Swapping Love

While sending care packages in the mail might seem so summer camp circa 1986, there is something to be said for gathering together items, collected with thoughtfulness and purpose, and sending them off to a loved one. But what if you don't even know them, at least in person? Welcome to the world of swapping, this world being Ravelry. Thanks to a fabulous moderator and some very generous fellow knitters, I was totally showered with swap after my original swapper wasn't able to participate.




Thanks to Jen for box packed full of heartfelt gifts. Chocolate chip cookies, bread starter, card stock...



...some little balls of yarn (beautiful colors at that), and two kinds of homemade jelly.

And to Julie. For the huge flat rate box, cram-packed with all sorts of things...





















...handmade washcloths, an TJs bag from AZ, a Ravelry bag, a huge bag of cotton yarn in a colorway that take me straight to the ocean, a tin of raspberry tea, a salad dressing shaker, and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.

Its never too soon to appreciate people you don't know. Their effort was completely unexpected and one that won't soon be forgotten.

It rained

It rained on Sunday, it had been a while. I've done a terrible job at documenting the yard this year so I took the opportunity to find some evidence of the weather and see how things were coming along in July.

There will be at least one blueberry. I now know that having two kids usually requires you to have an even number of most things. In this instance I may be safe because the younger one will probably be more distracting by the front porch steps or the street traffic to notice one, tiny, lonely blueberry.

The hollyhocks finally bloom. Its been several years since they've shown there face, owing much to an overabundance of weevils and rust and not enough TLC. But these managed to survive. Maybe its because they knew I gave up.

I'll perpetually find favor with bulbs. Naturalizing has always been my friend and alliums are no exception. What began as a few bulbs salvaged from below the life-sucking plum tree is now an abundance of mid-summer purple fireworks scattered throughout the yard. These happen to be at the perfect height for a one year-old to decapitate. Thankfully there are a lot of them.

Ack, I found my blog!