doing

catching up
It’s getting harder to stay caught up online these days, both blogging and reading blogs. While I take full responsibility, I’d also like to blame summer. Life on the internets is just going to be slower. Until when? School starts?

reuniting
Over the weekend, I attended my 20th college reunion. Yikes! My friend Caryl convinced me to go. I agreed, somewhat at the last minute. In the week leading up to the event, I spent a lot of time reflecting and reminiscing, and in all the happy moments and the (few) regrettable moments, I felt so much bittersweetness. Only natural, I know, but a little unexpected. The Friday evening party was poorly attended…just 10 people...but I understand other weekend events were livelier. Still, I couldn't put a price on how awesome it was to hang out with friends Caryl and Sue, who flew in from Virginia to attend. I honestly hadn’t had any contact with Sue since graduation. We had a wonderful evening, picking up where we left off, remembering that summer we all lived together on St. Clair (the house, admittedly a blight on the block, has long since been torn down by Macalester, which owned it), theater performances and cast parties, and countless nights at Sweeney's.

eating
arugula-pistachio pesto on pasta; fresh, local strawberries that will become ice cream; apricots and white peaches; Alaskan king salmon; The Cheesemonger (soppressata, provolone, pepper relish) from France 44’s new St. Paul outpost; Edy’s coconut popsicles

knitting
The olive-green tilting blocks scarf is humming along. Now that I've successfully hit the half point, dare I say that the pattern has become a tad bit tedious. It's gorgeous, though, and I've struggled, so no complaints. I am taking short breaks from the scarf to do a little automatic knitting—a neckwarmer, knit on a circular needle, with a knit 3, purl 3 pattern. For the neckwarmer, I'm using Malabrigo worsted in mariposa, a hand-dyed, variegated yarn in mustard yellow, seafoam green, and greenish-grey. The effect is neat and mesmerizing as each stitch forms. On Sunday (Father's Day), with little family in tow (no good for browsing), I made my inaugural visit to Borealis Yarns. Treasure trove. And, Borealis carries Noro!! I'm scheming a project for this gorgeous Japanese yarn. In the meantime, chainmail tunics (hauberk) are in the works, for the little boys and their cousin, Bjorn, to wear during Visby's Medieval week. More to follow, including photos!

reading to myself
Kate Atkinson’s Case Histories (for book group, which meets next week), David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest (for the Infinite Summer challenge and because it’s about time I did), Elin Hildenbrand’s Barefoot (meaty beach read)

reading to others
Race to Dakar, actor Charley Boorman’s riveting account of riding the Dakar Rally (to John), Maze of the Beast, book 6 in the Deltora Quest series (to Winston), Darkest Hour, the sixth and final book in the Warriors series (to Simon)

listening
Peaches’ cover of “Search and Destroy”, Swoon, the new Silversun Pickups, Edward Upward live