Happy Canada Day, and Happy July (Not the Heat Part Though)

Today is the first of July, which means it is Canada Day, so Happy Canada Day to everyone north of our border! I hope for your sake it's more comfortable, temperature-wise. 

And for those of us who live elsewhere, Happy July 1! We are officially starting the second half of 2026, which is - at least for me - always hard to wrap my brain around. We are supposed to have temperatures in the 100+ degree range over the next 5 or 6 days, and that's not even taking into account the infamous "feels like" temperature that includes the humidity! Gah. My reverse SAD is kicking into gear. 

This morning, however, felt very very nice, so Alfie and I took advantage of time out in the garden, since the next few days will probably not be good ones to be out there. 

He was very pleased to be out there, but not so much to come back inside. But I told him that after we fill the bird feeders, we have to come in so that the birds and squirrels can have a chance to eat. He usually give me a dirty look, but then once we are actually inside, he remembers that the window looks out onto the garden, so it's all good. 

We were supposed to go to a baseball game tomorrow - our annual Pittsburgh Pirates vs. the Philadelphia Phillies - but since it's supposed to be at least 104 degrees, and we don't do well in extreme heat, we sold our tickets. I just hope the person who bought them is sensible about being prepared for the weather. Our seats are under an overhang, so at least they won't be out in the direct sun, baking away. It's extremely disappointing, but July is a crap shoot with a few nice days mixed in with mostly awful days, and this year we lost that bet.

Saturday is of course July 4, and the 250th birthday of America (as well as a World Cup match here in Philadelphia). I am beyond disappointed that Orange Foolius is in office and doing his asinine things during this special time, which I've looked forward to for years. I had already decided that I was going to ignore his plans, and enjoy being in Philadelphia instead. But now a lot of things are being cancelled or time-shortened, etc. because of the extreme heat. Which I am also blaming him for, BTW, because he makes life hell on earth, and now it even feels like it!

Oh well, we'll just have our own little party together here in the house. Happy 250 indeed. 

Speaking of the World Cup, it has been wonderful to be in Philadelphia with so many people visiting and seeming to enjoy themselves so much! Last week, I took a walk, and stopped at a neighborhood coffee shop, and while I was waiting for my order, there were two young men in soccer jerseys sitting at a table. One of them asked me if I lived in the neighborhood, and I said yes, and we spent about 20 minutes chatting. They were visiting from Munich, Germany for some of the World Cup matches. They had been in Houston for a match a couple of days before, and told me it was too hot there, and hard to walk around, with no good public transportation. But they LOVED Philadelphia! They said in some ways, it was a lot like Munich - but "not as many lakes" - and they were enjoying themselves immensely here. After here, they were headed to NYC and then back home. They were kind of disappointed not to see more matches, but until they tried to book their trip, they didn't realize that "America is so big that it's hard to get to some places easily." And I know that, but I tend to forget - especially since here in the Northeast, things are so close together. 

Anyway, they were lovely, and I was glad they were getting such a good impression not only of the city, but the country at large. One of them said, "Americans are MUCH nicer than Donald Trump." Low bar, but still. I told him to please tell people that when they got home. 

I was telling this to a friend, and she told me that she read that someone said that the New York Knicks victory parade, Mayor Mamdani's speech there, the opening of the Obama Center, and the World Cup were all the 250th celebration we deserved. I completely agree, and I'm going with that.

Someone posted on Instagram that having the World Cup in the U.S. was like having your cousins visit after you haven't seen them for years, because your respective sets of parents are no longer speaking to one another. 😄

OK enough blathering from me about all of this. I hope if you are somewhere that is too hot, or too cold, or suffering too many fires, or just whatever else is being unleashed, that you can manage to keep safe and comfortable. 

And I hope if you are Canadian, you'll have a Tim Hortons for me. (A donut or cruller, with a hot tea with milk. Or, Timbits are also good - you choose!)

Take care, everyone!

July 4, 2025

How to Celebrate the Fourth 

of July When America

Is a Constant Disappointment

Build a little banned books library for the neighborhood

children. Hoard Plan B for your sisters & daughters

& nieces & friends. Forgo fireworks & provide comfort

to shelter dogs frightened by the noise. Plant explosions

of rose & dahlia across your yard - make your lawn

a rainbow welcome mat for pollinators & love.

Learn & acknowledge the names of Indigenuos lands

where you stand. Sing Joan Baez. Read Langston

Hughes. Dance to Bruce Springsteen. Boycott Amazon.

Savor the fireflies while you still can.

-- Danielle Coffyn

Independence Day 2024

I hope that if you are celebrating today, that you have a fun, happy, and safe Fourth of July. 

I know that for a lot of us, things look grim for the future of our country. And I have to say that if you're not worried, it seems like you must not be paying attention.

But I also believe that today is worth celebrating what we do have, what we still hope to have, and recommit to the concept of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 

If you pay attention, and vote in November, I really believe we can start to salvage things. In the meantime, enjoy the holiday today. 😄

For those of you who do not celebrate today's holiday, I hope your Thursday goes well, and that you can enjoy the fact that the weekend is almost here!

IT'S BACK! Christmas in July, Week 1

Hello! I didn't mean to be gone all week, but nonetheless I'm here right now, to tell you that Christmas in July is back! Last year at this time, I had Covid and could barely function much less post to my blog and/or run a giveaway. So it all got skipped - but now it's back, baby!

If you are not familiar with this, I will ask a question for anyone interested in receiving the giveaway of the week. Then I use a random number generator to choose a winner, and notify them and then we go to the next week. So this week, these posts will be up today, then also on July 14, 21, and 28.

The "contest" such as it is, is available to  anyone interested, regardless of where they live. I have a little fund of cash that I keep all year long (random change from things, cash from my own yarny-related purchases where I didn't use all of it, etc.), so I'm happy to send packages anyplace.

OK, so let's get going, shall we?

This week's prize is this group of items:

There's a really sweet winter-y project bag, probably large enough for some socks or a small shawl; a set of US5/3.75mm wooden Lantern Moon double pointed needles in a little bag (I know, hard to see, sorry!); and a really wonderful book that I want to pass along. I received it in a little care package from Kym a while back, and it's a collection of little sayings, stories, etc. that keep you feeling upbeat and hopeful without being sappy. I decided that it would be only fair to share the joy.

So how can you win this set of prizes? Well, here's your question for the week:

June, July, or August?

Those are generally considered the summer months in the northern hemisphere (where I live). I want to know - which one is your favorite and why? Should you be someone living in the southern hemisphere, please answer using the months are considered summer months where you are (note I am not 100% sure so I'm not committing ...).

Please comment on this post only, by midnight EDT on Tuesday, July 11; I'll announce the winner the next day. 

For me, I did love June this year because it was actually still spring-like weather; but in general, I have to choose August. Not because I love what can be the hottest time of the summer, but because I know that when August ends, September begins, and we start moving into fall - meaning cooler temperatures and cozier weather overall. 

Now it's your turn. 😊

*****

I hope you have a good weekend. I have no specific plans, but I'm looking forward to it because The Tim will be off work, and I enjoy it when we can all be together, even if he mostly naps and I end up on my own anyway! We had a quiet July 4th, since he was working, but I felt inspired and made a yummy picnic dinner, if I do say so myself. Some dumb*ss in our neighborhood thought it would be a good idea to shoot off fireworks all day and evening on July 5th, so I guess their celebration continued, whereas everyone else was really annoyed. Other people, right?

Take care, and if you are anyplace where it's too hot, I hope you can stay cool. It's pretty deadly here - hot, humid, and really hard to breathe. Summer has decided to arrive in style ... 

See you next week!

Cheers!

Happy Canada Day!

Here in the U.S., we have a long weekend for the July 4th holiday, so "vacation mode" is in high gear!  Here's to a great one, wherever you are, and whatever you may or may not be celebrating.

But no matter what, remember these words to live by:

Friday FOs - Two, Count 'Em, Two!

Before I completely melt today and lose all interest in anything, I have two finished objects for you - yes TWO.  Granted, neither one was a major undertaking, but they are still both finished, and that counts!

First up, the shortie slipper socks I knit for The Tim:

Project:  Same Mother Shortie Socks
Pattern:  Just a plain sock, turned into a shortie sock
Yarn:  Plymouth Encore Worsted Solids, in the Oatmeal, Purple, and Orange colorways
Needles:  US size 5
Notes:  As you know if you have read my blog for a few weeks at least, I knitted the first sock, and then strongly suspected that I would not have enough of the Oatmeal colored yarn to complete the second one.  For some people, that would mean they would take apart sock #1 and do some color-blocking.  I'm not those people, and because I had not thought ahead, I warned The Tim that his socks would not match and why.  He said, "Well, if you have to throw in another color, make sure it's something that pops." And I think the orange definitely pops, right??  Anyway, these were really quick to knit, and since they are just meant to be slipper socks, it didn't bother me that they wouldn't be the same.  I called them "Same Mother Shortie Socks" because they are like family members who have the same mother, and look similar but different.  😀

The best part was that when they were finished, The Tim was *thrilled* with them, so all's well that ends well.

*****

Next up, something for the kitchen:

Project:  Leftovers Kitchen Towel
Pattern:  At Your Service Knit Cloth (a free pattern)
Yarn:  Knit Picks ColLin, in the Conch colorway
Needles:  US size 7
Modifications:  None
Notes:  I had some yarn left from my Down the Shore Shawl, and decided to give this pattern a try, since we use these kinds of hanging towels in our kitchen all the time and they are not that easy to find in stores.  The pattern was overall easy and pretty quick to knit, but in my heat-addled brain, it did take me a few times to get the decreases right.  In the end, it turned out just fine, and I see many more of these in my future.  The Tim thinks they would be nice Christmas gifts, but I'm not sure that people would enjoy that kind of gift.  Then again they might.  I'll have to give it some thought.

Both of these projects were from stash yarn, and that always pleases me - the button for the kitchen towel is also from a stash of buttons that I have, so no extra money at all was spent for this project, which is even better! 

******

Before closing, I wanted to remind anyone who is interested that you have until one minute before midnight this coming Sunday, July 5, to comment on this post and be in the mix for a giveaway. 

And finally, tomorrow is Independence Day here in the U.S.  This country is far from perfect, but if we can get back on track, I really believe that things could move forward and we can be what we wanted our country to stand for.  It's still better than lots of other places.  So, if you celebrate, have a lovely day, and remember to VOTE in November!!

And for everyone, I hope you have a good weekend no matter how you decide to spend it.  See you on Monday for the announcement of the giveaway winner.

Christmas in July 2019 - Week 1

Hi all - well, here we go!  I'm so glad that so many of you had a positive reaction to doing

Christmas in July

again this year.  Without further ado, let's get going, shall we?

Here is the prize for Week 1:

On the left, a tea bag carrier - yep, this little pouch lets you put up to three teabags inside, then you can zip it up and put it in your purse or your knitting bag, etc.  You always have the tea that *you* like with you!

On the right, the book Coffeehouse Knits - containing 20 patterns for all types of lovely things.  It really is a nice book, but I have looked through it several times, and I know that I'm unlikely to ever make any of the patterns.  So why not give it a good home?

If you are interested in this prize, please answer the questions below:

1.  Iced coffee or iced tea?

2.  Potato salad, macaroni salad, pasta salad, or green salad?

Let me know in the comments for this post only.  You have until midnight on Sunday, July 7, 2019, EDT.  I'll announce the winner on Monday, July 8.

Please note that this is open to anyone who wants to enter, but the questions must be answered in this post, so that they are all in one place.

*****

And, on a separate note altogether:

Happy Fourth of July!

This is one of my favorite photos, taken a few years ago, when I was walking around in the neighborhood on July 4th.  This is Delancey Street, where the houses are all lovely, large town homes, originally built for wealthy people who needed a place to live when they came to town for work, "the season," etc.  The houses are still extremely expensive, but also really pretty, and fun to look at (and look into at dusk when the lights are on).  I just loved how, when the flags were out, the street still looked as it may have looked in the 1900s on this day. 

Enjoy your holiday, and remember, in spite of things currently happening, we live in a pretty amazing country where, with work and determination, we can make things how we want them to be once again.

Christmas in July : Part 1

Hi all - well, here we go, the first week of Christmas in July!

If you would like to participate in this week's giveaway, please answer this question the comments:

What is your favorite SUMMER holiday:  Memorial Day, July 4, or Labor Day?  And why?

This is the giveaway for this week's winner:

The package includes a row counter, a project bag, and a copy of Curls, by Hunter Hammersen a lovely book - but not one so lovely that I need three copies! 

I will choose a random winner from the comments on Sunday, July 8 at 5 p.m. EDT.  Please note that there is a really good chance that I may not send out the packages until the end of July, once I have them all ready to send at once.  I will definitely let you know when they are on the way.

I hope you will want to play along!

*****

In other news, Happy July 4th!  I hope you have a lovely holiday, however you do or do not celebrate.  We are in Rehoboth Beach with some family, and having a great time.  Tomorrow it's back home and back to the usual routine.  Alas, vacations can't last forever.  ;-)

Sometimes All You Really Want Is a Quickie

OK, get your minds out of the gutter.  ;-)  I'm talking about something else entirely, related to knitting.

You know the feeling when you are making progress on your projects, but it feels like forever since you actually finished something?  I was feeling this way later in the week, because the two projects I'm knitting are moving along well enough, but not really quickly.  I thought I would start something else, but it had to be small.  The problem is, the patterns I thought I'd use were not ones I had printed out and our home printer is currently having issues.  Sigh.

But then some Sugar and Cream yarns I'd bought on a recent trip to A.C. Moore caught my eye.  They had been two for a dollar, and a lot of them were in summery colors.  But one in particular seemed like a really good idea.  I also decided to use a basic mitered square pattern, like the one used for the Coziest Memory Blanket, and which I have memorized.

I grabbed a pair of size 9 needles, cast on 50 stitches, and got started.  About an hour later, I was finished.

And now our kitchen will have something in it for the Fourth of July.  It was a nice feeling to just get something completed, finished, done, whatever you want to call it. 

I may even make another.  :-)

This. That. The Other Thing.

I'm still here.  The past couple of weeks have been busy, annoying, fun, lazy, and often hot and humid.  I have been uninspired in so many ways, that probably a lot of people I usually see in real life have been wondering where I am ...

Anyway, Happy Bastille Day!

I have always like Bastille Day, though I am not really too sure why.  Probably because I can't think of why I would disagree with this:

Tonight for dinner I made a [really] fake cassoulet - you know, more the spirit of the recipe than the law ... but it was yummy and there are leftovers for lunches, so though the French might say Zut alors!, I was pleased.  :-)

Our July 4th was a lot of fun.  I had assumed that - like other years - The Tim had to work on the holiday itself and/or on the weekend.  But it turned out that he was off the entire weekend, so Saturday morning we jumped into the car with Dug, and headed to Baltimore for an overnight visit.  My niece Amanda and her husband Pat were planning a party on their deck to watch the fireworks, and another niece and her family were gonna be there, as well as one of my sisters and her husband.  Plus other friends we knew.  The weather was perfect (no humidity - on July 4th!!!), and it was just a blast.  This guy had a particularly good time.

Then it was home to the usual - laundry, dr appts, and back to work.  Where people are being fired and are "resigning" left and right.  It's both demoralizing and stressful.  I just figure when I show up, if no one is escorting me out of the building and I'm still getting paid, I have my job for now.  And of course, those of us still there are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Ugh.

Other than that, I have a little of my cleaning and my cooking/baking mojo back.  Nothing too major, since for the most part, it is now hot and humid and not conducive to much of that.  But besides my faux cassoulet tonight, I did make some feta salsa and a French chocolate silk pie to take to Baltimore, and they both went over very well.  When I told my sister that I was bringing the pie, she said (as a joke) that she would prefer if I brought "Freedom" pie.  So I told her that she was right, and so I would bring French Freedom Silk Pie ... I was quite pleased with my witty response, but The Tim just rolled his eyes ...

So that is what is new here lately.  I hope all of you are keeping cool, and having enough good stuff going on to outweigh any of the bad.

See you soon!

Happy July 4th from Philadelphia!

"They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety

deserve neither liberty nor safety"

-- Benjamin Franklin

Independence Day

Signing Room

Independence Hall

Philadelphia, Pennsylavania

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the 

thirteen united States of America

"... And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor."

Happy July 4th!

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

- Declaration of Independence