Do Raisinets Count as Fruit?

I bought a $1 box of dark chocolate Raisinets the other day and I was just wondering--but I'm guessing the answer is no. Or even "don't be ridiculous."  But since raisins are dried grapes I think it's a valid question.


I'm getting to the point where I have to get out a longer measuring device to see how much more Sudoku long strip #1 I have to knit before binding off... and beginning #2 for another 15 stitch X 64" slog of narrow knitting.  I know, I know, I'm this close to being able to join all three panels of squares, then work a quick edging to finally be done with this endless project.  I freely admit that it's only endless because I hardly ever work on it and, in fact, it got shoved into the back of the back of the back of beyond for a few years when nothing happened so it's time to suck it up and just power through.  Of course there's other crafty type things I'd rather be doing.  There are days when I'd even rather vacuum than sit with this thing in my hands (and we all know how much I love to vacuum) but it's time to finish this so that come autumn I'll have a lovely patchwork afghan to snuggle under on chilly evenings.  Or at least have spread on my lap while I work on the edging.

Since the birthday this is intended for is tomorrow there is a snowball's chance in Hell that it'll be done and delivered ON THE DAY but a card went in the mail with a gift-like item inside and this photo on the blog is an IOU.  People who get hand-crafted gifts are accustomed to getting things with needles (sewing or knitting) still suck in them so I'm not feeling badly at all.  I promise that I'll work on it tonight and maybe get to within 10 rows of completion.  Cross my heart.  (hey, this isn't a pattern I can work on in public; there's a chart, yarn carrying, and counting involved and I'm just too old and befuddled half the time to be that clever)


This morning I was awakened shortly after 6 o'clock by thunder rolling across the sky and

lightning winking around the edges of the shade.  I could also hear the "peck peck" of raindrops on the window over my head.  I didn't want to wake up that early but I did.  It rained for a while, maybe an hour, then the clouds moved off.  Now it's hazy-sunny and probably hot and humid out there.  I think I'll spend the hot part of the day downstairs taking another run at sewing up practice pants no. 1, version 2, ones that fit over my fatass this time.  Oh, the last pair went over it but I had sincere doubts about the seams surviving more than one sit down.

My intention was to go out and water the coleus pots this morning but the rain took care of it for me.  Thanks, Mother Nature.  Aren't these pretty?  You can just barely see, in the lower left, that tucked under the rampant green and white leaves is a version with chartreuse leaves edged in purple.  I should probably go out and trim the bushy one back to give the other one a bit of growing room.  But it's so muggy out there.  I'll think about it.  Maybe tomorrow, it's supposed to be a LOT cooler tomorrow.


July 12--Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Woman at the Window.  Rita sat looking out at the street,  She was at the window most of the day, every day.  When she first sat there neighbors waved and called out greetings.  She never waved back, never acknowledged their greetings.  At first Barney asked her what she was looking for but she didn't answer.  She just patted her fingers on the windowsill as if she were typing or sending Morse Code.

I am still sunk in post-retirement inertia.  I keep hoping that I'll wake up one morning back to my old energetic self but I suspect that I just have to start pushing myself off my duff and start tackling things, one project at a time.  In the meantime, if you need me, I'll be hiding in the basement.  But there's fun stuff to do down there so I might actually accomplish something.  No promises.
--Barbara