Hey nerd

My computer crapping out on me this summer was a bummer and a big inconvenience, but it gave me the free time to plow 

through a pile of summer reading like I haven't since I was in high school. Here are a few highlights.

Sweater weather

I feel an approaching wave of domesticity coming on. Which must mean that fall has officially arrived. Though the weather is still in the upper 70s without a rain cloud in sight, the other day my fingers were itching to start a knitting project. Also, cooking chicken noodle soup from scratch and baking my own bread started to sound like a really good idea (never mind that I would have to clean all the dirty dishes off the counter in my tiny kitchen before I even started). I don't know what it is about fall, maybe because the days are shorter and more time is spent inside, but all of the sudden a pile of yarn, a mug of coffee, and Downton on DVD sounds likes luxury to me.

I'm almost done making a scarf, so I am currently auditioning ideas for the next project. By auditioning I mean spending way too much time looking for knitting patterns online.

1. "Rabbet" on Berroco :: 2. Cap Sleeve Lattice Top by Laura on Purl Bee
3. Miette by Andi Satterlund on Untangling Knots (pattern availible to purchase here) :: 4. Clandestine Socks on Knitting Daily
5. "Aidez" on Berroco :: 6. Ribbed Thigh Highs on Red Heart :: 7. "Gardner" on Berroco

The Berroco website usually has a good selection of free patterns, but it's also nice to support independent designers. I've been following designers like Ysolda Teague and Andi Satterlund for a while, their patterns are always beautiful and a little bit whimsical. Knitty is also has great place to find free patterns from independent designers.

DIY Inspiration: Mary Tyler Moore Show

I am officially declaring it impossible to watch an episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show and not feel just a little bit better about the world. Is anybody on that show not completely lovable despite--or more likely because of--their flaws? Warm fuzzies all over the place for real.

Of course I don't need to say anything about how iconic the opening sequence is (you probably started singing the theme song to yourself as soon as I mentioned the Mary Tyler Moore Show) it contains the most famous hat toss ever executed. I was watching an episode the other night, and I realized that I could probably totally make that hat.

Of course after it's done I will be obligated to run around spinning and tossing it in to the air like an idiot because that's what you have to do if you're wearing a Mary Tyler Moore hat.

The bees

Seattle summers are the perfect climate for growing lavender. The patch of lavender in my front yard practically exploded into life earlier in the season and the yard was full of happy bees all summer long.

If you're paying attention, you know the bees are disappearing and you know what dire results it would mean for us and our food supply if they disappeared completely. I know little patches of flowers in yards isn't going to solve such a huge problem, but seeing them there helps me to stay mindful of the things we need to change and grateful that there's still time to change them.

Farewell summer

Summer's over, looking forward to pumpkin pie and layering, not ready for the rain to come back just yet, other platitudes about the seasons changing blah, blah, blah. Everyone's favorite thing to do in Seattle is complain about the weather, and every year at the end of summer people act the approach of the fall rain is akin to the approach of the apocalypse. Seattle just had an absolutely gorgeous summer and our winters are temperate, if a little grey, so I say stop complaining and milk these last few weeks of lingering summer for all they're worth.

Above are some shots from my summer that I didn't get to share earlier because of my computer's technical issues. Most of my summer was spent working, but I tried to cram as much fun and relaxation in as I could manage.