kids were in bed, while Fatty was at a meeting. No sharing.

It was a good Tuesday as far as Tuesdays go.

See the upper right hand corner? That's what happens when I am so tired from the first day of teaching photography to 8th graders that I can't think straight. (It went fine. I have a lot to learn.) Add into the mix a new sewing machine (!!!) that I am still adjusting to and super sore shoulders from working out and knitting (just the applied icord left!). The real kicker is that the very obvious mistake wasn't noticed right after it was made. No, I had to go and sew it to the rest of the block first. Classic.

Today, the seam ripper and I will become fast friends. With any luck, I'll right this block and get another one finished. It'd be very nice to have a quilt top finished by the weekend. Though, at the rate I'm going, I'm surely not counting on it. A nap is much more likely.

I've re-opened the shop. There are a number of camera straps available if you are so inclined.

Happy Friday. I hope your weekend is great!

We scooted off to a lake house for a last minute vacation. It was wonderful - cooler temps, lots of relaxation, many hours just hanging out, knitting, family bike rides, games, morning runs, movie nights. It was the perfect end to summer break. Coming home, we drove into town during a big storm, arriving at the house to tree branches across the driveway and no electricity. Two days later, the power was back on, the laundry started and lunch boxes unearthed, skirts hemmed, supplies purchased. This morning Hazel and I walked to the girls to the bus, waving to them as it drove away. And so it starts....another school year.

It was a nice break. And suprisingly good to be away from all things computer related. That said, it does feel good to be back.

Did I mention knitting?

I've almost finished my Sullivan. Really...I'm *this* close to having it off the needles. I probably logged over 40 hours of knitting in the last 12 days. I can't remember how long it's been since I've been so intent on finishing a knitting project. But I do remember why I don't knit as much as I used to - dang wrist issues. Anyhow, this has been a fun knit and I love how the Quince & Co. Lark knits up. I'm a little smitten with the color, too. A full show and tell will be coming soon.

Until then, tell me what you have been up to. I'm all ears.

This photo really doesn't have much to do with anything. I just like how it sparkles.

Our summer vacation is coming to a close. The girls start school in a week and a half. In some ways, it doesn't seem possible that it's time to start the lunch making and homework again so soon. In other ways, I'm am so ready for a more predictable routine. Either way, it's coming. I think we are ready - school uniforms bought and altered, new backpacks waiting, shoes ordered, school supplies purchased. Now to enjoy the little bit of free time we have left.

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to unplug for the next week or so. I might check email once or twice, but that is about it. If you need me for some reason, please be assured that I will get back to you when I turn the computer back on. I'm closing up the shop this afternoon around 3:00 p.m. Any orders placed between now and then will ship tomorrow. I'll re-open after Labor day weekend.

In the meantime, if you know of any good and educational iPad apps for children in elementary and middle school, would you please share? Kate will be in 4th grade and Jane will be in 6th. My favorite app that I found at the end of last year is called My Spelling Test - you type in the word, record it and then your kids get to take a test just like at school. The girls had so much fun studying their spelling words this way. We also use Stack the States - great practice for all the state capital memorizing that I know is headed Kate's way. Both of these are available for iPhone, too.

And while I'm at it, any good apps for me? I'm looking for a good organizational system for us. And lunchbox ideas that aren't sandwiches. I found this sesame noodle salad (via Molly) that I'll be trying out. Any other ideas that you all have, I'd love to hear.

I guess that's it. Over and out.

As soon as the calendar said late July, I got the urge to knit.

It happens every year, just like clockwork. I spied the Sullivan cardigan over on Pinterest and then ordered two different yarns to see which I'd prefer. While I love the Shelter by Brooklyn Tweed (on the right) - it's tweedy and a beautiful color, has lots of spring - in the end, I decided to go with the Lark by Quince & Co. The color is called dogwood and it is slightest pink which will round out all the black, gray and green sweaters in my closet.

Other things that have caught my attention lately:

I read this article on how to talk to young girls and it really made me think. Why is it that we often start conversations with other females with something about their appearance? I know I am guilty of that from time to time myself. This approach is a much smarter one.

I'm enjoy peeking behind the scenes at Blue Sparrow Press and am anxious for the shop's opening. Heather made me some letterpress cards for my birthday and they are beyond beautiful.

I am very excited about Lotta Jansdotter's new fabric line for Windham Fabrics.

Habit is back this month with a great group of guests. I really missed my daily visit in July so I was super happy to see them post yesterday.

That's all for now. I'm still sewing away on the Swoon blocks. 5 down, 4 to go!