And I'm back

Sorry I haven't posted. I've been in that post-vacation malaise and haven't felt like I've had two words to string together that might be interesting. Plus, there is a week's worth of work missed that needed to be caught up. And sadly, almost all of our Thursday night TV viewing premiered last week and we still haven't been able to get through it all on our DVR. The upside is that all of that TV viewing means lots of knitting time.

I took the slog-along blanket on vacation and got lots done in the car but I decided that the next skein should have this nifty little bamboo look that I found in a book. For the life of me, I couldn't get it right. I frogged back rows of 360 stitches several times before I gave up. (I think the vacation/knitting gods were conspiring against me to tell me that I shouldn't be knitting a 6'x6' wool blend blanket at the beach. . .) So frog back I did and that skein turned into a simple stockinette band until I got home and figured out that the problem really was me and not the pattern. A quick swatch-cloth later and the bamboo is coming along nicely, thanks.

I think I'm starting to like this blanket. By tomorrow I plan to have eight skeins complete which puts me a third of the way through. I'm going to have to put it aside soon to work on Christmas presents (because in this house we know that August 21 - the day after my birthday - is the official start of Christmas season). And I'm still coming along on my crazy woodlands quilt. I had another brain flash last night on how to make it all come together more quickly and less frustratingly. We'll see. Turns out a 5'x5' blanket is bigger than my brain led me to believe. But I'm excited. And motivated.

Couldn't resist sneaking one in of my little man, especially since he went to the trouble to pose. He's figured out what the camera is about. . .

xoxoxo

Heaven

Every year Scott's family goes to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. For the second year (of hopefully many many more) I'm joining them. Last year, the weather was pretty cruddy. Even though the house is on the beach, we were only able to get down to the water once. You take your chances vacationing on the east coast in September - the height of hurricane season. It hasn't been great so far this year but the clouds are clearing and the sun is coming out - at least enough for us to take a walk on the beach today.

The bad weather means a rolling, churning ocean though. No complaints from me. That's my favourite kind. . .

Lucy is enjoying it too. Honestly though, this sweet girl always has a big smile on her face.

The gulls were dancing with the waves.

We saw lots of "devil's pocketbooks". (They're really skate egg cases but what a great name!)

Should've brought my metal detector. . .

I love this place. It really is heaven. And being here with three of my favourite people on the planet makes it all the better. (Wish you were here to the rest of my faves. You all know who you are. . .)

xoxoxoxoxox