Sunday, August 24, 2014

Mountains

Her second mountain hike!  
This is Ulriken, one of the seven mountains that surround Bergen, and the highest.  It is closest to where we live, and 2110 feet high.  Papa climbs up the steep path every few weeks with his friends, and takes about 60 minutes to get to the top.  Here's J's first ascent with Papa, using 90 minutes, only 5 years old.  No problem!  It wasn't clear to me if they used the steep path, or the not so steep path, but they rode the aerial tram down.
Knitwear in August!  Grandma's contribution. 

Friday, August 22, 2014

Packing for Camp

Disclaimer:  This report is from early August.

Returning from Norway with a suitcase full of yarn, however, my next adventure before going home is in the woods of Maine, with 4 other knitters.  We are making our own retreat by spending 6 days in a cabin, with outings to area yarn shops and lobster shacks.
Pre-camp we drove through Massachusetts, and (lucky us) we found WEBS just off the route.  The "mecca" of all yarn shopping sucked us in.  Eyes glaze over, and ... WEBS, I can resist your temptations online, but put me in the shop, and the tactile takes over.  
Thinking I had succumbed to the devil in the form of wool, I had no idea that the following day Freeport, the mecca of outlet stores had THREE wonderful tempting yarn shops.  No seconds... And below you see the damage done.  (Click on the photo for a close up.)


We went to LL Bean where I found it easy to resist purchasing ANYTHING!  
Above you see purchases starting next to the WEBS bag:  Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Silk+, Rowan Natural Silk Aran (pink) with the pattern book below it, and Madeline Tosh merino light (red).  Only the Rowan has a pattern idea with it.  The others were pure sensory purchases.  Then there's the BABag on the left which was an essential purchase to get everything home (think carry-on), and the wonderful little project/goodie bag that K made for each of us.
Most of this didn't make it to camp but waited patiently in Portland for my return.  We were "traveling light"... which was a good thing since we were 5 knitters in one vehicle, and miles of shopping to go!!
Yarn shops in Freeport:  Grace Robinson and Company, Mother of Purl, and Casco Bay Fiber Company.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Yarn on the Plane

Second sock syndrome... Knitting without thinking!  I turned the heel and began knitting the insole when after a dozen or so rows I realized I was using the WRONG CHART!  THIS is what makes an 8 hour flight zip by.  I unraveled only the insole and left the heel decreases.  It worked (this time).

Catching up with the summer.  Where did the last month go?
Here are the same socks--finished!!
Sorry, kind of a crappy picture, of yummy brown tweed.  Lots of bits of black and beige, somehow looking not so black and beige.  The pattern is Cookie a's Twisted Flower, and these are my FIRST socks using Stroll Sock yarn.  "I love it!!!"  First of many, I hope.  Thanks, Marguerite for the tip off.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Fifth Birthday!

Doll cakes are a tradition... My grandmother was a master cake maker, and baker. (She had weekly standing orders for dozens of rolls:  Not uncommon to see her kitchen filled with 20-40 dozen rolls rising. But I digress...)  As the only grandchild for 18 years, my early birthday cakes were often barbie knock-off dolls planted in richly decorated cakes.  Back then, she shaped the cakes, and bought real dolls.  That was the '50's, and even when my daughter had her early birthdays, grandma was the go-to source in the '80's.
My daughter couldn't wait to try her hand... and with the help of correctly shaped pan, and all sizes of top-only dolls, she created a beauty!
It was really impressive.  I wish I could have caught the look my granddaughter had on her face when she first saw it.  It's one thing to see it in progress:

 But pretty impressive when finished.

There were two parties, and at the first one, no one dared to ask for cake!  Funny... it was just a curiosity.  The second party was only 4 and 5 year olds, and there was much speculation as to what the rest of the doll looked like, and "is it really cake" was thoroughly discussed.
They couldn't wait to cut into it, which was a good thing.  I'd hate to throw it all away!
The chocolate cupcakes were a huge hit and disappeared without discussion.
It was all "princesses and pink"!
 And the boys loved it!
 And the girls got to kiss the frog.  Lipstick is always a winner!



LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...