I am back from a lovely week-long vacation at the beautiful central California coast. Morro Bay, to be specific. I relaxed, sniffed the eucalyptus trees and did some knitting. Not so much as I supposed I would, but enough to make me happy and the Duncan puppy ticked.

We were set up in our traveling Roo trailer, enjoying mostly good weather and lots of good food. I found a new yarn shop in the little town of Atascadero (also home to one of California’s state hospitals) and added some sock yarn to the old stash. And in Cambria, I found a wonderul sock yarn from Wales. Gorgeous colorways. I can hardly wait to try them again.

Right now there is some trepidation in Larry Laredo, my true home. I had the toaster oven working, and the buzzer drives my little dog crazy with fear. Poor pooch; I don’t know what happened to him that may him so frightened of noises. He also doesn’t like the snap of campfires, so he spent a lot of time in Roo although he loves to check out the beach.

Even though Duncan doesn’t care for camp fires, I managed to have a couple, allowing me to cook two dinners. One was an old standby, hot dogs; the second was hamburgers cooked on a cast iron grill (because who knows what animal has been pooping and walking on the outdoor grills).

I ended the vacation working furiously on a sweater designed by Alice Starmore. I am truly in a groove with it, so it will remain my project of choice for now. Until something else captures my eye, of course.

Outside the evening sky is ablaze with a rainbow of colors, shooting up from the ground with a pop and a crack.

Meanwhile, inside the trailer, there is an air of panic as Duncan the Dog looks for safety, hoping the walls will swallow him up and keep him safe from the menace outside.

I think firework shows are pretty, but I hate them, too, because they are so hard on my dog. As he is poised to celebrate his 10th birthday, his hearing is still quite good (except when I tell him to do something), so the show petrifies him. I think it is over now, so maybe he’ll get some peace this evening.

On the knitting front, I have put aside the christening gown for the moment and have picked up a poncho pattern. I swear I want to finish a poncho before the trend is over. This one starts by knitting a collar using, sigh, garter stitch. Will it ever end? At least the yarn is colorful and it is only a small part of the overall project. Never mind that I am now knitting it for the second time because I messed up the first time I did it. It is looking much better now.

There is a real danger in reading about knitting on the Internet. I just found a new online yarn store, and some laceweight merino is calling to me. I don’t know if I can ignore it much longer. I guess I hear voices often! Time to up the meds, I think.

After hearing it crying out for attention, I picked up the christening robe underdress and finished the skirt. I’ve finished the waistline. And now, it is on to the bodice and sleeves. Thank goodness! I thought it would never end.

Now I can concentrate on some sock knitting. I’m halfway through a new pair for me, and I started the other half last night. I was working on it outside this evening, but I seem to have temporarily misplaced one of needles. So I’ll start another pair and look for the bashful little double point tomorrow when the light is better. And my eyes aren’t so tired.

I am so glad the weekend almost is here. With any luck, I’ll be blocking the christening shawl this weekend. It will be the first time I’ve ever blocked. So here’s hoping I can do it. I’ll be laying the garment out on a cardboard cutting board I got at a fabric store, then I’ll put the whole thing on my bed and hope that my dog doesn’t jump on it and mess the whole thing up.

Said dog is currently slumbering at the foot of my bed. He is making me sleepy, too, so I shall sign off now. And think of more brilliant things to write tomorrow.

I opened a kitchen cupboard in my home on wheels and suddenly a bottle of soy sauce flung itself out and on to the floor. Then it bounced, without breaking, to the carpet. Sometime in the melee, the lid came off and my carpet was soaked with the brown, spicy liquid. I picked it up, put it on the counter then rushed to the sink to dampen a paper towel, when it jumped off the counter and proceeded to spray the floor and counter. I cleaned up as best I could and yet still there is an air of soy sauce floating around the trailer. Makes me want to cook chicken, for some odd reason.

On the knitting front, it seems a certain ball of yarn was singing a false song. It didn’t work for the pattern I had in mind. So I have turned my back on it and choose another yarn with which to complete the shawl. The ball o’ yarn undoubtedly is feeling tremendous jealousy, but its time will come. As soon as I ponder on which pattern it will suit.

I finished something - a pair of socks for my mother. Made from yarn constructed with crab and shrimp shells. Amazing! They are a nice light weight, perfect for summer shoes. (My mother always wears socks. My tootsies, on the other foot, need air so I wear sandals sans socks when the weather permits. As it has of late, thank goodness.)

I worked on my garter stitch project, finally throwing it aside with some disgust when it seemed I got no closer to being done with it. It, like the first ball of yarn, is sulking from being cast aside. It, too, will recover once I pay attention to it.

I used my new yarn swift today. It proved so much better than the umbrella swift, so I’ll be using it as my regular tool. I want to wind lots of yarn right now, and have to hold myself back because I read it is better to store yarn unwound.. I’ll abide by that decision, joining the ball of yarn and the garter stitch project in whining that I can’t do what I want. The atmosphere around here isn’t good at all.

I’ve tried tro ignore it. I’ve been working diligently on the endless cobweb weight garter stitch 259-stitches-a-row project. But still the ball of laceweight wool is singing a song worthy of any old mythological siren.

I put it in a closet and it fell out. I put it in a sack with other Stitches purchases; it must have elbowed its way out of the bag, because there it was, staring me in the face. So I put it on my nightstand where it must be murmuring to me while I sleep, because i am about to cast on for a shawl. Once I head inside from sitting here in the beautiful night air.

Finally, spring has sprung in my little area of northern/central California. We got in the low 80’s today and should stay in the high 70’s through at least Thursday. Mother, Duncan and I celebrated by having a wee barbecue, with me preparing a lamb steak (I love lamb) and she a hamburger. Duncan got bits of both so he was in hog heaven.

Barbecue knitting consisted of a toe up sock for Mother. I have one done and am on the ribbing for the second. After the heel, I knit one or two inches of stockinette, then I go for 2X2 ribbing for the remainder of the sock. We like tight-fitting socks in this family. Then Mother (and older brother) will put the socks on in a different fashion than the rest of us — they turn them inside out so the flat knit is against their feet and the bumpy side is outside. They are the only two people I know who wear their socks this way. What’s more, they must be built backwards because their noses run and their feet smell. (Hee hee hee!)

I even cracked open a bottle of champagne, which is one of the few alcohol-based drinks I like. I usually stick with diet Coke, to which I am addicted.

I did work on the garter stitch project, listening to a true crime audio book. Here is a short book report — nutty person meets nuttier person with no good coming of it. I sometimes prefer to listen while I knit, either music or a book, rather than watch TV. I had a friend who didn’t like audio books because she felt like she was being read to. I have no such compunctions.

The time change has happened and the evening will be short, but I still plan on casting on for the shawl today. Darn that ball of yarn — it is sitting there looking ready for the needles, begging to be made into a Tina shawl by Fiddlesticks. The colorway is dark, but having seen some samples of Orenburg shawls knit with dark yarn, I am no longer afraid o?f lace that isn’t knit in a pastel or off-white. Truth to tell, I am a bit tired of pastels, God forgive me. Have I spoken heresy?

I am a writer by profession, for a large company. So sometimes at the end of the day, I can’t compose another thing or I’d burst. That’s my excuse for taking a break from my blog and I am sticking to it.

My world of knitting is rather boring at the moment. I am tackling the underdress of a christening gown found in the Heirloon Knitting book. I need the skirt of said underdress to measure 26 inches. That means endless rows of garter stitch on size 0 needles at 259 stitches per row. With cobweb weight yarn, no less. I have my work cut out for me.

I expect the gown will be wonderful once I’ve completed it. There’s nobody in my family or among my friends who is expecting, so I guess the gown will have to go on a doll. Or teddy bear, as I really don’t want a baby doll. But a teddy bear is okay.

I have pretty good news on the knitting gifts front. My scarf was a success, as were two of the three pair of socks I sent out. One pair came back because I wrote the wrong address on it (how dumb); it is scheduled to go out again shortly. So I was happy that my hobby made others happy.  (I’m off the clock, so have abandoned any writing skills I possess.)

I am breaking up the garter stitch knitting with some more socks. After I knit so many pair one after another, I thought it would a while before I knit another pair. They really are addictive kniiting, though, and perfect conference call knitting.

I thought after Stitches I’d join other knitting bloggers and just knit from my stash. I can’t do that right away though, because I ended up with a $10 gift certificate from a vendor at the market. When I bought a new knitting bag I had some sock yarn and needles in it and although I told the guy who rang up my purchases about the innards, he didn’t see them and I didn’t look at the bill when I was signing it. So I rectified the mistake by sending them a check, and they returned an invoice with a note of thanks and the gift certificate. Which was so very nice. And completely unexpected because I reaally think honesty is its own reward. (Trite but true.) Now I have to figure out how to spend it. Which means it is time to end this blog entry and do some shopping!

It’s a classic — A Man for All Seasons. The acting, the writing, the cinematography — all superb in my opinion. It is mesmerizing, as one simple man puts everything on the line to stand for principals. It appeals to my sense of honor as well as my hope that my character would be as strong in the same type of circumstances.

It also is a perfect accompaniment for sock knitting. Sock knitting is about all I can handle right now after another day of shopping. Not for things knitting, but for purses and plates and provisions. I found me a purse with fringe all around it. It struck my fancy as soon as I saw it, even though it is suede and not too springy. But it has a shape I like, the color is pleasing and the trim is more refined than anything I’ve seen lately. Oh yes, it was on sale! So the onerous task of purse shopping, which I find extremely difficult and taxing, is at an end. For now. Until I decide I need another one.

Duncan is snoring on the couch beside me. He must have had a hard couple of days himself. He’ll most likely wake when I start cooking my taco dinner that uses some of the provisions purchased today. I can hardly wait to eat them!

I took some time this morning to put a few of my knitting purchases in Ziploc freezer bags so when I’m ready to use them for a project, the yarn will be in one spot. What a concept! But given that I like to go through my stash regularly to check out all the goodies, this simple task will eventually be a salvation for the stash and my sanity.

I just don’t know what project to work on once I’ve finished this sock. I’ve so many started and the new yarn I acquired is calling to me. What to do, what to do! I think I’ll pay more attention to my Aran sweater because I really am fond of the color and the pattern. Then again, I might start something new.

According to the forecast tomorrow, I should have plenty of time to knit. We’re in for more rain, which will help the tulips and daffodils that I planted earlier in the year. What really helped them is my replanting them right side up. I don’t know what I did, but I seem to have fixed it.  Maybe now I’ll have spring flowers soon.

I keep drifting off while writing this post, so will end it now, assuming that anyone reading it is suffering the same condition. So here I am, waking up and signing off.

I used my first vacation day and tore out to Stitches this morning. Whew! Got there a bit after 10 and left around noon and it already was swamped. However, the crowed didn’t stop me from picking up quite a few stach enhancements. Got some nice stuff, even though I hadn’t planned on buying that much yarn. Oh well, I’m not complaining.

Stitches didn’t look as big to me this year compared to the other two years I’ve gone. It seems the arena is getting smaller, and the classes were set up in the market this year too. I don’t recall seeing them before, but maybe because the rooms were draped off. I found my favorite vendors, though, so I am a happy camper.

I was amazed to see how many sweaters were on display. I guess that’s the biggest change I saw — fewer scarves and more more sweaters. Yippee! Let’s hope the new knitters who started on scarves are ready to move on to bigger and better projects.

 I picked up some nice yarn at Brooks Farm so I can knit a sleeveless top for summer. And I got some other yarn that should work for it as well. I had planned to pick up more needles — shorter, non bamboo ones for socks — but there weren’t many around at all. Thank goodness for the Internet because I can pick some up there.

I also didn’t get my hands on any markers. I like the simple small rubber ones. Although they are pretty, the beaded ones are too heavy for most of my knitting.

Since I was in the area where I once lived, I headed to a quilt shop that was popular once upon a time. Quilting is my newest hobby (can’t cut a straight line so I thought I’d try sewing quilts). The shop is gone. It was in the area for ever and ever. A landmark is gone. It used to be a knitting shop, but changed over to quilting about five years ago. And now it is gone. And so goes life.

We ended up the day by taking Duncan the dog to a new off-leash park we found near our new home. So he got to stretch his legs after waiting for me to come out of Stitches. Yes, he goes everywhere with me. No, it wasn’t hot or too cold. Yes, he was extremely comfortable and safe. No, he can’t stay at home because he isn’t used to it and he would probably run out of the trailer or ruin it.

And now my boy wants more attention, so off we go on a little pre-dinner walk. And blogging begins anew tomorrow.

The socks are finished. Not by my deadline, but it turned out to be all right. Because all the participants of the Valentine’s Day party-by-phone missed their own deadlines for mailing goodies. Seems to be the time of year when things just don’t get done quickly.

My excuse for not finishing the socks was a busy weekend of running errands. Like buying my new sewing machine. I am so jazzed to have it. I had one before but it was a clunky old Montgomery Wards machine (which shows you how long ago I had it — if anyone remembers Monkey Wards anymore). I got some fabric today so I can practice my rusty, rusty skills on simple things, like potholders and a little circular knitting needle pouch.

Thank goodness a three-day weekend is coming up. It will give me time to figure out what my next project will be. I know it will be a sweater, most likely an Alice Starmore design. Which one is the big question.

 Then it’s on to Stitches on February 23. Just have to print my tickets away Mom and I go. Obtaining tickets this way is just the coolest thing; even though we have to stand in line to get into the market, it goes quickly. And we usually have some nice conversations.

I’m debating about casting on for the sweater tonight because I am bushed. Got to quit staying up so late, but I think my body has adapted to it. Because when I try to go to bed early now, I just lie there hoping sleep is near. Based on all the TV ads for sleeping pills, I am not alone in this endeavor, apparently. Is there an insomnia epidemic I’m not aware of? Or is it lack of exercise that makes sleep difficult for a lot of people. Ah, here’s something to ponder as I drift off to the arms of Morpheus. 

When I have so many socks to knit?

I’ve made progress, completing one pair today. Now I’m set to start the pair that needs to be mailed all the way from California to Rhode Island. I will need a head start to get the socks there by Valentine’s Day. Especially as it must be one of the busy mail periods of the year.

My valentine is my trusty pooch, who’s had great fun impeding my sock knitting progress by stealing the recently completed sock, needles and all. If anyone cares, I can scientifically prove that bamboo needles don’t hold up under attack from a crazed Siberian husky, with trouble on his mind.

He’s even managed to damage some of my prized ebony needles. Irksome, but I can see his point about needing more attention when I’m knitting. Plus, last December was the year anniversary of his having survived a life-threatening mass on his spleen. From being at death’s door to having the energy of a puppy is something to celebrate, particularly as a colleague’s dog succumbed to the same condition.

Onto happier thoughts — here’s the sock challenge tally:

1 pair, women’s size 6: Complete

1 pair, women’s size 9: First sock is on the needles

1 pair, women’s size 7 ½: Waiting in the wings