Summer Doldrums Busters

I'm so excited by a couple of things, that I just had to make like Oprah and tell you about them. (Too bad I can't make like Oprah and give all of my peeps freebies!) The first is my brand new knitting book (sorry, Nichole, I'm not trying to move into your book reviewing turf!) that has the most beautiful patterns that even a basic knitter like me can knit. It reminds of Mason-Dixon Knitting in that way. It also has lots of interesting reading, on topics covering the gamut of the social aspects of knitting. The book is "Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together", by Larissa Brown.

Here are pictures from 3 of the gorgeous projects in the book:


Not only are most of the patterns on my list of favorites, but it's also an interesting read. Do whatever you have to do to get this book - it is worth it!!!

That takes care of the eye candy, now for the ear candy. I just bought this cd by Amanda Shaw, a New Orleans girl who is a music savant. Turn on the volume and listen to 3 of the songs and I dare you not to tap your toes.



Her music is a mix of Cajun, zydeco and New Orleans blues-rock. Her latest album just makes me want to dance and eat boiled crawfish and drink some ice cold Abita beer and call everybody cher.

If you go to iTunes, you can hear samples of all of the songs on the cd. They're rather diverse, and she does a great job of capturing the variety of music that characterizes south Louisiana. Listen long enough, and you'll start calling everybody cher, too.

And now that summer has finally arrived, here is my current favorite summer song.






It reminds me a certain summer when I was in college, many many moons ago, with someone who wasn't husband material but was just the kind of bad boy we all need at least one of when we're young and foolish. We went our separate ways that fall, but there were some memorably good times. (happy sigh) I feel like I'm 19 again. Well, except for the wrinkles, 20lb. of extra fluffage and hot flashes.

So now it looks like I'm catching up on my life and blogging. I did get some knitting done as well as some other little projects, which I'll hopefully get to write about in the next few days. Have a great week!