Upcoming.

...when I first started my blog - back in early 2007, in those days before we all used Google Reader to keep up with blogs and actually visited them one by one to see what was new - I had a sidebar feature called Upcoming. It was a simple list of the dates and events I was looking forward to - meet-ups with friends, trips, you get the idea. I've long since simplified the sidebar, but there are exciting things on the horizon. Today I want to share a few of them with you:

First up, on the knitting front are two new projects. A wonderfully soft (machine washable and without any holes at Katie's request) blanket for Charlie. [I'm hoping to have this finished before they head for the beach. on May 9. stay tuned!]

And a baby girl sweater. I've been wanting to knit this one - with a pink ruffle! - ever since I found out Charlie was a boy...and yesterday learned that our associate pastor just had a baby girl. I'm going to knit the sweater out of the purple and the ruffle and i-cord edgings with the light pink.

I just added this cookbook to my collection and I'm excited about pretty much every recipe. Tomorrow night I'm making Spanish Chopped Salad with Walnut Paprika Vinaigrette (for me and Katie....I'm not sure Marc is nearly as excited about the recipes as I am!)

Later this week, I'm going to replant the pots on the porch for spring and summer. I feel bad about pulling up pansies that are still doing so well, but if I don't get the new flowers planted soon, it will be too hot for them to take hold. It will be nice to refresh the colors with something vibrant; I'm thinking hot pink and purple!

I've pre-ordered Elise's Get to Work Book; it ships in June. Despite all my i-devices, I am very much a paper girl. I can't wait to brainstorm ideas...and then work through them to execution - on paper. I might even be planning a new purchase of colorful markers and post-it notes!

I picked up installments 4, 5 and 6 in Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series at the latest Kindle sale. I'm ready for a little easy reading and these seem just the ticket along with, I hope, a few more installments of Alexander McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie series. I'm nearly done re-reading the first one which I initially read some 10-12 years ago. Then I'll re-read the second and third (still on my bookshelf) before launching into new territory.

My parents have rented a huge house in the North Georgia mountains for a family reunion over Memorial Day. It's hard to believe that's now less than a month away! All three of us kids and our families (including those who live in Wisconsin and Texas) are planning to attend. It will be the first time since Katie's wedding we're all together. And the first time in years (maybe ever?!) that we've been together in one big house!

And last but not least, Marc bought me a plane ticket yesterday to spend nearly a week in Madison over the July 4th weekend. I hope the peonies will still be blooming. And of course, I'm beyond excited to have that much time with Sara. I have very fond memories of July 4th in New York City's Central Park with Katie (way back in 2009) and I have a feeling Madison does a pretty great Fourth.

I'd love to know what's upcoming in your world; please share!