July-August Blessings

I realize I've been negligent in posting my blessings the past two months, and some of our summer blessings are the very causes of my tardiness!

• In July and August, we celebrated Dave's birthday, his dad's birthday, my mom's birthday, my dad's birthday, and the birth of our fourth niece (and soon-to-be Goddaughter), Elizabeth Amelia.  Lots of family time!
• Sarah and I planned an awesome bridal shower for our middle sister, Mary.  I'd blog about it here, but Sarah already did an awesome job on her blog.
• Our rental was available on August 1st, and we were closing on the townhouse on August 2nd, so we had a very short time frame to move.  A month later, we have no more mortgage (nor Homeowners Association, woo hoo!), and I'm finally unpacked enough to be willing to invite people to our home.
• I joined Tastefully Simple as an independent consultant in the midst of all this craziness and now have my own little business to organize.  I have my own Facebook page and consultant website, plus I'm having fun setting up a home office in our loft!
• After five years as a contractor for Big Blue Wireless Company, Dave was offered a position as an actual employee!  We're looking forward to a bit more job security and hopefully a good benefits package.

My workspace (and Dave's playspace)

Tastefully Simple Central

I can't argue with sharing an office...

Knitting Season

Today is the last pre-season game for my husband's beloved Bears, so I thought I'd look back on some of the knitting I accomplished last season and share the head start I've gotten on this year!

Lots of dishcloths last year because I had leftover yarn
from years of baby bibs and burp cloths

Now everyone is having babies again,
so it's back to bibs and burp cloths!

Niece Knits

Our newest niece arrived late last month, and I was thrilled to finish her bib and burp cloth set just in time!  This set was made with Sugar 'n Cream "Beach Ball Blue" yarn, and I purchased an adorable set of sneaker socks to go with it (since babies are always losing socks, right?).  Big sister Claire opened the gift and proceeded to put the "blankie" on her new baby sister.  Apparently the burp cloth from her set is now a doll blanket!

Did you notice I used the same cute daisy button for both sisters' bibs?

The socks even have little bows for mock-shoelaces

Proud big sister makes sure the baby has her blankie

Austen Challenge Update

The list I made for The Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge at the beginning of the year is below in black.  As you can see, I've only watched the two movies and started on one of the books.  However, all of the books added in blue have been read since my original post, bringing my total to 6 selections.  According to the details of the challenge, I have completed my goal of reaching the Disciple level!  If I finish everything currently on the list, I will reach the Aficionada level of 9-12 selections.  We're only halfway through the year, so it's possible...

• Pride & Prejudice on DVD (2005 Kiera Knightly version)
• Pride & Prejudice on Blu-ray (1995 Colin Firth version)
• The Pemberley Chronicles: A Companion Volume to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Rebecca Ann Collins
• Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride and Prejudice Continues by Linda Berdoll *in progress
• Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley by Sharon Lathan
• Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One by Sharon Lathan
• Old Friends and New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen by Sybil Brinton
• Wickham's Diary by Amanda Grange (It was okay)
• Impulse & Initiative: What if Mr. Darcy Didn't Take No for an Answer? by Abigail Reynolds (It was okay)
• Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds (I liked it)
• Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter (I liked it)

A Pair of Scarves

My recent favorite knitting pattern is one I found on Pinterest for an "Easy Scarf."  These are the two latest knits in this stitch, both using Red Heart yarn.  The Team Spirit Yarn in "Orange/Navy" is for Bears fan friend, Elizabeth, as a very belated birthday present (but it will be in time for football season!)  The other is in a variegated yarn called "Earth and Sky" for former co-worker Sheryl's birthday to match her favorite Java Blue purse.

June Blessings

June was a busy month despite my lack of employment outside the home. It was also a month that ended with a lot of prayer requests, which helped me realize how blessed I am to have a family in relatively good health. On to the list of blessings:

• To start off the month, Dave and I attended our third Eucharistic Congress together and heard wonderful speakers on out faith, including Dr. Scott Hahn.  There's nothing quite like a spiritual boost to get you feeling more optimistic!
• We celebrated our third anniversary in June. Sometimes it seems like we just got married, and sometimes it seems like we've always been together.  Since our anniversary, I have been driving out to have lunch with Dave once a week, which has been something to look forward to for both of us.
• Dave really *really* REALLY wanted to see Gustav Holst's orchestral suite "The Planets" performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and with me at home, it's easier to get last minute tickets.  The hassle of getting these tickets was worth it when I got to watch the joy on Dave's face as he saw his favorite symphonic pieces performed. 
• Our townhouse went on the market the first week of the month, and less than three weeks later we were under contract! Closing isn't until the beginning of August, so please say a prayer that things continue to go smoothly.
• Last, but not least, we signed a lease on a cute rental house that will reduce Dave's commute from an hour (one-way) down to around 20 minutes. I don't know which of us is more excited about the shortened commute--Dave because he gets to sleep later in the morning and save a ton on gas, or me because scheduling dinner will be a lot easier and he'll be home more.
 

At the grand opening of the local Steak 'n Shake with friends

Gaudi

Since today's Google logo is celebrating Antoni Gaudi's 161st birthday, I dug up some pictures Mary and I took when we were in Europe in 2005.  Gaudi was a Spanish architect who produced some very unique works (think Salvador Dali with buildings).  On the left is the perpetually incomplete church, Sagrada Familia, on the right is is Park Güell, and in the middle are a couple more examples of Gaudi's architecture in Barcelona.  I would love to go back some day to take more time to see these again!