This was a beautiful weekend here on the east coast of the US. After a few humid days on Thursday and Friday where we had the usual summer thunderstorms, the weekend was lovely. We spend Saturday doing our regular chores. For some reason I felt so tired that everytime I sat down, I dozed off into a light sleep. I thought it was just me but when I mentioned it to Pk, he said the same thing so maybe we picked up a low grade virus or something. As we were going through the aisles in the grocery store (Sat afternoon in the summer is a good time to shop around here. the store was empty!),he said, "I'm feeling a lake day coming on. How about tomorrow?" I, of course, agreed and we picked up some lunchmeat for sandwiches and I made some brownies and we were set.





The sky was the blue that it only gets in the summer. Heartbreaking and beautiful. There were huge puffy clouds and a breeze that made it comfortable to sit on the sand (under the umbrella and covered with sunblock and I still managed to get a little sunburn). I dozed off a few times but mostly watched the children splashing and running around. There was a lost child scare and we waited while they cleared the lake and the lifeguards made their human chain and checked in the water for a three year old child. It took about 15 minutes before we heard he had been found in the picnic area. It's a scary thing to watch them walk with linked arms through the water. Katie summed it up when she said "It scares me more that they might find the kid in the water". We have these scares occasionally and the child is always found safe and sound somewhere where he/she shouldn't be. My first thought is "who was supposed to be watching this kid?" but then I remember what it's like to come to a place like the lake with three small children. It's easy for one to slip away unnoticed. And I remember the heartstopping feeling of looking up and not seeing your child where you were sure they were just two seconds ago.....

On a less stressful note, I finally wrapped up the baby socks I made for my coworker. I gave up on the hat. I just wasn't feeling the love and so it's a pair of handknit socks for baby Salvatore. They're made out of Crystal Palace bamboo/cotton and they're adorably candy colored.

And (drum roll, lights, fanfare!!)here is Em's sweater fresh off the

blockingsquares and ready for its knit belt. I have 3 1/2 more feet of belt to knit but the sweater is essentially done. I can't remember when I started it but I think it was in March. It's the Playmate sweater from Custom Knits made with Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Superwash in color 14. No modifications. I followed Wendy's directions to the letter (and they were so easy to follow. That woman can write a pattern.). I love the way it turned out. Kate is going to take it to Em on Tuesday and hopefully she'll get a modelled shot of Em wearing it. It's not the softest yarn to knit with but it softened when I washed it. If I were going to make it for me, I would make it longer but Em likes shorter sweaters so it's perfect for her. I'm just glad to have it finished. I'm not sure I'm a sweater knitter. I got frustrated at points because I seemed to be knitting forever and not making any progress. I like making socks. Not-quite-instant gratification. And I like the challenge of a lace project. Speaking of which, I gave up for now on the Print o' the Wave stole because I didn't like it in the color I had handy. I am going to try Nancy Bush's Estonian Lace scarf that's posted on Ravelry. I looked for her book on Estonian lace at the book store but it was sold out. I have some ivory colored extra fine yarn that I think will work. Once I finish the belt for Em's sweater, I'll give it a try.

I can smell the grill. Pk lit it so he can grill some chicken to go with the macaroni salad I made yesterday and some Jersey tomatoes we picked up on our way home today. And I think we have enough left over brownies from lunch today have them with some mint chocolate chip ice cream for desert. Yum.

Enjoy what's left of your weekend.


PS. By the time I got downstairs, Pk had already cooked the chicken and cut up the tomato. All I had to do was pour myself some iced tea! What a lovely thing to have someone else cook dinner. Woot! I think I'll keep him.