Finally, some photos. The almost completed Roundabout Tank from Knitting Nature – I think I’m going to block it before I sew the straps down, to see if they grow out any. I already shortened them by quite a bit, but we’ll see. They look a little wonky, too. Everything looks kind of blah right now. The magic of blocking, perhaps?
Anyway. Ten hours at work benedryl (hives from unknown trigger) gin = sleeeeeepy laura.
This morning I just really don’t feel like going out to the garden to water – it’s a five minute walk, but I’m feeling quite lazy about going before work today. I watered twice yesterday with a long soaking in the evening, so I’m thinking it should be okay until I get home from work tonight.
Exciting things at work – I’ve been doing dyeing in the basement, our new dye studio! Yesterday I did a whack of roving and some sock yarn, and today I tackle cotton for the first time. If you’re in the market for some handdyed cotton, stay tuned!
Knitting’s been a little slow around here lately despite (or because of) the trip. Since I’ve gotten back I’ve hardly knit at all! Well, I suppose that’s not really true, but I’ve been feeling the itch to start something new. Question is, what?
Here’s what’s on the needles:
Lace Nightie from Interweave – Haven’t blogged about this one yet (but I did take photos this morning)! I’m using Alchemy Silken Straw and although it looks terribly small at the moment I have faith that it’s going to stretch and stretch once it hits water. I’ve passed the centre back bindoff and am on the back shaping decreases.
Blue Heron Rayon Metallic vest – on hold; I ran out of yarn at the armhole shaping of the right front (with everything else done)
Roundabout tank – just need to attach the straps and block
STR socks – well, socks are always on the needles
Handspun log cabin block – haven’t done anything since I got back
Blue cotton dress – I’ve worn it out once, but the straps need to be taken off, shortened, and backed with fabric before it goes outside again
Balance top-down sweater – still needs buttons, after all this time! I am working on writing up the pattern for sale, in case anyone was wondering
I do have several design projects to work on as well, but I’m just feeling a bit restless with the knitting. I’ve got several (okay, lots) of sweaters planned but don’t feel like I have the mental capacity at the moment to figure out math and stuff.
Maybe I need a super quick project to get me going again. Or maybe I should join Denny’s 7 shawl project – I’ve got one on the needles just started, and some skeins of handspun lace weight and fingering weight that are just waiting to be knit up into pretty shawls.
So much choice – too much choice!
Hoo boy, talk about a tough re-entry. I’ve been running around doing stuff since I got back from vacation – seeing the boyfriend, working, partying, family stuff. Hard to get back into the swing of blogging, especially when there’s so many things like photos and such to work through! This is going to be a highlights-only post. You can view my (rather enormous, it’s two people’s worth) vacation photoset at Flickr if you’re so inclined!
Austin:
– was great, weather was not excessively hot, but it did rain
– ate at the Clay Pit, Casino El Camino, Amy’s ice cream, Teo gelato, Upper Crust Bakery
– went down to South Congress and bought some great clothes
– Hill Country Weavers: awesome! Yes, I bought some souvenir yarn
– met Caro and Abbe and had a bit of a knit, which was lovely
– Whole Foods and Central Market – super awesome
Katy, post Austin and pre cruise:
– rained
– went to my cousin’s high school graduation…in the pouring rain. It was cool though.
– Lots of people in the house – 17! I slept on the floor that night, despite the cousins having borrowed three queen-sized air mattresses
Cruise, first impressions:
– boat was Rhapsody of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
– huge! Really like a hotel on a boat.
– rooms were quite comfortable
– the weather was pretty bad – no sunning by the outdoor pool or anything, but I did swim in the indoor pool often
– it felt like I was eating all the time – lunch buffet, dinner in the dining room, snacks…food was pretty good but I wouldn’t say spectacular.
– formal nights were fun – we bought a few portraits of the family
(me, mom, sister)
Jamaica:
– got a minibus taxi for twelve of us and went to the Montego Bay city centre (shopping area)
– I just bought some souvenirs and coffee before heading back to the boat with my dad…the rest of the group planned to go to the beach but…it rained!
Grand Cayman:
– the boat was tendered, meaning you had to take another boat to get to the shore. It was, you guessed it, raining, and the waters were pretty rough so I opted to stay on the boat and just hang out.
Cozumel, Mexico
– finally, some sunshine!
– snorkeling, my first time! Snorkeled in 25-foot water and was surrounded by a school of fish (which didn’t bite me, thank goodness). too bad I forgot to buy an underwater camera
– shopping at the pier – very crowded, but I bought some vanilla, tequila, and random souvenirs. my mom bought me a nice bracelet from Diamonds International
Cruise boat, parting thoughts:
– I had a good time, but I don’t know if/when I would go again – I could definitely feel the rocking, and although I didn’t actually get sick, I didn’t feel all that great.
– Service, especially at dinner, was very nice. Oh, and getting the room done twice a day wasn’t bad either ; )
– I took a salsa class, which was super fun even though I was dancing with my rather short 10 year old cousin!
– drinks on the boat – expensive.
– getting off the boat was a bit of a trial since so many others were trying too as well! We did express departure and had to carry off our own luggage at 7:30 am.
– seeing family and family friends was nice. lots of people to hang out with, especially in the card room – everyone was mad for cards!
Getting home:
– Had to wake up at 4:30 am to be driven to the Houston Airport
– was sick that morning and slept most of the flight Houston-Detroit
– Detroit-Buffalo flight was supposed to leave at 1:30 (we’d gotten to the airport at 11) but didn’t get in the air until 4:30!
– all that, for a 40 minute flight to Buffalo. Boourns.
Knitting:
– almost finished Roundabout Tank from Knitting Nature
– almost finished pair of STR socks, plain
– almost finished Blue Heron tank top…but I ran out of yarn!
in conclusion…
I’m happy with the vacation but glad to be back home! Now I can really get started on lots of exciting projects this summer. Lots of dyeing, designing, gardening, everything!
Whew. That was long. Back to non-vacation life!