Posts Tagged by vacation
Realism is overrated
| 9 August 2013 | Posted by Ness under Knitting, Life |
We’re on the road tonight, headed south to take in a weekend with the families, and there’s been a lot to do. Clothes to pack, podcast segments to pre-record (that failed miserably- note to self: don’t try to record after 9 pm at night), logistics to plan, but most importantly, travel entertainment to decide upon.
I am notorious for overpacking entertainment. Clothes I’ve got down to a fine science, but entertainment is something else. I’m reminded of a ten-day vacation I took to the Dominican Republic a decade ago, where I packed 12 books. And in the days before ereaders, that was a heck of a lot of weight in my suitcase. I didn’t even finish one of them. As I said, notorious.
I will pack three projects to a two-hour knit night. I’ve been known to take two projects with me to work, despite the fact that I only have two quarter-hour breaks and exercise on my lunch hours. And on a trip to Calgary, I’ve taken three knitting projects and two books, and from time to time touched nothing but one of them.
So for me, the stress of travel packing is not in the clothing or sundry other items. It’s in what I take to entertain myself. But I’m trying to get better, or at least more realistic.
One sleeve extension. I can do that.
I have one more sleeve extension to do on my mom’s sweater, so that’s going in the car with me tonight and I’ll work on it until the light fails. With any luck, I can get that done, and leave that in Calgary with her. I am bringing the Noro tunic, as I’m on the back almost up to the shoulders, and it’s so much fun. I’m also bringing the takhli and Russian spindles, and associated fibres. And a sock. Oh, and the tapestry. And the laptop, because I have a podcast to record. And my travel spindle. And the library book on fitted knits.
Seven projects, a book, and a podcast for 48 hours away from home? I think that’s very realistic.
Vicarious vacation
| 27 July 2013 | Posted by Ness under Knitting, Life |
My parents returned from Scotland and Denmark last week, and through the magic of digital photography, I was able to have a mini-virtual-vacation with them. Or maybe it’s fairer to say that they know how fibre-obsessed I am, and took photos that they knew I would enjoy. I’m really looking forward to going down in a few weeks to see all the rest! But in the meantime, why don’t we just go on a bit of a fibre break. First up, Scottish sheep!
“What’re you doing there, silly tourists?”
I know these guys. Scottish Blackface, unless I miss my guess. Bane of my Level 1 existence, but hardy and ideally suited to the climate and forage available. But so adorable!
“Food is more important than picture-taking tourists.”
I think there are two breeds in this picture. A quick flip through The Bible makes me think the littler ones with black faces are some kind of Down breed, and the larger ones with the bare white faces are Cheviot. Any thoughts from the Interweb? I’ll bring the book with me when we go to Calgary and see if I can make a better determination from more pictures. Yes, I am just looking for an excuse to look at sheep photos.
Next we traverse some salt water to the Danish island of Fanø, where my parents found yarn bombing and had to explain what it was to my aunt and uncle.
A pretty blue and orange railing.
It’s an international phenomenon. Do we have a secret handshake or something? Err… We as in, you know, not me, ever. 😉
A chicken. On a drain pipe.
Danish yarn bombers? I salute your creativity and whimsy.
And finally…
Truly, truly beautiful.
This rather beat-up old girl belonged to Ingeborg Leonhard Andersen, who was my great-grandmother. I can’t possibly describe the feeling I got in my stomach knowing that across a continent and an ocean, there is a wheel with family history. My parents took a whole series of photos, so I can see where there’s damage and what might be needed to fix it. It looks like a double-drive wheel, missing a treadle, footman, and with a few significant cracks in various places, but with a little TLC, I can totally see her spinning again. Some year, I’ll get my hands on her, and she and I will make some beautiful yarn.
Well, that was a wonderful vacation! Now to move on to Phase 3 of the Homework Home Stretch.
on Ravelry