Let’s see. Manicure? Check. Pedicure? Check. Bubble bath? Check. Haircut? Check.

Sounds lovely and relaxing, huh?

Yeah, I think so, too, but in this case, I was the one doing all the work.

On the other hand, Chappy looks just gorgeous, with fresh, fluffy curls, a shiny coat, and no longer so ragged around the edges.

And look how relaxed he looks. All that blow-drying will do that to you. (In Chappy’s case, “blow-drying” means “Run around the house at top speed until dry.” He’s always just a little tired afterward.)

I want to thank everyone who’s bought a copy of my Tannenbaum pattern so far. My most recent count is 23 people, not including the two who asked if they could pay by check. I’m really flattered! Don’t forget–I’m donating $1 to Habitat for Humanity for every copy I sell between now and November 25th–just in case you were interested.

Sandy, here’s another sky picture I took on my way to work the other day around lunchtime. Even with the cloud cover, you can see all the way to the horizon in the east. It’s amazing the number of leaves that came down on Monday night. There were barely any down at Halloween, and now, there aren’t many left at all.

I haven’t gotten any knitting done yet today, at all. Sometimes it happens on a Sunday afternoon, but not this time! I did pull out that caramel-colored Kid Silk Haze I bought a couple weeks ago, though. I saw this beautiful felt hat in a mustardy-gold-yellow color yesterday that I hinted strongly would be wonderful for Christmas, and realized on the way home that that yarn color was just about a perfect match. I think it behooves me to knit it into some sort of lacy scarf . . . you know, just in case that hat shows up under the Christmas tree.

(See? Another reason to love autumn–it gives me a chance to ask for things I want as gifts, rather than having to buy them myself. But once December passes, it’s a loooong 10 months before we’re approaching my birthday again!)

So, no knitting (yet) today, but Mom and I did take Chappy for a nice, long, Sunday morning walk around the neighborhood (where he got to see three of his best friends, too). I baked some banana bread in my new Cathedral Bundt pan, too. Just a quiet day around the house–and that was nice, because it’s the house’s anniversary today–it was 30 years ago that we moved in–exactly one week after my ninth birthday. We moved out of our old house the day after–I still remember, I was allowed to unwrap all of my presents that year, but not to take the shrink wrap off things like my Mickey Mouse desk set because Mom had to pack them . . . (sigh). Kind of cruel timing for a nine year old, but then, I’d been home sick the day before (bad timing for a Mom trying to pack up a house!) and Mom did give me one of my toys a day early to keep me amused. “Perfection.” Anyone else remember that game? I can’t believe we’ve been here 30 years. Wow!

I also finished reading Pride & Prejudice for the umpteenth time yesterday. For three reasons. One, it’s been a while since I read it and since it is one of my favorites–as can be seen by the state of my copy. I do actually have a nice, hard-cover, “collectible” copy, but this is the one I always reach for. I’ve had it since college and, well, let’s just say I only have two other books in my library that are in similar condition. (Fellowship of the Ring and A Little Princess.) I take excellent care of my books, but when you pass the 15th or 20th reading of a paperback, there’s bound to be some wear and tear.

Second, because of the new movie, which I want to see, but don’t know when I’ll manage it. And three, because Pamela Aidan’s third Fitzwilliam Darcy book is due out soon, and it’s one of the best “sequels” to Austen’s book I’ve ever read. Well, it’s a trilogy of three books, telling the story from Darcy’s point of view, and really, they’re very well done.

Here’s something frightening, though–my father said at dinner that he’s never heard of Pride & Prejudice. Or Jane Austen. How is that possible??? It’s not like she’s a new author . . . I’m almost afraid to ask him if he’s heard of Dickens. Or Faulkner. F. Scott Fitzgerald? Thomas Hardy? Mark Twain??

Oh, and, a thank you to Lanie for the handmade envelope RAOK she sent me. They’re beautiful!

• Tags: Family, General, Reading, Sky • Permalink:Spa Weekend //