Jeunes epinards.

For those getting out your french translations: baby spinach. Yes my world revolves around food :)

This is my birthday present to me, yesterday. A most luxurious scarf in pure jade sapphire cashmere. There’s a special place in my heart for jade sapphire. Such a pleasure to feel slipping through your fingers and such beautifully dyed yarns. I’m working on another project (sleeveless cowl sweater) with their 2-ply silk/cashmere blend that will be finished soon. Anyway, what’s the point of having a birthday without spoiling yourself just a little bit.

The pattern & yarn details can be found on my Ravelry page.

And on another subject: After 6.5 months — my man is coming home tonight. In less than five hours. (!!!!!!)

Rainy day.

Call me crazy, but I don’t mind the rain. Summer has been over for a while in my mind.

And nothing could spoil my mood this week because — Eric is coming home in five more days! He should be in Manas, Kyrgyzstan by now waiting to catch a flight back to the States.

Rain or shine we’re taking the train up to Denali for a few days next week to er… um… well… celebrate.

This yarn is my favorite colors of brown and gray all rolled into one and so much the color of the sky the past few days. I had to fight my friend Carla for the last skein at our local yarn shop. Having so little yarn, I decided to knit a cowl. This one is knitted in a repeating linen stitch, which is just a beautiful from the reverse as it is from the front.

The pattern & yarn details can be found on my Ravelry page.

The sweetest things.

I love those moments checking in on my sleeping children and watching their faces — so peaceful and beautiful.

The past few weeks, my middle child has been extra adorable asking me if I need him to scratch my back before he goes to sleep. ( Let me think — yes! ) And so as he scratches away, he starts talking about whatever happens to be on his mind. It’s so fantastic and I never want him to stop. ( Talking, that is. ) Reluctantly, I tell him that he needs to get some sleep and then another hour goes by and I catch him with his light on reading. Not to single him out from his brothers, but I just want to remember and appreciate this about him, forever.

The blooms are leaving the garden. Summer is quickly coming to an end. We’ve had lots of rain lately and the hugest wild mushrooms you can imagine have been popping up over night.

We’re all getting very ready for Eric to come home. The radiologist replacing him arrives on the 23rd and he’s scheduled to leave Afghanistan on the 30th. With any luck he’ll be home by… my birthday.

Help me understand.

Among all the things, big and small, Eric has told me about his experiences thus far in Afghanistan, two small things are stuck in what I like to call “the land of incomprehension.”

1) Between long shifts reading radiology film, Eric likes to use the gym. One day, there suddenly appeared a man in his face telling him he’s in serious violation of the dress code because he’s wearing gray socks, rather than the required white socks. Then he demands Eric tell him his name and unit so he can be reported. The result of this confrontation was, Eric took off his shoes, removed the offending socks, and threw them in the trash. Then, without saying a word, resumed his workout. (No, it didn’t go over very well.)

2) A certain time each morning, the main (and pretty much only) road on the base is closed for joggers. Eric has been using this road to walk during that time. Until today — when he suddenly found another man in his face telling him that the road is officially for joggers, not walkers, and he’ll have to use the uneven and partially non-existent sidewalk, immediately. After some inquiry, Eric discovered that there is, indeed, such a ridiculous rule.

True stories. And all I can say is… 692 days until the madness ends (aka getting out of the air force.)

No. That’s not all I can say… I can say, “Thank you Dr. Hoover for getting up every day and working your butt off to help save the lives of injured soldiers and civilians. And while you’re at it, please feel free to walk anywhere you please and wear whatever socks you fancy. It’s not a problem.”

Let the sun shine in.

Nothing like a little sunshine to lift the spirits. And then suddenly you notice all the dust you couldn’t see before and are seized with the compulsion to clean!

Can’t win.

So, the most noteworthy news first. With the military’s usual perfect timing, Eric left for Afghanistan last week while I was at my brother’s wedding. I had a feeling it would happen when I made my plans to travel but for a while it looked like everything would work out perfectly. Then, boom. They moved his deployment up a week. He’s at Bagram now working 12 hour shifts with another Radiologist. Living conditions are spartan — including lots of plywood, fungus infested showers and an outhouse! And if I think the dust in my house is bad, I can only imagine being there. He’s going to be there for the next six months. We miss you, Eric.

And the second biggest news is my baby brother Rich got married! Welcome to the Dutton family, Michele! We are going to enjoy getting to know you. It was a lovely wedding and reception and I was super pleased to have been part of it and see them so happy.

And with that quick update, I’m out to enjoy the rest of the sunny day.