A day worth waking up for....

Yesterday was one of those days where everything works out just right.   Hubby was just home from a business trip and tired but the boys and I decided to make the 2hr run to Orlando to IKEA in Orlando.    In an effort to expose T1 to distance driving, I asked him to drive.   That left me with two hours each way of knitting time. 

On the way down, I finished my first Triana Scarf.   I bought this yarn at Quiltfest on Thursday (Weird, I know, but if anyone can find yarn at a quilt show, it is me).    I am of two minds on this project.   I am not really a novelty yarn kind of girl but the  finished project is boa-like and kind of cool.  I bought two balls (1 ball makes a scarf) of this yarn and two balls of another similar novelty yarn.   My plan is to make one of each for me and one of each as Xmas gifts (one for my Mom and one for a friend).   My only concern is how they will wear since this one catches on everything.

Once in Orlando, it seemed silly not to stop at my favorite FL yarn shop, The Black Sheep.   As usual, this shop did not disappoint.   The shop is gorgeous, the staff wonderfully friendly and knowledgeable.   I so with they were closer to home.   I didn't actually buy any yarn, just some threads for an embroidery project (their selection is so much better than anywhere nearer to me).

We did not even get to IKEA until 4-ish.   I knew just what I wanted but we still spent a good hour or so wandering before so we grabbed some picture ledges for my office and hit the cafeteria for a dinner of Swedish meatballs and lingonberry sauce.

I thought we would go straight home but the boys talked me into a quick stop at Hollywood Studios to check out the new Star Tours ride.    We were there for an hour during which we rode Star Tours four times.   It was never a favorite of mine but I love what they have done with it now.   Each ride was slightly different.   If it were not for the long drive home, I would have agreed to another couple of rides just to see the differences.  

Including a stop at Panera for an evening snack, it took us three hours to get home.   We rolled in just short of midnight (way past my bedtime).   T1 did a great job driving both ways.   The stop at Disney was a bit crazy but it was our kind of crazy.  No regrets, we had a wonderful time.

Life is such a pain in the...

...shoulder!  What did you think I was going to say?  :-)

Lisa's Knitting Bag 20Sept11

What you see here is my knitting bag, which contains the following:

• Mac & Me's "Summer Wrap" in progress
• the other sock (one is in my purse)
• Fifi (my netbook)
• a composition notebook (painted & embellished)
• watercolor sketch book (also painted & embellished)
• an umbrella
• Moleskine notebook & sketchbook that usually go in my purse.
• cosmetic case (also usually in my purse)
• 24 watercolor pencils (along with brushes, sketching pencils, etc.)
• diabetes appropriate snacks
• the lovely little Moop clutch (comfortably holds my wallet, cell, iPod, keys, & a sock in progress) that I have been using as a purse these days (liked the summer one so much that I ordered the black one and am eyeing the red one).

Gee, I wonder why my shoulder hurts?

A day of mourning...

We watched the 9/11 memorial service this morning as we have done on each anniversary of that terrible day.   Has it really been this long?   10 years ago we lived in a commuter town in NJ.   Hubby worked for a hedge fund with offices in NY, London, & NJ.    T1 was in third grade and T2 was a sickly 4yo.  My nephew was working at the Pentagon.  Hubby and I lost friends & co-workers.   It was not unusual to attend multiple funerals in a single day.  Just driving to the grocery store was heart wrenching since the sight of a house with a lot of cars parked in front usually indicated a home that had lost someone.   Still, we did go to work, school, & the grocery store ("Never let the bad guys win.")   I remember arguing with my therapist when she said that everything would go back to normal.   I don't think we ever really did (Have you been to an airport lately?).   What did happen is that we, as a country, have moved forward into a new normal.   It is right that we did so, but looking back, I wonder where we found the strength.

Lovely Day...

Gone With The Wind

I am in Atlanta this week with Hubby.   His new job brings him up here quite a bit.    T2 & I came along with him for a few days in July and had a terrific time sightseeing (we highly recommend the Coke & CNN tours).

 This week, though, the boys are in school so it is just us (which is also very nice).   We drove up early on Monday so that we could spend some time together before Hubby got busy with work.   It has been rainy and cool but I kind of like it.   In July we stayed in Norcross which was rather industrial (think grey with poor air quality).   This time we are staying NW of Atlanta, nearer Hubby's data center.   It is lovely here, green & hilly.  It reminds us of Maryland and makes us wistful.

Margaret Mitchell House

Once here, we headed into downtown Atlanta to see Margaret Mitchell's house.   Originally, I thought I would see it alone today but Hubby surprised me by wanting to come along (I do love that man.).   We liked it very much.   It was fun to hear her story and see where she wrote Gone With The Wind.   Did you know that Scarlett's name was supposed to be Pansy?   "Miss Pansy, Miss Pansy"; "Frankly my dear Pansy, I don't give a damn"; Nope, I just can't wrap my mind around it.

Yesterday, Hubby went to work and I was on my own.   I had planned my day ahead of time and it was just wonderful.

Lovin' Knit Studio

I spent the morning knitting with a local group at Lovin' Knit Studio.    I just can't reccomnend this shop, owner (Pat), staff, +/or their customers, highly enough.   From the moment I walked in the door, I felt welcome. Visually, the shop is just mind-boggling, each thing more beautiful than the last.  They have an extraordinary selection of yarn and accessories.   The knitting group was very warm &; welcoming.   I had a terrific time, was very "bad", and left feeling lighter than I have in a very, very long time.

Maybe I was just in an extraordinarily good mood but, I swear, even the Panera Bread, where I had lunch was pretty.   Check out that gorgeous fireplace.


Also according to plan, I spent the afternoon with another local knitting group at the Cast-on Cottage.   Something in the air? Atlanta being more cosmopolitan than Jax?   I don't know what it is, but I like it.  Two fabulous yarn shops within easy distance from one another.  I have not been this lucky since I lived in Princeton.

Cast-on Cottage and Needlepoint Garden

Once again, I felt welcome from the very first.   The owner & staff were warm friendly & knowledgeable.  The first time I visited this shop in July, T2's reaction upon walking in the door was "Who needs this much yarn".   Silly question, yes, but wonderfully descriptive as well.   There is in fact lots and lots of yarn everywhere you look.   After happily chatting & knitting with one of their local knitting groups for a couple of hours, I found a pattern (caught my eye from across the room), a CE  booklet (I've been looking for this one.  I covet the Highland Fling), and some yarn (variegated, fall colors, Araunia on sale; Who could resist?) that just had to go home with me.   Also, fell in love with their sample of the Summer Flies shawl, which is knit in Koigu (my favorite and almost impossible to find in FL), and is a free pattern on Ravelry.   All in all, I left very happy indeed.


Quick stops at Target and Whole Foods and I was back at the hotel having a quiet dinner with Hubby.   It was, indeed, a lovely day.


At the moment, I am snuggled in bed blogging, but soon I will have to get up, shower, eat lunch and head out.  I am going to see Sarah's Key, grab a quick dinner and then go back to Lovin' Stitch for a yarn tasting.  How cool is that?

I miss sheep so baaad....

sheep 0001 from paul taggart on Vimeo.