So... Summer is over?! Say it isn't so. I just can't believe it. I just can't believe that the new school year is here, already.

Yesterday, after I took Andrew to school, I came home and stood in the kitchen.  Feeling an overwhelming amount of sadness.  Although, extremely grateful, I just can't believe that I am left with only one child at home.  I decided to blast some music like I have in the past.  I chose the Brett Dennen station on Pandora and the first song was "Nothing Lasts Forever".  Really?!  I know this!  But, Please!  You don't have to rub it in!

So, I turned off the music and read my old "back to school" blog posts.
Cried a bunch of tears. (Pure torture.)
Made my annual back to school brownies.
Wandered around the house.
Tried for 45 minutes to get contacts into my eyes.  (New to me.)
Wandered around the house.
Sat on our new sofa.
Tried for 20 minutes to get the contacts out of my eyes.
Wandered around the house.
Finally, I knit a few rows.
And, all of a sudden, all felt good in the world.

Remember this sweater?  I started it back in April.  Then ripped it out back in June.  (Remember our friends who like yarn, too?)  And, finally finished it at the beginning of August.
I love the high/low aspect of this sweater. Anything that covers my behind is always a welcome piece of clothing!

Pattern:  Elen
Yarn:  Sanibel, color #1320, horizon
Needles:  US 7
Size: medium

So, I spent the last week getting two of my three settled into college.  Yes, college!  I still have to say it a few times.  I just can't believe it.

Charlie will be a Junior returning to The Ohio State University.  And, Libby is starting her first year at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

It was a tough week, but seeing them happy makes it so much easier.

Now, I get to put all my focus on Andrew.  :)

 Thank you so much for all of your comments and emails regarding out sweet Trouble.  Your kind words, thoughts and prayers are so appreciated.  There really is so much love and goodness in the world.  I am forever grateful.
(Can you believe this heart tomato!)

Also, I had quite a response to the pin stitch markers.  (Over 300 requests!)  My goal is to make sure everyone who has emailed me, gets a set.  It might take some time, but eventually, they will land in your mailbox.  ;)

Happy weekend, friends!

I can't believe how hard this post is to write.  I have wanted to come to this space, but just couldn't bring myself.

A week ago today, on August 1, our sweet Trouble died suddenly and unexpectedly.

Four days earlier I had her at the vet because of a weird cough.  The vet thought perhaps she was developing asthma or that maybe she had a tumor resting on her lung.
Then, last Sunday she didn't want to eat.  (Except for the few bites of alaskan king salmon Andrew fed her right before the photo was taken.)  She didn't sleep all night.  In the morning I called the vet for something to help her breathe.  At 9am, I was on the phone with Charlie (also had my mother on the other line) when Trouble brought herself downstairs.  Her breathing was labored.  I went to get Andrew out of bed to help me get her to the vet.  She died 30 seconds later.   Her sweet heart just stopped beating.

It truly is heartbreaking to lose a pet.  We are forever grateful to have been blessed by this sweet girl.  She brought so much joy into our lives and taught us so much.  This last year, since her return, we felt as if we were on extra, special, bonus time with her.  What a gift.

Please go hug your pets,  give them a treat and take lots and lots of photos.  You truly can never have enough.

 Oh, these little pins.
Well, they are seriously my new favorite stitch markers.
I work in a beautiful clothing store on Fridays and Saturdays.  And, when the new merchandise arrives, most clothing lines use these pins to attach their tag.  We remove the tag and these pins.
 I've seen stitch markers that look like this sold before and I thought, Hey,  I'm going to recycle these and use them for my stitch markers.  And then I thought,  Hey!  I have a bunch of friends who might want some, too!  So, I told the incredible girls I work with and they all started saving them for you, too!  I giggle when I hear one of them say,  "Put Leslie's knitting friend's pins in this cup."  Seriously, my heart skips a beat.
I wear it on my wrist and take it with me most places.  And it still will work as a hair tie.  Bonus.

So, the pins have either a silver or a black finish.   I've bagged 10 pins together with one different finish in each bag so that you would have a beginning of round marker.  (9 black, 1 silver and visa versa.)  I have about 15 sets bagged.   If you would like a package of 10, please email me.  lesliemfriend at gmail dot com.
Just say, "Hey!  I want some!" or "YES", or "Yes, please"  or "Would love them" or "Awesome!" or "I need those stitch markers!" or "Mail me some!" or anything your sweet heart desires.  Just let me know that you would like some and include your address in the email.    I'll pop them into the mail and you will receive them in no time!  And, the supply doesn't look like it is going to end, so don't worry.  If you don't get them on this round, there will always be more!

Have a super awesome weekend, friends!

 Have you seen the fall issue of knitscene magazine?
Well, you have "a friend to knit with" in this issue!  :)  AND it is full of some really great patterns.  Check it out if you happen to pass it.  I'm completely honored to have been featured.

The winner of the Rise Fressko flask is number #101 Teechpe.  Congrats!  Please email me with your address and I'll make sure you will be drinking a strong brew out of it in no time!

 And then Libby went to work on the mixing and it reminded me of the times she had her cooking channel in middle school.  She would close the kitchen doors and start talking and baking away.  It was the cutest.  (Did I mention she is going to College in a few short weeks?  AGH!)
 Libby used to make sure no one came in the kitchen, getting upset when the boys would torment her.  
I highly recommend keeping an emergency box in your kitchen. (I purchased this box from Target.) They didn't look exactly like the photo on the box, Libby's were way cuter. ;)  And, they were delicious!

Have you seen the really cool flasks from Fressko?  A double walled glass container for either infusing fruit into your drinks or brewing tea.  It will hold coffee, too!  I love the bamboo lid and quite honestly the entire look of it.  AND that it will be a wonderful companion to my knitting!
Well, the nice peeps over at Fressko have given me a Rise for one of my readers!
Leave a comment before Tuesday,  July 26, 5pm EST and I'll have the random generator choose a number.

Happy weekend to you!

So, I'm thinking I haven't even mention where Libby will be headed in the fall.  The University of Colorado.  It's so hard for me to believe that when I started writing this blog, Libby was 8 years old and in second grade.  To all the young young mamas out there... the days are long but the years are fast.  Try really hard to settle in and enjoy every minute.  Even when there are dirty dishes and piles of laundry.  It truly can all wait.
Libby's core group of friends are going to be spread out all over the United States.  I'm so excited for their next Chapter.

Oh!  Of course those are our beloved Chalk Lots.  :)

My CSA box that I picked up on Tuesday.  I'm trying not to make a grocery run this week.  Eating fish and vegetables.  Fingers crossed.
And the flowers in my garden.  Although they have been thirsty lately as it is hot!

I'm going to try to ignore the fact that Libby will be headed to college in about a month.  Trying desperately to slow down time.  Getting ready to snuggle in and watch Jaws 2 with Libby.  Girls night here as Steve is at a function, Charlie is driving a U-haul to a camp in Michigan (where he is working as a program director) and Andrew is still playing golf.

Hi Friends!

Then we flew North to Gustavus to stay at Glacier National Lodge.  Incredible views from the plane.
Gustavus is my favorite new small town.  Super friendly, super cute.  We spent the Fourth of July watching their parade.  Those people know how to do it!  Then there was a reading of the Declaration of Independence with many locals taking a turn reading.  It was so wonderful to see the closeness and realness in this community.  I loved that my children were able to experience it all.
The view of the Fairweather Mountains from Glacier Bay Lodge our last morning.  Can't you just smell the crispness!

I'll see you next week!  Happy weekend!

Hey Friends!
We've packed the bags and most of the kids, and are headed to Alaska!  Airplane knitting here I come!
I'm going to try to post pics, daily, on Instagram if I can find WiFi. (Except for the painful 24 hours I told the kids they couldn't have their phones!)  I'm also going to take a Chalk Lots List along for the adventure, too, if you would like to follow along here.
See you soon!
xx,
leslie

 So, last night when I returned, I had a need to make something light and refreshing.  So, I pureed the strawberries that were in the refrigerator, added about a tablespoon of honey and poured it into half of the mold.  Then popped the mold into the freezer.
Absolutely the best.  And definitely feels so good in a chocolate laden stomach.
Popsicle recipes are popping up all over the internet.  I can't wait to try something a little more creative.

I can't blame the critters.

This was the result of human error.

Well, you see.  We've had a bit of a mouse problem in our house.  My sweet husband thought it was a good idea to store the opened bag of bird seed in the kitchen.  Yes.  The mice liked that idea, too.
And, they loved the dining room, too.  Cause we have a little sitting nook in there.  And that is where I like to sit and knit.  And when pink memories was in my hands,  Elen, was on the floor.  Not in my knitting bag.  Just on the floor.  The mice thought that was a great idea, too.
I knew it was them, cause they left a little of them behind.  Ew!

So, I had a fabulous time in Florida with my mom.
I ripped out Elen and cast on again with new yarn.  It's okay.  I'll wear that cute outfit.  It just won't be next week like I thought.

I never knew... but mice love yarn, too!

Happy weekend friends!

 I bought bakery treats instead of baking.  Penguin cupcakes for our Pittsburgh Penguins.
Yesterday I took Libby to the yarn store to pick out a knitting project for her.  It's gonna be a fun summer!

 But I couldn't be more proud of my girl and her fabulous friends.   Who shared this journey and will now start a new exciting chapter.
Right down to the bouquets from the garden that Libby picked.
 The simple foods on request.