Back to Travel and Knitting Content!

Yesterday we drove around part of the island. We could not believe how much construction is going on here. Greg's first trip here was in 1999 and mine was 2001. Back then property values were moderate. Now, the prices are comparable to Seattle prices. Incredible.

Here are my flamingo stripe toe-up socks. I like the striping.

As we travelled around the island we saw wild flamingo. What a coincidence! I should have taken a photo of my sock with the flamingo's in the background. Why didn't I think of that?

Here is one of Greg's topside photos of the flamingo's - his camera has quite a bit more power than my little point and shoot:

I decided to stay in the air-conditioned car - this is to give perspective of how close we were to these guys.

Here is Greg taking some flamingo photos at a different location.

I also am close to finishing the body of Memories of Ukraine. Greg had already left for diving this morning so I had to rely on the mirror and very bad lighting in the room. You get the idea. I am not that thrilled with how it is looking - needless to say it makes me look larger than I really am. No clothing should do that - especially something that takes hours to create. But....I'm hoping that once the linen is washed and it gets softer, that it will look better. Either that or I'll need to go on a diet and that is at the very bottom of my 'To Do' list!

Let me make a comment about bodies and weight. I was a bit in a tizzy about coming to bikini island because I've put on about 8 extra pounds since our last trip here. I had to buy some new bathing suits to cover up my rolls. I come here and I just love how the europeans are so *comfortable* in their skin. They wear bikini's with their tummies hanging out. I just love that. Now I would be WAY too self conscious to do such a thing but I can learn to love my body more/better because....so what? Truly it is what is on the inside, not the outside. I wish Americans and American culture taught women to love their bodies, no matter the color, the shape, the condition. It seems the opposite - we are taught to hate our bodies and we put WAY too much focus on this issue and it doesn't deserve the time and attention we give it. So on to unconditional love....

Chase is doing well at Trish's house. The kids are NOT feeding him any human food and he's on a 3 meal a day diet to not overtax his old pancreas. Trish said he was so excited when they came to pick him up yesterday. He ran out of his kennel over to them, ran back to the kennel and back out again. His little trip to the hospital was a costly little adventure and he's worth every penny and more. Can't put a price on unconditional love.

Chase is coming home!

I just checked my email after having dinner at a quaint Parisian bistro here on the island called Bistro de Paris.

I got good, no GREAT, news. Chase is ready to go home!!!!

The doctor told my sister, Trish, that Chase is eating and turning circles. Any of you that have met him know about his circle turning. That is awesome news! Quite honestly I'm sitting in this small internet room with no air conditioning, crying by myself. The good thing is these are happy tears. Tears of relief.

He is wearing a pain patch, similar to a nicotine patch, on his belly which delivers a constant flow of pain meds. This is a good thing. Then he has an appointment on Friday with my regular vet, who is awesome, Dr. Karen Konz at Maple Leaf Pet Corner.

I come home somewhere around 5pm Saturday night. My friend Jamie will be picking me up. She is so cute. In her email she said something like "I will pick you up at the airport and we will go straight to Chase". She has taken care of Chase and Beanie for part of the time when we went to South Afric and she, too, has become quite attached to the pair(I think of Chase and Beanie - "like peas and carrots" from Forrest Gump).

So...I'm relieved. I'm exhausted. I went sorkeling this afternoon and it felt wonderful. I was very *present* and it really was uplifting. I got to see a really cool eel and this pair of French Angels actually came up to me. I wanted to think they were sending me positive vibes but I think they were just looking for food - a lot like Chase, when I think about it.

On knitting related news, I am almost done with the body of the Memories of Ukraine. I haven't done anything further on the Pomatomus socks. I did start a toe up sock in the Lorna's Laces Flamingo Stripe - very cute and very quick to knit. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

Again...Thank you all for your support. It has made all the difference to me. My Chase thanks you too. He sounds more like himself.

The funny thing the doctor said is that Yorkies are notorious for being finicky eaters. Y'all know that is not like Chase, huh? The only thing is he will have STRICT instructions for what he can/cannot eat. So all you Aunties out there - you will have to contain yourselves, no matter how pitiful he looks at you. His life depends on it!

Few people truly understand what animals do for humans. Some people would say "its just a dog" but you all understand my level of fear because dogs/animals are not just an animal, they are members of our families.

Love you guys. I have a hard time conveying how much your comments/e-mails/thoughts and prayers have meant to me. Honestly all the sentiments, along with frantic knitting, have kept me going the past few days.

That is another wonderful thing. Knitting has brought a lot of us together and that is another thing to be thankful for.

I'm very grateful 1) to have met all of you and 2) that you share life's adventures with me and vice versa.

Have a great night!

Update on Chase

Chase continues to be in the animal hospital. He may be able to come home today.

He has canine pancreatitis and gallstones. The docs don't want to treat the gallstones at this point because they can reduce in size and when the move along, they can get stuck down the line sometimes requiring surgery. Given Chase's health at the moment, they are choosing to hopefully reduce the pancreatitis issue and then deal with the gallstones later.

Trish, Nicole and Connor visited him last night at the hospital and he was very happy to see them. That in itself brought me to tears knowing how much he liked their visit and is probably somewhat lonely in the hospital. I even got to talk to him on the phone. Trish said he stopped moving and pricked his ears up while I talked to him.

I was looking into alternate ways to get home earlier if his condition warranted me to get home ASAP. We came to Bonaire on Continental Airlines and they only fly out of here on Saturday and Sunday. I had lost my chance on Sunday to get out of here. I looked at purchasing a new, one-way ticket home on another carrier which would cost around $1500 but luckily the doc said that Chase is in no way in critical condition. He is stable but in a fair amount of pain. They have him on pain meds and he's not too interested in food - only the really good treats, according to the attending doctor. Sounds like Chase, doesn't it?

From what I have read on the internet about this canine pancreatitis, it can be bad or it can be ok. I'm praying it can be managed with diet, but Chase is almost 13 years old. In many cases it is caused by a high fat diet. That is why I'm so insistent about not giving the dogs human food. We currently feed Chase and Beanie Canidae Platinum wet and dry. So...I don't know if that is the cause or not. Trish will tell the docs the details and get details on what he should be fed.

Trish said Beanie has been out of sorts without Chase. The first night he wouldn't stop crying and she couldn't figure out what was wrong. Trish finally realized that Beanie was lonely and she brought him up to her bedroom at 1am and then he calmed down enough to sleep. He continues to look for Chase.

I thank all of you for the positive thoughts and well wishes. It has been a tough go the past couple days for me. I had a migraine yesterday and I'm so thankful for the prescription drugs they have now to relieve the symptoms once they start. I was not surprised one came on. I was pretty stressed out.

My sister Trish told me via email today that the lesson in this is to continue to live in the moment and how much of a challenge that can be. I'm in a paradise and I can't or couldn't enjoy it at all. I couldn't eat or sleep.

Last night we had a wonderful dinner oceanside and today Greg took a break from diving so we could spend the day together. We drove around the island and saw some cool stuff. I really needed some dedicated Greg and Naomi time.

It is true. Live for the moment because that is all we truly have. Easier said than done.

I love my boys(my dogs) so much. In the absence of human children, these are my kids and when they aren't feeling well, it is hard to enjoy the moment. Chase, my happy go lucky, always on the hunt for food, Yorkie who doesn't want to eat right now, would want us to have fun.

As soon as I wrote being in the moment, my thinking mind says "Yeah...but he's in a hospital all alone and he doesn't have him mom to comfort him and.." blah blah blah.

There you have it: The struggle between the thinking mind and just *being in the moment*.

Now that is a challenge most of us could benefit from...being more in the moment!!

Thanks, Chase, for the reminder in being in the present moment!

Chase is in the Hospital!!

Last night at midnight our time I got a call from my sister Trish who is caring for our "two boys", Chase and Beanie. I was in a deep sleep and when the phone rang I was fully aware that a call to us in the Carribbean in the middle of the night was not going to be good news.

The first thing she says to me is "Don't worry". I'm like, uh yeah right. Anyone that knows me knows I'm a worrier.

Chase, my/our Yorkshire Terrier, was admitted to the emergency animal hospital last night. He is currently on IV fluids/pain meds. Before we left he was a bit under the weather but we suspected the flu because he got better. Then a couple days after we got here I got an email from Trish saying he was sick but was feeling better. Trish knew that something was very wrong when she offerred him food and he walked away. Those of you that know Chase, if he walked away from food, you know something was wrong.



She called our regular vet and she suggested she wait to see how he was doing in the morning. Trish could tell he was in pain so she decided to admit him last night at the emergency animal hospital.



We talked to the doctor at the emergency hospital last night(at $4 per minute!) and she said they don't know what is wrong. He's on pain meds so he isn't in pain. They did an ultrasound and the liver was enlarged but the blood test indicated he was in normal to high normal range. She thought possibly it could be something going on with the pancreas or maybe a tumur of some sort. She was busy with some other animal emergency and she would continue testing when she was done caring for the other, more critical patient.



My baby is in the hospital and I'm thousands of miles away. I can't do anything whether I am there or here but it feels really hard being so far from home.

The particular more direct flights home only run once a week on Saturday. I'm anxiously awaiting news to see if I need to make arrangements to come home early.

It is so hard waiting, waiting, waiting.



The other logistical challenge is that while I'm checking mail, etc. I can't be in the room waiting for the call because the wireless connection is in another building. I figure she won't call until after 8am Seattle time which is 11am our time.

I just hope she has some news, some idea as to what is wrong with Chase.



I have photos of Chase on my laptop so I'll post a few now before I head back to the room. Hopefully I'll get a call soon.

This is typical Chase - looking happy, like he is smiling on my friend Jamie's lap.

Here he is relaxing with Greg.

Here he is with Beanie and Stipulation - my Schacht Matchless DT - while it was still in the box.

This challenge is really, really hard. I would appreciate any healing vibes you can send to Chase. He'll really appreciate the thoughts and prayers. He's almost 13. I can't imagine life without him. He has been with me for a large part of my adult life. He's my "baby Chase".

Texas size via Argentina via Bonaire!

We ate at a place called Casablanca tonight. It is an Argentinian restaurant right on the main inland road near Kralendijk.

We ordered the Mixed Grill for TWO. This is what we got. Mind you, this is for two people, supposedly!

When we were waiting for our food to be delivered we looked over at this table that had about 6 people and they ordered this as well. We said that that must be for 6 people. Surely this could NOT be what we were going to receive? Well by god, it was.

This cute Dutch mom and daughter sitting next to us were as incredulous as we were. We offered them some of our grill but they didn't take us up on it.

Here is another view of us with our huge Texas size portions!


How could two people manage to eat all that meat? There is no way. We took the leftovers home with us to have for the next two days for lunch! We have a refrigerator and we'll go into town to get some bread to make sandwhiches. Greg's brother Mike and his wife(my good friend) Renee' have travelled with us to Bonaire, Fiji, Tahiti and South Africa. This is a meal they could sink their teeth into and we really needed them last night! There was plenty for them as well.

As is the case at most of the places we eat dinner, there are local dogs that stand outside the restaurant in full view of the patrons enjoying their meals. Now if Greg were not with me, all of those dogs would be getting some treats from Mama Naomi. Can't handle the pitiful looks of those dogs looking up at me, pleading for something to eat!

There are lots of iguana's in these parts. We got to see some climbing the trees in the afternoon and here is the "Where's Waldo?" of iguana watching.

I haven't posted any photos of the place we are staying. It is called the Plaza Resort Bonaire.

This is the walkway from the main reception building down to our room.

I leave this post with an underwater photo. I love these blue spotted flounder. Mind you as youngsters they are not flat like this. As they mature their eyes develop with their bodies to be able to be flat against the ocean floor. Isn't that amazing?

Even More Bonaire

I heard from Melinda that Seattle is experiencing some very hot weather. I told her that I leave town and it heats up. I go all the way down to the Netherland Antilles and I could have just stayed home! Just kidding.

It has been much muggier this trip. We have never come this late in the year - so we didn't get to experience this much humidity. It is still lovely here but we are thankful for air conditioning. Last night making the just over one mile walk "home" from town...it was h-h-hot. When we walk into our room, we take a big sigh of relief!

I just did a very cursory review of some of Greg's pictures from yesterday so I can share something of what is below the waters here. Yesterday just as thedive boat was arriving at the dive site, a huge pod of dolphins were playing quite close. They all jumped into the water sans diving gear so they could see them before they sped off. Greg said these dolphins were the biggest he has ever seen and that they were playing within 5 feet of the divers. He als said he heard them "talking" in their sqeak speak. I had the pleasure of hearing dolphin talk in Fiji but didn't actually get to get close to the dolphins.

Back to the photos:

Now the knitting content. Here is the Memories of Ukraine. I am making progress. It looks kind of funky at this point. The body will be much longer(I try to stay age appropriate! ) and it will have long sleeves.


Tomorrow(and Sunday) I will be missing out on the first Jean Wong class sponsored by Madrona Fiber Arts. When I get back I'll have my hands full with the first two projects - a round neck vest (project 1) and a top down sweater(project 2). The Sunday I get back Melinda will help me get up to speed. Thank you so much Melinda!!

I have not worked on my Kauni cardi in quite some time. Check out Melinda's blog for her progress. Her sweater is amazing and so well constructed. Go quit your job girl and teach!

As you may recall, Ruth Sorenson is the designer of the Kauni cardi. If you have not checked her blog in some time, you should go here to see her latest design. It is truly amazing!!! She uses the striping of the Kauni yarn in such inventive, innovative designs. Go check it out!

More Bonaire

For the past couple days I was using the computers here at the hotel for internet access. Then I decided to ask if they have wireless and they do! So I can load pics to the blog.

Here is Greg at the TSA/Security station at Seatac. He always gets tagged because of the equipment he carries. They are like...what in the hell is all this funky gadgetry. Then the security guy that you see in the photo below - man on the right... he was a super chatterbox. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!!!!

Don't you just love the white gloves??

As we were walking back from town yesterday we came upon this beautiful plant.

Next is a beautiful sunset. We enjoyed dinner at a resort/hotel just down the street from where we are staying. We love being able to eat dinner right on the water. It is a lovely way to have a meal! They make the best gazpacho!

Now on to knitting related content.

Here are the Pomatomus socks looking out at the view from our room.

Here is the Memories of Ukraine made from Euroflax in French Blue. This is a top down sweater that looks kind of funky in this photo. I am just past the armholes, now knitting the body. I have to knit 14.5 inches. It is getting a bit tedious at the moment. Thanks to Michale, I downloaded some audiobooks on the iPod so I can listen to books 11 and 12 of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. This way I can "read" and knit at the same time!

One more Bonaire related photo. I took this picture this morning as Greg was going "off to work". Since his official last day of work at Boeing is June 30, underwater photography will be one of his "jobs" in retirement! Don't forget to check his website! He won't post anything of this trip until he gets back. He's seen a lot of fun things - seahorse, eel, rays, turtles, filefish, etc.


So far the hightlight of my snorkeling was a french angel. So adorable. The last time we were here we saw this pair of french angel's and I fell in love with them. I even saw an eel - a small one.

I best be off to enjoy more of my vacation. I can't believe it is Thursday already!!

Thanks for all the well wishes on my last post. I appreciate it!

Bonaire!

I'm here!

It is great here. The weather is hotter than I remember but it is relaxing. It has been nice to get up when I want, nap when I want, etc. I've still been trying to get over my cold but it is hanging on like the cloud following Pigpen(y'all do know who Pigpen is, don't you?).

My mind has been weighed down a bit-affecting my vacation in a small but significant way.

I went to the doctor two days before leaving for our trip and got some unsettling news. I went in for this annoying rash on my side and just wanted to make sure that being in salt water was ok. Yes, its fine. Don't put anything on it - no cortisone, no nothing. It will go away on its own - it started with an allergy from the metal on my work badge that just gets aggravated when I'm stressed out. It is doing much better here! I guess I better not go back to work! :)

I just happened to ask him(since he is sort of like a friend of mine) what is this on my cheek at the end of the appointment? Its been there for about 6-8 months and it doesn't seem to be going away. Is it a clogged pore or something?

He took a look, looked at it again and looked at it again. He sat back and said "basal cell carcinoma". I'm like what?? He said "yes, skin cancer. BUT! I want you to get a second opinion. If it is basal cell, it is no big deal and if it isn't, it is no big deal. Really it is no big deal".

I was sitting there, mind reeling. How could any type of cancer be no big deal?

My dad died of stomach cancer, my sister of pancreatic and my niece has leukemia. The cancer word is very scary to me and now the word was being applied to me!

I was prepared to enjoy my vacation laying on the beach, taking in the sun. Now I've been wearing 70 sunscreen and laying low in our room or in the shade. I'm a bit afraid of spending any huge amounts of time in the sun at this point. It has definitely changed how I spend my sunny vacations, no doubt about it.

I go in for the second opinion when I get back. I'm sure I'm fine.

On to what I've been knitting!

I've been working on my Euroflax linen sweater. I actually don't find the linen hard on my hands at all. I'm enjoying it! Pattern is from The Natural Knitter called Memories of Ukraine. Its going along great. It is a top down sweater. I love top down designs mostly because I don't like finishing but...I'm sure once I'm done with the Jean Wong class I'll feel very differently about finishing.

I also started some Pomatomus socks out of Fleece artist merino wool in a light pink. So cute. I've got to figure out how to load photos on the computers here so I can show you how cute they are!!

Usually on these types of vacations I don't get to take a lot of stuff because Greg has to take his diving and all his undewater photography equipment. He uses some of my baggage allotment to bring all he needs. Since he's coming home a week later than I am, he had to be more deliberate and thoughtful in his packing. This meant I could bring all the stuff I wanted to. So I brought all the different knitting I might want to do in two weeks.

The day before we left I stopped by Weaving Works on my way home. I picked up some Lorna's Laces Flamingo Stripe(part of the proceeds go to breast cancer research). I thought about buying some from Karen about a week and a half ago but I figured I didn't need any more sock yarn. Then this skin thing happened and when I saw it at Weaving Works, I just had to have it. Karen has a really good price on it. Buy the yarn here.

I figured if I have this skin cancer, I'll be a cancer survivor.

It is weird to say that. I just need to keep in mind that I have to get the diagnosis confirmed, then get it removed. It just looks like a small blemish/pimple that is going to come out but hasn't.

If you have any health related things you have been dragging your feet on getting them checked, please make your appointment today.

Gotta go enjoy the sun...from afar!

Mermaid Done!

Mermaid is all blocked and ready for the trip on Friday. YES!

Here are some quicky photos for you to see the finished product!

Ellen and Amy have some great blog entries about our little tour of local yarn shops on Friday. I'm in a bit of a rush so I can't go into full details about our fun day. It was a marathon day - 12 hours of shopping. We were definitely tuckered out at the end of the day!

I had two favorite shop patterns. First is Ellen's at Village Yarn and Tea. Here she is with her shawl. Head over to VY&T for Suri Blue Yarn (It's a 50% suri alpaca, 50% blue face leicester blend in laceweight and 660 yards) by Fleece Artist. You may have to wait for this yarn to come in - it was such a success that the yarn went like hotcakes. I believe it went so quickly because of the beautiful wrap Ellen designed.

My other favorite pattern was for a tea cozy from Churchmouse Yarn and Tea. I fell in LOVE with this store. I really did. The pattern for the cozy was done in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Heavyweight. I bought the yarn for that pattern. So cute.

My big purchase of the day was I bought some quivuit at Churchmouse. One skein of pure luxury. This will be a black lacy scarf that I will treasure the rest of my life!

Off I go. The house is a mess. Always a mess right before a trip. There are clean, but unfolded clothes, on the bed, travel size things on the bathroom countertop, luggage, fins, snorkels, masks, wetsuits, basically, shit everywhere. Ooops!

I told Ellen and Amy I'm TRYING to clean up my mouth. Trying is the operative word here. I'm giving it my best. Really I am.

Mermaid Wrap

I am sitting here trying to decide what to title this post and it comes to me. It is perfect and I hadn't realized it. This is why *mermaid* is so fitting.

Next Friday G and I are heading to Bonaire for a two week vacation. Two weeks of scuba diving(hence how perfect the mermaid wrap is) and snorkeling with enough time for leasurely reading, knitting and just plain sleeping on the beach. During the day in May Bonaire's average high temperature is about 88 degrees.

In the evenings it does get a bit cooler - down to around 78 degrees or so. I'll need a wrap to keep me warm! I know most of you don't consider that temperature *cold*, but after you have been there a few days and you feel the ten degree drop, you may need a silk wrap! I know I will.
This will be my 3rd time there and G's 5th. G has gone a couple times without me for photography competitions.

A close up:
My goal is to have it finished by Saturday so I can block it and have it ready to travel by next Friday.

The Mermaid Wrap was designed by Ellen. This is made out of Hand Maiden Sea Silk. I can't remember the colourway. The pattern is free with a purchase of Sea Silk at Village Yarn and Tea. Don't forget to stop there this weekend during the Local Yarn Store tour!

Speaking of the LYS. Ellen(mermaid wrap Ellen) , Amy and I are going to do some touring around this coming Friday. I have never been to a lot of the south-end yarn shops. I hadn't decided to join in on the tour until a few days ago. I really have A LOT of fiber hanging around and I will be doing the Jean Wong Nihon Vogue Certification program beginning next month. How much other knitting will I be able to do while doing this year-long program? Not a whole hell of a lot. Ok, that means...Yeah, I'm in for the yarn tour!! :)

I'm really looking forward to going to Churchmouse. I've heard so much about it. I also *plan* on looking at the Socks That Rock that they supposedly just got in stock. Amy is doing this chevron scarf project and I feel that big Sheep's hook around my neck...that I must do it.

The long route to the chevron scarf was I followed Amy's blog entries on her color combinations(trials and tribulations) for this scarf. Then I went back to her entry dated March 20th and clicked on the various links and I was wowed by people's choice of colors and how wonderfully their scarves turned out. Check out this Flickr group for the scarves. You'll be inspired.

Then this leads me to my dilemma about travel. That hardest thing for me when getting ready for a trip is NOT what clothes to bring(although it can be a struggle). It is what knitting projects to bring. I'm always WAY TOO OPTIMISTIC. I think geez, I'll be gone for two whole weeks with no schedule, absolutely no structure. I think. I can do this, and this, and this, and this, and this.

Uh yeah.

I found another source of Kauni

A quick note about Kauni yarn. I know a lot of you are looking for it.

I found an Ebay storefront from the UK that carries it. They do not have the colourway used in the Ruth's Kauni Cardi sweater(colourway EQ) but if you want to experience Kauni, you can find it here. I have purchased from Janette before and she is very trustworthy and if I recall the shipping is pretty quick.

The shipping costs seem reasonable as well.

She probably will be getting more so just keep checking back.

May Monthly Knitting at my house

I haven't done a post in over a week! I don't know how time goes so quickly!

Once a month I invite some knitters/spinners/crafters over for a day of art, food and lots of laughter!

I came back from Atlanta Friday night with a souvenir - a sore throat which has now turned into a nasty cold. This always happens to me when I am really warm weather and I go indoors and its freezing with air conditioning. Then you go outside to warm up and come back in and freeze. Never seems to fail that I get a cold in these conditions.

I got up a bit early Saturday(very, very tired!) to bathe Chase&Beanie, then off to Whole Foods. I love Whole Foods. I came home and before I knew it, my monthly knitting buddies started to arrive!

It was a smaller group this month.

Phyllis is always on time and is usually the first to arrive - right on the dot - 11:00! She is a knitter but right now she is concentrating on quilting - and hand applique at that! She finished appliqueing 3 squares!




As always there is a bounty of delicious, tasty treats. Here Ryan and Michale show how much joy they are getting from the food!

Ryan is Chase's new best friend. He just kept getting up on the couch(ssshhhhh we won't tell Greg!) because he just HAD to be next to her.

Doesn't he just look completely content?

TMK spun some beautiful tencel/merino. Since TMK is a master at woodworking, and tencel is derived from wood, we all agreed that she was doing a form of woodworking!

As always, blogless Michale(pronounced like Michelle) is a always getting so much done!

This is her Noni bag which is her FIRST felted project made out of Cascade 220 (sorry for the bad blowout photo): She also finished sock 1 for her dad. She and her dad are going to Egypt at the end of the month! How fun is that?

I don't have a picture of Karen and the basic black vest she was working on! You can visit her blog to see some of her progress on it. You should see her latest entry on Lorna's Laces Flamingo Stripe sock yarn. I think it would make an excellent stash builder item. Y'all know how much I love pink!

Melinda continued work on what I call "Ruth's Kauni Cardi". See her blog for more detail.

Speaking about Ruth Sorensen - the woman that designed this cardigan, go to her blog to look at the designs she is currently working on. She originally designed this cardigan to practice and play with the yarn to experiment with the color combinations. Don't be shy to leave her comments. She knows english and I'm sure she would love to get your feedback.

My goal for the day was to finish something for Dulaan. I knit a ZUD hat with Cascade Magnum. I just have to weave in the ends...

I also did some spinning on "Stippy". I moved from double drive to scotch tension. I'm more familiar with that and I like it. I feel like I have more control.

Ryan coined the name for my new Schact as "Stipulation". The story is that when I first suggested/hinted to Greg about buying the Schact, he was a bit wiggly and said that he would buy it as a birthday/anniversary gift but "there is a stipulation". I'm like "what the ??". He didn't want me leaving my wheel and all the associated fiber just sitting around downstairs in the living/family room areas. I'm like...is he serious? This is a gorgeous piece of woodworking. It matches all our maple cabinetry!

So he quickly back tracked and even told Ryan that he didn't say that. Then he said, well he did say it but he didn't mean it THAT way!. I'm like, didn't mean it what way? It is funny and somewhat cute what happens to him and his perspective when the house is filled with women!!

So at the last Ferals meeting Ryan coined her Stipulation and then Rebecca said "Stippy!". That is where the name Stippy comes from!

One last thing. We got into a conversation about type A personalities and how many of us would consider ourselves type A? Karen and I loved how Ryan said that our hobbies are not places for the need to accomplish. It is purely for enjoyment so if you don't finish something, you should not be hard on yourself.

I like that. Easy to say, hard to do!

Sightseeing in Atlanta

A nice way to start the day is to do a spa treatment. Especially if you are going to be doing a lot of walking. So Jamie and I started our day with a pedicure at Dass Salon and Spa. That was nice...sort of. I wasn't happy with the end result but that is ok. This happens. It doesn't happen very often but it does. The polish job was not up to par but...that is ok. There is grace in the universe.

Then we decided to head out and catch the MARTA to get to Centennial Olympic Park. Here is Jamie making sure we are going to get on the right train.

Here is a photo as we wait for the train - exciting stuff!

Our primary goal was to get to Centennial Olympic Park becuase they were having "Fiesta Atlanta" which was celebrating Cinco de Mayo and Latino culture. Here is one entrance to the festival:

Some of the many booths:

It was quite warm out so all the kids(and some adults) were playing in the fountains to cool off. Very similar to the fountain at the Seattle Center.

We enjoyed some good food and great music. When it got a bit hot out we decided to head back to catch the Marta back to Buckhead - the area of Atlanta that we are staying.

We got sidetracked and decided to go into the CNN center.

It is cool in there! Ok, it is not just the air-conditioning! We even ran into Anderson Cooper!

He is larger than life!

It was a fun day today. I enjoyed it immensely. We fit a lot into our day. It was a good mixture of walking and relaxation. The MARTA is very convenient and easy to use!

It felt good to get out and get some walking in today. I told Jamie as we were standing at a street corner waiting for the light to change that I felt like people should be talking a foreign language. Why would I say that?

Greg and I have only traveled outside the United States since we met in 2000-we go to places that english is not the first language so when I go somewhere it is usually not in the US of A.

I like US travel. I hope he and I do more of it. He always says US travel is for when we get *old* and it is harder to get around-we do so much more walking when we are in europe. He is right in that people just naturally do more walking in european countries. He's a funny guy. I got sort of side tracked....

I'm glad I got to see a tiny bit of Atlanta. The upcoming 5 days will be filled with technical learning. Honestly I'm really not looking forward to being cooped up in a classroom for 8+ hours a day. The class goes from 8:30-6.

The good thing about being in Atlanta? Is that I get to spend time with my friend Jamie. She's a real gem! Thanks Jamie for being a good travel buddy!

Hotlanta!

I'm here, in Atlanta, or Hotlanta as a lot of people call it.

Atlanta definitely has a different "feel". Yesterday it only got up to 73 degrees but it felt warmer. I have a challenge with preparing to come to a place like this. Its very warm outside but I come inside and I freeze. Most places the air is turned on just too damn high. HOT, c-c-cold, HOT, c-c-cold, HOT, c-c-cold.

The plane ride was uneventful. Same old, same old.

I did get a cool picture of Mt.Rainier though.

We are staying at the Westin Buckhead. Very nice rooms! I can live here for the next week.

I worked on the Angel Lace Shawl on the plane:

And here is the Mermaid Wrap designed by Ellen(who needs to update her blog!). You can get the pattern with a purchase of Hand Maiden Sea Silk at Village Yarn and Tea.

I purchased a big skein of Sea Silk in a very light green called Peridot at village but I decided to use a skein of Sea Silk that I had in my stash. I wanted to save the peridot I bought at Village for something else. Something that requires more yardage.

I miss my boys already! Greg said that Chase and Beanie were waiting for me at the top of the stairs all night last night. They'll have a long time to wait until Mama gets home!