The scarves above and below are both about 2/3 finished. Above is Just A Scarf and is next to my bed when I want to knit at knit before bedtime. Below is Emporium. I'm keeping this in the family room at this time and work on it during TV time after dinner. I also took it to Palm Desert and got a lot done there. Both knits are just a blast to make.

Above and below are two simple cotton sweaters that I keep in my knitting room but lately I've been taking one or the other outside to knit when the weather is nice, and that is becoming more and more frequent. Minimalist sweaters are the sweaters I grab most often and I'm hoping to get these done soon so I can wear them this spring and summer.

I’ve been spending time in my craft room this week working on Christmas projects—and it’s not even July! I usually show you the tidy, put-together version of this space, but the truth is, most days (on a good day!) it looks a lot more like this…creative chaos in full swing.

My son and grandson have a 3D printer and are always making the most interesting things. He’s offered many times to print something for me, but I could never quite think of anything I needed…until recently.

I came across the sweetest craft idea on a blog (and I'm sorry I didn’t save the link so I could give her credit). The blogger had used little resin birds on top of mason jar lids, painted in bright, cheerful colors—it was such a simple idea and completely charming. I knew right away I could recreate something similar.

So I asked my son to print me a few small animals, and he pointed me to Thingiverse, where I chose several animals I loved. I sent him the file and size, and the very next day he handed me these darling little creations.

To put them together, I used Elmer’s glue to attach the flat lids to the screw bands, and then glued the animals right on top. A quick spray with my favorite white—Ivory Bisque from Rust-Oleum—gave them a soft, creamy finish. It reads as white, but not stark—just a nice, natural look.

I think they would be so cute as party favors filled with candy, or themed for different holidays. They’d be perfect for Easter, but I can also imagine a sweet little snowman perched on top of a jar filled with Christmas candy.

I’m definitely not finished with this idea yet…stay tuned!

We have an old table in our service yard where I can spray away without a care!

AI says this is a finch.

The tomatoes are big now. We've got quite a few green tomatoes.

The nasturtiums have taken over the zinnia border. This week they will be plucked except for a few.

Palm Desert:

We spent last week in Palm Desert, near Palm Springs, and had such a fun, relaxing getaway with two other couples. The weather was beautiful—and as a bonus, it sounds like we missed quite a bit of rain at home, so my garden was happily taking care of itself while we were away.

The Palm Springs area is just starting to ease into its hotter season, and many shops and restaurants will take a seasonal pause in a few weeks. Still, if you’re thinking about a trip next season, I have a few favorites to share—

Cafe des Beaux-Arts on El Paseo in Palm Desert has become a favorite—we’ve dined here on several visits, and it never disappoints. It’s casual and friendly, with consistently good food at reasonable prices. An easy place to return to again and again, and one we’re always happy to recommend.

Lavender Bistro in La Quinta--was new to us—and what a find. The patio is breathtaking, softly lit and set in a truly gorgeous space. It felt special from the moment we sat down, and easily became one of the highlights of our trip.

Palm Springs Air Museum: A thrilling museum that I'd go to again and again. Also, a highlight for me because I got to see a P-47, the plane my father flew in WWII.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: A must see for any visitor to the area. Gorgeous views, good dining and excellent hiking trails.

Pup Update: 

While we were away, I had a feeling Biscuit might struggle a bit, but my son stayed at the house so everything—his surroundings, food, and routine—would be the same. I was hopeful that would make it easier on him.

It didn’t quite go as planned. I got reports that Biscuit was hiding from my son whenever he tried to walk, feed, or even just sit with him. He also chose to spend most of his time outside in the cold instead of inside on his cozy beds. My son really made an effort—he’s a true dog lover and a former dog owner—so it was surprising and sad to hear how things unfolded.

When we got home, Biscuit went mental. He stuck close to me for days and wouldn't let me out of his sight. Today, six days later, he’s settled in and we seem to be back to normal.

His daily walks are going really well, and he’s getting much better at reading the world around him—learning what’s worth paying attention to and what isn’t. I learned that this is a common issue with rescues--not easily differentiating threats from non threats. My hope is that, over time, he’ll feel it instinctively. Still, with each walk, he is more relaxed and secure. This little guy has stolen my heart and it’s hard not to think about what life could have been like for such a sensitive little soul on his own in a big city like San Francisco. That thought still makes me shudder. But dogs are so amazing and resilient and he certainly is. He's moving in the right direction, gaining confidence and trust every day and we're so proud of him. 

One great stride is he can now quietly watch the garbage trucks from his window seat—even with all that noisy commotion right at the end of the driveway every Friday. It’s still interesting, of course, but he’s learned there’s no need to go into full alarm mode. He’s also figured out a perfect response to delivery arrivals: one clear bark to let us know someone’s at the door, and then he settles. Message received—no need to go mental. He even allows the gardeners to do their work. He's slightly interested but no longer threatened.  It's the little things.

Pets In Need, the rescue we adopted him from, includes two sessions with a trainer who specializes in working with rescue dogs. Over the phone she shared some really helpful, practical advice. She’s a strong believer in positive reinforcement—which fits perfectly with how we want to approach things—and we’re committed to doing the work. We are looking forward to working with her in person. What a nice treat for the shelter to give us!

I asked my son to send me pictures every day. Can you spot Biscuit hiding? The one ear up and one ear down gives it away. Sigh, hiding is not what we were hoping for. We told the dog trainer and she has some ideas.

Movie and Book Recommendations: 

If you get the chance, go see Michael—we really enjoyed it. Before seeing it, my husband and I wouldn’t have called ourselves big Michael Jackson fans, but the film completely drew us in. We ended up giving it a ten for sheer entertainment value.

The movie, produced with involvement from his family, focuses on showcasing his extraordinary talent and steers clear of the difficult aspects of his personal life. That choice has sparked criticism, but for us, it made for an enjoyable couple of hours.

A standout is Jaafar Jackson—the son of Jermaine Jackson—who plays the title role. He’s absolutely captivating and is a dead ringer for his uncle.

As for books, I just finished the audiobook of Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser. I enjoyed it very much if you are looking for a new book.

Dinner this week:

Im a devoted meal planner—it's one of those small habits that makes my day run more smoothly. It also saves money, cuts down on extra grocery trips, and makes weeknight dinners a snap. No more last minute worries about "what's for dinner?" I already know!

I’m not a fan of shopping, but I do love cooking (just not every single night), so having a plan helps me strike a balance. On shopping day I take a few minutes to check what’s in season and on sale using my grocery store and produce store apps. These apps make it possible for me to clip coupons too.  I also peek in the freezer to see what I already have on hand.

Then I sit down with my recipe collection and jot down a simple plan for the week—usually five dinners, along with a few sides, with input from my dinner loving husband. As I go, I make a list of what I’ll need, keeping in mind what’s already in the pantry. It's a quick routine that makes the rest of the week go a little easier.

I make sure to plan a few dinners that are fast and easy for the days when I'm busy or just too tired or uninterested in cooking. I also do a mild version of batch cooking: If I need chopped onions for several recipes, I chop them all at once and set them aside in the refrigerator. This week's menu was intentionally simple. I knew I would be busy getting the garden straightened up after being gone a week. 

The week in food:

Crockpot Pulled Pork served over Rice: Cook double the amount of rice to use later in the week for Taco Soup.

Make two side salads: Macaroni Salad and Tomato and Cucumber Salad--Chop all the tomatoes and set aside extra, plus chop extra celery and onions for use in later recipes. 

Tacos--Cook double the amount of ground hamburger to use for Stuffed Poblanos later in the week. 

Oven Fried Chicken--An easy sheet pan dinner. Double the amount of chicken to shred for Taco Soup later in the week.

Stuffed Poblanos--Mix the saved cooked ground beef with the last of the cucumber and tomato salad with grated cheese. I don't use a recipe for this but my, it was good! There's one leftover that I'm going to claim for today's lunch.

Taco Soup--Shred the leftover chicken from previous dinner. Use saved rice, chopped tomatoes, celery, and onions. As a topping, use the leftover broken and crumbled taco shells from the previous taco dinner.

This week has a Mexican vibe which we love.

Both salads last several days in the refrigerator. The tomato salad is simply chopped tomatoes, cucumber, onions, dill and parsley, mixed with a glug of olive, one or two tbsp. of vinegar (to taste), one tbsp. of sugar (to taste) and salt and pepper to taste.

This sheet pan chicken dinner made a lot but my husband loves cold chicken for lunches, plus I'll be using a few thighs for the upcoming taco soup.

The taco soup has no recipe but was made with the saved chicken, tomatoes, celery, onions and rice, plus the chopped leftover potato and carrot from the chicken sheet pan dinner,  with a can each of corn, kidney beans and chopped green chilies. The chicken broth was store bought with a healthy dose of taco seasoning to make give it some Mexican oomph, plus extra cumin and oregano.

I have a little end-of-the-week trick I rely on: if I've run out of a side dish to go with dinner, I’ll add something easy like a sliced apple, carrot sticks, buttered toast, or cheese and crackers. It keeps the main course from feeling a little too lonely!

I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful—I’d love to see you back again! I publish about once a week and would be honored if you subscribed to the Knitionary blog. Just click here to join, and new posts will be delivered straight to your inbox.

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