Wouldn't it be great if I posted less often but showed off great photos of finished knitted items?  Yes, it would. It ain't happening, but it's a pretty thought. 
 
The car is in the shop and should be done tomorrow.   Kiss a few hundred bucks goodbye - deductible plus some other work I'm having done while it's already out of commission.     
 
I didn't order a daybed after all - after measuring the space I realized that even a small-framed daybed probably wouldn't work.   So I ordered a nice armless futon sofa instead, it will fill the wall but hopefully not interfere with opening the closet door, and it should be here probably by Friday.  So I can spend this weekend, after taking the dog for his checkup and shots, assembling furniture.  Again.    This futon  even came with a free cover.   I picked a plain khaki cover, since I plan to cover that with an assortment of colorful and easily removed and washed sheets, as I know this will become the bed of choice for a certain black cat who hates the boys and likes to nap in private.

Are you all still awake?  Such is the excitement of my life right now.  It seems like many of us are in the summer doldrums of one sort or another.  I'm holding back on some work rants, because I'm feeling calm now and don't want to relive the rage at the stupidity.  

I've crocheted a few more rows on the shawl, I love it.  I knitted a few more rows on the Lo Tech Sweat, I like the Manos-like-product more and more.   At first I was concerned about an itch factor, it didn't seem all that soft to me, but as I work with it it feels better and better, and  I think washing and blocking the pieces will probably make a big difference.   I have to do the "work from two skeins at once" trick to avoid blocks of color shading, but the subtle blues really work.  

I have a strong urge to start new projects but I'm totally indecisive about WHAT new projects.   I should think small - baby things for the craft table, maybe. 

I'm finally reading Michael Moore's Dude, Where's My Country?   It should be required reading, especially for those who prefer their lives 98% fact free - slap a flag on the back of that SUV and anybody who disagrees with you is a traitor, God help us, this is a crazy time.   I'm not a big Mike Moore fan, I think he tends to wrap his excellent research in hyperbole and can go over the top to make a point, but damn, even if you discount the occasional stretches to make the point and the occasional "humorist's license," there is plenty here to be a wake-up call to anybody.   The problem is, the people who most need to read it have their heads up Fox News's ass and never will.   This baffles me.