It has been a minute since I last blogged. We’ve been overrun with our family visiting and it’s been simply wonderful. My hubby’s girls and their husbands and our grandson arrived for a visit about two weeks ago and were here for ten days! We spent lots of time together at the lake with side trips to the coast and to LL Bean. Such fun to reconnect after a bit.

The kids helped repaint and repair our old bridge across the creek (and dug out a bunch of leaves) and repainted some of the porch furniture which was really needed. And now we’re all spruced up and ready for the Fourth of July and round two of family visits … there will be a few this summer and we’re totally thrilled!

While the kids were here our dog, Monk, suddenly started to be really limpy and we got some horrible news at the vet on Tuesday afternoon. One of the lumps on his hip was likely affecting his gait and may well be cancer eating his spine. We brought him home but knew what we had to do and on Wednesday we said farewell to our good boy. Our lumpy, bumpy, humpy Big Brown Dog will be waiting for us with The Littles in heaven. The house is way too quiet right now and we likely needed a few days to be sad (and wash the sheets, remake the beds and get in some provisions.)

I’ve been knitting very little for the last ten days. A few rows or rounds here and there but nothing of note. I’m way too cognizant of spending time with the family and the grands when they’re with us. Screens and yarn can wait. Suffice it to say that I’ve had yarn in my hands each day but no real progress has been made. I’ve been working away at my granddaughter’s skirt, a second pair of shortie socks for me with leftover yarn, and a couple of rows on my Easy Folded Poncho.

I finished a little hat before the kids arrived and I knitted a new store sample while they were here … This is the Buoy Kerchief by Elizabeth Smith and it’s a part of her new collection. I was privileged to be given an advance copy of the pattern to make a store sample. I love the Berroco Pima 100 cotton yarn and we have tons of colors at the shop. The pattern is a simple kerchief in two colors. A fun knit! I’m not sure the hat will fit the granddaughter’s head. It came out way too small but I have more of the slubby neon yarn and I’ll make a bigger one for her while she’s here. I also have a multi-colored pompom to put on the top. Things happen. (See me shrugging my shoulders.)

So, that’s it … I have to run and get some food in my belly, vacuum the second floor and then shower before the family (round two) arrives.

Gone knitting.