It must be summer

Just to prove that I'm not lying around eating bon bons by the pool (the only pool I have is made of sweat) ...
After several (and by that I mean more than 3) attempts to get Fifi started, I'm on a roll. Out of sheer stubbornness, I decided to make the cable cast-on work, and it finally did. I tried it on after my first repeat under the arms, and it fit, but I could tell that I'd need to add some stitches for the "apex" of my bosom. Rather than fuss with short rows, I added 2 extra stitches in the purl channel in the sides, and am crossing my fingers that it does the trick. I'm still loving the yarn, and am just about to start my 3rd skein. Just knowing that I'm on the home stretch is enough for my mind to wander....
Project next? Just a little something I picked up in Camden this past weekend. Details later.

I've had all sorts of great ideas about what I'd like to be doing these days, but more often than not, I come home and fall on the couch with a book. Yes a book! I can barely believe it myself. It's funny how my interests are like spokes on a wheel that turns ever so slowly. For the longest time, I've had no interest in reading, and now I can't stop. I just finished "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert (loved it!!) and have just started "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. It doesn't hurt that my office is located across the way from a bookstore and that I have an hour for lunch every day and that it's just lovely outside. All day I planned on sewing tonight, but when I got home, it was so hot and stuffy in my sewing room that I gave up and decided that it was time to post. I had no idea it had been so long!

If it wasn't so hot, I'd be sewing quilt blocks together. I fussed with them forever before deciding that I just didn't have it in me tonight. Here are leftovers, which I plan to make into a small quilt:
This isn't the final layout. Just something that's been spread on my craft room floor for the past week. As I was laying out the large blocks on the living room floor tonight, Mr. Strange commented that he's getting really tired of these colors, and you know, I have to agree. I need to make something PINK or ORANGE or RED for a change!! Of course I bought lots of goodies at the Maine Quilt show last weekend, so I have plenty of options.

Speaking of goodies, the 39 and 1/2 birthday is almost over and I haven't been posting photos for my girlfriends! In no particular order, here are most of those that I've opened since I last posted:
Beautiful note cards from Linda and Renee; Amy Butler fabrics and patterns from Annie and Linda and funky dot fabrics, complete with matching pencil and purse feet (!!!!!) from Betsy.

Chocolates, Dunkin Donuts gift card (in use) and coffee from Annie (I curse you Annie! I can't stop eating those truffles); Knitting lady and car accessories from Winnie (I will never wear my hair in bun); funky sunglasses from Betsy; and a plaque ("Friends are sisters God forgot to give you") and fun ring from Mary.

Sea urchin candle holder and tealights from Renee; box of sand with shells and sea glass from Betsy; and glass tealight holder from Dee. Not shown are the car air freshener, green tea travel candle and purse sachet (from ???) which are all in use.

Thank you thank you thank you!! I've been having so much fun opening my gifts every day and I just LOVE everything.

XXOO