Disney Knitting...

Look what I was doing this weekend.   Due to scheduling conflicts, we did T2's birthday trip to Disney a  week early.   We were blessed with the most wonderful weather, just warm enough to be comfortable but not sweaty (That would be assuming that I sweat which, being a lady, I do not).    Unlike Xmas, the Magic Kingdom was not crowded at all.    The boys were able to get on everything they liked at least twice.   I woke up feeling a bit woozy so did not feel like tempting fate by riding the rides.    I spent most of the day sitting in the sun and knitting.   What you see here is the beginning of another One Row Handspun Scarf.   I finished the first one in no time but handed it off to it's new owner without taking a picture (my bad).     The day was pretty terrific right up until I had a knock down, drag out with T1 (mmm family drama, my favorite).   What can I say?  Mothering teens is not for sissies.   Still, unlike a few years ago, these flare ups are few are far between.   For that, I am grateful.

Do you listen while you knit?

I don't know about you, but I really like to listen to a good book while I knit.  What's more, I prefer series.    As my moods change, so do my choices in books.   These days I am listening to the Irish Country Series by Patrick Taylor.    I started with "An Irish Country Christmas", which is actually the third book in the series.    So enchanted by the characters and setting (think All Creatures Great & Small with human patients), was I, that I immediately downloaded (Audible.com is my friend) the rest of the series.   I am half-way through the second book and still totally taken with the on-going story of the doctors of Ballybucklebo, Ireland.  I listen while I drive, cook, compute, & knit.

I know I have not blogged about anything of substance for a couple of weeks.   I have had to think my way through some things and will blog more/better soon.

Lovely Little Things....

Gifted: Lovely Little Things to Knit & Crochet

by Mags Kandis

I picked this book up yesterday while shopping with my brother.   Mags Kandis is a favorite of mine, and I remember putting this book on my wish list before it even came out.   I am so glad that I finally got around to buying it.    So much of pretty knitting is eye candy but not very practical.   The projects in this book are attractive and useful.    MK has an real eye for color and writes her patterns in a concise yet understandable way.    From the Felted Heart Milagros (pincushion?) to the Mondern Mangas armwarmers (NE FL has been chilly this winter), I can see myself wearing and/or using almost every single thing in this book.

What I've been working on....

Now that the holidays are in the past, I have been able to get back to my knitting.    I've worked a bit on the Gentlman's Scarf for Mom's gentleman friend, and cast on for a Reunion Cowl for me.   My favorites, however, the Braided Cable Necklace  and the One Row Handspun Scarf.

Braided Cable Necklace

The BCN is so fast and easy to knit.    The first one took me just a couple of hours from start to finish.   I did make a couple of minor changes.   I knit one more repeat, which added a bit extra to the length.  Also, the  pattern calls for a button & loop closure.    I used the three-needle bind-off technique to join the pieces.   This worked very well for me, however, it might not have if I had not lengthened it.   I wore mine out yesterday and got lots of compliments.

One Row Handspun Scarf

The ORHS has been on my radar for a while.   Just before Christmas, I was offered the opportunity to teach knitting a a local Michaels.   I did this for a while when we lived in NJ and loved it.    After some looking around, I decided to knit a ORHS in Patons Pure (100% Organic Cotton) as my class sample.    It is already clear that this scarf is going to look good.   The pattern interesting enough to stave off boredom but easy enough to be doable by a beginner knitter.   This is the first time I have used this yarn and I like it a lot.   It is very soft and the colors are lovely.

A funny thing....

A funny thing happened when I came home from my visit to NJ last September.   I began missing the NYC/Philly metro area.    The odd thing is that I did not miss it this much when we moved here.    I am the one who wanted to move to FL, I really do love it here (we live in a post card), and I don't think I want to move back (Besides, the boys love it here).   Still, I miss my friends, the ease of finding just about anything locally (more or less), museums, yarn shops, and, perhaps, most of all, people.   Sometimes, I feel so constrained here.  Politics & religion, two of my favorite subjects, are so intertwined.   While outwardly very polite (which I love), intolerance is rampant.   Nuance is not appreciated.   The need to watch what I say, & how I say it is starting to hurt.   Up North, I was teased for being too "nice" ("Your not from around here are you?"), here my brashness is off-putting (You're not from around here are you?").    So, to hell with them, right?   Just be yourself and let the chips fall where they may.  That works a lot better in theory than in execution.   I guess the bottom line is that I am feeling lonely.

We're home....

Yes, we came home early.  Our first couple of days in Orlando were very cold.   The accommodations were not what we had hoped.   By Wednesday, it had warmed up nicely but by then T1 was sick.  We were already considering not doing a Disney New Years.  According to a very nice cast member, you have to get into Magic Kingdom or Epcot by 10am, you must not leave (even to visit your car) or you may not be able to re-enter, and it is unlikely that you will leave before 2am.  Love Disney, but 10am to 2am?.  Hubby, T2, and I were appalled (fuddy duddies that we are).   T1 was up for it until he got sick.  By the time T2 came down with T1's cootie, we just decided to call it a trip and come home.

There were a some of high points, however.    We visited the Titanic Experience.    What fun that was.  Even the boys liked it.    We had a really engaging guide.    Later that same day, Hubby took me over to the Black Sheep.   In addition to some needlepoint threads, I treated myself to a Helen Hamann "Mile-Long Scarf" kit .   I love this shop and so wish it were closer to home.  On a friends recommendation, we had dinner at Cariera's Cucina Italiana one night.   We all agreed that this was the best pizza we have had since we moved to FL.   The owner is from Michigan, go figure.   My back has been bothering me quite a bit making the hot tub heaven sent.

So, in the end, we spent a nice quiet New Years at home.   I went to sleep at 9:30.   Hubby and the boys stayed up to see the ball drop and eat junk food.   A good time was had by all.

Happy New Year!!