Back from Vacation

After visiting my parents in Virginia for a week, we went to Cape Cod to stay with my mother-in-law for a few days, and then went to Denver for a wedding. The Cape was nice, although the weather was kind of cold, and on Thursday afternoon we left for the Providence airport to fly to Denver on SouthWest. I HATE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES. I didn't really have a thought about them before, but I will NEVER take them again!

There was pretty bad weather in Chicago last Thursday, and that was the city that we were connecting through. But... instead of cancelling the flight, or re-routing us through another city, they held us in Providence for about 2 hours and then let us take off. Of course the weather was still bad in Chicago, so we landed in Cleveland for 3 hours. Finally, Midway airport was open again and they loaded us on the plane and tried to get us into Chicago. However, all of the other flights that had been detoured also were trying to get in at the same time, so we circled for a while, and then had to land in Milwaukee for emergency fueling. By this time it was 2:00 in the morning East Coast time. We waited for a while in Milwaukee, and then landed in Chicago, but they didn't have a gate for us, so we sat on the tarmac for a while. We ended up getting off of the plane at 3:24 am Chicago time.

Lots of us had connections that we missed, so they sent us ALL to the ticket counter (along with all of the other people who were in this predicament.) My husband and I (Thank God we had left the girls with their grandmother) stood in line until 7:00 in the morning, and just barely made our flight. Of course, since we had re-booked a one way flight at the last minute, we were HIGHLY searched at security. By the time we arrived in Denver it was almost 11:00 in the morning Denver time - which meant that we had been travelling for 24 hours.

All that being said, our weekend was FABULOUS. We had a great time at the wedding, got to see a little of Colorado, and found the people in Denver to be incredibly FANTASTIC! People always say that folks in New England are rude, and I always thought that they were full of it, but honestly, we are not THAT nice.

I did get to knit a bit. First, I finished a scarf that I am making for my sister. It is silk (the pink) and merino. It took me much longer than I thought it would, but I think that she will like it. It is either for her birthday, or for Christmas, depending on whether or not I can finish other Christmas gifts.

I also worked on a baby sweater. I don't know if you can tell by the picture, but I have been burned by not checking the dye lot! This picture shows the 2 fronts of the cardigan, and the right front is so much more muted than the left. It is so bad, that I don't think I will be able to get away with it. I finished the back, as well, in the muted tone, and I think that will be fine, but I am going to have to re-knit the right front in the more vibrant yarn (since I have more of that.) I'm bummed. Other than that, all is well.

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a break in vacation

I'm home for a day before we go on our next vacation. We spent last week visiting my parents in South Western Virginia. The town is Martinsville (of Nascar fame) which is a very quiet town - needless to say, it was VERY relaxing. It was nice to spend time with my parents. They haven't gotten one on one time with the kids since last summer, so I think it was really nice for them to reconnect. My oldest daughter really bonded to my mother when she came up a year and a half ago when the youngest was born, so it was really great to see them foster that relationship. One day "Grammy" took my eldest on a "date" to buy school clothes, that ended with a trip to "Build a bear." I don't know who had more fun.

I've been working on a couple of things. A baby sweater for some great friends who had a baby at the beginning of the month (it isn't like I didn't know that this child was coming - you would think that I would have started on this earlier). I've also been working on a hooded sweatshirt type sweater for my oldest daughter, and a scarf for my sister. The scarf is made of silk and merino (both by artyarns) and I think it is going to be hard for me to part with this scarf! As you can see, I'm starting on my Christmas knitting - I am hopeful! I'll write again in a week, and maybe by that time I will find my camera, and take some pictures!
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a quickie

I have been busy nursing a sick baby. Let's just say it has been gross, and any of you with kids out there know exactly what I mean! I saw this on the internet, and it made me giggle.

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Knitting Virtual Vacation Swap

Ariel was my Secret Pal. She's from Southern California, and gave me such a FABULOUS package. I'm so excited. I also checked out her blog, and she makes some beautiful things. The envelope at the top of the package gave great information about the jam, olives and candy. I'm really excited about trying the olives! I also got great smelling incense (which I am enjoying right now) candy and a mug from Disney world (which I know I will have to hide from my 5 year old!) and a terrific romance novel by Janet Evanovich, which I already started reading. I don't know if Ariel realized it, but the book is set in Boston, and I love that! I also got a cinnamon/sage candle and some Cascade fixation, which I have heard a lot about. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! It is all so exciting!



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Knit 1 Tea 2 Color Swap Questionnaire

Do you like loose tea or bags, or both – something you want to try? I prefer loose tea
What is your favorite kind of tea (Brand, flavor, variety, etc)? I like the darker teas like Assaam, Keemam, and even Ceylon
Favorite color in regards to tea or one you would like to try? (black, green, red, and white) (keeping in mind that this is how this swap is set up). My favorite type of tea is Black, but I wouldn't mind trying red.
Would you say you were a tea pot kind of person or just a hot water heater kind? Totally a teapot type of gal.
What tea accessories would you like but have never purchases for yourself? Is this a trick question? I love different strainers, though, and haven't bought one in a while.
How do you prefer to be pampered? (examples: mani/pedi, bubble bath, yummy treat, etc). I like to be pampered with bath products, paper stuff (stationary, etc) candles and of course treats.
If you were a kind of yarn what would you be and why? I would be Merino Wool. I am sturdy, dependable, and special.
If you had to knit/crochet baby booties, a fun fur scarf, or a fair isle sweater, which would you choose and why? I would knit a fair isle sweater because of the challenge. The booties wouldn't take enough time, and the fun fur scarf would be boring.
What other event would make you skip a tea party? (A garden party? A book club meeting? A yoga class? Opening night for a new action thriller? etc?) Not much would make me skip a tea party, but I love romantic comedies. I guess I would only miss the tea party for a family event.
What treat would you consider essential at your tea party? (Sweet? Salty? Scones? Those petite pastry trays with a couple of all sorts of things? Little crust less sandwiches?) Scones with lemon curd.
When buying yarn for a project how do you choose - do you buy the one called for or do you substitute? A lot of times I substitute.
What do you carry your knitting/crocheting in when on the go? A bag. I have a lot of them and I love them all.
Favorite movie to watch while knitting/crocheting? Love and Basketball, 2 weeks notice, the Mirror has Two faces, Something New, and any other romantic comedy!
Are you a traditional tea cup kind of person or a mug type of person? Do you care if they match? I love tea cups, and no, they don't have to match
Favorite childhood birthday party? One that I did arts and crafts at.
Favorite type of scone and jam? Blueberry scone and lemon curd
If you use candles, what is your favorite scent? Rose, Green tea and Geranium also Bergamont
If you could choose 3 people to have 'tea' with, who would they be and why? (famous or not, living or dead). Tom Hanks, because he just seems like such a nice guy, Emma Thompson because she just seems like the type of person you would want to have tea with, and finally, Mike Lowell, the 3rd baseman of the Boston Red Sox because he also seems like a terrific guy.
You've been invited to a tea party, what 'props' will you wear (formal or casual)? I would love to be a lady to wear a fancy hat and gloves - Of course I would have to buy this fancy hat and gloves!!!
Any allergies/preferences you have or are willing to admit to? I'm allergic to soy
Anything we missed that you want your pal to know?I don't like fruity teas, and I HATE Earl Grey tea - sorry.

Driving Miss Wusie

The other day I was whining to my husband about feeling like my summer was almost over, and he volunteered to pick up the girls so that I could go to the beach. The beach that I like to go to is about an hour and 15 minutes from here, and I used to go all the time. Then we had kids, and now we just go as a family - but I really love my "me" time at the beach. The only problem is that I very rarely drive on the highway now. I'll be married for 10 years at the end of the month, and since we have been married, my husband does most of the driving. It makes sense because I get knitting time, and he isn't bored. The only problem is that now I am very afraid of driving on the highway.

Well I was very proud of myself for getting to the beach. I only stopped 3 times, and I hardly hyper-ventilated at all. The problem was on the way home. It was getting dark, and the closer you get to Boston, the more traffic there is. Needless to say I ended up at one of those highway gas stations/Burger King/Dunkin Donuts places (I didn't even think I would get that far) and called my husband while I sobbed hysterically. My sister-in-law stayed with the kids while my brother-in-law drove my husband to come get me and the car. It was so embarrassing. If anyone has any helpful advice about things to do for panic attacks, I'm all ears.

The beach itself was fantastic - I read magazines, did needlepoint (I felt like I was cheating on my knitting) and listened to the Red Sox beat the Orioles. It was all good. I just wish I could have made it all of the way home on my own steam.

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Non-knitting and whining

I just found out that "Big Love" started back up again months ago. I am obviously way out of the loop. But the good thing about this situation is that I can have my own little "Big Love" marathon. That show just sucks me in. Plural marriage is a very weird thing! I definitely like the story lines and the characters, but in some ways it is like watching a train wreck. I vacillate between being fascinated and disgusted. There must be a ton of people who agree with me, because it did come back for another season. I work in a town that has a lot of Mormon families, and one of my students expressed her anger at the show for bringing this topic up. She knows that plural marriage was a part of her faith's history, but the practice stopped over 100 years ago. I was very proud of her for stating her opinion because she rarely got angry so it was good to see the fire in her. Anyway, I just mention that, because I know that the show deeply upsets some people.

My own blah feeling right now comes from the fact that I am going to have to move classrooms for one of my classes next year. Of course it is the only one that I haven't taught before. Next year will be my 9th year at the school and the first time that I have had to move. It SUCKS! I know that in the scheme of things this is really no big deal, but on a personal level, it is causing a lot of anxiety. - I am sure that my fellow teachers understand.

My knitting is fine!

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