mmm.... coffee.....

loyalty, bravery & a velour jumpsuit

yesterday my apt was sparkling clean.  today it is a mess.  or at least the kitchen is.  last night was "erica's apt is sad & lonely please fill it with friends" bbq & party.  it was fabulous, so many cool people i know came over & bbq-ed & drank & talked & played nintendo.  yay, nintendo!    it was so awesome, most of the friends that came didn't know each other, but they're all such great people so of course they got along!  here is a terrible picture of good folks in my living room:

  who came?  if you're curious...  my new friend Jodie who just moved to RI, Art stopped by with Selena long enough to eat most of my homemade hummus, Kristen came with rice krispie treats, my great downstairs neighbors Kim & Matt, Teresa & Chris & delicious peanutbutterchocolate cookies, Jonathan & Anna (the awesome couple in the picture you all liked), neighborSusan & greenhouseBrian, our new friend & neighbor Katende whom we frightened with tales of New England winters, my landlords Doug & Nadine & cute dog Ruby, Santiago who made up for arriving so late by staying up til 3:30am with me & Chip (who came over when he got out of work at 1am.)  they both spent the night on my floor & it was so nice to wake up to friends in my living room that i didn't mind when they kept leaving the seat up!
  there isn't much to report on the craftyness, just that i'm working on several quilt paintings & my studio is layered in little squares that i hope don't get out of order before i sew them up!  i've put aside all the knitting for now because i need to focus on making money & getting ready for the upcoming RISD sale on Oct. 8th.  my hands were starting to bother me a bit & the tendon-callous thing in my left hand reappeared so i think i should focus on other projects for a while.  i did finish the green shawl - it turned out to be the perfect little lap blanket & after i blocked it the dropped stitches stayed put. 
what are you working on?

canned heat?

i think it was pre-determined that i would be frustrated at work today.  despite a very pleasant walk in with neighborSusan & her lovely dog Hollow, i don't feel like i'm handling things well.  i keep thinking i'll get something to leave the room, but them i am thwarted.  again.  i am overwhelmed by the amount of large fragile things that cover every possible workspace & even the floor & it's always someone else's job to decide where it belongs!  & teresa is not here.  she is in california, normally i would call her & we would get lunch & grumble about work.  i need to tell teresa about the large warp in time & space that is occurring in my dining room that only she & her dad would understand...

it's freezing in here again, the thermometer claims it to be 67 degrees,  but i think it lies.  how does one measure the wind chill?  i'm sorry, i'll stop.  instead of more complaining, here are some pictures i've been keeping in my digital camera for one reason or another, but mostly because they make me smile:

flying with a head cold

my right ear still hasn't popped...  sorry about the silence!  i've been a little distracted lately because of this great big secret that i can finally share: my sister & jo & my dad & i threw my mom a posh surprise dinner party.  she just retired on the 25th of February & they moved down to hilton head, SC full time.  my sister was already down there last friday , just as my mom & her came back from a bike ride, jo & i were standing in the driveway.  later that day my mom's friend Sam showed up, too.  it was so much fun!  we set a gorgeous table, there were invitations, place cards, we rented glasses & chairs & a table.  jo cooked up an incredible 7 course meal.  here is the menu for you to drool over while i try to get all my pictures together:

1. gulf oysters on the half shell
  Prosecco champange
2. pan seared scallops with celery salad & a mustard burre blanc
  Rancho Zabaco pinot gris 2003
3. chilean sea bass in saffron fennel nage
  Joseph Phelps sauvingnon blanc 2003
4. sesame crusted ahi tuna with asian slaw
  Rodney Strong pinot noir 2002
5. herb garlic grilled lamb chops with roasted root vegetable
  Chateau la Pelletrie 2000
6. Point Reyes blue cheese
  Warre's Otima 10 year old tawny porto
7. blood orange sabayon served over premium chocolate ice cream
  coffee or tea