Pre-Retreat

I'm in Williamstown, all set for the Knitters Review Retreat--BUT--first I spent the day with an old college friend who lives nearby. Had a very tasty lunch and then drove around looking at the sights and scenery.



It all looks kind of dreary and gray -- but, even dreary and gray, it's a pretty area.

We then stopped into her Mom's house and saw this sweetest crocheted afghan.



What I didn't get a photo of was the aprons her Mom was sewing.

Then back to the hotel where the Retreat gang is gathering.

Pretty Sight

Is there no prettier sight than a cat and a shawl sunning themselves?



The Revontuli Shawl is going to the Knitters Review Retreat and needed a bath and a blocking. Miss Kippy, as usual, supervised the blocking.

See ya in Williamstown, MA!

A New Hat!

One of my many sisters-in-law is the owner of a wonderful boutique in Marblehead, MA. Kathy has owned the Bus Stop for 35 years this March--that certainly says something about her excellent taste and her business savvy.

One of the lines she carries is Anna Shoub--the Hat Junkie. I just love, love, love hats and can't resist trying on every hat on display when I'm in a store.

I especially love, love, love Anna's hats and read her blog long before I knew Kathy carried her hats.

Imagine my surprise the other day when I received a package from Kathy and inside was the Madeline fleece headband.



What's even more surprising is how perfect the headband goes with the (non-knit) scarf/shawl I like to wear in the winter.

Thank you, Kathy! Now I can't wait till the cold weather to wear this gorgeous headband!

P is for

Parking regulations! ****

Owning a car in Manhattan and parking it on the street is a full-time job.



We have alternate side street parking. One side of the street is "good" on Monday and Thursday--the other is "good" Tuesday and Friday. Wednesday is a free day in most neighborhoods. People double park on the good side during the no parking hours. They read, listen to music, sleep in their cars until about 15 minutes before the time is over. They then have first crack at parking on the bad side--which will be the next good side.



Got that? And don't forget that the good and bad days and times vary every few blocks.



And don't dare park by a school.



The pro parkers know all about free parking holidays.



And the smartest New Yorkers--like the hubster and me--don't even bother with a car. We rent one as needed. I'd have to give up knitting or cleaning and cooking to keep track of parking a car.

****Still trying to catch up with the ABC Along. YIKES! "Q" is next. My ABCs focus on NYS/NYC things.

Thanksgiving Preparations

It's ten days till Thanksgiving and I have half of my contribution to the meal ready.



We're having a small Thanksgiving feast this year. Only four people. I'm responsible for the turkey (and gravy), plain baked sweet potatoes (Some of us like them without a thing on them.), cranberry sauce (C'mon--admit it--canned is the best!) and wine.

I'm hardly in the same class as those who start baking their pumpkin pies in July--but, ready is ready.

Five Days from Now

I'll be peeking in knitting bags,




catching up with people I haven't seen in a year,



gawking at beautiful knits,





laughing with friends,



and paying homage to Queen Bee Clara!



I can't wait! But. . . YIKES! What knitting will I bring with me? I haven't figured out what pattern and yarn to use for the workshop. The shawl I'd like to wear needs blocking. Am I bringing enough yarn for the stash lounge? Or do I have too much yarn to pack?

The State of the Knitting

I recently went digging through my project landfill bag.

These two projects made me pause--frog or continue?



This is the Textured Squares Scarf.
When finished, it's supposed to look like a vee. I haven't reached the turning point yet. But I think I may knit a couple of rows and bind off. It'll be long enough to wrap around my neck and secure with a pin. The yarn is a nice thick and thin that I bought at Rhinebeck years ago.



I started these years and years ago. Fingerless gloves for the hubster. The pattern is something generic. The yarn is my favorite--Zara. I had loving intentions -- but I had no idea what I was doing!

I didn't have a clue what "pick up the stitches" meant. I couldn't even read the rib stitch correctly! So I have holes between the fingers and one finger is done in seed stitch instead of ribbing. One glove has four poorly knit fingers and no thumb. On the other glove, I stopped before I knit the fingers.

I'll continue this project also. I have enough yarn to frog the fingers and start over. For the other glove, the hubster told me that when he goes out to shoot photos, he'd like one glove with semi-fingers and one without fingers. OK--that's doable!

So only two UFOs--that's not so bad!