A very happy birthday indeed - my day began with breakfast prepared by K, wandered through small moments of pleasure in good wishes extended by family and friends (both online and off), included dinner prepared by J and K and ended with cake prepared by J and S.
Punctuated by flowers...
Presents...
Spinning (see any previous picture of spinning with pale Beast - it looks just the same and I'm about halfway through now), and Cake:Blackout cake with ganache icing. J swore it had to weigh 5 pounds, but as you can see, he exaggerates. We only make this once a decade, but it was my turn to get it this time. S complained (a tiny bit) over having to put the almond slices on, but he managed to steel himself to do it.

And a friend gave me a miniature rose. I think I'm going to try planting this one in the garden - the Tiger cat insists on trying to eat them no matter where I put them in the house.

Thanks for all the good wishes!

School is Finished! I turned in the last paper yesterday - now I just wait for the grades. (wait, wait)

The books list has taken a big jump in the past few weeks. I found an author I'd read one or two of has written a bunch more books - beach reading, trashy romance thrillers, and just what I needed after poring over technical software journals for hours. I will just mention that she has a wicked sense of humor and if you need a good belly laugh, try Open Season, Mr. Perfect, To Die For, or Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Saturday spinning this week was actually at spinning guild - the first time I've been there in six months. There must have been almost sixty people there this month. I don't know if that's been typical (see above), but it was nice to see. If it is typical, we're definitely outgrowing our space. The topic of the month was bring your kids: let's learn to spindle spin and to knit on knitting looms (those handheld overgrown knitting spools). I don't know how the knitting looms went - I hung out with the spindlers. This is the last spindleful of the blue to be done.
The red has been done long since (and been banging around the house as you can see by the poor tubes). I'm still undecided about whether I'm going to ply them together or whether I should ply each of them with a third color. Decisions, decisions. Any suggestions?

Intentional Cooking (I may need a ruling from Carolyn on this - does it count if what you're making has no nutritionally redeeming value?)

A couple of recipes I picked up from the GS camping weekend - Yummy!

M & M Pretzels

1 bag Square Pretzels (woven pattern) (Bulk Foods)
1 Bag of M & M’s
1-2 lbs. Dark, White, or Milk Chocolate wafers (Bulk Foods)

Put square pretzels on cookie sheet and then add chocolate wafers on top. Bake in oven at 200’ for 5 minutes. Take out of oven and put M & M’s on top. Refrigerate or put in cool area. Ready to package or eat.


Muddy Buddies


1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
½ cup peanut butter
¼ cup butter
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
9 cups wheat, rice, corn, or favorite chex cereal
1 ½ cup confectionary sugar

Pour cereals into large bowl, set aside.

In 1 quart microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Microwave on HIGH 1 minute or until smooth. Stir mixture and add vanilla.

Pour chocolate mixture over cereals, stirring until all pieces are evenly coated. Pour cereal mixture into a large resealable bag or bowl with lid and add confectionary sugar. Seal securely and shake until all pieces are well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool.

Truth
A Conversation with S:

S: You said I could have a smoothie!
Z: Do I always tell the truth?
S: Yes! You have to!!!
Z: I do? Really?
S: Of course you do. You're a mom. You have to tell the truth until we grow up and move out!
Z: Um... Right. Let's go get your smoothie.

When they move out, I suppose the FibFest can begin.

School is down to the last two weeks of the quarter and I've a 10 page research paper due on Monday. See you all on the other side!

ps. There are three hatchlings at the Falconcam!

It has been mentioned once or twice in blogland that spinning makes for dull blogging. I can't deny it. Here's bobbin 3 of the dark Beast and Bobbin 5 of the pale Beast. Look rather like earlier bobbins, eh?
I'll not get much spinning done this weekend - I'm off to the woods with the Girl Scouts. End of year camping trip - and they're going white water rafting. I'm going to be staying back in camp to cook a hot lunch and take those not interested in rafting off on a hike. Any rafting trip that involves wet suits probably involves needing something warm afterwards, or at least we have so decided. Fortunately the weather is cooperating - the current forecast involves sunshine for at least five days.

The bleeding-hearts from last year are making an appearance again. I wasn't entirely sure about where I put them - too much sun, I was afraid. They seem to have survived their sunburn. By the time the sun gets really hot again, they should get some shade from the apple trees. Those leaves are mere unfurling leaf buds at the moment. I have made some progress on the girls - sleeves and bodices, a suggestion of the hair, filling in a few holes here and there.