Oh Happy Day

Do you ever have a day where you just feel happy? Not for any particular reason ... just happy in general? Especially when there are probably all kinds of reasons not to feel happy -- like needing to lose weight before the holidays so I can gain it all right back again, needing to prepare a battle plan to wage war on the growing population of dust bunnies taking over our house, all the dingleberry drivers out there who cannot seem to execute a double turn lane without creeping over into my lane and making my heart race.

How about a few lyrics from Christina Aguilera's song "Beautiful" ...

'cause we are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes, words won't bring us down, oh no
We are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring us down
Don't you bring me down today

Here are a few reasons to be happy in my world ...

It is absolutely 100% certified gorgeous outside today. Glorious, warm but cool, perfect! Do you see where it says it is currently 76 degrees and it -- this is the part that cracks me up -- Feels Like: 76 degrees! Hey, who'd have guessed? Although I suppose it could have felt like 75 or 77 degrees.

Enjoying Fall with all its trappings by going to the Pumpkin & Chili Party last weekend at

Where we wandered through the straw bale maze ...

Drove the country road rally course in people powered cars -- that's right, we had to pedal!!!

And enjoyed pumpkins in one form ...

and another ...

Making Rice Krispies Treats with the Granddaughter and her friend after school yesterday ...

And, oh happy day, I'm finished, finito, done. I have turned this ...

into this ...

It still needs to be blocked to open up the lace stitches and I did modify the pattern to take the neckline up a little higher and add a 6th button. But my Dynamic Cardi is done ... off the needles ... which is the best reason of all to be happy. Woo hoo!

Sending happy vibes your way because I have plenty to share. =D

Book Club and Summer Knitting

Apparently, I am a member of the most unorthodox book club ever. I joined last October and have had so much fun ... love the reading, the discussions, the sharing, the camaraderie, the wine! As far as schedules go, it seems that we take December off because everyone is too crazy busy, and we take the summer off as well. Every year there is an "outing" of some sort to kick off the summer hiatus that does not involve reading a book.

Last night, Hubby asked me as I was getting ready to leave, "So where's book club tonight," meaning whose house. And when I told him Farrelli's Cinema Supper Club in Scottsdale, he did a double take. Yep, we went to dinner and a movie. Watched The Bounty Hunter starring Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston, which was cute and funny and very enjoyable for our group. And I had a marvelous dinner which I plan to replicate at home -- a portobello caprese sandwich that was so good! Hey, and it's vegetarian and healthy. Once I figure it out, I'll be sharing the recipe.

So we chose three books to read over June, July and August, then we meet again in September to discuss them. First (and I am so excited to read this one), the third Stieg Larsson book, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. I actually had just ordered this one from Barnes & Noble online a few days ago. With my membership, it was 40% off and free shipping. Sold!

Another summer selection that I suggested is The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry, which I had just finished recently. All of the ladies in this book club like to cook and are foodies in some fashion. Plus, they're all into true stories and this is such an enjoyable read.

And we are also reading Carol Burnett's memoir, This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection. I adore Carol Burnett! Growing up, we faithfully watched her weekly variety show as a family and laughed so hard. All her wonderful skits with Tim Conway and Harvey Korman. Just thinking about the infamous Gone With the Wind skit where she comes sweeping down the stairs as Scarlett O'Hara wearing the curtains made into a dress - with the curtain rod still in - makes me laugh out loud.



So that's book club. On to knitting. Last month, I had mentioned in a post that I'd like to make myself the Dynamic Cardi shown in the May 2010 issue of Creative Knitting magazine. Here's the picture again ...

I decided to go ahead and order some yarn and make this gorgeous little cardi. Having just hit our first 100 degree day last Friday, it is now officially Summer in Phoenix so I'll have at least 5 months to wear it and maybe more. We've had some very warm Fall weather here in the past, too. Here's a story for you. About 6 years ago, Hubby and I were invited to a costume party on Halloween - so we're talking October 31st - and it was 105 degrees that day. The costumes were so uncomfortable and we were in an outdoor garden setting so there really wasn't any relief from the heat. I remember we all talked about growing up in cold weather areas where we had to wear parkas and hats and gloves and boots for trick or treating and you couldn't even see the costumes.

Anyway, just today I placed an order with Herrschners for Patons Grace cotton yarn in the color Tan. It's kind of a spicy color that will look good with just about everything and be wearable year round. I'm kind of excited. Can't wait for my yarn to get here, to get started on it and make something for myself to wear. Woo hoo!