This week I finished a pair of Christmas in July socks. I love the colors, but found the yarn a bit splity.

I’m dealing with all sorts of house things at the moment, and sock knitting is the only kind of knitting I can manage at the moment.

Before selling our house and buying a house and trying to get the move scheduled I was really on a reading kick. In June I read seven books, many of which I think you should check out.

The Lending Library by Aliza Fogelson. This book is about a single woman in upstate New York that starts a library in her sun room when her town library is closed for repairs. This book is fine. It is the kind of book you reach for when there is nothing else to read and you want to read something. I would not recommend reading this book hungry, as there is a lot of detailed food talk. I give this book two out of five stars.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Oh my goodness, you should read this book. I listened to this book while walking. I probably should not have done that, as I found myself nodding along to her, gasping with newfound awareness, and wanting to high five everyone I saw (I didn’t actually high five anyone, but I really wanted to). I give this book five out of five stars.

Raw Material: Working Wool in the West by Stephany Wilkes. If you are a huge wool nerd, this book is for you (Alissa and Marilee I’m talking about you). If you aren’t weirdly obsessed with sheep (I’m talking to you Jess, why don’t you love sheep???) this book would bore the pants off of you. This book is the journey of Stephany Wilkes from Silicon Valley tech worker to professional sheep shearer. Along the way she helps found Fibershed. I found the book riveting. I want to visit her. It makes me want to be less lazy so I could work with sheep. I give this book four out of five stars.

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon. This romance novel featured a financially stable woman and a handsome man that she doesn’t hate. It was a refreshing change. This book manages to spin a tale about financial crimes, the tech industry, love, and the struggles of being a Black woman in a technical field. I give this book three out of five stars.

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley. I started this book as an audio book, but quickly found myself so interested I needed to switch to reading it because I wanted to devour the book. This book featured several intertwining stories about people searching for their own truth. I give this book four out of five stars.

Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin. This book is about a baby playgroup filled in New York City filled with wealthy women and the struggling musician that performs for the group. Things in the group are not as they seem. This book was fabulous and funny. It was a joy to read. I give this book four out of five stars.

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez. I started reading this book because it looked like a cute romance novel. I did not expect the language. The characters in this book really like to drop f bombs. Away from my kids I’ve been known to use salty language, but this was a bit much even for me. Good Lord this review makes me sound like such a prude. Whatever. I’m still reading the second one because it is a series and I will read anything mindless in series form. I give this book two out of five stars.

Have you been reading anything good this month?

I’m past the gusset on my first Christmas sock. I love the colors of the sock, and know it will get a lot of use post Thanksgiving.

I spent the weekend “camping” with Kirsten and her family. We haven’t been around other people. They haven’t been around other people. We checked temperatures first. I won’t be around other people for two weeks.

Normally we camp in Missouri, but this summer Kirsten and her husband brought their camper up to Winterset, which is a 40 minute drive from Des Moines. I planned on staying in the camper with them, but after about two hours it became clear that Elliot could not hang as a camper. On Friday Elliot and I drove home to Des Moines to sleep and headed back out on Saturday. On Saturday I drove both kids home, as they were both exhausted. I was exhausted too. A good exhaustion that comes from spending the weekend in the sunshine hanging out with your best friend.

Ivy and Jess even drove out to hang out and knit in the shade with us. It was a joy for my friends to finally meet each other.

I hope your weekend was filled with friendship and joy.

I found a way to occupy my mind earlier this week. I knit a llama in a day. The pattern is the Susan B. Anderson Alpaca pattern, but it looks like a llama to me, so that is what I’m calling it. I’ll be giving it to my aunt who loves llamas.

One sleeve is done. This sweater is not getting much needle time lately, as my anxiety is so bad at the moment I’m having a difficult time knitting. I love this sweater, but I am going to be happy to have it off the needles. I’m sure it will be done by October.