Thursday, January 21, 2010

Trip Too Short!

Hi Everyone: We have returned from sometimes not too sunny San Francisco. A good time was had by all, even when the weather did not cooperate. I especially enjoyed having all our children together with us to share this trip. There was some really good dining, cable car rides, touring, Alcatraz for some of the group, shopping and museums for others, and of course the Razz Room! (cocktail lounge at the Nikko Hotel) We decided to skip the winery until the next time because of weather conditions.

I was able to get to one knit store, Imaginknit, in the area. It was very nice but a little off the beaten track. I especially enjoyed my visit to Britex, which I am sure many of you have seen ads for in your knitting magazines. It is four floors of every conceivable fabric, ribbon, button and notion your mind can imagine. The yarn selection is limited, but they have some things. The staff is amazing and very knowledgeable. They also have a shop on line, and will help you select fabric and ship.

As I mentioned in my previous post I brought "Olive Kitteridge" along with me and did make good progress. I am actually enjoying it very much. Elizabeth Strout, the author, is a wonderful writer. On the other hand, my knitting project turned out to be very frustrating. Apparently there was an error in the pattern which I just found out today when I called Rainbow Fibres in Tennessee where the designer, Bridgette Lang, is located. Well, I'm well on my way now that that is figured out. The pattern is for a "Capelet" with a diagonal yarn over pattern running through it. I'm using Katia worsted in charcoal gray.

So that's my news for now. January is flying by for which I am grateful, as I am definitely not a cold weather person. One more short trip to Florida to look forward to, and then we should be home free!!!!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

San Francisco!

Well, we're off to San Francisco tomorrow. Won't be as warm I understand as we would like, but we'll take anything other than this frigid cold we've been having. This is our first time to San Fran. e were in San Diego briefly many, many years ago. We will be visiting our son and his wife who are new to the area. He is stationed at Moffett AFB. We will be having lunch with old friends from our old neighborhood who have since moved there. AND, with the help of a Ravelry friend, I have searched out some fun knitting haunts that I am going to try to get to. Of course we will do day trips to the wine country and hopefully Big Sur also. I have some knitting for the plane and my book club reading, which I am not looking forward to as no one so far has enjoyed it. The book is Olive Kitteridge. Anyone out there feel differently? Will let you know all about the trip when we return. Stay well everyone!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Quilt for Mat and Jae Mee

Just returned from BWI, Maryland where the family welcomed home my daughter-in-law from Afghanistan. She is an Air Force nurse and she has been stationed there for 6 months. Mat, her husband, is also in the Air Force where he is a helicopter pilot. He returned home from Afghanistan in September. Sooooo, we had Christmas for Jae yesterday. I had been working on the Four Seasons Afghan for them for several months, along with some other projects. With her return looming I really got on it last week, determined to have it done for her return. Well, it was done! Her response was really gratifying. She loved it. However, I had to tell her that it was probably not a great idea for their Great Pyrenees dog, Zeb, to become too at home on it. I knit it out of Malabrigo yarn and it will probably have to be dry cleaned.

Now on to other projects. I made Leslie Friend's Chunky Beenie on the way to the airport and just have to seam it. It feels really nice not to be any pressure to get things completed for the holidays.

Happy and healthy 2010 everyone!

Monday, January 4, 2010