Back to life -

and seemingly insurmountable piles of laundry - how is it that vacations generate so much dirty stuff? My kids wore the same things almost daily, and I was in my bathing suit most of the week, and yet I find myself wading through mountains of soiled clothing almost as tall as me...

but enough whining - we are home after a glorious, relaxing, idyllic week of this
and this

and lots of this

I stopped wearing my watch on Monday, which is completely out of character for me, let the boys do their own thing (including making their own rather interesting sandwiches whenever the urge struck), scared myself senseless re-reading 'Salem's Lot' by Stephen King (word to the wise - not the best choice when up north in a small, very quiet cottage), and listened to 'The Virgin Suicides' by Jeffrey Eugenides while very nearly finishing my second Socks that Rock sock -

all in all, a perfect vacation, with the only desired improvement being in the area of insects, deerflies and horse flies in particular - we'd just like them completely eradicated, nothing major-

then I get home to a wonderful surprise, which once again brings home the knowledge that knitters are a special bunch, and I feel so privileged to count myself among them -

from my absolutely fabulous secret pal, Shugahface:

hmm, blurry - my camera is acting up - too relaxed, perhaps? - but the yarn is GORGEOUS, colours PERFECT, will make stunning socks - there is green tea with an infuser attached, rosewood (I think) needles (choirs sing as I reverently touch them), a mango bath soak (and truly, mangoes and baths are among my favourite things, so to put them together? Genius!) and gorgeous stitch markers, which I am seriously considering turning into earrings - just look at them
So thank you, thank you, thank you -

it makes it a little easier to face the real world which stares me in the face...

back to life, back to reality (bet you have the tune stuck in your head for the rest of the day...)