A wee bit of Scotland

Here are a few photos from our fabulous trip to Scotland in September. More to come!

A view from the gardens up the hill to the Royal Mile.

Robert with our fabulous guide for our day trip to Stirling Castle and Loch Lemond, as well as other places. She was loaded with Scottish history, info on current events, and opinions on sports and Scottish politics. And she played great tunes.

Robert with our other guide, Allie, for our trip to Dunfermline, the Glenturret distillery, and a nature walk to see trout jumping upstream and the tallest tree in Scotland.

One of the many places we ate. It is on the Royal Mile near our hotel. It was fabulous - just like all the other places we ate.

The entrance to Stirling Castle, just outside of Edinburgh.

A wee bit of Scotland - postponed

Well, I was eager to show you a bit of Scotland, but blogger is failing me. I can add a hyperlink, a video, and other things I do not have, but I am unable to add a photo. Photos are all I have. And plenty of 'em.

Sigh.

What I did today.

So, how was my day? I did lots. I did not complete everything on my to do list - I never have. I always overlist myself and am thrilled when I at least finish half.

I paid some bills and wrote some notes. I love writing notes. And I'm diminishing the stash of old stamps I have. Blasted rate increases.

I cut grass.

I went to the pool (no swimsuit photos. Sorry.).

I made a big ol' mess in the kitchen.

I made a moderate mess in my office.

I knit and watched pre-recorded television shows. A requisite nap ensued. It is Sunday afternoon.

I finished the scrapbook from vacation a year ago June.

It's big and loaded with lovely photos and memories.

I cleaned up the kitchen.

I'm settling down.

A whole day!

I have a whole unplanned day. Well, sort of unplanned. And sort of whole.

All of my usual weekend commitments are otherwise occupied: the parents are out of town, the YL is closed for the day, and the husband is working.

I went to church, I'm waiting until an appropriate hour to fire up the mower, then I have hours of my own until some friend(s) are coming over this evening to visit and knit.

We'll see what the day brings!

I just can't help myself

Yesterday at the Yarn Lounge, I had a conversation with similarly-minded paper lovers. We all admitted that we buy lovely paper - wrapping paper, stationery, notepads and such - then cannot part with it. I have stationery and postcards that I've bought on vacation - one of a kind - and I cannot bear to send any of them. If I buy a whole box, I may send a few notes, but hoard the rest when the supply gets low. My husband regularly stumbles across cards from vacations years ago and asks me if I'm going to send the cards. Well of course not! What a silly thought! I only have one of each design - I must keep them all.

Norway, 2002

One knitter had an interesting perspective - give away so you can receive more. She put it more eloquently, but that's as poetic as I can remember. An intriguing concept, and I certainly like the idea of getting more, but - gasp - I'm not sure I'm ready to part with my lovely papers.

Fort Concho, 2007

I know it is wrong on many levels - I'm selfish, I'm obsessed with material things, I'm unwilling to share beautiful things with other folks even if a special card may brighten their day (isn't is really just the spirit of the note that brightens one's day - even if it is on some mass produced stationery?). My rationalization is weak, but my power to release is even weaker.

Malta, 2004

Maybe you'll get a note from me. Maybe.

Finished and started again!

I finished my Crabapple Blossom (I love that name!) linen sweater. The pattern is my own design, sort of, from the Handy Sweater Book of Patterns from the Yarn Lounge. An educational and rewarding effort.

I "found" the Granny Smith-colored buttons in the vintage button jar at the Lounge. High contrast and fun. I love them.

I've started my next project - a cabled vest made from yarn I bought in Helsinki last summer. I'm very fond of it already. And since it is wool, the pressure is off to have it ready for wearing this season. Whew.

Happy knitting!

Unbelievable friends

I went on a spectacular vacation with my longest, dearest friends. We stayed here.

We ate out lots.

We enjoyed moments together.

We enjoyed moments of solitude.

And watched the most majestic pelicans glide by.

I can hardly express the sheer joy of spending four days with dear friends, having a collection of compadres to play with all the time, and having no more pressing plans than to stroll on the beach or take a nap. Joy.

Hobbled

I thought I was hobbled. I had to wear this shoe for four weeks.

I had a follow up appointment with the MD today. Now I really am hobbled.

Just to add insult to injury, by a special alignment of the planets, I had Robert's truck for the day (a rare treat that happens about annually) and had plans for a splurge excursion to Trader Joe's. Let's just say that errands are not nearly as much fun in 90 degree heat while struggling to get a bootie off/on in order to drive/walk.

I may have to set up a special fund to have the house repainted after I whack the bootie against every flat surface.

Happy summer!

New project

I'm jumping ahead chronologically to tell you about my newly started project - a linen sweater. The enablers at the Yarn Lounge helped me through (and continue to) my indecisiveness. I committed to a yarn and color - Crabapple Blossom - how fun is that!:

Look at that sheen!

And a pattern:

I get (read: have) to select the edging, button band, style, sleeve length. It's a big job. I've been swatching, measuring, and have started both the body and a sleeve. See how indecisive?

Hopefully it will be lovely. In any case, it will be well worn.

The journey to Texas

Oh, way back in April, we embarked on a driving trip to Texas. A little nervous about that much time in the truck together.

We stopped at the Loveless Cafe just outside of Nashville for a late lunch. A delightful oasis on the highway desert.

Yum.

The next stop was Texarkana.

Just in case you forget where you are.

The state line between Texas and Arkansas runs down of the center of the street in town. True story. The businesses on one side are in Arkansas; the other side, Texas.

Here's a church across the street from the courthouse.

A nice local politician on his way back from lunch offered to take our photo. He just had that way about him.

Gotta go!

The Big Birthday

I was not eager to turn 40. I've never had an issue with significant birthdays, but I was not looking forward to this one. Well, I'm still not thrilled to be 40, but boy, did I have a significant birthday!

My birthday fell on Tuesday, so the celebration started on Monday with a birthday lunch with a co-worker. Tuesday brought another birthday lunch then a fabulous dinner with friends, organized by a special friend. Unfortunately, I did not get photos of the event, but I did take photos of the lovely handmade cards they brought.

A clever favorite:

On Thursday, I had lunch and dinner with my parents. Another delightful celebration.

On Saturday, I received an extra special treat! I was minding the store as I was supposed to be doing (only after squabbling with a co-worker that she should just go to the French Film Festival as she had planned - we could handle things without her. She was frustratingly resistive.) In walked my dear college sorority sisters! With six children and a retail shop between them and living in-and out-of town, they do not usually show up unannounced. After a moment of stunned confusion (I was 40 and a few days by then - a little slower on the thinkin'), I realized they were there to see me (not being knitters and all)! We had a fun afternoon roaming Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.

And resting.And posing.

And being my lovely friends in front of the coolest tree.

We followed our tour with dinner at Cous Cous with some yummy strawberry wine concoction. They stayed overnight at our house (my clever scheming husband had wisely tidied the house before going to work in the morning).

What a fabulous, fun, surprising birthday!!!!!

The National Marathon

My handsome husband completed the National Marathon yesterday in a fine 3:46:01 time.

Here he is pre-race in the cold early morning:

And a happy, but not-so-good post-race shot.

Congratulations Robert!!!

So many goings on

A little sunshine today brought out my desire for photo-taking.

Here are the finished Nordic mittens. I love them! They were quite bumpy due to my limited experience with fair isle knitting. They smoothed out quite a bit during the first few wears. Maybe more if/when I block them.

Here's pink and pink!

I've started two new projects:

One is the Miralda Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia. I'm making it of yarn I bought in Tallinn, Estonia last year. I couldn't read the ball band - in Estonian and all - so I e-mailed a copy to Nancy Bush. She e-mailed me back!!!! I love knitters and the sharing spirit.

I love the way it is transitioning from tan to off-white to pink. I love the long colorways.

The other new project is the cover project on the latest Interweave Knits in Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Malibu Blue. I'm between pattern sizes - based on my experience with gauge, I'm hoping it comes out perfectly sized. I've got pretty good odds.

P.S. Good luck to my favorite runner taking on the National Marathon this weekend. Goooooo Robert!