Life's a Stitch

This is the land of incredible wool shops! I’ll have lots of knitting content when I get back. Meanwhile it’s been great with good friends, beautiful scenery, and even a stop at a Medieval (sp?) torture museum for Bryant. We’ll be back in two weeks.

That old camp song is running through my brain as I head off for my last day of work before four weeks vacation! The work is handed over, the grants are in, I’m just cleaning up loose ends and ending the day with an acupuncture appointment so my neck feels good in advance of a ten hour flight.

The house sitters, dog walkers, plant waterers…are all in place at home, all that’s left is the packing. It’s amazing that there will be more people living here in our absence, than when we’re home, as my grown children have invited friends to bunk in with them while we’re gone. Hmmmm…

So, I’ll miss you all, Life’s a Stitch is on vacation for three weeks in August. If I get a chance to post, you bet I will. I think I’m beginning to feel blog withdrawal.

I gave in and tied a second skein onto Kiri, and wouldn’t you know it, I made a time consuming mistake. There was a reason I was supposed to save it for the trip. All’s well now though and hopefully it will be an FO upon my return:

If you follow my blog, you know I’ve had my share of issues with wild animals. Gracee and the bear, the skunks in our yard, our close encounters with a cougar, fox, raccoons, miscellaneous coyotes, a rat in the barbecue, dead mice in the dog food, and black Russian squirrels who ate through our power lines. Geez, I grew up outside of New York City and our wild animals were limited to cute fuzzy grey squirrels and an occasional bunny or a chipmunk while on an upstate camping trip.

Although my animal stories may be relatively tame, my friend, Lynn, told us of a friend’s encounter with a squirrel. While her friend was away, a squirrel apparently fell down her chimney and ransacked her house. There was evidence of squirrel damage in every room to the tune of $15,000! Her alarm system was set off, the police kicked in the door (mustn’t have been in our town, the police don’t answer home alarms anymore), and left her a note: "There is a squirrel in your house." Thank goodness for good insurance.

At the risk of sounding like an urban myth, I personally know of a family whose cockateil was carried off by an eagle. Honest to God, the bird had escaped the house and just as it was in reach, the eagle swooped down and flew off with it, in full view of all family members. How traumatic.

Knitting: this was supposed to be my European trip project but I’m letting myself do just one skein’s worth. Besides, it’s too hot for Marina right now. The subtle colour shifts in the Top Print make this an addicting project. I learned early on that I needed to use removable stitch markers as they have to be shifted one stitch over in each pattern row.

In preparation for our trip I was talking about how, when I shop for swimsuits anymore, I need ones with substantial tops. But, instead of saying "I need a substantial swimsuit," it came out "I need a substantial suitcase." Where did that come from? A prime example of middle age brain freeze. Or how about those tongue twisters – the other day I was reading a sign out loud that said "complete chicken dinner" and it came out "complete dickin chinner."  Lovely getting on in years, as they say, isn’t it.

On to my Summer of Lace KAL project. Here’s Kiri. True to form I didn’t follow the exact instructions, electing to do the cast on and first rows differently (no provisional cast on for me) and I’m doing the first and last three stitches in stockinette because I like the way it looks better. This is the Grignasco Top Print on 4.5mm needles. I had three false starts, but now I know the pattern well enough that I’m hoping there won’t be any further errors.

My turn for a sky photo – this is our sunset from a couple of nights ago:

I did it, I put a project out of its misery. Having returned the remaining seven skeins of Estelle Mystik, I haven’t decided if I’ll burn my two Autumn Silk Cardigan sweater pieces or if I’ll toss them in the garbage. You see, it’s not worth frogging as it becomes a split mess once knitted, and it knits up terribly to begin with, so there’s no way I’ll use it again. Every time I picked up that blasted project the yarn would catch on my skin unless I used an ample amount of hand cream. I couldn’t imagine being able to wear it without it catching and pulling on everything. I’ve finally freed up a good pair of Addi’s and some missed stitch markers. Good riddance cursed project! Those who know me will agree, it is so unlike me to throw away $24 worth of yarn, but I feel so liberated.

On a brighter note, having received a raise at work, I treated myself to the Spaceboard from Patternworks.

P.S. I’ve given in and joined the Summer of Lace KAL. Marina, with 21 colours, doesn’t travel well, requiring at least half a piece of luggage. So the knitting for THE trip will be a Kiri shawl, made from Grignaso in my stash.

Next month this blog is going on summer vacation. Actually I’m the one going on vacation and the blog gets to stay home. I’m usually pretty good about blogging on the road but this will be an exception. From August 1-24th part of the family, including me,  will be in Europe! We have a unique plan with another couple, the parents of a girl in Bremen, Germany, who was involved on the same exchange as Elina when they were in tenth grade. We have a deal that when one couple comes to visit, we supply them with a car and a "base camp" from which to travel. We spend some time together and some time apart. While at home base, the ‘host" couple arranges and covers the meals and entertainment for the other couple. This way each couple only has to worry about airfare to the other country and the rest is pretty much taken care of except for the time when travelling around.

The first time we went there, we spent a few days in Bremen and then headed up to Denmark to visit with Chuck’s cousins in Copenhagen and the Island of Bornholm. When they came here they spent time with us and then took off by car to Jasper and Banff. This time we have decided to do some travelling together, so after five days in Denmark we will meet them on the German island of Usedom for a week. It feels like a dream. We’ve been saving to do this for awhile and it feels good heading off on a holiday pretty much paid for. So, next month this blog will be on vacation and I will miss it and all of you. Hopefully I’ll have some good knitting to show for it upon my return.

I’ve been researching German mail order knit sites so I can have stuff sent to our friend’s house in time for our trip. I don’t think the others would appreciate my planning the road trips around yarn shops as I do here. I’ve found Addi turbos for six Euros! If you are familiar with yarn shopping in Germany and have any suggestions for me, let me know.

I had a long wait while Elina was having her ultrasounds and was able to get in some serious Marina time:

Imelda Marcos I’m not. I am known for my lack of fashion when it comes to shoes; having to wear orthotics there are very few shoes that work with them. I’m known for owning no more than three pairs at any given time; a pair of running shoes that are worn out well loved like an old teddy bear, my pair of custom orthotic sandals, and for dressy occasions – Aerosoles with metatarsal inserts. I have very boring feet – until today. Give me a half price sale and shoes that accommodate my orthotics and voila! Blue suede shoes, and red ones, and brown ones…

And I’ve just finished six suede booties. At Chicks with Sticks the other night as I was knitting the fourth, someone asked me if I was knitting them for a dog! It was a fun evening in the company of two other bloggers, Maureen and Nadia.

It’s a gamble using the ladies’ washroom at our office. We are located in a decent shopping mall, but the ladies’ room is a challenge. Located at the end of a long hallway I’ve encountered a naked man outside the washroom and a naked woman inside. Re the naked man, I only saw him from the back, as he took off running. Mall security asked me, if I only saw him from the backside, how did I know he was a man!

Recent challenges include the installation of an automatic soap dispenser that doesn’t dispense, water controls that release only cold water, and a stall door that has a tendency to lock people in. I said it was a decent mall, but slithering under the stall door is gross, no matter how nice the facilities.

Yesterday, when I was in there, on one of my frequent visits (I should just take my tea and pour it down the toilet), waving my hands under the sensor in an attempt to get a squirt of soap, a co-worker shrugged and said "it’s luck of the draw in here." I don’t know about you, but I want my bathroom to be something I can rely upon and not something that’s "luck of the draw."

I once read an article that instructed you to list ten things in your life that bug you and then do something about them. I’ve done that from time-to-time and it is an empowering experience. It’s time to do it again. My new list includes three ladies’ room items. I guess that’s five if you count the random naked people; although I’m not sure what I can do about them short of carrying around a bathrobe.  I’m sure there are a few knitting items to add to the list  – something about misplaced stitch markers and needle point protectors. OK, today I’ll call mall mgmt and hit Walmart for some little plastic containers for my stitch markers.

On the subject of stitch markers, I received a wonderful package from Leah with stitch markers, tea, chocolate and note cards. Leah was so nice. She wanted to reward her regular readers and asked them to identify themselves in order to receive a surprise package. She found, as I did, that it was difficult for people to come forward because it felt awkward asking for a gift. But with encouragement her plan was successful. Thanks, Leah.

We are a summer camp kind of family. Early on in our relationship Chuck and I realized the impact summer camp had on our early years. When we moved to Vancouver he ended up as an executive director of a summer camp on a remote island. It was one of those things that was meant to be because before they offered him the job the board of directors insisted that we see the camp together, as a couple, in order to make a decision. It was February, the site was in ill repair and there were enough deer turds on the ground that it could be measured like heavy brown snow – in inches. Upon the end of the tour I whispered to Chuck, "Your take this job and you’re on your own." Insisting that he heard me say "You take this job," that he didn’t hear (go figure) the last part of the sentence (it ended up being a four year sentence), he accepted the job.

It was a rich experience. Mari took her first steps there, thank goodness, I had had enough of her picking up mouse poop as she crawled along our cabin floor. Elina had her first out trip at age four and was thrilled when she discovered a slug in her boot after her first night camping out. Bryant was conceived there (no details necessary) and I gained experience as the regular weekend relief cook after the designated cook staggered off the job drunk during the first weekend. For me it was a fine contrast to my social work job, people loved you immediately, no one was miserable, and everyone was happy for a good meal. They liked me as the relief cook because it was a relief to eat fresh veggies and recognizable meat from a bone.

Our children have carried forward the tradition, although at a different camp. Elina started there as a camper in seventh grade, worked her way up through the ranks as counselor and then staff. This year she is in charge of the counselling staff, and who is one of her counselors? Her brother, Bryant. This is his eighth year there. I can hardly believe it myself. How did these kids grow up so fast? Poor boy had a cabin full of sick campers all week and  now he’s home with a fever and earache. Despite that he had the time of his life. There are far worse things to inherit than a camping gene.

Back on track with Marina:

I decided on a brief break from Marina, to make something that could be finished in a short amount of time. These are right up there with the cutest booters I’ve ever seen. And it’s a free pattern to boot (excuse the pun)! It’s the Bethany bootie pattern from Berroco in Suede. I haven’t trimmed the fringe yet.

Elina and I spent Saturday morning together. First stop was a trip to Urban Yarns to spend the gift certificate she had given to me for my birthday. It was a good thing she was with me or I wouldn’t have bought what I did. I needed an accent yarn to go with my Classic Elite Miracle to make an acceptable size shawl. I would normally not have spent so much, but I ended up with Bouton D’Or Opale, which cost more than the main yarn for the project! Elina rationalized it for me saying the gift was from her and if she had to select something that is what she would have picked. It’s an interesting mix of fibre, some metallic, encased in a net tube. Thank you, Elina!

Thanks for all your good wishes, her scan is tonight.