My mom, my sister and her 5-year-old and 1-year-old are visiting. I dragged the 5-year-old (Dylan) to an event I was covering for work at one of the libraries here. He ended up with the coolest tied balloon ever. So cool, it's almost a craft (and therefore acceptable fodder for the blog). 

Secret Pal-laloooza

Thank you Secret Pal!!!

This lovely face mask, yummy tea medley and cute-as-a-button pincushion follow a copy of the fabulous "One Skein." How spoiled am I?

To make this an all-Secret Pal, all the time post, here's my answers to the pal hostess questions:

1. What is your favorite season?

Not summer. Definitely not summer.

I love the fall. September and October rock. Yesterday, I stood in front of my closet and looked longingly at all the sweaters I can't even think of pulling out until then (we're on our 6th day in a row of 100-plus degrees).

2. Where is or would be your favorite place in the world to take a vacation?

I love to travel, so it's hard to pick a favorite. I really, really liked my recent trip to Kyoto, Japan. But I also really loved my trip last weekend into the Sawtooth Mountains.

3. If you could have any job in the world and not worry about finances (everything would be taken care of), which means you'd be doing something you actually like, what would it be?

Isn't this the million dollar question? I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up when I was a kid and I still don't.

So I'm going to say the healthy thing: Journalist (which is what I do to pay the bills now).

4. What is your favorite project to knit or crochet?

Hmmmm. Hard to decide. I like socks (interesting but small). I also like to make sweaters. The monotony is soothing.

I also enjoy making washcloths, and after reading my new Mason-Dixon book, blankets may even make the list.

I just like to make stuff.

5. What is your favorite food - whether it be a main dish, dessert, snack, whatever?

Does espresso count as food?

If not, cheese.

6. What is your favorite way to relax and unwind?

You mean besides knitting? I love, love to read. I love to watch movies. And I love to hike. There's nothing that recharges me more than spending six hours on a dusty trail with gorgeous vistas.

 

Glacier!

I'm posting today from my hotel room at the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, Montana, a mere stone's throw from Glacier National Park. The hubby is at a conference here, which means I've had one lazy day of nothing and one lazy day to go lounging by the pool, reading my latest ("The Sunday Philosophy Club" by Alexander McCall Smith) and, of course, knitting more Jaynesy.

I've also done a bit of shopping in town, which will be expanded on today as the yarn store will be open (hooray!). I've got to get the good living down today, because it's a long 13-hour drive home tomorrow. But we've got a book on CD ("Mr. Timothy" by Louis Bayard) and lots of Twizzlers. It's a perfect mid-summer trip (at least for me, since I don't have to do any actual work).

And now, back to nonstop HGTV viewing...

One good thing

Let me preface this post by saying I've had a really bad day. The kind of day when the windshield repair people fail to show up after canceling once last week and then cannot be reached. At all. I'm leaving on a trip in a couple of days. I called last week. I hate, hate, hate them.

But that, my friends, is not the cause for this post. This post, whether you realize it or not, is a happy one.

After walking home in the wilting heat, feeling dejected, feeling like the whole day, nay, the whole summer is shot, I found a package from Amazon on my doorstep.

At first, I thought the hubby must have ordered himself up something. But wait, it was addressed to me! I know I didn't order anything....

That's right, my secret pal did! I'm now the proud owner of a shiny new copy of "One Skein," a book I've most desired, a book that the auto glass people can sleep a little sounder tonight because the murderous rage in my heart melted at the sight of cabled footies and petal bibs and candywrapper sachets.

Here's a big, fat, exuberant "thank you" to my secret pal!