And it's coming in COLD. 30 today. I wish Don and I had gotten the tree last week when we had some 50+ days (and before I sprained an ankle!). But no matter, the tree will appear eventually.

Thanks to a perceptive reader, I realized some photos of Nell's scarf had been inadvertently dropped off both a blog post and the knitting page. Hopefully all is intact now. What  beautiful pieces readers have knit, using this pattern from Death by Cashmere. The pattern was created by a very talented knitter, Kelly Harms Wimmer, who was also one of my agents at the time. Such talent!

And here is Susanne  Freeman's beautifully knit "Nell's Scarf" knit up in the colors of the sea. Thank you, Susanne!

What a crazy few weeks it has been. Busy for everyone, I know. I finally finished The Wedding Shawl last week (10:10 am Friday morning, to be exact) and it was such a relief to send it on its way to my amazing editor. And tomorrow, A Holiday Yarn comes to bookstores. An exciting and busy time.

Just returned from three wonderful days on the shores of Lake Michigan in a beautiful cabin with wide windows open to the water. The three of us remembered swimming in Lake Michigan as kids and turning blue from the icy cold water. But this week it was warm and clear and refreshing. A wonderful getaway, during which we walked and talked, sat on the beach, and revisited our growing up years. A nice bonding thing for sisters to do.

FIrst a weather report....Sunny and warm on Cape Ann. HUMID and rainy in Kansas City. After a very active fourth of July the kids are worn out and adults trying to catch up on emails, writing, and other things.

I received cover copy for the next Saside Knitters mystery (November, 2010)--A Holiday Yarn--and I think the artist did a lovely job so I wanted to share it with you. Hope you like it, too.

Happy week to all.

I hope everyone is having a leisurely 4th weekend--maybe some reading, knitting, and brats on the grill?  We have  excited grandkids pulling out trikes to decorate for tomorrow's parade. I'm not sure they will be awake for the fireworks, but we'll give it a try. Have a great day!

Happy day to everyone and welcome to the new look for my Website! I promised I'd pass along books news, along with Nell, Izzy, Cass, and Birdie's patterns and recipes. And now, at last, I have the tools I need to do it, thanks to Danny, my wonderful web guru.