Home again, home again

I can't believe I missed posting the entire month of June! Moving was a pretty big ordeal, but it's done now. Except for unpacking all the boxes piled around the house. The cats sort of enjoyed the moving process, at least the packing up part, as they continually had new hiding places and new exploration possibilities. Yes, that's Geronimo on top of a mattress stacked on its end. He climbed a tower of boxes and was happy as can be up there. And Mirando always loves boxes.


We got settled in a bit before the guys joined us, but they seemed to know pretty quickly that this was home. I'm sure the familiar furniture helps with that. They're very happy to be back with us, and they're finding favorite spots in the new house.


Getting internet access from BellSouth was quite the trial, but we are now happily wireless, so I can actually post and comment on blogs in between boxes to unpack! As usual (at least lately) I am way behind on my blog reading, and I'm looking forward to getting caught up now that we have some semblance of routine and normalcy around here!

Knitting: I've been working on the Irish Diamond Shawl from Folk Shawls. I love that book, and I've made several shawls from it already. I had a couple of setbacks (I've knit the collar part three times due to not paying enough attention), but now I'm on the second repeat of the first lace pattern. Here's a progress photo. It looks awful, as lace in progress often does. And black lace is really hard to photograph. But it's a nice knit so far, and I love the Zephyr Wool Silk, which has a nice hand and some good flexibility. Black is not the most fun to knit, to be honest, but I think the recipient will really like it. We'll see if it's done by Christmas. Hmmm. Could happen. String Bean pointed out that it can be fun to respond "black lace" when someone asks what I'm knitting, and it's true!


Reading: Oh, lots, but not much interesting. It's summer, and hot and humid, so I've mainly been re-reading Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels. Lame, I know, but a good break from packing. I have started Susan Wittig Albert's first "Cottage Tales" mystery, The Tale of Hilltop Farm. These are semi-biographical mysteries with Beatrix Potter as the sleuth. She had an interesting life, and the mystery is charming. I kind of stopped reading her China Bayles mysteries, but I had enjoyed them. Not sure why I stopped. I do enjoy her writing, and she clearly did lots of research on Beatrix Potter's life. She crams in maybe a few too many facts and trivia, but whatever. It's cute and charming and a perfect cozy mystery so far. I finished reading Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next books aloud to Lilah while nursing, and I can't wait for the next one near the end of the month. After reading the fourth, I had thought he was done with them, as he had tied up a lot of loose ends, but I'll really enjoy reading another. I love these books. The next one comes out a couple days after Harry Potter 7, so I'll have a great few days!

Writing: I've picked out a writing nook in the new house, and we're desk shopping soon. Unpacking has taken over much of my free time lately. I have had a few brainstorms that I've jotted in my notebook on changes I'd like to make, so at least I'm thinking about it.

Cooking: The kitchen boxes were the first I unpacked! I adore my new kitchen. Except for the lack of a gas stove :( But it has tons of storage space and more counter space and a cute island that fits two barstools. I've been cooking, just not anything to write home about.