Mary Oliver

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?"









Monday, November 30, 2015

Back Home Again

 

The weather on Saturday was the complete opposite of the beautiful weather on Friday, so I went to the Brooklyn Flea at Industry City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I loved all the colors, glassware, and textiles, but I only bought an ice cream and a little bag of ribbons.

I took a picture of each of my grand pets before I left.

 

This cat isn't one of my grand pets, but I love seeing cats on brownstone steps; it seems such a quintessentially Brooklyn sight.

I love the Departures board at Penn Station fo some reason, even though I'm always sad to leave my daughter.

I got a lot of knitting done on my trip, including what seemed to be miles of ribbing; I think I can begin decreasing now.

I also worked on my first color work project, Saugerties Hat, and I love it!

I took a photo of these hats at an Eddie Bauer store so I can try to replicate them; I love the colors and the thick-thin yarn.

I went back to work this morning and although it's only 8:00, I'm ready for bed. Hope you have a great week! (Only 14 more school days before my winter break!!!!!)

 

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Thanksgiving Treat

I went to New York to gift myself with a visit to my daughter and her husband for Thanksgiving. A nice, quiet ride up on Amtrak and dinner ready when I arrived, along with my "grandchildren" patiently waiting for me.

Meredith had to work on Friday, so I wandered around the city by myself, one of my favorite things to do. I started out at the Fulton Fish Market area and wound up on a bench at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, where I sat and knit for a while, just enjoying the gorgeous day.

While I was there, I took a couple of pictures for tourists, but this guy told me he wanted to use his timer. It didn't take me long to see why: he had set it on video so he could record his marriage proposal! Isn't that so cool?

Christmas tree at the Fulton shopping area, with lots of cobblestone streets and boutique shops that I didn't visit. Much too beautiful a day to be indoors.

 

I even ate my lunch on a park bench at Union Square Park.

 

 

 

After lunch, I visited the Lion Brand Yarn Studio to see their gorgeous window.

 

Despite the unseasonably warm weather, the day definitely put me in the mood for Christmas! Hope you enjoyed your weekend, no matter what you did.

 

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Travels and Thanksgiving

Gracie is hiding her eyes and hoping I will start staying home with her more than I have been lately. I have been out of town for four of the last five weekends, as my mom informed me yesterday, just in case I hadn't noticed.
Steve and I spent last weekend in DC, mostly wandering around the DuPont Circle area, enjoying the autumnal weather.

 

 


I love the arrangement of succulents in one of the cafes we visited.

The only museum we visited this trip was the west wing of the National Gallery, and that was only briefly.

Steve wanted to see the Vermier exhibit and I wanted to relax and knit.

I had made decent progress on a hat, but didn't like the gauge I was getting, so I ripped it out and started over after I got home.

I finished the Lapsang, my fourth hat from the Tea Collection, in Quince & Co. Puffin. Great pattern.

I'm on the Amtrak train to NYC as I write this, to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with my oldest daughter, Meredith. Other than hanging out with her, I don't have a lot scheduled this time. And when I return home on Sunday, I'll put my suitcase in the attic for awhile, since I don't have another trip planned until March. Kind of looking forward to settling in at home for awhile, and thankful I have such a cozy nest of my own.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

 

Monday, November 16, 2015

My Happy Place

I've been knitting like it's my job lately, and as a result, I have some FOs to show you. This is the third hat from the Tea Collection: Chai, in Quince & Co. Puffin, as modeled by my youngest daughter, Melissa. She had a little Grey Gardens thing going on last night but I love the twinkle in her eye! She's been dressing with her own distinct style since she was a 2 year old and these photos really take me back.

 

This is Hibiscus, done in Misti Alpaca Paints. I haven't blocked it yet, so the lace pattern isn't as pronounced as it will be.

The first one I knit, Everyday Brew, also in Misti Alpaca Paints. Stephanie appropriated it as soon as she saw it, which brings me to my exciting news: she is home from Togo!

 

It was rather sudden and a bit nerve racking, as she was traveling from Lome', through Paris and Brussels, just ahead of the terrorist attacks. She was flying Friday night, which meant we really didn't know for sure if she was able to leave Europe until we met her at the Norfolk airport on Saturday afternoon!

Thankfully she arrived safe and sound and completely unaware of the tragedy in Paris, as she slept on her layover in the Brussels airport!

She brought back a suitcase full of clothes in gorgeous African prints and colors. Aren't they beautiful?

 

I've already cast on for Lapsang, using another skein of Puffin. I'm really happy about using so much stash yarn!
I think I was able to knit so much due to a short break on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with a group of friends. I drove down on Friday at noon, and was supposed to stay through Sunday, but instead, I drove home in time to meet Stephanie at the airport on Saturday. Even though my stay was short, it was wonderful, partly due to the friends, and partly due to the gorgeous weather. Just look at that blue sky!

I made time to sit on the beach for an hour before I headed home. As my mom said when I showed her this picture, "the beach is my happy place." So true.


Have a great week and love your life!