Beating the Heat

It's been so hot around here! I mean it is summer, so I shouldn't complain. Keeping everyone cool is a task. I'm the biggest complainer of the bunch! Thankfully the beach is close by and always cooler than home. I gave the chickens a nice cool summer treat, packed up my beach bag and a new library book and off I went. 

Turning the oven on when it's hot out probably isn't the smartest thing but I had some huge zucchinis from my mom's garden that needed to be used. I mentioned zucchini bread and my middle son was very excited. So the oven went on...

I used this simple recipe but left out the walnuts. It's so easy and delicious.

Loving the fresh flowers from the garden. I have a collection of old bottles my grandparents found many, many years ago and I have been using them for small arrangements throughout the house.

I spent some lazy time on Sunday on the couch with Buddy and my family. We watched the show Quarterback on Netflix. We're really enjoying it. We are also finishing up Ted Lasso. I love it! We only have two episodes left. Going to miss it!

I enjoyed my weekly Monday morning coffee/knitting time today. Our friend had a visitor and it was so nice to have another knitter around the table. Knitters are instant friends!

This is the update of my Here Comes the Sun sweater. I'm almost done with the yoke. Cruising right along.

 

Have a great week! Today I am celebrating my 24th wedding anniversary. Tomorrow is my youngest's 12th birthday. I swear he was just born! Lots of celebrating to do :)

In Bloom

 

My mom's gourd trellis is so cool! I took a walk down there last night and it felt like a magical little world. Wanted to bring a quilt down and read a book under it! The gourds are growing!!!!

My little flower patch is also starting to bloom. I cut a few flowers for a small arrangement on the kitchen windowsill. I love having fresh flowers in the house.

Flowers and Fishing

If you look closely, there is a little baby deer in the middle of the photo at the shoreline.

 

My youngest has been playing baseball every day for months now. All-Star baseball came to an end with a heartbreaking loss. I was so proud of the way he played and it was very emotional to see it end. BUT...last night was the first night in months that he didn't have practice or a game! It was a beautiful night and when he asked to go fishing on the lake I could actually say yes! We are so lucky to have access to the lake behind my sister's house. A perfect night with my kid, fishing and reading in the canoe.

My first flowers I planted from seed are blooming! I was so excited to see the pops of color (through the weeds). The weeds are VERY healthy around the farm! I'm knitting away on my "Here Comes the Sun" sweater and the colors remind me of the zinnias and my pottery vase. Always nice when things coordinate.

I'm reading The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman. It's a cute, fun read and I'm enjoying it so far.

A Day to Myself

On Saturday I had an odd day to myself. It's very rare this happens. Everyone in my house had plans and no one needed me! Woohoo! So after my normal grocery shopping, boring house stuff, I took myself to The Herbary at Bear Creek in Howell, NJ. They were hosting a Summer Market with craft vendors.

It's a beautiful spot only 10 minutes from my house. They sell plants, gifts and they have a cute little cafe on the property. Their big barn gift shop is so pretty. I enjoyed strolling around and I picked up a few things while I was there.

How cute is this? "Henry's Lighting Bug Stick". A vendor had these made up and I would have snatched one up if my kids were still little. Such a fun idea.

Inside their greenhouse...

The cafe is near the umbrellas. They had someone playing guitar too. 

Inside the gift shop...

Here's what came home with me. The earrings were from a vendor at the market as well as the seaglass keychain. The earrings are for me, the keychain is a gift I gave my son's college girlfriend who was visiting us from Boston. And I got this "Beach Girl" roll-on perfume in the gift shop. It's a really nice summery scent that smells like sunscreen and salt water.

 I almost didn't go because it was so hot and no one wanted to go with me. I'm so glad I hopped in my car and went. I loved it. It's a beautiful spot!

Old Yarn, New Sweater

I wanted to knit a new sweater but I didn't want to buy a ton of yarn to do it. I decided on a pattern and went through my stash to see what I could put together. Well, I didn't really have enough of anything. BUT I did have the top of a sweater sitting in a bag (for years now) because I knew it wouldn't fit me. The yarn was beautiful and fun colors so I ripped it out and started knitting the "Here Comes the Sun" sweater. I know I have enough yarn for the colorwork section. I'll have to get yarn for the main body part. 

I started this on Saturday afternoon and I'm cruising right along. There is something so soothing about colorwork. I just want to keep knitting, crossing off row by row. There are a few rows of three colors at once (eeek! not my favorite). I was on those rows this morning at coffee and had to concentrate! 

I'm using yarn by Marianated Yarns. I got this yarn many years ago. It's a dk weight (pattern calls for sport) but I seem to be ok on gauge so let's keep those fingers crossed that it fits!!!

And this picture is out my kitchen window. Right before a big storm blew in and brought some much needed rain water. Thankfully we didn't have any flooding like I saw up in NY state and PA. Yikes!!!! 

Summertime

Summertime.... beach, sun, farm, knitting, reading, fair fun, fireworks, pool, grilling food, walking, baseball.