Solo Rides

I've taken some solo bike rides lately.  I enjoy them much better than I thought I would.  The only drawback is that I have no judge about how fast or slow I am going.  Wait a minute, is that actually a drawback??

Summer Knitting Obsession

Queensland Pima Lino

More Pima Lino, in a different colorway

The Mackinac Tank, from the summer edition of Knit Scene

Layout, just started in the Pima Lino (pattern here)

Plain and Simple pullover, 2/3 done (pattern here)

Usually my knitting tapers off in the summer.  But as our summer road-tripping has increased, as well as my work related travel on long airline rides, I have had a need to knit. But I couldn't knit in wool!  Too hot for car rides!  So my "Plain and Simple Pullover" has been tabled until fall, and I knitted up a sexy-back tank from the summer edition of Knit Scene in Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool.  I think every woman over 30 should have a sexy-back tank of some sort.  In fact, I may knit another in a different pattern (with a lace panel in back).  This is my second Silky Wool project, and I have to say I love the yarn!  Light enough for summer, but warm enough for summer evenings in Idaho.  

The Pimo Lino though--I have to say I am in love. I bought two grab bags of "Lovely Linen" from The Yarn Underground, my LYS, and then immediately had to buy more skeins to get sweater, (or at least tank), quantities.  Well, extra skeins and a third grab bag.  Because that's how obsessed I was.  But it's knitting up quick!  If I hurry, I may be able to wear it on vacation this summer!

In other news, we did about seven loads of laundry today.  After a week with no washing machine, the laundry was starting to get restless.  

Summer Bounty

Last of the raspberries

Overripe currents

Bounty!

  

Love my August sunflowers!

OOC beanstalk

First of the hollyhock

We are decidedly more relaxed around here.  While we are not through major transitions, we are through major decisions.  And that brings its own form of peacefulness.  There's still a bit of anxiety in the air, as the summer has seemed too rushed.  For instance, this summer does not seem to be the summer I get out to pick huckleberries.  Or even pick the currents in the back yard.  But I am content in that the huckleberries and currents will be there next year, as will we.  So I can let that go for now, and just enjoy the bounty from my garden that I have been able to capitalize on this summer.  Like lettuce--for the first time ever we have been able to keep up with production.  And garlic scapes.  I discovered garlic scape pasta (recipe here) and have made three batches, to much success and acclaim.  I've also been knitting...a lot.  The most summer knitting ever.  Hopefully I will have pictures to share soon!

Oh, and we broke down and bought a new-to-us washing machine.  Because laundry is somewhat important in the grand scheme of things!

Summer Rains...

...are weird if you live on the Palouse.  The first few days of August were unseasonably cool and RAINY!  I'm not sure what to make of it--volatile weather patterns to say the least!  But rain when it's been so dry is much appreciated, even as it disturbs you with its unpredictability.

Yesterday I did something that I hope will become a more regular habit--solo bike ride!  So lovely to ride to Troy and smell the ripening wheat and the pine trees!  Even the spring wheat is turning golden, so summer is truly winding down.

Things are still a little unsettled around here, much like the weather.  Hopefully we will have more certainty and "settledness" once I start to feel the chill of fall in the air.  The drama of the day was that our washing machine died--mid load, if you can believe it.  Lovely.  We made ourselves feel better by completely reorganizing our son's room, to much success.  I guess you win some, you lose some!

Garden Beauties

Relic of a railroad age on the Latah Trail

Made it to Troy!

Moscow Mountain