Post from 11/13/12

This post is continually getting comments from a questionable source.  I'm resubmitting it today.

Next week, I'll be in the mountains, at 9700 feet, curled up in a nice chair, and... knitting, of course.  Making a (knitting) list and checking it twice:  Woolen pants, a scarf, Robert the bear, and two pairs of in-progress socks.  Actually all of the above are in-progress (on needles).  No lack of UFO's to choose from, so I'll fill a bag and work on as many as I can.  I can hear the silence of a tiny, almost deserted mining town, and the click of needles.  Meanwhile, I must report that I finished three projects over the weekend.  Only one to be viewed here:

I love the colors... and this is the first pair of socks that I used reinforcement thread in the heels.  Time will tell, however, I must admit that I don't have a problem with heels wearing out unless I use pure wool.  And these are not, so I normally wouldn't worry.  Should I be?

Yarn purchased at the Dale Shop at the train station in Bergen: Jawoll Color Superwashby Lang YarnsFingering / 4 ply
75% Wool, 18% Nylon, 7% Acrylic
206 yards / 50 grams (used 1.3 skeins)

Blankets for memories

I like baby blankets. The ONE I made for my daughter was really not babyish, but a wool, self woven improvised blanket, that turned out to be just the right size for a baby basket bed.  I tucked my baby in under a little larger than pillow size duvet, and held it in place with my woven blanket.  Toasty!

Twenty six years later, my granddaughter got her own beautifully knitted blanket, knitted by her grandma (farmor).  It's a soft, flexible beauty!

A second blanket was handed down.  It was made by my grandmother for my daughter, and now is part of the nightly ritual for her daughter.  My grandmother meant a lot to my daughter and me, and though she never knew her great great granddaughter, her great great granddaughter cuddles with her every night.  The fabric is very soft, and the kitty is always popular.

The kitty's back is on the other side.  I'm so glad these blankets are signed!

Tourist Bergen

Since 2006 I have landed in Bergen once or twice a year, often staying 3-4 weeks at a time. I've marked those occasions by finding Geocaches each time, and they have taken me places no tourist gets to see.
It was with great surprise and pleasure that I became a tourist with my friends. I planned out the big picture, where to be within the country, lodging, and transportation, but what turned out to be difficult was knowing what our bodies would take in the way of day to day sightseeing in cities. And Bergen... Dear Bergen, I had no idea how much can be done! I originally planned 3 days of sightseeing, and wondered how I would fill them, then one evening we were on a boat heading to Bergen to catch a train out, and I started getting messages. The train was cancelled. We had enjoyed beautiful summer temperatures followed by rain (think melting snow) and suddenly our plans were changed. The rail line had been severely damaged and we were "stuck" in Bergen an extra three days, or for the duration of my friends' stay (6 days total). Luckily we had a centrally located apartment, a ticket for half price museums, and an international music festival available. So we did it!
We visited uncovered Viking ships, a leprosy hospital, 19th century Bergen, fortresses from 800 hundred years ago, a knitting factory, Hanseatic dwellings, and fondled some yarn, too!
And, and, and it was sunny!
I would have had more photos if I hadn't dropped my camera in my tea.. But that's another story!

Delayed by Royalty

A gray day at the Newark airport, we look out the window at the activity at the gate.  No news about our flight. Who is surrounded by suits, dark glasses, and carries their own backpack?

24 hours later:  "Do you have this in a darker color?"

And across the street, on our way to the bus, a little stop in to see the interior of the Oslo Cathedral. 

Once upon a snarl

Two weeks ago, or was it three or four, Seemee brought a snag with her, with unkind words about her cat...

Just a little pull over here and...

A spin in the right direction there...

Are you sure this was a ball once?  Needs a community effort.!  And we are just the community!

What a tangled web we ...bring to knit nite!

Time machine!

I could use a time machine about now.

1. Where did the past five months go?
2. A crazy list of things to do in the next two weeks before I leave Norway. Things requested AND things I want to do and make. (My best planning is at 10 pm when I can't get out of the chair...)
3. Air travel: PLEASE beam me over 8 time zones!
4. Five knitting projects on the shelf!
5. Summer weather in Bergen. It could and does change!  Just yesterday, Linda shed her jacket for the first time, and when we left the restaurant after lunch she needed it, and more (like an umbrella) just for a moment. 
6. Lots of ideas for blog posts...  Here they come!
7. And let's slow down this afternoon with my granddaughter. Make it last (without the drama, of course). 

Picture of Rauma Finull at self-proclaimed largest yarn shop in Norway. Husfliden in basement floor of Glasmagasinet in Oslo.  

Shop Yarn Durango

A road trip with friends.
How can years go by?  We have such a great time...and vow we'll do it again, soon, then years go by.
It took a birthday to push us to the planning and it worked!  Laughter, talk, yarn touching, talk, yarn purchases, talk, Bed, Bath and Beyond, talk, eating, talk, singing, talk...a great day.

Thanks to Dee for her inspiration!  Hope she can go next time!