Socks, Farmer's Market and Audio Books!

So, I attended the second annual Sock Summit - who knew there was so much about knitting to see!  Bought some yarn, met some wonderful people and had an overall wonderful time.

Then, not to be outdone, Mr. Hinkelgruber and I attended the local Farmer's Market for the first time today.  This week's menu reflects the marvelous produce we bought.  Oh, and Mr. Hinkelgruber bought two fresh tamales for our lunch.  It's true, there is something special about a fresh, homemade tamale like nothing else.  Mmmm!

Finally, are you finding yourself missing out on reading?  The most wonderful creation is the audio book that can be downloaded to an i-Pod. Now, I can read and knit at the same time.  What a wonderful summer this is sizing up to be.

Who exactly is feeding you?

So, some of you may have received a mistaken menu from Mr. Hinkelgruber.  No, no, no....he has not left sloppy joes and white bean and chicken chili behind for us to all feast on!  His annual pilgrimage to the northern islands finds those meals going with him - so don't knock on my door!

I'll be making my own pilgrimage today to see the final installment of Harry Potter.  I must admit - this makes me feel more like an empty nester than my own children leaving home.  I wonder why that is?

Shrimp, mushrooms and a man-cave...

Do you get the feeling that when Mr. Hinkelgruber doesn't want dinner guests he plans mushrooms or shrimp?  I don't mind, but some of you might!
The plan this week is to begin the new "Man Cave".  What that really means is the big clean out:  the office, the spare bedroom, etc.  The ultimate goal is to have it done by October 1.  There.  It's in writing. I have officially thrown my hat over the fence.  Whew!  Now I have to go to work.

Fabric sale, part deux...

Quilters are funny people...for starters, they're addicts!  Yep, every one of them!  "I shouldn't buy more." "I don't really need this." "I have three rooms filled with fabric. Do you really think I need more?!?" And then, like pigs at a trough, they proceed to buy bags full of fabric.   Oh well, I'm happy to be their pusher/supplier if it means I loose my addiction!  I sold about half of what I had and got a lead on a place that buys fabric from individuals and then resells it at their shop.  Gotta check that out. (Uh, no, I'm NOT having another sale - I still don't like people touching my stuff!)

According to Mr. Hinkelgruber, this week's menu is rather mundane - doesn't look mundane to me - looks like we're having some favorites that we haven't had in a while.  WOOHOO!

Fresh Corn-on-the-cob, fresh strawberry ice cream....ahhh....summer!

Mr. Hinkelgruber and I went to Mr. MacGregor's produce stand for strawberries and found the first fresh corn on the cob of the season!  In Mr. Hinkelgruber's words, "Just like candy!"  Now, if the Cubbies would start winning, the summer would be perfect!

We get new windows installed this week and I think I may begin working on Mr. Hinkelgruber's 'man-cave'.  Like the ant said to the grasshopper, "Much work to be done before winter!"

Fabric, fabric....more fabric?!?

The goal of last week's garage sale was to clean out my sewing room. You read about the good news last week.  What I neglected was the bad news:  I never made it into my sewing room!  You see, I really have had some sort of 'addiction' problem with fabric.  I am happy to say, however, I believe that particular addition is over!  I've been cutting, ironing, folding and stacking even more fabric the past week with the intention of having another garage sale aimed directly at quilters. Today, I believe, I touched the last piece of fabric that needed tending to. There's a lot of fabric!

You'll notice polenta on this week's menu.  I'm not really a fan, but I told Mr. Hinkelgruber I'd try it.  (He gave me chicken and dumplings last week (and they were positively superb!), so the least I can do is approach this new dish with an open mind.)

Oh, yeah, and I got into my sewing room!

I learned something about myself today....

I've never had a garage sale before and I've never been one who frequented them...I always figured I didn't have the patience to organize one and I certainly find no pleasure in pawing through other people's stuff (read:  junk).  Today I learned why I've never had one before:  I don't like people touching my stuff (and until it's sold - it's still my stuff!) and many of them make very snide comments.  But today, I participated for the first time in our neighborhood's garage sale.  People are interesting creatures.  You can give them the deal of a lifetime, and many will still ask, "Will you go lower?  Are you going to mark things down at the end of the day?"  That said, I did have a fun time and might even consider doing it again (I made over $400!) since I know what to do differently next time.

Oh, and food wise - did you notice chicken and dumplings?  One of the few meals my mother could actually cook well and, as a result, one of my favorite foods.  I can hardly wait!