A Week at Table Rock

My darling neice Amy has been staying at the family camper set up in Table Rock for the summer before moving to Chicago to get her doctorate. I decided to take a week off and lounge around with her but we didn't end up doing much lounging -- we were on the go constantly. We spent a day jet skiing to Beaver Lake and sunbathing. Then spent another day at Silver Dollar City riding the amusement rides.

Went to Eureka Springs and canoed down the Kings River where I was amazed at the size of trout all around us just begging to be caught. We had a little adversity with the low spots where we had to carry the canoe and the strong storm that blew up on us at the end of our float but the adventure turned out to be one of the best highlights of our trip.

Spent a day fishing off the rocks in Golden where I caught a huge catfish. (I was actually knitting my Fixation socks while holding my rod in my lap and didn't even know I had this bad boy on the line!!) Why yes, that's a new rod and reel I bought at the new Bass Pro shop in Branson.










Went boating with the rest of the family who came down over the weekend. It was so hard to leave and come back home to the real world. Make's me really excited to think about the possibility of moving to a place like this at retirement.

Table Rock Socks

Completed these Cascade Fixation Ankle Socks during the early mornings and fishing time in Table Rock. I wasn't used to the elastic in this yarn so I had to start over 3 times, finally settling on a 42 cast-on to fit my foot. The support from the elastic makes them feel good on your feet and the Knit-A-Long blog is a lot of fun.

No Keepers

Dad and I went trolling all morning at Marion Lake on Father's Day. We each caught a white bass but no keepers. We blamed our fishing slump on the heavy algae bloom.

Reconstructed Denim Skirt

Do-It-Yourself reconstructed clothing is hot. I was drawn to reconstructed skirts at a Levi store in Chicago for $50 bucks and said to myself.....I can make that. My version is a low-waisted pair of $5 Levi jeans from the DAV. Pulled apart the inside seams, laid them flat and inserted a leg from another pair of old jeans and voila ... a comfy denim skirt.

Tip: Be sure to use a heavy denim thread and needle in your machine.

Softy Cocoon

It's taken me awhile but I finally completed the Berroco Softy Cocoon Jacket kit I purchased at Wool Connection last March. It's the latest shape in wraps knitted in an easy rectangle in mistake rib (knit 2 purl 2 over odd # of sts).

Tornado (Big Dog) Rally

It was estimated 25,000-30,000 attended the second Big Dog Tornado Rally in downtown Wichita this weekend. It was so much better this year with more vendors, bands and bike parking. Eddie Money put on a great performance Saturday night with all his oldies (I saw him in concert in high school!). Our good friends at M&M Choppers had their dyno set up and made a ton of runs. Ride On Melanie & Dawn!

Summer Skirt

This cotton skirt from Mac & Me was in the round, mindless knitting that worked up easily in two days. Substituted Bernat CottonTots for Blue Sky Alpaca. Sewed in four elastic thread rows at top of waist after completed. Also, added a few rib rows at hem to keep stockinette from rolling up.

Koigu Chicago Sock

There's a trend here where I name the socks by where they're completed. This one was done on my latest trip to Chicago. Used the Loopy Pattern from Knit Picks without the loops. Koigu is 100% merino wool but it's very silky and the most comfortable sock yarn I've come across so far.

One Magnificent Mile

The name says it all....magnificent! A one-mile shopper's paradise along Michigan Avenue. Following a day of classes, a coworker and I hoofed it to shops such as Bloomingdales, Saks, Chanel, and Harley Davidson. Sad thing is I didn't make it to any knit shops but I did purchase a LV handbag that I'll cherish for life. Later, the promoter of the seminar booked the House of Blues for all of us complete with buffet, drinks and a live 70's disco cover band and we danced the night away. It was a great, short trip and we fly back home in the morning.

Conference in Chicago

I'm here in the windy city for a training conference. I had some very wrong misconceptions about Chicago only being about subways and ghettos. We're staying at the Sheraton in downtown among the tall skyscrapers. After our meetings we walked down to the Navy Pier and along Lake Michigan.

New Mexico Inspired Socks

Picked up this Regia stretch Crazy Color yarn in New Mexico to take back with me as a reminder of my trip. The free pattern is Loopy Socks from Knit Picks.

Images from New Mexico

I wish I could live in an adobe house in Albuquerque and a have a rock garden and gaze upon the Sandia Mountains every day. More great, colorful images from New Mexico:

A Day in Santa Fe

It was sunny but cool (70s) and I got to wear my "Santa Fe" poncho to town. Today I gave mom her Mother's Day present - 3 hours of spa bliss at the Downtown Day Spa. I dropped her off and made my way to Needle's Eye where I purchased more Koigu yarn and a beret pattern. Feel in love with a pair of boots at Back at the Ranch but had to walk away -- reluctantly. They told me my all time favorite singer, Ronnie Dunn, comes into the shop at least once a month!

Later, we took a bus tour around town to learn the following from our tour guide about Santa Fe:

• Santa Fe means "Holy Faith"
• 5th largest state
• 148,000 population
• 230 art galleries

Around the Enchanted Circle

Drove from Santa Fe to Taos to check out LaLana Wools by the Plaza. Picked up a really pretty indigo dyed handspun but could only afford one skein so it will be reserved for a special project. The next destination was the 86-mile scenic byway circle connecting Taos, Red River, Eagle Nest and Angel Fire. Made many stops along the way for shopping and snapping mountain shots. My favorites include the Rio Grande Gorge and Spanish pottery roadside vendors. It was a full day and I'm already saddened we only have one more day left of our trip.

Old Town in Albuquerque, NM

Found the energy to get up early and run for 30 minutes on the treadmill at the hotel. We checked out and headed towards Village Wools. I was in sock heaven and purchased some much sought after Koigu yarn. It's going to make the most beautiful pair of socks. We spent the day shopping in Old Town and visited the Thunderbird Harley Davidson dealership then it was on to Santa Fe where we checked into our cozy casita at the Santa Fe Motel & Inn. Had the best ribs at the Cowgirl BBQ around the corner. It was fun to sit outside and watch the sun set on the mountains.

Santa Fe Bound

Wahoo! I'm on vacation. Loaded up the rental car and picked mom up for our Mother's Day getaway to New Mexico. After driving all day I was pleasantly surprised that the one thing I didn't factor into our itinerary was that we gain an hour in mountain time. That allowed us to check into our hotel in Albuquerque in the daylight and head for Hooter's for chicken wings, a Corona and a margarita for mom. Bless TJMaxx for always being open until 9:30 -- we fulfilled a late night shopping urge.

Riding Destination: Texas

Did you hear about the storms and tornados in Texas this weekend? Well, we rode through it for about 150 miles. I can deal with riding in a downpour but it's the cold that does me in and that's what it was like all weekend. Took a break in Amarillo where we always stop at the Tripp's HD dealership - the HOG group next door is always so gracious and invite us over for lunch. Spent a little time riding in Palo Duro Canyon (where it didn't rain) and attended a very good for the soul conference in Ceta Canyon.

Knitting at Botanica

I am backdating this as I feel obligated to post something. Work took me to KC for a couple of days and I've had no knitting time. Last Sunday, I met Lia at Botanica for an afternoon of flowers and knitting. Did you know you could purchase tulip bulbs there now for $.15 each in all different colors? That's a pretty good deal.

Oh, So Santa Fe

This Mitered Moss Poncho by iknitiative was a breeze to knit and is perfect for my upcoming trip to Santa Fe, NM. Although, right now, it's kinda hard to be excited about a wool poncho when today's temperature was a record breaking 96 degrees!

Blocking Poncho

The poncho panels are complete and now laying out to dry. I blocked and sprayed with water and the wool was smelling a little "sheepy" so I added a little Bath & Body Warm Vanilla body splash to the water bottle spray. I'm hoping the finished poncho will fit as good as it smells!

New Hair-Do

Believe it --- I cut about six inches off my hair. Growing out bangs has given me so much grief that I decided to even it all up so growing it out wouldn't look so shaggy. I know it's short -- but my hair grows fast.

Felt Clogs

Here's one of my most favorite things. I've probably made over 20 pairs as gifts for family and friends over the years. This is the third pair for myself. I've lost one pair at a hotel and I wear my grey and charcoal ones just about every day so I felt the need to make another pair to match all my camo.

Phase I: Knit from 3 skeins of Lamb's Pride worsted wool

Phase II: Shrink to fit with two agitation cycles in hot water washing machine








Phase III: Dry and trim up mohair fuzz with clippers

Yoga Socks

The temperature in my yoga class is always set at freezing so these yoga socks from kpixie are perfect. I doubled up sock yarn to get the required gauge of 5 1/2 sts to the inch. How about this display of flexibility??

Girls Just Wanna Shop

My awesome friend Melanie invited me on a road trip weekend of shoppping in Oklahoma City. We tore up Penn Square mall and dined in true honky-tonk style at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill in Bricktown. Sure would've been nice to have seen Toby (by the way - he's great in concert). Looking at our hotel room you'd think a tornado passed through -- no, that's just Melanie --that's why I love ya, girlfriend! Thanks for the invite and soon we'll be "In the Wind".

Tabi Socks

How fun are these? Knitted the Tabi socks (Japanese split socks) in about a week out of 100g of Fortissima cotton from Not Just More Socks. Decided to make them in white to match my somewhat large collection of flip-flops.

Poor Daffodil

Why so down, daffodil?? Just when spring fever starts to kick in we get punched with a spring snow. That's life in the midwest for ya.

Flea Market Baskets

My friend, Jenn and I went to the Flea Market this morning. My mission was to find some more baskets to keep my knitting projects organized and easily accessible. Mission accomplished--found two Longaberger deals to add to my collection. Now I've got quite a project pile in my knitting nook corner of the rec room.

New Projects from Wildflower

Went to Manhattan today and visited my favorite shop, Wildflower. I think I've said this before but Kennita is the nicest shop owner around. I just get a good, creative vibe in her shop and always walk out with several projects. Also, she has the largest selection of sock yarn I've found. Ponchos may be on their way out but I thought this would be perfect for an upcoming trip with my mom to Santa Fe. The evenings are cool and I could bunch it up with a turquiose belt. Talk about being in Noro heaven!

The other project is one I've been debating for several years from Mission Falls. I'm going to tackle the tank first and then try the matching Bolero jacket. There was a time this cotton was discontinued but demand brought it back.

Hot Water Bottle Cover

Let me explain...there's something nostalgic about a hot water bottle so I was compelled to make this cover out of Opal sock yarn. I've never used a hot water bottle but I'm almost looking forward to my next backache. It just seemed like a luxury item I thought would be nice to have around. Why do they call it a water bottle anyway? Isn't it really just a fancy plastic bag?

Made in Connecticut

Blocking my socks I made during my trip.

Wool Connection - Avon, CT

After a week of being cooped up in a classroom and evening social dinners - I was ready to shop!! Wool Connections is located about 30 miles from the Hartford Bradley Aiport. Since this shop is also one of my favorite mail order catalogs for great kit projects this was a "have to" destination. I spent several hours with the friendly staff and ordered a capelet kit that can't arrive quick enough. Also purchased this unique recycled sweater knitting bag by Susan Todd. Check out their website in the above link!

Knitting in Connecticut

I just had to share this moment from the Marriott outside of Hartford, Connecticut. Nothing like knitting on a plane all day and then calling for room service. I'll be occupied the rest of the week attending a financial brokerage workshop. On a positive note, I should be able to complete a pair of socks on this trip.