End of Summer Gifts

Well, I caught an end-of-summer headcold.  Yuck and a huge frowny face!  >:(

At least it wasn't Rob's flu.  Still, it was a clear and definite "wake-up call" to slow down.  I had been going going going during the time I was meant to be resting.  It was necessary, but I believe that neglecting my need to rest at such a critical time of transition was an unfortunate circumstance.  This cold, which first started showing up last Wednesday (that's ten days ago!) still has me walking around with a pocket full of tissues and sinuses in uproar.  Oh, well.  It has certainly made me rest!

There is a lot of good that's been going on, particularly with my studio.  That's for another post, though.  Today, I want to show some of the other end of summer gifts that we're enjoying...in pictures:

Gift the first:  Rob's new "Seattle Man Hat" for 2009.  It's completed now, and he lurves it, but I don't have a photo of him wearing it yet because (and I can't believe I'm about to write this) it's too warm to wear it still!

Gift the second:  I am trying to complete a sweater for myself...one that I will take with me to London this October when I go to assist Aadil.  So far so good, but I am still in denial that I'll actually be IN LONDON in three weeks!  Aack!

Here's the bodice, and a sleeve-in-process of Tilted Duster:

Some more gifts:  food-related wonders!  I've canned a lot this summer.  A friend and I had two jamming parties.  There are enough pickles for the year (I hope!  It's really sad to run our of sweet pickles in April!).  I have about five pounds of fresh frozen blueberries, a pound or so of gorgeous huckleberries and some raspberry puree waiting to be turned into...something.  More jam?  Also about 15 quarts of canned peaches to brighten our long winter mornings:

This quantity made about 9 of the quarts.  I enlisted Rob's help for the halving, pitting, peeling process:

Huckleberries can be hard to come by.  I was very happy to take these home from the Farmer's Market:

****Note****  For knitting-related details, check out my Ravelry pages.  Look for "seattleyogini"