Breaking Away

But not before seeing Karida's marvelmous new yarn at Knit Happens this evening. It was a lovely time, although I needed to bug out fairly early.

Because

We're on our way to Blacksburg in the morning.

In the rain.

For Thursday night football.

In the rain.

But hey-- there's been a drought, so it's a good thing. And maybe it can stop for a couple of hours tomorrow night.

It would be nice.

And then...

A whole week

Here's an interesting segment I found at the hiltonhead.com website:

First Aid Tips
We hope you don't have any problems while visiting Hilton Head Island, or if you live on Hilton Head Island. But, if you do have any of the following problems, we offer some helpful hints for you:

Sunburn - Soak in cool water unless skin is broken or blistered. Ibuprofen may help.

Bee Stings - Apply a baking soda paste and ice. If allergic, seek medical help.

Jelly Fish Stings - Apply vinegar, sugar, salt or dry sand. After 20 min., rinse with salt water.

Crab Bites - rinse well, disinfect, and apply antibiotic ointment. May need stitches.

Tick Bites - DO NOT attempt to remove the tick. Cover with vaseline or a film of oil. When insect is free, remove with tweezers. Look for flu-like symptoms for up to two weeks. If this occurs, seek immediate medical attention.

Snake Bites - CALL 911. Use a compression dressing just above site, NOT a tourniquet.

Oyster Shells - cuts and abrasions can result in serious infections. Medical treatment advised.

Alligators - Do NOT go near alligators. They run very fast. Do NOT feed or tease !

Sting Ray - rinse with water and apply heat to neutralize sting. Seek medical attention.


Hmmmm.... May need STITCHES???
SERIOUS INFECTIONS???
ALLIGATORS????

Way to promote the tourism.

I think I'll survive.

And if it rains, I'll read books and knit. I can think of worse ways to spend a week.

A WHOLE WEEK!!!

(catch you later)

What REALLY Went On At Hogwarts?

Hmmmm..... Very Interesting!

Actual Knitting Content...

And a few assorted other things.

First for the knitting:























This lovely Tilted Duster from Interweave being done in Noro Silk Garden. I'm starting with the sleeves-- knitting them up to the sleeve cap separately, and then I'll do them both at the same time. Then no sleeve island for me.


















I think it'll be an interesting sweater, what with the angles and stripes and all. The problem that's driving me a bit nuts is that Noro screwed me over. I started the first sleeve last week at Late Night at Knit Happens following a night shift at work, so I was a bit fuzzy (although I'm told I was quite amusing. Glad to oblige.)

I ran into a knot, so did the ol' spit-splice thing and knit merrily on my way. I dutifully went through a new skein when I started the second sleeve, to make sure I started in the same place so the stripes would sort of match. Even though I realize it's handspun/dyed yarn, I like them to bear some resemblance to each other stripe-and-color wise.

Do you see any pink in the middle of the left sleeve? Neither do I. I do believe the folks who put in that knot weren't too concerned about continuing the colorway in order.

After much discussion this week at Late Night (also somewhat foggy and with only 2 hours of sleep after yet another night shift) I was reassured that the nature of Noro allows for some variation, and unless I was going to make myself crazy with the whole thing, and unroll each skein side-by-side to ensure matching-ness, I should charge forward. So charge forward I will. Holly was kind enough to put me in for 5 more balls of the Silk Garden, which luckily she already has on order.















This is a short sock, using the Stephanie Pearl McPhee's Sock Recipe. It's in a bamboo blend yarn that I picked up at Mosaic in Blacksburg. (I took out the link here, because some bug sent me to a bible college site.)








These guys are Peekaboo Mittens for The Daughter who is a member of







Their little hands get cold in the stands during the football games (or they will, if it ever gets below 80), so she can wear these.









And when it's time to play..... Peekaboo!!!!







Needless to say, the thumbs aren't done yet, and I'm working on that grafting thing.

By the way, if you're looking for some interesting info about Virginia Tech's Marching Virginians, read this
article about the Marching Virginians in ESPN magazine.



Hey-- They Said It Was Going To Rain

And when I left work this morning, I did feel about 5 raindrops. But Hey-- they promised Thunderstorms. Lightening. Something to make us feel that our 34 days of rain-less-ness was coming to an end.

It seemed like the birds were expecting some weather.There were literally thousands of them in the trees outside the hospital, making all sorts of noise.As I looked closer at another tree, I realized these weren't leaves. They were MORE BIRDS!

Tippi Hedron-- Watch Out!!!!

Happy Halloween

Compliments of Lowes

And What To My Wondering Eyes Should Appear...

And I wish I'd had my camera. (but if I get time later today, I'll take some pics to share.)

Met The Husband at Lowe's last night after a great time at Late Night. We were going to get a couple of final touches for the most recent bathroom.

On my way in I saw-- Christmas trees. Lights. Tinsel. Great Big Blinking Snowflakes.

When I entered the store I saw-- Big inflatable snowman things with plastic snow flying around.

I Couldn't Bleepin' Believe It!!!!

It's September.

And 93 degrees outside.

Pictures!!!

In further news-- The kitchen faucet is still broken, and I'm awaiting the part from Moen.

And finally:

Moving Right Along...

First of all, no pictures. That's why I haven't posted-- The Blogger is being difficult.

VT beat Ohio University last Saturday. It wasn't a blow-out, and Ohio made The Hokies work for it. The freshman QB Tyrod Taylor did a respectable job, and the game served as an offensive tune-up. We needed that-- the "tune up" and the win.

For those familiar with the chant that accompanies the offense inside the 20 yard line, you may not know that "Stick It In" has been prohibited to the band. No cadence, no words, nothing. "Stick It In" is very much a Hokie tradition-- as much as the lunchbox, as much as the "key play" on defensive third downs. The Student section took over, and did us proud.

Weaver-- worry about the IMPORTANT things!!!!

Weather-wise, it was about as perfect as you could expect-- sunny, cool, in fact downright chilly in our seats. Fall's on its way.

The first mitten is nearly done after many rip-outs. Number two was started on the way home. Most of the trip was spent snoozing, however, since I had to work Sunday night. WORK!!!! It's such a distraction!

In brief bathroom news, it's completely done-- looks really nice.

Wish I could show you the pictures....

And now, off for Blacksburg. Tomorrow's game is against William and Mary.

Should be fun.

Here We Go Again

The Destructo guys came in on Friday, took out the old tub, pot and sink, and installed the new tub. While plumbing the tub drain, they needed to cut a hole in the ceiling of the powder room below. Oh joy.


The Husband painted the ceiling, window and door frames yesterday.

Today is Drywall Guys. Apparently they didn't get the word about a major part of the wall being removed to accommodate the plumbing, but they're being mensches (that's a good thing) and getting it all done. They were actually scheduled for 2 days, but I don't think it'll take that long.

When we have walls, I'll paint-- might even be able to get it done today, because these guys are moving fast. The Daughter ordered up a rich, grey-toned blue. I have the paint chips and will head off to Lowe's this afternoon. (Must remember to get paint for the powder room ceiling).

The mirror and wall cabinets are a medium walnut finish, and I think it'll be a striking combination with the bluish-grey wall tile that will surround the tub to the ceiling. The tile accent at eye level is various tones of blue, grey and green stone.The floor is going to be a dark grey tile.

The big hole around the tub will have cement board installed, which I'm told is the Tile Guys' job. They should be done by Friday, and then the Plumbing Guys come on Monday for the final install.

There will be a mirror(Michael's), two wall cabinets (IKEA), a small pedestal sink, brushed pewter fixtures, brushed pewter towel bar, tp holder & towel rings (Lowe's) and I get to go shopping again for shower curtain, tension bar, and new towels (probably Bed Bath & Beyond). We got a small floor cabinet (IKEA) with drawers that complements the wall cabinets.

Meanwhile

In the rest of my life, I worked the last 4 days (Thurs-Sun) and am a bit tuckered out. The Hokies football game against LSU started at 9:30 on Saturday night. I was initially really happy, because I got home at 9 p.m. so saw kick-off wearing my VT scrub shirt (a Christmas gift from The Daughter her first year) which I wear when I have to work on Game Day. During football season, I usually have to work on Game Day for "away" games, since we have season tickets, and I arrange to be off for home games in Blacksburg.

Nurse=work when people are sick=days, nights, weekends, holidays. It's part of the job.

I went to bed at halftime because I had to get up at 5 to go to work.

Cost/Benefit analysis:
Cost: stay up for the rest of the game, be sad, get to bed at 1 am. Wake up groggy and grumpy for a 12 hour shift.
Benefit: not much.

I tried changing my shirt. I had my Team United bracelets on. I hummed Tech Triumph, The Hokie Fight Song and Carry Me Back throughout (somewhat to the consternation of The Husband), but it didn't seem to help. So with the score 24-0 at the half, I joined Sandman. I felt like I was abandoning the team, but there are hundreds of thousands of other fans, so maybe it wasn't my fault. I will say that as I drifted off, I envisioned the final score as 57-3, so 48-7 wasn't as bad.
I received many condolences at work on Sunday morning.

Might I say, in the greatest and most sincere spirit of Hokies Respect: LSU was awesome. If we had to lose, it was to a team that truly outplayed us.

But we'll be back.

Knitting-- yes, there is some: Restarted the Peekaboo mittens.

This time for sure!!!

Some Tears, Many Cheers, and a Few Fears

The Hokie Nation is alive, well, still a bit bruised, and back in force in Blacksburg.

We arrived Friday night after an uneventful ride down. I got about half of one Peekaboo Mitten (using Debbie Bliss Cashmarino DK from Knit Happens) finished for The Daughter.

In addition to her roommate, 2 of The Daughter's friends were visiting, so it was quite a little house full. Or quite a full little house. Or apartment. We had a great time-- we all went to Buffalo Wild Wings along with another of her visiting friends on Friday night and ordered 100 wings. I could never have imagined ordering 100 wings, but with 7 of us-- and 5 of them college girls and recent grads, we polished 'em off. Wish I'd taken a picture! I totally enjoyed being with all of them. I had a great time.



The game was very emotional-- tributes at the beginning videos, a flyover, and more than a few tears. The game itself was less well played than we were comfortable with, but we won, and hopefully will be a bit more focused for next week's game against LSU.

After the game The Husband & I walked back to the condo, stopping at the Kroger for provisions. I fixed spaghetti for the crew, and we had some rather "well done" garlic bread and salad. I told them they could do whatever, and that my feelings wouldn't be hurt, but that I felt like having spaghetti, and they could freeze it if they wanted to do something else. They seemed to like the spaghetti idea. They went through nearly a crock pot full of sauce. It made me happy.

Yesterday morning I test drove the new waffle iron The Daughter and I picked up before she went back to school. The girls went through a whole box of bisquick's worth of waffles. Hmm-- could it be that they miss "Mom's" (as in everyone's Moms?) cooking? (I'm not that great a cook. Good- not great.)

It was so great to see The Daughter-- and it had only been a couple of weeks. I hugged her as we left, and just didn't want to let go.

Of course, no trip to Blacksburg is complete without a visit to Mosaic, so we stopped by after leaving The Girls. I was lucky to get there just as Gina was leaving, so at least got to get a hug and say "hi". And they were having a sale, so a bag of Noro Silk Garden jumped into my arms. It was comforting, because there was also a huge sale at Knit Happens over the weekend, and I wasn't there!

We went to campus to view The Memorial on the drillfield. More tears. More aching in the heart. More sadness for the families who can't ever again be with their loved ones. More prayers, more thanks, more pride in our students and their school.

I completed all but the thumb on the Peekaboo Mitten on the drive back, but decided it was a bit too short, so frogged back to the beginning of the finger decreases. I'll probably end up making a whole additional pair of these, or rip the whole thing out because I probably should have used the smaller gauge pattern to begin with, and it's a bit snug around the palm.

So, off for a few days-- getting ready for another bathroom renovation-- and then back to work.

It's Been So Long

Since I've blogged, and since I've done any productive knitting.

Back to work-- busy, busy, busy. It's been emotionally draining.

I haven't even had time to read other blogs, until today.

I was able to hit Late Night a couple of weeks ago, and it was so very wonderful to be back amongst my knitting buddies. I took along the Lizard Ridge shawl, but yet again ended up not paying attention, and goofed it up. So, frog, frog, tink, tink. I plan to be at The Shop tomorrow night, and can't wait. But I think I'll need to focus on something that requires minimal, if any, counting so I can focus on the conversation.

Lizard Ridge, while not challenging, is best left for the car rides to Blacksburg.

Speaking of which--

Hurrah!!!!!
Hokies Football starts this week!!!!

I'm looking forward to the whole thing-- the car rides with time spent with The Husband, unchallenged time to knit during the drive, being with The Daughter and her friends, the pre-game excitement, the great football games themselves, the mountains, visiting my friends at Mosaic--- just can't be beat. This will be an important time for continued healing in the Hokie community. April 16th is ever present, but the spirit of the wonderful people of Blacksburg and the incredible resiliance of the students are moving forward.

Let's Go Hokies!

And In To The Dog Days

Of summer, that is. Meet Peanut. She's my brother's Italian Greyhound. 7 pounds of boundless energy.

I returned last week from a fantastic time with my family in the North Woods of Wisconsin. And do I ever wish I were back there!!!


The Son and I drove to Ludington, Michigan, and travelled across Lake Michigan on SS Badger.
It was a much-needed 4 hour break from an all-day drive from the Washington DC area. The ship is pretty neat-- it's a car ferry, that was originally designed to transport trucking cargo and train cars. There are "staterooms" available, but also lots of areas with comfy seats where one can catch a snooze. I ran into a knitter in the "Quiet Room."

We landed in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and proceeded to what was probably the last available motel room in Eastern Wisconsin. The Oshkosh Fly-In was that week. When I was making reservations, my requirements were modest: a 2-bed non-smoking room. There was one in Green Bay-- about a 40-mile trek from Manitowoc.

The NorthWoods are amazing. I spent a lot of time up there as a kid during the summer, at camp and camping with friends and family. There are trees, trees, and more trees; lakes at every turn in the road; people who are down-to-earth, and just plain glad to see you. I think I could be happy there-- but I'd have to try a "winter-over" first, just to be sure.

It was just the best, being with The Parents, The Sibs and Their Spouses, and The Collective Offspring. All totalled, we are 45. And this year all but 3 were able to be there for at least part of the time. The Offspring are really getting along well, growing in age and grace, and able to entertain themselves. The Sibs all enjoy being together with The Parents at any opportunity. We are truly blessed, and we don't take it for granted, ever.

I picked up The Daughter at the Rhinelander airport, and got to meet the Hodag


We made the most of our time in Wisconsin with a visit to the Leinenkugel's Brewery

A get-together for 45 of my favorite relatives at the ORIGINAL Famous Dave's


(That's not the family-- just a pic of the inside... And my new friend.

I even did a "drive-by" of Camp We-Ha-Kee (seriously-- I'm not kidding) where I spent time as a camper, and later as a counselor

And after a last pontoon ride on the lake to see the eagle's nest in the tree around the bend, I headed back to Rhinelander Airport, to fly back so I could return to work.


Knitting News?

Not so much. I need to remember "MINDLESS KNITTING-- IT'S A GOOD THING."

I had the bad judgement to take along a couple of projects that were just a bit too fussy to work on while talking to family. AND, I discovered that on MS3, I'd been making some continuing errors. I printed out the pattern in black and white, instead of color, and I ended up putting beads in every row, since the overlap squares on the 2 pages of the pattern chart end up looking the same as the lavender shaded squares that indicate bead placement. Because of yarn-overs and various decreases, they aren't all centered, and it looks pretty awful. I'll be able to solve the problem by using a pliers to break the offending beads, but it was all too overwhelming to deal with.

The Leaf Trellis socks also require attention that was better spent with my loved ones. Attention well spent, but no knitting accomplished.

That'll teach me.

I Have a Pen Pal!

Or rather, an e-mail pal. Her name is Jane, and she lives in England. She found me through the Mosaic blog, and we've been corresponding.

How fun! I had a pen pal once when I was a kid, but she only wrote to me twice. I kept writing (I'm thick like that) and after about 20 unanswered missives, I gave up.

Jane just started her own blog, so go visit her!

On My Way...

To the North Woods of Wisconsin, that is. I'm packin' up the knitting, the iPod, the camera, the corkscrew, the fishing pole and the industrial strength mosquito repellent.

It should be a good time.

It will be about a 2 day trip to get there. The Son and I are leaving early early in the a.m., for Ludington Michigan, taking the 4-hour ferry ride across Lake Michigan to get to Wisconsin. We've taken SS Badger a couple of times before across the lake, but the kids were quite small then. The Daughter is in Florida at a sorority gathering, and she'll fly to Wisconsin on Sunday. The Husband, unfortunately, is deeply embroiled in work, and has to take a pass on this year's gathering. We will miss being with him.


The place that we're gathering is Barker Lake, which doesn't appear on many maps, but is near the tiny town of Winter. There is a lot of outdoor activity up there, to go along with the mosquitoes. Lots of lakes, fishing, and so forth. The original resort and golf course were established in the 1920's by beer baron "Polack Joe" Soltis who designed it as a retreat for other Chicago area gangsters. Such history....

I come from a rather large family-- I have 4 brothers and 4 sisters, and amongst us we have 26 children ranging in age from 8 to 25. So we get together every summer for a week, and again over New Year's. When we are all able to be together with our parents, we number 45 so it's quite a gathering. We've gathered at a number of places over the years, and this will be our first at this location, although it is familiar to many of us.

When I was growing up, we would spend a week each summer at a girls' camp (Camp We-Ha-Kee; I knit you not), because it's pretty remote, and they needed to have a doctor and nurse there all the time. So my father, who is a doctor, volunteered at the camp. The girls in the family stayed in cabins with the campers, and the boys were in the doctor's cabin. As we got older, the siblings would visit Barker Lodge for a round of golf and a couple of beers. By this time I was away from home playing sailor lady, so I've never been there. My parents heard that the property had been sold, gone into disrepair, and then was purchased by someone who is reviving it. So we decided that it would be a good place to go. One of my sisters is there now, and she said it's rustic, and lots of fun, so I'm anxious to get on the road.

Some of the events we envision are a visit to the Leinenkugel Brewery, the ORIGINAL Famous Dave's, and some fishing, chatting, reading, relaxing, and a bit of work on the Mystery Shawl.

I'd better get packing!

...And in Happier News

Decent progress on MS#3.

And-- my Harry Potter book just arrived.

Catch you later.

Mystery Shawl #3 and Non-Bulimic Purging

Making some progress after 2 total frogs from 20 rows or so. Pics tomorrow, maybe.

The better news is that I've been making some noticeable progress in de-cluttering. We have way too much stuff (my massive yarn stash and multiple sets of needles and accessories don't count!!!!!) (Except maybe my bazillion straight steel needles from my pre-Addi, pre-Crystal Palace past. I'll probably give them to friends as starter needles as I teach them to knit.)

I've filled 3 lawn & leaf bags with clothes I haven't worn forever, or just decided I don't care to wear anymore. I hope to fill 2 more. I filled a box with shoes that are in good repair, but don't fit perfectly. Life is too short for sore feet, regardless of how lovely the shoes may be. (Go Crocs!!!) My side of the closet is pretty amazing. I'm holding on to most of my tote bags, because one can't knit without them.

There are charity pick-ups at the house on Saturday and Monday, and my goal is to have a respectable pile for each pick-up. Y'know-- the second iron that works well, the huge amount of coordinated plastic storage containers that looked so great at the Tupperware party-- 15 years ago, the stack of jigsaw puzzles I picked up before a vacation just in case it rained all week, the pool toys that the kids have long outgrown, the matching Samsonite I received when I graduated from high school (still works great, but HEAVY!!!), fabrics for projects that just aren't going to happen, and at least some of the vases and flower-arrangement containers that have accumulated over the years.

I've donated most of the hotel toiletry items to a shelter. I kept the really nice ones, and am using them in my new bathroom. It makes me feel like I'm staying at a resort--- at least while I'm in the shower. We take our escapes as we can...

I'm in the process of giving my several year collection of needlework/crosstitch pattern magazines to a friend who loves and will use them. I will probably put together my flosses and give them to her as well. I haven't cross-stitched for probably 5 years. If I decide to do another project, I'll get more.

The hardest project for me is de-booking. I need to set a reasonable goal for donating books to the ongoing library book sale. I was endowed with such a love for books, that it's hard to part with them, but hey-- they're taking over the place!!!

I'm still so far from where I want to be, but you remember that trip of a thousand miles....

And then there's the office. Lord, give me strength!!!

I'd much rather knit.

A Fine Friday

It was lovely. I got to sleep to a reasonable time, then went to work for a meeting and a tad of paperwork. I actually made it out in 2-1/2 hours!

Then to Trader Joe's to pick up some provisions for Knit'n'Nosh at Knit Happens. It's been ages since I've been able to stop in. And it was so great to see the friends I've been missing for so long, and some new friends as well.

These women are really important in my life, and I miss them when I'm not able to "hang out" for awhile.

I haven't seen Stephanie for a couple of months. We've both been busy and away. She started a new project-- a baby blanket that's a beautiful pale blue. Katie is back in the States for awhile, and it was great to see her, and catch up a bit. She brought in a top she'd done in King Tut, in a dark red. She wasn't fond of the way it looked on her, but Aimee tried it on, and it was spectacular.

I hadn't seen Rosanna since MS&W. She's working on the Mystery Shawl 3, which I joined as well-- but haven't started yet. Maybe today. (Need to go pick up some beads!) (Sorry-- it's closed, so I didn't link it.) Elspeth was holding down the fort at the counter. She appeared to be working on a modular knit scarf, and making good progress, I might add. Nikki was there, and I met another Laura. (Never enough Laura's.)

My friend from work, M came, too-- for a very special reason. She wanted to learn to knit! My evangelism is working! And since it was her birthday, I decided she needed to start out right, so she magically received an Addi Turbo circular, a couple of balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in a wonderful turquoise/teal that she zeroed in on immediately, and a set of "toys" that came in a cute little pouch. The yarn looks amazing with her pale blue-gren eyes. She is a quick study, and learned to cast on, knit and purl in just over 2 hours, and is on her way to a very respectable scarf.

We were having such a good time that I lost track of time, and Holly finally had to point out that it was closing time. (You don't have to go home, but you can't. stay. here.) And home I went.

Here We Go Again
This morning it was back to Mosaic Tile to look at tile for the middle bathroom. I just love looking at tiles and considering combinations and possiblities. The consultants really know their stuff, and are able to recommend combinations, and to give rough, ballpark estimates of cost for the project. Following my own advice, I paid a bit more attention to price this time around, and found a couple of possibilities that are very reasonable. We will probably tile around the tub to the ceiling, with some accents at eye level, rather than doing the walls around the whole room. We'll retile the floor and get a new tub, toilet, and probably a pedestal sink, as well as new lighting and medicine cabinet/mirror. And of course, the plumbing.

So I'll call the contractor this week, and get going on the plans, estimates and schedules.

Good thing I like this stuff...

Hokie Healing Wrapup

Go see Mosaic and Gina (and probably their other links) for great pics, video, and a story that will touch your heart.

Back on Blossom Street

I can’t spend as much time reading as I would like. So most of my reading is non-fiction, work-related or spiritual. I listen to novels (as well as non-fiction and biography genres) on my iPod while commuting and traveling, and as a bedtime treat as I’m drifting off. (It reminds me of my Dad reading bedtime stories when I was little.)

I was given the opportunity to review Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber. I was familiar with her name, and knew that she categorizes herself as a romance writer, but had never read or listened to her work. As I looked for information on the book, I discovered that it is the third in a series of “knitting novels” by the author who has written 120 books with several scheduled for release in the upcoming months.

I’m not a big “romance” reader. But I do enjoy reading and listening to stories about women and their friendships, relationships, interactions and lives. I’m a great fan of Anne Rivers Siddons, who I wouldn’t categorize as a “romance” writer. I’ve discovered that the genre has expanded and that current novels don’t follow the traditional patterns of romances. (There are no Fabios in these books!)

Not having read The Shop on Blossom Street and A Good Yarn, the previous two books in the series, I ordered them for my iPod, and listened to them abridged, which were the only versions available (not a great fan of "abridged" but you take what you can get...). I became familiar with the basic characters and back-stories. You don’t have to read these first, because Debbie (may I call you Debbie?) brings you up to speed in the current book; however I think the previous books enrichen the story, and they’re fun, quick "reads."

Back on Blossom Street is the tale of a group of women and their friends and families. Lydia owns the shop “A Good Yarn”; her sister Margaret helps run the store, Alix- introduced in the previous books, is a young woman with a troubled past who has found her way (and a good man); Susannah owns a flower shop, "Susannah’s Garden", and hires Collette, a rather mysterious newcomer to town who has experienced tragedy and disappointment and has challenges to face. The focus drawing the story and characters together is the local yarn shop, where they gather for class to knit “prayer shawls,” each with a specific reason for knitting hers. The story progresses with crises, conflicts and resolutions—and through it all, knitting and the friendship of the knitters maintains the thread. (Yes, you may laugh weakly.) Characters from the previous two books are reintroduced, giving promise of new books in the series to come.

There are a couple of bonuses in the book. Debbie includes actual prayer shawl knitting patterns for beginning and more advanced knitters. What an unexpected pleasure! I plan to knit Alix's prayer shawl which is a lacy, intermediate pattern. (Hmmm-- I seem to remember purchasing some forest green laceweight at MS&W... Hmmmm)

Reading this book, and listening to its predecessors brings to mind my own “LYSs” in my two homes—Alexandria and Blacksburg. The remarkable women I’ve met in these wonderful oases of caring and creativity, with their myriad life stories and experiences are in themselves rich novels-in-waiting. (Probably won’t happen—I don’t have Debbie’s gift. So just read my blog and follow the links to theirs.)

Is Back to Blossom Street “GREAT literature” in contention for the GREAT American novel?” You know the answer.

Is it GREAT fun, a GREAT story of women’s friendship and a GREAT beach or bathtub read? It surely is.

Will I continue to follow the women of “The Shop?” You Betcha.

Debbie just released another new book. The title? Susannah’s Garden. Sound familiar?

Sloooouououuurrrrrp!!!!!

That’s the sound of me allowing myself to be sucked into another series.

And looking forward to it!

Hey-- It's Hot Out There!

Out camping with the Girl Scouts, that is...

I did the First Aider thing with a really great group of girls. And it was hot. Dripping hot. I can hardly breathe because the air is so thick hot.

It happens on this day EVERY year!

It all turned out all right-- no catastrophes, and I actually got some sleep last night.

I also got some knitting done on the Leaf & Tendril sock. I hadn't been able to knit for a week, so I was a Happy Nurse.

I really enjoy being with the girls, and spending time with women who share my belief that we are contributing to the best hope for another generation of strong women who will change the world.

Tomorrow-- a review of "What I've Been Reading."

Freedom is Not Free

The price I paid for being able escape to Blacksburg = concentrated work for a major chunk of this week.

77 hours in 7 days. Not complaining-- I'm the one who scheduled this.

But I'm pretty tuckered out.

Good thing I like this stuff...

Tomorrow= Camping with the Girl Scouts.

Wow—What a Weekend

It included several of my favorite things-- VT Hokies, Knitting and Knitters, and Baseball.

Friday:
I left work at 8:30 p.m. on Friday and made it to Blacksburg in 4 hours 10 minutes. Yes, I know….

Saturday aka Hokie Healing Day:

I woke up Saturday, got my stuff together (Chibi's, scissors, ibuprofen...) and went to Starbucks since I won't be back for awhile and didn’t want to open a new can of coffee. I noticed activity at Mosaic, and saw the crew, Gina, Sandy, Mimi, Belinda, Debbie and others loading up squares, silent auction items, goodie bags, so lent a hand take stuff to the VT Alumni center.

What a time we had!!!

Gina and her crew did a really great job setting things up. We sort of spontaneously made little work groups, and it all came together.
There was coffee-- Hurrah!!! and cookies, sandwiches, barbecue (from Top of The Stairs). YUM!!!

The goodie bags were great fun-- I wish I'd taken a picture of mine. It had a tube of Bioque cleanser and little samples of all the products to make us beautiful, a packet of coffee from Starbuck's, a Red Bull, yarn (mine was Elsebeth Lavold silk and wool in a really pretty golden tweed), "naked" yarn and Kool-Aid in Hokie colors to try one's hand at dyeing, coupons for $$ off at Firehouse Pizza and a free pass to the health club, and best of all, a 25% coupon off yarn at Mosaic. And there was probably more that I can't remember right now.

The silent auction was a kick, too. There were some amazing items-- a full set of full-sized Bioque products, numerous autographed knitting pattern books (I got one by Debbie Bliss and the "no sheep for you" book that I'd been eyeballing), some lovely Lantern Moon bags and needle cases, a Hanne Falkenberg shawl that I drooled over but forced myself to resist, and so on. There were also a bunch of door prizes. I won a gift card to the nail shop across from Mosaic which I gave to Suzanne who's going to be in a wedding next month.

Look at all these squares—Before

And After.
Go to the Mosaic site for lots more pictures.
I just had to get a picture of Debbie and me in our Hokies United t-shirts. Over 115,000 have been sold-- and if you want one, you'd better order soon...




We finished 16 of the quilts. People took the rest of the 32 home to finish, and took additional squares to make more quilts.

It was really neat to see some of my squares sewn in with others for this wonderful project. Gina had hoped for 2000 squares. They received over 6000 from all the states and something like 16 countries!

I thought about all the different knitters and crocheters who had contributed—I wonder about their lives—do they have small children? Are they great-grandmothers? Do they have professional careers? Are they the service people that make our lives livable? Did they knit all day to fill their hours, or did they squeeze in a few minutes each night before going to sleep?

Every stitch is a prayer. I wonder how many millions of stitches, and how many thousands of hours went into the contributions for the Hokie Healing project.

I met some really neat people—and unfortunately, I can’t remember all the names. Some who have remained in my brain are Kathy and her mom Charlotte, Suzanne, and Nancy (who will be moving up this way soon). (If I met you and can't remember your name, please email me-- my mind is a terrible thing to lose.....)

I took a couple of the quilts back to the condo with me to crochet around the edges. It was nice, contemplative work, fueled by a couple of glasses of wine and some movies on the tube.

Sunday
I woke up, ready to finish the second border, but needing some coffee. So I was getting ready to throw on some jeans and head down to Starbuck’s, when I remembered that they had donated 1-pot bags of coffee grounds for the goodie bags! Hurrah!!!! So I put on a movie, drank coffee, and finished quilt 2.

I spent much of Sunday at Mosaic with Mimi, and got another border completed. It was lovely to just sit and chat, crochet and watch the shop activity.

When the shop closed, I went over to campus and walked around. They’re putting in a semi-permanent memorial in front of Burress Hall that echoes the spontaneous memorial placed there by the students.

I am continually impressed by the sensitivity and respect for the students displayed by the leadership of Virginia Tech. How thoughtful to include student representation on the committee that planned this, and how they honor not only the victims, but the students by echoing the design that evolved in the location on the drillfield that has come to be so significant for so many. This memorial will be in place until a more permanent one is constructed, and the Hokie stones will be offered to the families when the semi-permanent memorial is dismantled.

After I dried some tears, I headed over to PK’s for a brew (the cold, wet kind) and some buffalo chicken. I just love that place.

When I’m in Blacksburg, it's usually pretty busy, so I took the opportunity to just drive around. The road past our condo gets really rural, really fast. I enjoyed driving along the very winding road, up and down through the mountains. There were creeks, and horses, farms, interesting little cottages and large houses… and I kept thinking of how nice it would be to live here, and wondered what it would be like to drive on this road during a blizzard in the winter.

I completed about 1-1/2 borders, then to bed.

Monday:
I woke up and finished the second border without benefit of coffee. Rugged. I took the 2 bordered quilts in to Mosaic (with the Loopy Ewe-- who is on vacation...) and then headed north.

I had a very pleasant drive up I-81 and across I-66 to meet up with friends and co-workers for the Nationals' game against Detroit. Our Nurse Executive invited a whole bunch of us-- and we had a super time. The game itself was a bit sad until the 8th inning when the Nationals got in gear, not quite grasping the game from the jaws of defeat, but coming out looking rather respectable in a 9-8 loss.

I wore my new "Knitting for Healing" t-shirt.

And then I went home.