A Whiny Wednesday WIP

Since I have been away from home a week now, I’m feeling rather whiny and homesick.  However, one must look on the bright side and make the best of things as I am doing another road trip tomorrow to north of Regina to a reserve in order to visit their water plant.  I will try not to obsess about my little kitties at home being so lonely with no one to pat them and rub their tummies.  I miss them!!! Whine, whine, whine.  (I am now conveniently forgetting the cat sitter that visits them every day).

As always I have been knitting away on some of the 5 projects I brought with me.  There was of course a possibility I would have finished them all and run out, but so far I am well stocked.  Most of the work has been on the Yellowberry scarf, which is now around 40 inches long.  As I’m still on my first skein, I am slowing down on this as I plan to make the slouchy toque, then use the rest of that 2nd skein to see how long I can make the scarf.  And to make the pom-pom’s for the end.  I like the right side of the scarf:

 But I like the wrong side even better, the raised texture can be seen of the blueberry stitch:

I am also concentrating on my evening stockings which are coming along well:

The lovely hotel people are doing my laundry for me, can’t wait to get my clean pj’s back!  I’m trying a motel with kitchenette this week instead of the monastery.  So far microwave popcorn wins, as much as I liked my little room there.  I miss my bed, whine!!!  Sorry, that one slipped out.  I’ll do better now.

Winter Wonderland WIP Wednesday

Hello All!  And a big yawn!  I think the hibernation is setting in at a rapid pace, especially now that we’re covered in snow.  I do believe I could sleep all day sometimes.  Of course having to get up each morning at 5:30 am always ruins those plans!  I did take yesterday off in order to recover from taking my parents to the airport for their 1 am flight (yikes!) and get some things done.  Like watch Season 3 of Battlestar Galactica.  And make soup! 

I’ve been working furiously on the Buttonhole Scarf, especially as I had received the yarn required to complete it a little while ago.  The original balls were sold in 50 g weights, but all I could find online was 200g in one ball!  I left off doing the buttonholes for the middle portion of the scarf, but I’m back to doing them again.  The scarf is getting long, but its going to be longer, probably over 60 inches by the time I make the same number of buttonholes as I did on the beginning portion.  It is long enough now however to wrap around my neck as I knit, which pleases me to no end as the baby alpaca is like butta!

My travel project, the Noro hopefully knee high socks now have heels ( my first short -row heels, sniff).  The heels could be better, but I think I’ll get better the more of these I make.  And I did finally put the ball band back in the bag, and am happy to report that it is color #S92.  Whew.  That only took a month or so!

And for those parents who are hopefully now safely back in their tropical home, the weather forcast for this morning was for snow on the weekend, and a low of -25 oC.  Brrrr!!!!

Heaven Is in Fernie British Columbia

But its only been open since May 2008.  I didn’t think there was a yarn store in Fernie, so imagine my surprise to come upon Heaven.   My personal definition of a cool town is normally more than 2 bike shops and a yarn store, then throw in some good coffee shops, sushi, and a good burrito ( hello Moab!!).

Fernie seems to have everything needed for a great destination place with a ski hill, what seems to be many cross country ski paths, mountain biking, and a nice vibe.  The jury is still out on restaurants, I think I need to try some more!  Unfortunately buying my dream shack in Fernie is a bit out of the budget at the moment, but I do think a winter visit is in order to try out another season.  And since I regret passing up that pretty ball of variegated hand dyed yarn that would have made the most adorable ski toque ever (due to stash guilt) I may just have to go back. 

And just to prove my Mum has a knack with the hook as well as needles, she also sent along the lovely Mermaid Scarf, modeled here by myself as I drove the train out of the mine, loaded with coal.  At the Visitor Center.  Choo choo!

I’m really enjoying this scarf, its pretty, goes with all my coats due to the cream colour, and is warm due to the Classic Wool.  Thanks again Mum!

Let’s just say the bump back from vacation has been rather abrupt, and rather unpleasant.  Can I go back?