Parting Shot

As has become something of a tradition, I knit something small with a magnet inside and left it somewhere on the son's refrigerator just before we parted.  The pattern choice was easy, as we couldn't have been together without the vaccine.  

It was quite an adventure, and maybe I'll bring some of the stories and pictures here to the blog.  Then again, I might just move on with whatever happens next, or more likely, wander away and neglect this place.  You know, same ol', same ol', eh?   

New York, New Yarn

We are back from New York, and it was wonderful. I still have more laundry and a bit of unpacking left, but we are pretty close to being settled back in at home. There was so much to do and see, but I will spare you much of the travelogue for now, and get straight to the yarn.

We made it to two yarn stores, Habu Textiles, and School Products Yarn, and I was able to enhance the stash a little bit. I wish I could show you the yarns better, and even more, that you could meet them in person. As usual, most of the colors are way off in my photos.

From Habu, you see (left to right) bamboo, bamboo/copper, wool/stainless steel, wool, silk/stainless steel, merino wool, bonus sample gifties (silk, mohair/silk, linen/silk), and then handspun silk at the bottom.

At School Products Yarn, I picked up (from top to bottom) cashmere/mohair, silk/cashmere, and merino/cashmere/angora yarns. The blue 70% silk/ 30% cashmere yarn is four strands wound together into one cake, so I have a bit of work ahead of me to separate them into separate skeins.

I do not have plans for the yarn, but am pleased with my selections. I wanted to get yarns that I do not have available locally, and I did that with all of these yarns. While I think I will knit some of these yarns into gifts for others, some of them might become lace for me.

Mystery Monday

The countdown clock for our trip to NYC ticks ever closer to departure. Since I am not really sure of the schedule, I do not know what all to plan to do while we are there. It will be a short visit, so it both takes pressure off, as I know we cannot do it all, and adds pressure, knowing that our time is so limited. People have been offering their lists of must-see, must-do, and must-eat in New York, and they all sound wonderful, but I do not know if we will get to many or any of them. Still, I am open to any and all suggestions or advice on the topic. The last I heard, we will be staying at The Standard Hotel, and I am not quite sure what to think about that. If you are bored and curious, you can google about for some information on that establishment, and then perhaps understand what I mean.

However, I do think it is probably a good idea that we are getting away for a few days. Last week was not our favorite. There really was not much to mention, but it was exhausting, and a temporary change of scenery might be helpful. I could also go for some different weather. It has been in the upper nineties again here along with poor air quality. The defoliant gets me, and I sure am glad they use less of it on the cotton than they did a few years ago.

Well, packing time will be here before I know it, and I have not even begun to think about travel knitting, and as I try to think about it, nothing comes to mind. I may need some help.

Buh-Bye, July!

Here we are again, another month drawing to a close, and what a month it has been. In some ways, it seems like it has flown by, but with how much has happened, July 1 feels ages ago. We had the wonderful visit with grandparents and the weird Tour de Fleece. Las Vegas was filled with amazing experiences crammed into just a few days, and perhaps it was more than the flying that left my head swimming.
My mom's dog venture has entered a new phase. Construction began on the dogs' new home, and Poppy had two puppies.


Inspiration from Nora's Citron had me digging through the stash to find a missing ball of yarn to knit one of my own. I love my new shawl, and wish I could photograph it better to show it to you all. Knitting it was a perfect companion for this month, as it did not require too much attention, and the cobweb weight yarn I used (Jojoland Harmony) kept it compact for on the go knitting, and light enough so that it was comfortable to knit in the hot weather.

Speaking of the hot weather, I have been amazed at how little it has bothered me. Don't get me wrong, I do dislike the heat, but it has not hurt me the way it usually does. I was surprised by how well I held up in Vegas, even when the thermometer read 116F. Somehow, in my mind, it is nearly Fall, and time to start cold weather knits. Perhaps it is my weird working for me for now, but whatever it is, I am grateful that I am holding up so well with the hot.

We definitely have begun thinking about when it really will be almost Fall, as it is time for working out the details for probable travels in September. It will be another new-to-me experience. It looks like we will be in NYC for a few days, and we are on the verge of information overload trying to decide what we will do in the time we are there.

Whatever happens next, I have plenty of knitting and spinning to keep me company.

Tour Dam Tour

Touring the Hoover Dam topped the list of must-do things for Bruce while we were in Las Vegas. It was a fascinating and educational adventure, but I wanted to do more with the experience. I put my drop spindle, fiber, and a yellow shirt in a bag, and hoped everything would work out something close to what I envisioned.

When I was warming up (for the spindling, that is) in line inside waiting for the guided tour to begin, I believe some people tried to sneak pictures, others stared, but there were few questions. A curious adult prodded a child to ask me about what I was doing. It seems that once most people learn what I am doing, they experience and odd combination of disappointed, bored, and confused. Bruce, however, ever enthusiastic and supportive, urged me to give more details than most people ever wanted to hear. By the time he is trying to get me to describe the Tour de Fleece, they are beginning to look for the nearest exit.

Anyway, none of that matters, as my purpose was to entertain and amuse myself, and that I did.