All about travel (part one)

So today we bring you part one of the recap of my latest travels. I've managed to go to Atlanta twice since the spring. Once with my DF Jackie, who's blog you should check out, and once by myself. Both trips were wonderful. Plus I made a quick trip up to WV for a family reunion and to help my parents drive home. Not to mention two trips to Savannah.

I'm guessing you want more information, or at the least some pictures of swag or other such nonsense. Luck you, I have just what you want.

The trip in April was for Stitches South. Neither Jackie nor I had ever attended and we were very much looking forward not only to the class we had signed up for, but also the chance to check out some yarns we had heard of but never seen or felt. Let me just say that we did our share of shopping. We stayed with DF Jean and her fab husband which helped cut down on cost, or should I say helped us be able to spend more. I'm not sure when we took this picture, I think it was after day 1 when we'd gone to class and then waited to get into the "hall of yarny and related goodness" for early bird shopping. In fact, I'm fairly certain that's when this was taken.

Now understand that this is for three people. Yeah, it still looks like a lot, but in my defense, I've already finished one shawl from some of what is there and am 3/4 way through another. I'm ready to sign up for next year. Maybe take two classes this time.

Of course it wasn't all about the loot yarn, we also spent time with friends Jill, Heather and Andy. Jackie got to meet my stitching/knitting friends in Atlanta and we even found a few minutes to take her to one of the stitching stores so she could look around. And yes, I did buy a small little something there that I've been working on (and need to get progress pictures of).

Mom, Dad, myself and several other friends also went up to Savannah in April to see a show at The Savannah Theater. We saw Southern Nights that day. It was the first time mom and dad had gone up and they really enjoyed the show. We always have a great time. Before the show mom and I found Wild Fiber and I did a little shopping there.

Lovely shop and very near the theater so that's just perfect for when I get to go back for a visit.

And here's a picture of "the gang" having a bite to eat before the show started.

from right clockwise: Mom,  Don F., Lynn F., Tony F., Janet F., Joyce & my dad

I even have a picture of my dad after the show. Isn't he handsome?

Left to right: Chris Fullerton, Dad, Michele (I think)

Chris' parents are Don & Lynn in the picture above and we've all been friends for years. In fact, all of us attend the same church and are pretty close.

We went back up to Savannah for Chris' birthday in May and got to see the Gospel Jubilee they were putting on at the time. Amazing is the only word I can use. We're planning on going back to see the one they do in the fall as well.

Wow, that's a lot for one day. I think I'll leave you in May and try to bring you up to date with the rest later this week. Don't want to bore anyone you know.

The week that was

Last week seemed to go by both quickly and at a snails pace. I started this blog post on Wednesday and then all of a sudden it was a new week. Here's what I was thinking:

So Monday morning I had my regularly scheduled doctors appointment for my RA. That wasn't so bad. In fact it went pretty well. Then I came home and logged back into work. That's when things started to go downhill, not that it happened all at once. Oh heck no. It was more insidious. Little things started piling up and it just became one long day where everything I tried to do took ten times as long as it should have. Tuesday didn't get much better, but at least I figured out how to work around some of my computer issues at work and by Wednesday things were going ok in that department.

I really wanted to knit last week. Really. But I didn't get much done. I did work some on a small project I'm doing for a swap, but it's not that exciting so I'm not making as much progress on it as I should. I really ought to be finished with it, but I'm not and I'm making myself knit on it so I'll get it done for my package to go out on time.

I'd love to show you pictures of something I finished, or something I worked on, but really, I've got nothing. So, I'll post this in the hopes that tomorrow I can post some pictures from at least one of my trips this summer. Stay tuned!

Rainy Saturday

It's been a really rainy Saturday today which means I've been pretty lazy. Really haven't done much all day except catch up on some TV I had recorded and knit. So, what am I knitting on you ask? I've been spending most of my knitting time on two different shawls. I don't have up to date pictures on either, but I'll let you see what I have. I was going to take a new picture of both, but my camera is hiding after being on vacation. I really hope I didn't leave it in the hotel.

First up:


This is my take on Natalie Servant's Eiffel Tower shawl. It was a challenge during July for the Tour de France. I didn't finish, but I did actually start the second repeat of Chart 2 today. I'm doing the 5 arch version, which is actually 5 arches on each of 2 sides. The yarn was a gift from DF Jennifer who I "hang out with" (in an online chat) most Sunday afternoons as we watch NASCAR. Check out both of her blogs here and here to see what yarny goodness she's up to. Oh, the yarn is called Yarn Chef and I adore it. It's lace weight and so yummy to work with since it's got some silk in it. I can't wait to see the drape on this when it's finished.

The other shawl I've been working on is this one:

This is Cambria Wrap that I'm doing in some lovely yarn I scored when I went to Stitches South. (Oh, I haven't talked about that have I? Well maybe I'll do a single post on trips and what I scored later.) Anyway, the yarn is from Knitting Notions and it's fingering weight. (Classic Merino Superwash Sock in "In the Light" colorway)  I love the colors and bought enough for this pattern when I saw it. This is a very simple pattern that was easy to memorize and has been my travel, or non-thinking, piece for awhile now. I wanted it nice and long so I could wrap it around me on cool evenings, because I live in hope that it will eventually cool off, plus I think long wraps are elegant and make jeans look dressed up. So, I'm using 2 skeins and it's going to be perfect. I've actually started and second skein and am making nice progress. Especially since I haven't really knit on it regularly.

There's more, I finished Traveling Woman made with some wonderful yarn from Sanguine Gryffon called Kypria. I don't have a finished picture of that either, so you'll just have to wait.

Time to head out for dinner so enjoy the pictures and send good thoughts my way so I'll find my camera.

I bet you thought I'd stopped blogging

So the truth is I had, but not forever. The main reason was because I've been busy and life just seemed to go by without me managing to blog. I'd think about a blog post and then the day would be gone, or the week, or the month and it wasn't relevant any more. Since I last blogged I ended up one contract, took a month off and started another contract that has kept me VERY busy. I've finished a couple of knitting projects and I've even stitched a little. So I'll try to do better and also get everyone caught up on the important stuff.

Let's see, I think some eye candy is in order to get the ball rolling.

Cancer away Citron

I knit this for a lady I work with when she found out she had a melanoma on her face and was going in for surgery. I used Zauberball and love how it turned out. When I blocked it I made it a little too pointy around the edge, but I still love how it turned out and she was surprised and has used it and loves the color so I'm happy with it.

I also finished Sapphire Beauty and can't wait until it's a little cooler so I can start wearing it. I would make another one of these for a gift, same with Citron. Both are great, easy patterns you can work on while you're watching TV and relaxing.


My lovely model for both is my mother. She's always willing to help me out, but sometimes she wants to keep things. I guess I need to make her a shawl.

That's all I have time for today. I've got some more pretties to show off so I'll be posting some more I promise.