I took a bit of a dip in the yarn stash

I went looking for yarn for one project.  I found partial skeins of two dozen lovely wool yarns, inspiring the brilliant idea for a couple of stash busting travel bags.  Bags that would use lots of yardage while being a bit more distinctive and really easy to wash.  I started a large rectangular bag yesterday afternoon:

I've added about 6 inches to the sides since this morning.  I keep changing yarns, making the project rather addicting. :-)
In between knitting more toys, which can be rough on my hands, I cast on a really lovely lace shawl from Rosemary Hill called Brandywine.  The yarn has lost it's ball band, but I'm pretty sure it's from Verdant Gryphon.

It's turning into a really gorgeous piece.  The combination of yarn and pattern is wonderful!

Tonight is my twenty year high school reunion....

Despite all the people I would love to see, circumstances did not enable me to attend.  So here is me saying, "Hello everyone!"

As consolation, I am spending the evening knitting, watching Grosse Pointe Blank, and contemplating an occasion I could wear a man-eating plant dress.  Maybe my dad's upcoming wedding?

We may eat a bit of watermelon...

Watermelon salad actually; cucumber, red onion and tomatoes tossed with a ton of fresh mint and...watermelon.  Topped with herbed feta, it's amazing!

I serve it alongside the watermelon that didn't fit in the mixing bowl.  I've served it with herbed bread and various meats, but really, it's a stand alone for us.
 It's kind of blissful on a warm summer evening to have a dinner that everyone loves and doesn't heat up the house.

Solace in the written word

This summer continues to be a bit of an emotional trial; some were unexpected, some ongoing.  So, I do what I have always done.  I read. 
I read the first six novels in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. Thanks Mom!  The seventh was released only a couple days ago, it will likely be added to the library shortly.  I also started The Edge series by the same author. Again, thank you Mom!  They are fun reads, with the Kate Daniels series being a bit darker in tone.  All are rather addictive reads.
I also read the latest Dresden novel. To say I am a fan of the Dresden novels would probably be an understatement.  They have become some of my favorite books ever. Thank you Jim Butcher!
All of these, plus a re-read of the entire Parasol Protectorate series  , have been palate cleansers in between chapters of The Song of Ice and Fire.  I am about a third of the way through the third novel, A Storm of Swords.  Engrossing novels! They are graphic, in many ways, so if you don't like that sort of thing, they may not be for you.  I still think you should give them a go though!
It's a few books. I also have all of these as e-books, so where the tablet goes, so goes the library (at least quite a lot of it).  This means I read everywhere, including while knitting, whenever there is a spare moment.  As much as I adore my paperback novels (which I still prefer to read when at home), the e-books are easier to cart around on a daily basis.

There have also been Game Nights; hosted one, went to another. I got to teach someone how to knit and how to make pie crust. There may even be a trip to Austin at some point.  Not thrilling, I know, but nice.

Every knitting project has seemingly become black holes of endless knitting.  This may be another reason I am getting so much reading done.  I did finish a couple of hats.  I left off the braids it called for, it seemed kind of overkill.  The "rivets" were my first go at making bobbles.

The other one is black lace that still looks unfinished because it needs to be blocked, hence the lack of picture.   It is the Rosewater hat from Handmade in the UK.
I hope to have a couple new pattern books to squeal about by next week.  Squid hat!