I've had a few 3- or even 4-day weekends lately and, while I really do love my regular Wednesday off (I like to think of it as a "mini-weekend"), there is something to be said for three or four days off in a row. It's fun to get out of town, of course, but it's sometimes just as fulfilling to spend those days at or close to home.

Here are 10 things I did on my (most recent) 3-day weekend:

1 — Relaxed. No bra, no shoes, no makeup, PJs until whenever I wanted (or someone let me know they were on their way over)…

2 — I made Homemade Clam Chowder! I've had clam chowder a million times — out of a can, or at a restaurant (probably out of a bigger can) — but I've never made it at home. One reason for this is that I live in Wisconsin and we don't have clams like that (I don't think) and, even if we did, it would be illegal to harvest them. I've also come to know and trust the popular and well-stocked seafood counter at my favorite local grocery, so when a NY Times Cooking recipe by Sam Sifton came across my desk on Friday, I decided that I'd give it a go if there were cherrystone clams to be had. There were, and it was delicious!

3 — We had a nice dinner at the home of friends on Saturday — G&Ts, soup & salad, lots of gabbing! We will need to reciprocate!

4 — I "cleaned up" my room a little bit… moved some things around and made some room to do some sewing. This is a long-languishing (as in years) project that made it's wishful way from my mother to Annie to Ali and finally to me. I was sick of "moving it around" and was finally inspired to sew it up. All the pieces had been cut, the pattern was in the bag and intact, and I am moving right along. It's going to be a gift and is a bit of a stealth project at the moment… all shall be revealed in a week or two!

5 — We continue to ponder & plan (& sketch) the replacement over-the-fridge cabinet situation. Another change has already been made since this drawing was scanned. Doors of correct dimensions have been located, though, so now we're just hammering out some details. (Actually, I just realized that maybe I need to bring home said doors as a visual aid in order to make the final decision!) (Thanks, blog!)

6 — Planning for the Olympics. I've already set the DVR to record a couple of things.

7 — I ordered some extra-long DPNs for my Olympic knitting project, and hope to see them in the next couple of days so I can train swatch!

8 — More sewing. Daily stitching, in fact. And I did a lot more of that than knitting over the weekend! That's the wrong side of a sleeve, and it reminds me of watermarks & spills.

This is a day or two or three later and I've done some applique, too. The basted line is where I imagine (I'm pretty sure… almost certain) that I'll be rolling up the sleeve and I don't think I want watermarks on that part!

9 — And cutting! Woman can only sew for so long on an Alabama Chanin project before she must cut!

10 — Even though I wasn't knitting, I did play around with some yarn yesterday. Experimenting in a couple of ways… and I'm happy with the results!

It was back to work today. It's freezing cold but sunny and, happily, we're up to 10:04 hours of daylight!! (Your daylight & happiness may vary.)

I hope you had a great weekend and start to the week!

Ten on Tuesday:  5 Best of Summer / 5 for Fall

Well… what a summer.

At the beginning of it, I had no idea that I'd be bidding farewell to my sister and her family in addition to my daughter as they moved overseas! Ann & family had about 5-6 weeks to take care of things before moving to Spain for at least 2 years. Maddy planned, worked, and saved hard over the past year or so in order to spend the next year traveling and exploring in New Zealand.

It's been a super shitty summer in many respects, not the least of which was the death of Rusty's dad, and from the beginning I've made it a point to focus on the good stuff this summer — and on the things that I can control.

 

Five Best Things I Did This Summer

1 – I spent lots of time with the kiddos.

2 – I spent a few glorious days up north.

3 – I did lots of art stuff — viewing, participating, and even making.

4 – I read books — thanks to audiobooks, I've read more than I have in many a summer (winter, spring and fall).

5 – I made time for Auntie Camp II before my nephews left for Spain — abbreviated, but so much fun!

 

Five Things I'm Looking Forward to Doing This Fall

1 – Catching my breath. It was a very busy summer and I just need some time to collect my wits.

2 – Cooking. We've been planning our weekly menus and cooking at home for most of the summer, and I'm aiming to keep that going.

3 – Reading. That will certainly continue, and I'm still aiming for a BINGO by Thanksgiving.

4 – Knitting & Sewing… and getting a grip. I just sewed some adorable ladybug buttons on a sweater for Gin (an FO post to come!), but I've somehow misplaced a cone of Habu Tsumugi Silk for another project; there's a "quick" A-line top that stalled awaiting binding at neck and arms; one thumb-less mitten for Jun that's awaiting a thumb and a mate. So much to organize. (I have been making progress at washing the knits, though!)

5 – A Getaway! I'll be spending a few days in the Hudson Valley with some friends next month — knitting, laughing, cooking, eating, and going to a little thing called "Rhinebeck." It's been 9 years since I visited in the east and I cannot wait!!

Ten on Tuesday:  10 Things I Did On The Weekend

WHY?

1  – I picked up Jün at the farmers market on Saturday morning and we ran errands together. They didn't have "car carts" at the grocery store when my kids were little, so that was a first (and I only knocked/bumped a few things!) (he was much happier and more excited than it looks). Then we hung out at my house — reading (he's not tired of my excellent caterwauling), snacking, playing! I answered my first "WHY?" question from him… here we go!

2 — On Saturday evening, I watched the Wisconsin Badgers vs. LSU at Lambeau Field while I wove in the ends on my Green Bay Packers Scoreboard Cowl. I ran out of yarn 2 games short of a full season, but it is plenty long… and it is what it is! The ends are all in and I'm ready for grafting!

3 — On Sunday, Kate & I drove up to Door County for the day. We'd originally planned to do that last Wednesday, but ended up in Madison that day… doing what was supposed to be done the day the car crapped out.

4 — In addition to having my favorite lunch at my favorite place (which, after all these years, wasn't quite up to par… so we may expand our culinary horizons next time) (change is good), we stopped at a used book shop and also visited a couple of galleries. Rusty had work at Edgewood Orchard Gallery years ago, and it's changed and expanded quite a bit, especially outside where there is a nice courtyard and a large sculpture garden. I loved the detail on the dress of the sculpture above… also pretty epic hair. The "paint" is at The Hardy Gallery, which is housed in a 130+ year old warehouse on the dock at Ephraim. It's amazing. Rusty had and sold a piece at this gallery earlier in the season.

5 — The Door County trip was spontaneous, Sunday having originally been declared "art day." I didn't actually make anything on Sunday, but I did pull out my collection of old photos… I have a half-baked idea and am looking for some inspiration.

6 — I started ripping out one of the KonMari'd projects while riding in the passenger seat and finished it off on Sunday night.

7 — On Monday, I wound it into a hank on the swift, then soaked both hanks of reclaimed yarn and hung them to dry!

8 — I also still had that small bucket of indigo outside. I refreshed it, tied & folded up a few onesies, and gave 'em a dunk or two or three. I haven't yet tired of the BLUE MAGIC!!

9 — Did some good cooking… and eating. We've been quite diligent about making a weekly menu and sticking to it! One of the best things about it is that we almost always plan to make more, packing up leftovers right away into lunch-size containers, ready to grab in the morning. That means that I have this delicious salmon with cherry tomatoes and basil (baked in a foil packet… thanks Mark Bittman) to enjoy again today!!

10 — I labored… purposefully and as little as possible, but one still needs clean clothes and a balanced checkbook!

I hope your weekend was grand!

Ten on Tuesday:  10 Things On My Summer Bucket List

Originally posted in June, let's see how's it going, shall we?

This summer, I want to:

1 – Play with Junah – CHECK!
                Trains and water play are the favorites!

2 — Cuddle with Gin – CHECK!
                Lots and lots. She's 3 months old today!! She's so happy and loves to smile, and to watch her big brother!

3 — Get a BINGO! — not yet.
                I'm not sure whether it'll actually happen, but I've enjoyed some pretty great books while trying. I'm currently listening to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and loving it, and turning the pages of All The Light We Cannot See, which I am also enjoying. I'm at around the half-way mark of both books.

4 — Sew a dress for Gin (and maybe one for me) – CHECK! (and working on it)!
                Tops instead of dresses, though I do have a dress in my sights for Gin.

5 – Take a day trip to Door County — not yet.
                But we did take a day trip to the northwoods last week, and had lunch at Little Bohemia!

6 — Stitch on my Alabama Chanin Magdalena A-line Tunic – CHECK!
                I'm not setting the world on fire, but I've been stitching now and then.

7 — Finish Romi's 2016 "Mystery" Shawl – not yet.

8 — Finish Kirsten's 2016 Mystery KAL Shawl (while it's still a mystery!) — CHECK!
                I fell behind and didn't finish while it was still a mystery, but I didn't peek until the end, so it was still a mystery to me; and I finished in time to post in the Ravelry thread by the deadline for prizes. It felt good to meet a deadline!

9 — Finish Ina's LOLA Sweater in time for late-summer/fall layering – working on it.
                This was my project du jour at the last knit night, though, so a little progress has been made. I think it'll be my go-to project every knit night!

10 — Go to the zoo! There's a nice, small zoo not far from us, and Jün is the perfect age! This would be fun to do along with my nephews, too. – not yet.
                If it happens, it won't likely be with the nephews… they'll be off to Spain in 3-4 short weeks and there's lots to do!

Meanwhile, I've also…

• Attended two weddings as a guest and another as second photographer
• Photographed an engagement session for a wedding coming up next month
• Spent every Saturday morning since July 2nd at the farmer market or otherwise assisting
• Had a nice 5-day get-away to the far north with kids & kiddos
• Been more diligently working with Kate on menu planning and cooking
• Come to grips with my sister's upcoming departure
• Began weekly-ish mowing of Mom's lawn again while my stepdad is out of the country
• Kept up with the laundry
• Even occasionally swished the toilet bowl

I missed last week because we were up north, but I really wanted to participate because I LOVED SUMMER CAMP! I went twice, with my cousin Gail, to a week-long YWCA-sponsored residence camp in Minnesota.

Ten on Tuesday:  10 Things I Loved About Summer Camp

1 – Riding the Greyhound bus to camp. I did that at least once (my first solo travel!) from Appleton to Duluth, taking "the long way" (all those bus stops), and it took about 9 hours in my memory. On the return trip I forgot/lost my pillow on the bus.

2 – Horseback riding. "My" horse, both years, was a seemingly huge palomino named "Taffy." She was the sweetest & gentlest of all. I guess you'd call her a "rescue" now; she couldn't be tied up or she'd go nuts — one can only surmise what that signaled to her. I loved learning how to saddle up and groom a horse!

2 – Arts & crafts time. Making lanyards and all that stuff.

3 – Swimming. Except that time I wandered into the weeds and had a giant leech on my leg.

4 – The kitchen staff. Not because the meals were memorable (or even all that good – I don't remember), but it was one of the cooks who ran out of the hall to save me from that leech!

5 – Archery. I was pretty good at it, too.

6 – Tetherball. It was for casual recreation, and there was always a game underway.

7 – Canoeing. That was likely my introduction to canoeing and learning how to paddle.

8 – Camp songs & campfires!

9 - Goofy games, skits & contests. I won the title of "Miss Ugly" in a pageant after my cabin-mates dolled me up… smearing toothpaste on my legs, teasing my hair to high heaven (no fun brushing that out), dressing me in all sorts of mismatched clothes… and for "talent," I sawed on my violin (which I had inexplicably brought along to camp) and shout/sang "Mary Had a Little Lamb" with no discernible tune nor key.

10 – Free time. You'd find me playing tetherball or reading in my bunk.

 

Ten on Tuesday:  10 Songs "About" Where I Live

Hm. Well, Wisconsin…

1 - Cadillac Ranch - Bruce Springsteen (Drivin' alone through the Wisconsin night)

2a - Milwaukee, Here I Come – George Jones & Tammy Wynette

2b – or by Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton

3 – Wisconsin – Bon Iver

4 – My Cousin In Milwaukee – Ella Fitzgerald

5 – What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me) – Jerry Lee Lewis

6 – They're Not Tryin' On The Dance Floor – Jonathan Richman (Like Sheboygan or Eau Claire, they're just there)

Sure, there are a few other obscure songs that mention Wisconsin… but if you ever actually CAME to Wisconsin, say to Lambeau Field in Green Bay and attended a Packer game, you would most certainly hear these songs (among others), so by association…

7 – Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones (kick off)

8 – Bang The Drum All Day - Todd Rundgren (TOUCHDOWN!)

9 – Beer Barrel Polka / Roll Out The Barrel (start of the 4th quarter)

10 – I Gotta Feeling – The Black Eyed Peas (WIN)

True, it is not guaranteed that you'd hear #10, but we certainly hope so! (How can it be that the Packers' first pre-season game is less than 3 weeks away???)