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We have a graduate!

This just in…

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Malina graduated 4K yesterday!

I remember when Kate finished preschool — there might have been a cap made of construction paper — and we mothers all hummed Pomp & Circumstance during the procession. This actual cap & gown? Crazy… but so darn cute! I asked Ali if they moved the tassels: "They moved them, half of them were not where they should be by that time which just made it cuter!"

The kids' last day of school is tomorrow, and it's basically an all-day picnic at a nearby county park. It's just been an amazing year for all of them — the whole family!

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Maddy said, "It looks like everyone else is posing for their band's album cover and then there's the preschool graduate 😂🥰🥰 !"

Happy Weekend!!

 

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Workin’ For The (Long) Weekend

I don't really have much to update in the knitting & reading departments. I've finished knitting the border on four corners of Mack's blanket, and now I'm filling in — straight garter stitch with no miter-shaping increases, so it should go pretty quick… and then there are a lot of ends to weave in.

There are lots of other things vying for attention these days, though, especially NICE WEATHER!! It's been amazing this week — a little cooler today & tomorrow (not unwelcome), and then warming up for what could be a stellar Memorial Day Weekend. I get an early start this week, with Friday off! Yay!!

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Kate & I drove down to my CSA farm on Saturday to pick up starter flower, veg & herb plants. We "looped the lake," driving down to Fond du Lac on the east side and returning on the west; stopping at a couple of thrift stores and for lunch, too.

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We also picked up some mulch, soil & seeds and have been busy in the yard ever since… well, mostly Kate. I love gardening but only have so much time in a day, so it's GREAT to have my personal gardener here and she is grateful to have a yard & garden at her disposal after living in a flat in the city for the past two years! I spread the mulch around the rescued hostas — I've been calling it my hosta sanctuary. haha.

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Rusty's been busy, too. I caught him from the bedroom window just as he finished cleaning up the little brick patio and along the edge where the yard meets ravine.

Also very loosely on the docket is repainting the kitchen & living rooms. The kitchen will revert to deep red/maroon-ish with white trim — the balance in that room is off with white walls & gray trim.

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Swatches (unedited) at different times of day. One of those colors is called "Rejuvenation." Before anything much happens here, we'll be tearing into the wall where those switches & controls are to reconnect currently idle wiring for a new ceiling light, removing the April Aire control that we no longer use, and patching it up. I'm looking forward to better light in that room.

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

 

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Kid’s a trooper

Just checking in real quick to say that Davy's surgery was successful, and he was AMAZING!! He couldn't eat anything solid for 12+ hours prior and only clear liquids for 10, so we avoided areas having to do with food… and he barely complained. I can't say enough about Ronald McDonald House — one of the best things being that it's within easy walking distance to Children's Hospital — and it was so great to get that little bit of fresh air. They had a nice private outdoor playground, too, and we spent a few minutes there in the morning. Surgery got underway a little bit ahead of schedule, which was great, because they found something else to fix, so it went a little longer. He was zonked out almost all the way home and, even when awake, super chill. Ali said that they both got a great night's sleep last night! His only real restriction is to avoid straddling for a few weeks, otherwise good to go!

Thanks for all your well wishes! Have a great weekend.

 

Unraveled Wednesday / Knit & Read

Unraveled Wednesday: Musselburgh

I'm joining Kat & the Unravelers today for Unraveled Wednesday!

It's been pretty busy around here! Rusty & I moved a bunch of hostas on Saturday that would most certainly be toast when the road crew starts digging (whenever that is). Sunday was all about collecting Kate at O'Hare. We went out to Ali's on Monday night for supper & to surprise the kids! I'm heading to Madison with Ali & Davy after work today… Davy's having a little surgery tomorrow to repair a hernia that he's had since birth. Ali still doesn't know what time surgery is on Thursday (hoping for early), but we'll be there whenever. Kate & I have a date on Saturday to collect starter plants from my CSA farm and make some other yard-/garden-related stops. I've been spending an hour or so at Ann's whenever possible trying to get laundry done… and I'll have to make beds & clean Friday/Saturday for guests arriving on Sunday. I was there last night and then got waylaid by a neighbor on the way home… I'd messaged Kate that I was on my way and a half-hour later she messaged me, "Are you lost?" haha. It was nice to catch up with our neighbor and I got a handful of lovely leeks to take home — she dug them up on the spot!

KNITTING:

I don't like leaving Ann's when the dryer is running and the blanket is too much to haul around, so I've been working on my One-Way Trip Musselburgh hat.

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The paper is 11×17 and I'm aiming for 19.25" to start decreases, so just a few inches to go yet! I imagine I'll have some knitting time tonight/tomorrow, and it'll help me keep calm… which will hopefully rub off on Al!

Send us all some good juju, especially for Davy & his mom!!

READING:

I'm listening to Trespasses. I've cracked open Why We Cook: Women on Food, Identity, and Connection, by Lindsay Gardner, which was a gift I received for last year's Jólabókaflóð; I haven't made much progress yet but I think it's going to be great!