Some year I'd like to have one of those vacations where people "don't do anything." Maybe I could rent a cabin or a camper for a week. Take a book and all my knitting supplies along. And just sit and read/knit. A little hiking each day would be OK, too.
My vacations tend to be Drive There & Back, Go, See, Do. Busy, busy, busy. Not too restful. But, they ARE fun, enjoyable, and much too short!
It's 802 miles from my house to my sister's. We drove it in one day and I always think about the pioneers who took months to cross the same distance. What would they think of I-80?!
It ended up that I drove the entire way out as DD1 drove my brother's car while he napped. [He worked in Illinois until 1 a.m. then drove 100 miles to his home-for-one-more-week-before-he-moves-to-Illinois, slept for a few hours, then drove 2.5 hours to meet us along I-80. Interestingly, he arrived just a few minutes after we got to the convenience stop.] Dang, Nebraska goes on forever. And then there's Cheyenne. Wind was from the north so we got the full effect of the refineries. What a stink! Cheyenne is where I saw a plane crash a few years ago. Luckily, the only one I've ever seen. Unluckily, there were two fatalities.
We arrived at my sister's before dark. I used to live only a few miles from her place, so I could have easily driven there after dark, but DD1 & I wanted to see the sun set behind the
mtns. [Well, technically, from that close, one sees the sun set behind the foothills.] Impressive non-the-less, especially when we now see it set behind cornfields. Just not the same effect.
My sister-from-So.Carolina was already there. [Good to see ya, Pud!] Didn't really do a whole lot on Friday - we were all tuckered out from our travels. But, while Bro took samples of his home brew to Boulder, and mother stayed in, the rest of us took a short drive into the foothills - to the Rock. [That one I *thought* DD1 and I could hike to ... we'll do it next time.] Had
BeauJo's pizza for supper. [Worth the 802 mile drive, let me tell ya!]
On Saturday, my sister-who-now-lives-in So. Cal. and family came up for a visit. On Sunday we all went to Denver for the open house reception for newly wedded nephew & new
niece-in-law. We were there about 5 hours altogether. What fun! Saw lots of family/ friends/ acquaintances, including a "girl" I used to babysit for when I was a teenager. Her mom was there, too, and we talked long about genealogy - she recently got into it and she's hooked. It was so much fun comparing notes, sharing tips, etc.Bro drove home on Monday. And us girls & DD1 drove up into the mtns. - west about 45 miles. It rained and I wondered if we went far enough, could we get into snow? Nobody wanted to check it out, so we went back to my sister's using a different, but very scenic, route. *If* I'd win the lottery, I have two places picked out for new homes. [They tell me I'd have a better chance of winning, if I'd start buying tickets. Ya think?] The place that won my heart has a few drawbacks: 1) I'd have to haul in all the water, 2) I could be snowed in for months, and 3) I wouldn't have highspeed internet - and satellite TV might be tricky with those Rockies in the way.OK - so the place out on the plains with the fantastic panorama view would be the winner...if I won. I wonder if BeauJo's delivers out there?On Tuesday we drove back to Denver. Mom met some old-time friends for lunch in Arvada, DD1 went to the Denver Art Museum. [Not at all handicapped friendly. "Doesn't she have her OWN wheelchair?" No, she broke her leg. She just has crutches. I'm leaving her here for four hours, so she'll need a wheelchair. ...We did get a wheelchair for her with only a small bit of hassle.] My sisters & I went to the genealogy section of the DPL - not too fruitful a search, but it convinced me that, yes, I do want to rejoin the NEGHS for the online databases access.
We drove back home on Wednesday and got a late enough start that it was dark a couple hours before arriving home. But, like I said, it was a busy week, but full of family, friends, and fun. Everyone arrived safely back at LAX, John Wayne Int., and ATL, and those driving also had good trips home. PTL!
And, I knit on the Baby Surprise Jacket. But, not in the car.
Yarn: Louet Gems Topaz in French Blue, Mustard, and Eggplant
GRANDKIDS - They're gone to their other grand parents' lake home for the long weekend. They have SO much fun down there...a huge extended family, the lake, the beach, etc. I can't compete with all that. But, I take them to parks, & to a local ice cream shop, I let them help me cook, we read books, and they can get on my computer - their desktop has icons for Dora, Barney, Thomas, Sesame Street, etc. I let them print activities & color sheets, etc.
2) Working on a BSJ - possibly for Baby B, if Baby B is a boy. I still have the same 20 rows or so left as when I blogged on June 14th.
3) Mom's OPAL socks. I luv knitting socks! I've misplaced the ball band, but (-it was difficult to find an image online) I think this is #2095. Legs knit on US 1.5, foot on US 1. Mom requested that the instep be knit in K1, P1 (like the "Move Your F@nny" pattern.) The color changes make the knitting seem to go quickly. " Oh..! A new color!" I'm hoping I can get a matching 2nd sock, but mom said she'd be OK if the stripes don't match.
My knitting since finishing the BSJ has been limited to a couple kids' socks for CIC. One pair is finished & I'm going to use it as my official September pair for SAM4, and I'm nearly done with the first sock of the second pair for this month. I'm using Norma's Magic 28 pattern. These little socks on worsted yarn are SO addictive! And, I'm having fun using up leftover bits in creative combinations
Hmmm...I need to get the manual out and learn how to take better digital photos -- these are too dark.
The back - before closing the seam. EZ's directions say to "weave" the seam closed. Or something like that. So I just did a whip stitch type of closure. However, I've seen several photos online where the seams were crocheted. I like the look of that, so if I ever do another, I'll try it.
I thought the sleeves looked too short. I found some photos online where cuffs had been added. So, I picked up stitches from the cast on edges and did 2 inches of k2, p2.
