August

My blog posts haven't been creatively titled lately, have they? I used to try for alliterative or otherwise catchy titles but recently they've been fairly bland. Hope you don't mind, it's just a slump.

Have you seen PurlBee's latest project? Reuseable market bags. The fabrics they used make the bags look quite elegant, so much so that I may just dust off my sewing machine and make a few for myself and/or gifting. I already have quite a few I've purchased from Ikea, but I'd love to make some prettier ones. Check it out and see what you think. They can't be too difficult, even with my rusty skills. I need to make a few curtains, and this might just be my gateway project.

Speaking of projects, I finished my Nurmilintu shawl today.

 

 

These photos are before blocking, but you can still see the lace. I don't usually cast on a repeat of a pattern immediately, but I did today, using another skein of yarn from the stash. I hardly ever gift shawls, but now that I've made so many, I think I'm going to start. It's really the only way I can use some of the gorgeous single skeins I've purchased over the years and I can't justify keeping them all as I don't wear them enough. My friend, Lori, wears her shawls all the time, but I am just too warm natured to get much use out of mine.

Lori, Kristin, Melissa, and I all took a mini-road trip today to Knitting Addiction, so we could visit with Jeanne, the owner, and treat ourselves to a knitting day. It was so much fun and so relaxing to sit in her lovely, comfortable store, knitting and chatting the day away. We ate a delicious lunch at Trio, the wine shop next door, then came back and knit some more. This is the same group of women I went to Rhinebeck with last year, as well as two knitting retreats, hosted by our guild, the past two years. We are all teachers who knit and we have a wonderful time together.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention my two day conference in Richmond, at the Library of Virginia. I went on Monday and Tuesday and learned a lot about the First Admendment. Although I'm an English teacher and the program was intended more for history teachers, I can definitely use what I learned in my classroom, as I like to use primary documents whenever I can. Plus I got a free night in a beautiful hotel suite! And the library was gorgeous too.

 

I also got to eat at one of my favorite Richmond restaurants, Kuba Kuba; dessert was this luscious Tres Leche cake. I shared it with my stepdaughter, Stephanie, and a friend of hers.

I came home to my sweet Gracie, who approved of my shawl as a pillow. Look at those ears!

Hope you are all well as the summer enters its last month. I will be watching the Olympics and working on my Olympic knitting project.

 

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July

This has not been a great summer for me, but we go on, don't we?

I worked up a hat last week to use a skein of Malabrigo Mecha that I bought on impulse because the colors were so gorgeous. It's the Everyday Brew pattern and I'm going to put it in the gift drawer. My foot is propped up and looks normal, doesn't it? I'm happy to say I do NOT need surgery, a welcome piece of good news.

I decided to try Sinkmates, a new-to-me dishcloth pattern; I'll let you know how it turns out. It looks a bit weird in this photo. Also reading Everyone Brave is Forgiven, and enjoying it. Apparently I'm reading a lot of British WWII novels this summer.

I have a habit of scavenging and I lucked into these beauties one day this week. I think I have about fifteen of them, which is like finding $50 on the curb. Not sure where they will go but I'm starting with edging the corner flower bed. Or I will as soon as the temperatures drop a little bit.

Melissa and I went to a farm stand this afternoon and they had a little petting zoo area.

The poor turkey gets bullied a lot, so perches in the fence for protection, according to the farm stand girl.

These pigs were smart enough to get out of the sun.

Gracie watched the convention with me this week. I thought it was amazing to watch history being made and remembered feeling this way when Geraldine Ferraro was nominated as the first woman vice-president.

Say goodnight, Gracie!

 

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Unplanned, Summer

The offending molar, #30, for those who know teeth, came out on Thursday. I elected for IV sedation because I'm tired of pain. On Monday, I noticed pain in my gum line on the opposite side of my mouth and made myself sick with fear that I would need another tooth extracted. Thank goodness, my fabulous dentist fit me in on Tuesday to remove a piece of broken filling that was cutting into my gum every time I chewed, and repaired it on Wednesday with a very small and easy filling. So very grateful.

I went to the library to stock up on some books and DVDs to have on hand while I recuperated. Add in knitting, and I should be okay. For some reason, I forgot to stock up on soft foods, but Steve took care of that for me. I'm doing well, other than napping more than I expected, but I guess the infection has taken a toll on me. I feel like I'm wasting so much of my summer, but I don't have much choice. I am reading quite a bit; a series by Charles Todd, about a nurse during WWI, caught my attention, and it's interesting enough.

 

Gracie is keeping me company of course.

I took some more photos of the Brickless shawl.

 

 

And the Nurmilintu is pretty but slow going. I'm using Neighborhood Fiber sock yarn. I thought it had more flecks of purple than it does, but I still like it.

I don't normally talk politics here, but I was excited that Tim Kaine was chosen as VP nominee; I met him two summers ago during my GMU VCET residency, and liked him. The picture of me is blurred, but I like it anyway.

I look just like a school teacher in that outfit, don't I? Hope you all are surviving the heat dome. Thank goodness for fans; the AC just isn't keeping up without them.

 

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The Wrap Up

These are the last photos from my trip. I'm not sure why I've been so slow posting them, as I haven't been doing much of anything since I returned home. Other than visiting doctors every single day, that is. The tooth that was bothering me led to a visit to the dentist and then to the endodontist, who told me it is beyond saving and needs pulled, which of course, he doesn't do. I will see an oral surgeon on Monday for a consultation and hopefully he will pull it posthaste, as it's nearing the two week mark of constant pain. But apparently the tooth issue wasn't enough excitement for me, as I broke my toe on Friday and spent some time at the urgent care. Luckily a podiatrist was on call and was able to reset my toe. I've spent the weekend with it taped and elevated, hoping it will stay in position so I can avoid surgery, as it was a pretty nasty break. The X-ray tech noticed my nail polish was on point though, haha.

 

Not sure what day this was, but I think it was July 4th; it's clearly in or near the financial district, as that is the World Trade Building.

I think this is part of the 9-11 Museum; I hadn't seen it before.

Manhattan City Hall, if I remember correctly, although it may be Brooklyn's.

 

I do remember that this interesting looking building was on Bowery Street, but I'm not sure of the name of it.

This arch is around Chinatown, not too far from the Brooklyn Bridge.

The Manhattan Bridge.

 

And the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge, with the flag on top. I love this bridge.

This is a memorial in the South Seaport District, commemorating the Titanic. I had seen it in another visit but overlooked its meaning somehow.

 

World Trade Tower, as seen from South Seaport.

Back in Brooklyn, a little husband and wife owned business, a block over from Meredith's home. I love the string of melmac cups and bunting they used to decorate.

This herbed biscuit with egg and avocado was so good I ate it on two different days.

I had their frozen blueberry lemonade on two separate occasions as well.

I did a lot of knitting on the Brickless shawl on my trip, probably because it was the only project I took with me. A good, yet seldom used, strategy for me.

Sinon, Meredith's cat, loves my visits, as he gets lots of attention from me. He's an incredibly loving cat. Look at his proprietary paws!

Ollie, short for Olivia, is less thrilled with me visiting as it usually means her mama is leaving her. But she managed.

One last Brooklyn eatery I love to visit is Habana Outpost, a restaurant that specializes in Cuban and Mexican street food, like roasted corn with crumbly cheese, but also has chicken and waffles on a stick. Whatever you choose, it's delicious.

I love how colorful everything is there too.

So that's another NY trip done and luckily my tooth issue didn't begin until the end of the trip. I'm really glad my toe didn't break until I got home, since one of the best parts of visiting NY for me is the amount of walking I do there, just wandering around.

I started another shawl since I'll be spending a lot of time on the couch; Nurmilintu, and I'm using a gorgeous skein of Neighborhood Fibers yarn I bought over three years ago, so that's a win for the stash. I'll post a photo next time. Stay safe everyone.

 

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Alone in New York

I thought I had published this last week, but somehow I didn't. I'm home now, awaiting a root canal, so not much else going on. Better late than never.

July 6 post:

I have been coming to New York on a regular basis for over three years now, ever since my oldest daughter moved here. I come to visit her, but I also spend a lot of the time on my own, as the trip often involves pet sitting so she and her husband can go somewhere without boarding their dog and cat.

When I first started coming up here, I had lists of places I wanted to visit on every trip, including knit shops and places I had read about online, as well as one or two tourist sites, like the High Line or an exhibit at a museum.

This time though, I didn't have an agenda, and I was wondering why, when I read this essay about traveling alone on A Cup of Jo. And it kind of nailed it for me. Being alone in another city is such a luxury for me and I truly enjoy it. I enjoy having conversations with strangers, I am comfortable eating in restaurants by myself, and I love doing exactly what I feel like doing without considering anyone else's wants or needs. I walk more here than anywhere else, and I like how strong it makes me feel. As I'm an extrovert, it has surprised me to learn how much I enjoy solitude on these trips.

 

 

The window display at Lion Brand Yarn Studio is always a joy to see.

 

 

I ended up at Purl Soho the day I walked across the Williamsburg Bridge, although I didn't buy any yarn.

 

I love the use of color in this garter stitch blanket.

I'll post the last of my photos next time.

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