Monday...Ugh!

Lots of catching up to do...at work...blog reading (over 200--you'd think since I had my laptop on vacation I'd be caught up?!)...emails...

I haven't forgotten you all, I'll get around to it all...I'm just buried in stuff!

Happy first day of Autumn!!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Back to Reality~~

WOW...what a great week! I have so much to share and I'm sure I'll leave out something, but I'll try to hit on it all.

I guess the best way is to give a day by day account...

Saturday's arrival is all about set-up...and getting into the "relaxation" mode~


Success!
...this campground is one I've been going to since I was a kid. My parents used to leave their camper so we could just go a week or so each month of the summer season...I met lots of people and have MANY memories that return with each visit as an adult.


Sunday's plan was to spend the entire day ON THE BEACH!

...and I DID! Knitting of course!

Monday's plan was to meet up with my BlogBuddy...Anita~

She's everything I expected her to be...we had a great time knitting, spinning and chatting endlessly! I smell a knitting/spinning retreat in the near future so we can spend an entire weekend...knitting, spinning and chatting! I look forward to meeting Anita again and again. Thanks Anita for coming down to meet me! And for those who are looking for some great stitch markers visit her Etsy Shop, she's created some great whimsical designs for me...if you have an idea - ask her she'll create something just for you too!

This is also when we met...

CampKitty! I had it in mind that if he came back I'd bring him home with me but we didn't see him after Wed's naptime with Hubby (though his footprints were around the camper)

Tuesday we ventured out to one of the 2 knitting shops I wanted to visit in the area. Knitting Up A Storm

Last year Hubby and I tried to find this store...to no avail! This time Anita gave me superb directions which made us scratch our heads as to how we could have possible missed it! This store is huge, carrying many varieties of yarn for every type of knitting you may enjoy. Lots of patterns & magazines too! Big table for knitting and classes.
Some of you know I'm on a self-imposed yarn/fiber diet, but I did make a purchase!


and...I did buy this "souvenir"

...I've been told that buying yarn as a souvenir doesn't count on my yarn diet! Hee-Hee!! Yes, that is Kaffe Fassett's Design Line!!!!

Wednesday we found the other NEW knitting shop - Knit-N-Purl this shop is small but BIG on atmosphere and charm!


The owner is truly one of the nicest I've met, her hubby who works there with her has made a place for other husbands who venture out with their wives...rocking chairs & fishing magazines out front! SUPER friendly you literally could sit in there all day and knit. I was invited to their knit night on Thursday night, which I thought I would go to since I would miss our gals at Barnes & Noble back home.

Thursday brought another day of beachcombing & knitting. The plan was to attend Knit Night at Knit-N-Purl, but something pulled me to the beach after dinner...and I'm SO glad that I followed my instincts!

I'm weird...I LOVE bagpipes! This couple from PA serenaded a large group of us. They were amazing! Hubby took a video but he hasn't downloaded it yet.

Friday was simply spending the day on the beach...and I mean ALL DAY! We met a great couple who we chatted endlessly with (and played with their dog).

We fished, played golf, beachcombed, walked a lot, ate lots of GREAT food and I managed to run 3 miles each day...so I could enjoy all the great food, ice cream & spirits!

Tomorrow...that "four letter word" returns (grumble-grumble). I'll leave you with this last shot...



Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!!

Whiskers on Wednesday~~

....On Vacation!

I really didn't think I would have much of a post today since Mr Ace isn't with us, but I was wrong! I did take some pictures of him before I left but I may use those next week.





This little fella has been coming around since my visit with Anita on Monday night (more on that later, she has already posted on her blog about our meet-up).
Funny how cats know cat people! ...and NO, I haven't been feeding him. I would love to take him home though, he's so very sweet (the difference between the homeless & the VERY spoiled...do you hear me Ace?). Isn't this face adorable? We're calling him CK (Camp Kitty).




Here he is enjoying a nap with Hubby~~yes, they are both really asleep!

I really have so much to share but my time is better spent off the computer while I'm here. I promise to catch everyone up on all the "goings on" later!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

TGIF!!!

THIS is the view I'll have come tomorrow!! I seriously CAN'T wait...




I'll be Knittin' & Spinnin' (maybe even a little bloggin')!!!

Music Meme

The rules:

A) Go to Music Outfitters
B) Enter the year you graduated from high school in the search function and get the list of 100 most popular songs of that year
C) Bold the songs you like, strike through the ones you hate and underline or italicize your favorite. Do nothing to the ones you don’t remember (or don’t care about)


1. Call Me, Blondie
2. Another Brick In The Wall, Pink Floyd
3. Magic, Olivia Newton-John
4. Rock With You, Michael Jackson
5. Do That To Me One More Time, Captain and Tennille
6. Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Queen
7. Coming Up, Paul McCartney
8. Funkytown, Lipps, Inc.
9. It's Still Rock And Roll To Me, Billy Joel
10. The Rose, Bette Midler
11. Escape (The Pina Colada Song), Rupert Holmes
12. Cars, Gary Numan ~brings back memories~
13. Cruisin', Smokey Robinson
14. Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl, Spinners
15. Lost In Love, Air Supply
16. Little Jeannie, Elton John
17. Ride Like The Wind, Cristopher Cross
18. Upside Down, Diana Ross
19. Please Don't Go, K.C. and The Sunshine Band
20. Babe, Styx
21. With You I'm Born Again, Billy Preston and Syreeta
22. Shining Star, Manhattans
23. Still, Commodores
24. Yes, I'm Ready, Teri De Sario With K.C.
25. Sexy Eyes, Dr. Hook
26. Steal Away, Robbie Dupree
27. Biggest Part Of Me, Ambrosia
28. This Is It, Kenny Loggins
29. Cupid-I've Loved You For A Long Time, Spinners
30. Let's Get Serious, Jermaine Jackson
31. Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer, Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes
32. Sailing, Christopher Cross
33. Longer, Dan Fogelberg
34. Coward Of The County, Kenny Rogers
35. Ladies Night, Kool and The Gang
36. Take Your Time, S.O.S. Band
37. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough), Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer
38. Too Hot, Kool and The Gang
39. More Love, Kim Carnes
40. Pop Muzik, M
41. Brass In Pocket, Pretenders
42. Special Lady, Ray, Goodman and Brown
43. Send One Your Love, Stevie Wonder
44. The Second Time Around, Shalamar
45. We Don't Talk Anymore, Cliff Richard
46. Stomp - Brothers Johnson
47. Heartache Tonight, Eagles I LOVE the Eagles...still today, my favorite!
48. Stomp, Brothers Johnson
49. Tired Of Toein' The Line, Rocky Burnette
50. Better Love Next Time, Dr. Hook
51. Him, Rupert Holmes
52. Against The Wind, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
53. On The Radio, Donna Summer
54. Emotional Rescue, Rolling Stones
55. Rise, Herb Alpert
56. All Out Of Love, Air Supply
57. Cool Change, Little River Band
58. You're Only Lonely, J.D. Souther
59. Desire, Andy Gibb
60. Let My Love Open The Door, Pete Townshend
61. Daydream Believer, Anne Murray
62. I Can't Tell You Why, Eagles
63. Don't Let Go, Isaac Hayes
64. Don't Do Me Like That, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
65. She's Out Of My Life, Michael Jackson
66. Fame, Irene Cara
67. Fire Lake, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
68. How Do I Make You, Linda Ronstadt
69. Into The Night, Benny Mardones
70. Let Me Love You Tonight, Pure Prairie League
71. Misunderstanding, Genesis72. An American Dream, Dirt Band
73. One Fine Day, Carole King
74. Dim All The Lights, Donna Summer
75. You May Be Right, Billy Joel
76. Hurt So Bad, Linda Ronstadt
77. Should've Never Let You Go, Neil Sedaka and Dara Sedaka
78. Pilot Of The Airwaves, Charlie Dore
79. Off The Wall, Michael Jackson
80. I Pledge My Love, Peaches and Herb
81. The Long Run, Eagles
82. Stand By Me, Mickey Gilley
83. Heartbreaker, Pat Benatar
84. Deja Vu, Dionne Warwick
85. Drivin' My Life Away, Eddie Rabbitt
86. Take The Long Way Home, Supertramp
87. Sara, Fleetwood Mac
88. Wait For Me, Daryl Hall and John Oates
89. Jo Jo, Boz Scaggs
90. September Morn, Neil Diamond
91. Give Me The Night, George Benson
92. Broken Hearted Me, Anne Murray
93. You Decorated My Life, Kenny Rogers
94. Tusk, Fleetwood Mac
95. I Wanna Be Your Lover, Prince
96. In America, Charlie Daniels Band
97. Breakdown Dead Ahead, Boz Scaggs
98. Ships, Barry Manilow
99. All Night Long, Joe Walsh
100. Refugee, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

If you were to see my CD collection I think you'd think..."she's weird"! I listen to lots of different genres of music, the only think I don't like is hip-hop or rap, but then again when my son came home with Coolio (I think that's how you spell it) I sort of like some of it. I just didn't want to listen to it at earth shattering levels.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Whiskers on Wednesday~~

HumpDay again and 2 more days left till VACATION! Can you tell I'm only a little excited?

Mr Ace didn't lend himself to many photo sessions this week, so I decided to share something with you that makes me laugh out loud.
Cats are funny, yet they pretend to be so darn cool...if you dare go on YouTube and search George Carlin & Cats. That routine is a classic and reminds me of Ace all the time. F-ing meow!

Enjoy~~



Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Yoga

...I should have kept my practice up this summer, but I didn't and after yesterday - now I'm sore!

Through our great Ravelry database I found a Yoga Swap group, where I was paired up with a pretty interesting lady, Kim! This was not a secret swap so over the past month or so we've been chatting and learning about each other. What the person who paired us didn't know is that we are both Living Historians! We've actually met before...very informally at Martin's Station where she and her husband were playing 18th Century music. It truly is a small world!
As part of her package I found these really cool "Scrabble tile" pendants on Etsy at HomeStudio~


The lotus flower I kept for me, but the other two went to Kim in her package.


I'm going to practice my yoga a little more often...I promise!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin!!

Blue Monday...

...turns into HAPPY - SUNNY - FANTASTICALLY - WONDERFUL Monday! I thought I pulled the perfect surprise...only I was wrong.

I'm not sure if you remember THIS story I told last year. If you haven't already you've gotta read it before going on, start at the 3rd paragraph...I'll wait.



When you saw me knitting Anne Hanson's Bleeding Heart Stole, it was not for me. In Victorian flower language the Bleeding Heart flower means "Undying love & fidelity" I knew this stole was perfect!



I had been sworn to secrecy, so I couldn't tell you that this was my friend Sherry's WEDDING STOLE! She and my friend Bill were to get married tomorrow while on their trip out West...only they surprised me and were married today. I thought I had the perfect plan set, we wanted to be there with them when they married but understood completely why they planned things this way. However, I thought I had another surprise for them...I contacted the minister who was marrying them to ask if I mailed him a letter from Hubby and I if he would give it to them after pronouncing them "Husband & Wife". It all worked out perfect, they were very surprised, and then again so were we!
(I'm doing an endzone dance, shouting YESSSSS!!!)

Oh, we have a huge celebration planned, every year we have a gathering (I'm sure you remember last year, and me petting the Highland cattle?!) They will reveal to the rest of our friends about their nuptials...I'm special, cause I'm the one who introduced them...I've known for months now and have kept my mouth shut!!

And to think, this morning I was feeling SO blah...boy it ended MUCH better! I'm writing this so quickly I know I'm forgetting something...

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!

Meet Hanna...

We ran into Tropical Storm Hanna yesterday!



Taken as we headed into Richmond yesterday morning about 11:00am...believe it or not there is a vehicle in front of us!
I kept my head down involved in my knitting so as to not get nervous about the conditions!

This was just the beginning...he had it everywhere, we thought we had him cleaned up but as we were leaving I gave him a kiss on the cheek and it was really SWEET!


There's nothing worse than feeling bad on your birthday, he came home from preschool on Friday with something that's going around. Poor thing was really miserable. (Geez, I hope I don't get it...we're leaving for the beach on Saturday)

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'

Today is a VERY Special Day

Happy Birthday Landon!

Can you believe it's been a year? I can't!!
Last year things were VERY stressful...I can't say that this week has proved any better. Of course, not for the same reasons as last year but trying to prepare for the big birthday...from 275 miles away! Tropical storm Hanna is due to blow through during the birthday party that WAS to happen outdoors. I've spent the last 2 days trying to help DSD out with the plans.

I even missed Knit Night last night due to the fact that by the time I sat down, I was too darn pooped to do anything else...drew a bath and went to bed!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY BIG BOY!!

Whiskers on Wednesday~~

It's that time again, one good thing about Wednesdays...halfway to the weekend!




What do you think he's dreaming about?


Must be a happy dream...he sure is smilin'!! If you look at those paws he's hugging something!

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin!

FO & Discovery

It's no secret I'm a sports fan, so with the Labor Day weekend comes the US Open Tennis tournament.
I wished I had pictures of me in my little tennis dress, that my Mom made me, back in the day. That was the only "dress" I would wear back then because it had little shorts under it!

With that said I found a "quick" knitting project to try...finished it in 2 days!


I used some left over Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton and the remnants of the Blue Heron Cotton Seed held together.




Yep, I made a bikini top! I know...you are saying - "At your age?" Well, from what I saw last year at the beach if an 80 year old can wear a bikini then maybe I can pull it off too! I'm not sure that I'll wear it, we'll just have to wait and see.




You ask..."What are the tennis balls for?"






Blocking - That's about all I have to offer!




When I blocked it out I discovered a problem with the Blue Heron yarn...it's NOT color safe! This could answer why this particular yarn is no longer offered, I don't know.

So I immediately put the Sarong in a vinegar water bath~~


After just a few minutes this is what I found~~

I certainly hope this doesn't happen to me at the beach!

This does upset me about this yarn...it was NOT cheap!

As for the US Open, I happen to be pulling for this cutie!

Go Rafa!
It was funny yesterday he was on the practice court...there were women laying on their bellies looking under the netting that give privacy screaming at him!! He just gave his humble smile...looking very embarrassed.

Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!