Along with the Christmas pattern booklet I'd like to finish by the end of August, I'd also like to do a booklet with some extra-bright wild and crazy designs. I have a few designs already and I just have to decide which to include. I also have to type up the patterns and make each one again. I wish I had some brighter colors in the stash but perhaps the theme of the booklet will change. Here are three possibilities so far:

The last hat is cuter than it looks in the photo but the colors washed out. I need to get a photo on an actual human.

Anyway, I have a lot to do this month. Good thing DH has decided we're buying a house here (across town) and moving ASAP. Eeek!

I've been meaning to show you the huge Talavera rabbit we bought in Santa Fe. Isn't he cute? I have to find the right plant to put in him. I also bought a teeny-tiny white rabbit container at CostPlus World Market that I use to store my gourmet gray salt. Rabbits are taking over the house!

Knitting? What's that? I still haven't started the socks but I figure I'll find the energy soon to at least choose two colors.

Peaches seems to be doing well on her new diet and exercise plan. I think she's looks less pudgy but DH just laughs at me about the whole thing.

I am totally in love with this Rowan sweater - Demi from Vintage Knits. I love the yarn and color and I love the longer tapered ribbing on the cuffs. Unfortunately it is just too hot here to wear a pullover. No I don't mean now in July - I mean even in winter it is never cold enough that I wear any of my other 10 million wool sweaters.

Oh well. Instead I'm going to make this Knitty summer pattern but make them into socks instead of leg warmers. I just have to figure out how to fix my printer first to print the chart.

One of my favorite New Mexico stories happened right after we moved here. We went to a party in July and it was around 105 degrees. The party was at the enormous showcase house of the builder who built our then-house (much smaller of course). All the windows were open and there were a few ceiling fans. The party guests sat outside, in the direct sun, right next to these huge honking smoking grills the caterers had set up. I watched the makeup melting right off the women's faces.

So at this inferno of a party I mentioned how much I would like to get air conditioning for our house and everyone at the party looked at me like I was insane. Really. I was sitting there wilting on one of the hottest days of my life trying not to touch anything metal to any part of my body, my eyeballs were burning, and everyone there insisted they rarely even used their swamp coolers. New Mexicans love the heat I guess.

Since then I've tried to "embrace my inner lizard" as DH says but instead I think I'll just gaze longingly at this photo of some of my wool mittens and gloves in snow - lovely, lovely snow.

I think I'm going to add a fourth color to these gauntlet mittens - perhaps some gold or royal blue bobbles sewn on the gauntlets. Yes, that will be a bit over the top but most gauntlet mittens are already over the top as it is. I'm hoping this pattern booklet will be available for sale to benefit pet rabbit rescue by the end of August.

Peaches' new aerobic program mainly consists of me chasing her around the house, annoying her tremendously. I'm pretty sure I'm getting more exercise than she is. In today's photo Jack is shocked to notice that Peaches actually has a triple chin.

Also, speaking of over the top, I predict Barbie guy Robert Best will win Project Runway Season 3.

I did manage some boring socks last week. As you know, I hate self-patterning sock yarn but this Parade was on sale at Knitpicks and it is sport weight (I like thick socks). Actually after knitting with it I'd say it is closer to fingering weight so it wasn't really worth the experiment.



The big news around here is that Peaches has been put on a diet. I worry because she gets uncomfortable with the heat and she needs to lose a pound or so. It is hard though because she dearly loves her treats but she's completely off fruit except for a grand total of 4 craisins every evening.

She's a total couch potato who barely moves as well and I'm devising some ideas to start up a bunny aerobics program. Needless to say, someone has some serious attitude about all this. If bunny looks could kill, DH and I would both be long dead.




Go see Lisa's version of the Caledonia sock pattern I posted!