Jiggety Jig

I'm home again- back on the plains, where you can see the vehicles, weather, and wildlife coming at you. It's an amazing 77 degrees here (as opposed to Portland, where it is 105 today. I was in Portland once when it was 105, and lemee tellya, that is a miserable temperature to endure while in Portland). I am selfishly hoping that the West Coast gets this nonsense out of its system before I fly back out, next Tuesday. Lord, I'm flying back out next Tuesday. I'll barely have time to unpack and reacclimate.

At any rate, we had a most wonderful and amazing vacation, and I came home to find an advance copy of The Big Book of Socks, waiting for me. It's even more beautiful than I thought it would be. More advance copies should be available at The Summit (in 10 days!!!), and I expect to sit in at the booksigning there (Note: I'm tired. I typed booksinging three times before I got it right).

It's almost too chilly to swim laps, but I've only been swimming twice in the last 2 weeks. Despite running every day, I suspect I've gained about 5lbs, though I'm not going to step on the scale until tomorrow morning. I should go swim right now, but I think I'll take a nap first.

Thanks for hanging in there with me, on the journey. I am happy to report that the little mini computer performed extremely well. I'll be taking it along to the Summit, and to SAFF in October.

So, for a week anyway, we now return to our regular broadcast.

Bizzoula and Mute

You know how it is when you've been in the car a long time, and get a little giggly from pure exhaustion? One of us Spoonerized Missoula and Butte, and we laughed for 70 miles. You probably had to be there to get it.

We're in Spearfish, SD, in a Super 8 that was fairly hard to find (difficult enough that The Hubby actually asked for directions). We drove in pouring rain for the last hour (with a little thunder and lightning thrown in for variety), but it's clearing up now. The temp is 64, and it's supposed to be 77 at home tomorrow (as opposed to the 90's, on the coast. whoda thunk?). We drove down to Deadwood for supper, and bought Black Hills Gold and Silver necklaces for The Grands. We also lost $15 about as quickly as you can lose $15, but I had to try for my sister who always wins at the slots, and my brother in law, who won $10,000 on a scratch lottery ticket. That's a pair of socks that will never be knit or given...

Speaking of socks- I finished the worsted weight socks I was working on in the car (the yarns are a combo of wool/mohair and wool/angora). Then I tore out the mini random cable sock out (it just didn't look right), and started another with more symmetrical cables. I like this one better, and even better yet, I remembered how to work cables without a cable needle.

And remember the knitting needles through the head headband? My friend Jane went back to Portland's Saturday Market and picked up a set for me to wear at the Sock Summit (and anywhere else I might want to wear them). If you want a set, here's the Spoonman's website: http://spoonman.com/

Whitehall, MT

After a long day's drive, through lots of rainy mountain passes, we're in Whitehall, MT for the night. Tomorrow, we'll head for Spearfish, SD, and the day after, home. It's been a wonderful vacation- the last few days were filled with family fun and reunions, including a trip to the Public Access Beach at Panther Lake. My grandma lived on Panther Lake, and my sisters and cousins and I often walked to that beach to throw rocks in the water. I haven't been there in decades, so it was a real nostalgia trip.

Unfortnately, none of the photos I took through the car window today turned out, but here are some lily pads from Panther Lake.

And here is my car knitting for the day- a pair of worsted weight socks made with 2 of the small skeins I purchased at the yarn store in Snohomish. I did very little knitting on this trip, and it was nice to accomplish a bit today.

As wonderful as the mountains and trees are, I confess to missing the flat land. It's nice to see who is coming at you.

Even More Hometown

I'm back online. This is our last day in the PNW- we're going to a family picnic with aunts, uncles, cousins and assorted little ones (and sisters, of course). It'll be wonderful and busy and food-ful (I am food-ful. I've tried to maintain a sensible diet on vacation, but have slipped sadly). We head out early tomorrow, to Whitehall, MT.

But in the meantime, here is the 6th Street Bridge, over the Pilchuck River. I grew up in the valley, beyond that bridge, and went over it multiple times a day in my childhood (walking, on bikes, on the school bus). Though much has changed about my home town (including the fact that my childhood home was moved for an onramp), this bridge is still the same. There is comfort in that.

The other river picture is Pilchuck Park. the Pilchuck is a relatively narrow and shallow river, ice cold from mountain runoff, with a rocky bottom. It's also very beautiful. We swam in it often (though not on this trip).

And finally, here are some baby pinecones. I just thought they were pretty.

Yesterday, I had the kind of day with my sisters that we never get: an ordinary one. We went shopping, had lunch, and then made a family supper. Lots of laughter and hugs and talk. It was wonderful. And then my fantastic nephew got my mini up and running on their wifi, which was a relief.

Oh, and we also got to tour my brother-in-law's aeronautics engineering company. No cameras were allowed, but the machinery was beyond amazing. I loved the tour, and am sorry I can't show any of it to you.

we interrupt our regular broadcast

I'm at my sister's house and cannot seem to connect to the wifi with my mini, so I may not update much here. We're heading for home on Sunday, so we'll be on the road again until Tuesday. I may or may not be able to post on the way. We'll see how it goes. We're having a most marvelous time, with amazing food and great conversation and lots of laughs. I'll post stuff as I can.

Oh- the Thursday Tab sets will resume when I get back home (at least until I leave for the Sock Summit)

I can haz yarn

Okay, so I wasn't going to buy much yarn on this leg of my trip (waiting for the market at the Sock summit), but I dropped by Country Yarns (in Snohomish- no web site up yet), and lo, and behold, some yarn jumped itself right into my hands. What could I do, but buy it?'

The yarns all come from indie-dyer Lollipop Cabin (http://www.lollipopcabin.com/ - though it's a totally minimal site, with only a link to an e-mail address, as far as I could tell)- and gorgeous yarns they are: a 96 yd sampler of what looks like heavy fingering weight wool yarn in purples/greens/browns (for $2.95!) , a 30% angora/70% wool sampler with 160 yds in greens, purples and blues ($6.95! enough for mittens, I think), another sampler in wool/mohair singles also in green/purple ($4.95), and an amazing skein of sock yarn in 50/50 wool/soy silk in pale purple/green/cream/brown (462 yds, a perfectly reasonable $21.95). All beautifully dyed and presented (I love the winged sheep logo). And I picked up some crochet hooks for my Sock Summit classes.

and Lollipop Cabin will be a vendor at the Summit, so I suspect I'll buy more. It's gorgeous!

p.s. I also bought a t-shirt from the Snohomish Bakery, where I used to eat bearclaw pastries

Mosher Creek Wetland Reclamation Area

Beautiful, beautiful walk this morning, along the Mosher Creek Wetland Reclamation area along Ebey Slough. The tide was out, and so were the birds, flowers, and blackberries. I tried to get a picture of the Bald Eagle, but wasn't able to.

Mini Road Trip

I'd never had much to do with Anacortes, WA. Our high school teams played their high school teams, so we automatically disliked each other, and the ferry lines to the San Juan Islands debark from Anacortes. Otherwise, I don't think I've ever been to Anacortes as an actual destination, so it was fun to drive up there today, just to see the town.

We drove through the Skagit Valley, where there were lots of crops (blueberries, potatoes, wheat, and some low growing row crop that none of us recognized), and boats on the Skagit River. We went through there, on the way to La Conner, which is a lovely little town with great shops (where I bought the sparkly little bead bracelet. I bought the other bracelet in Cannon Beach, and since I'm showing jewelry, I thought I'd throw that pic in as well). From there we went to Washington Park, where I got a pic of the Madrona bark, and the lovely pics of Mt. Baker and the islands in the sound. That lumpy thing that looks vaguely boat shaped with trees on it, is an actual boat hull that has been abandoned long enough for trees to grow on it.

It was a lovely day, ending with a great meal and a microbrew at the Skagit Valley Brewing Company, where I had Cajun Crab Cakes and Shiver Me Liver Barley Wine Ale (the waiter asked if I was sure when I ordered it. I was sure. It was 9.5% a/v, and very good, with a sweet beginning and a mildly hoppy aftertaste).

Tomorrow, I think we're going on a nature walk. And probably eating more good food. And definitely having another beer. It's a good life.

More Hometown

We took a driving tour of my childhood this morning, showing The Grands where I grew up(or the space whereI grew up anyway- the house was moved to make way for an on ramp), my Grandparent's houses (again, one house and the space where one house used to be), my elementary school, my high school, the little store where my dad bought beer and fishing licences, and my old high school.

We'll take a tour of the downtown later this afternoon (or tomorrow). Tonight we're having a lovely classmate get together.

Oh, and I've done some knitting- these will be random cable socks.I think the Mason Dixon Ladies invented this notion- I just cast on 72 sts and am working 1 and 2st cables wherever the notion hits. They'll be fraternal socks and I think they'll be cool. (Koigu, 2.75mm needles,72 sts)

Hometown Bound

I didn't spend much time in Seattle when I was growing up- the 3rd graders always had a field trip to Woodland Park Zoo, we went as a family to the 1962 World Fair, and in high school, we went to a performance of HMS Pinafore at the Seattle Opera House. Otherwise, despite being only 32 miles from Snohomish, I was rarely in The Emerald City. But it is beautiful.

We didn't stop on the way through yesterday, from Portland. But I snapped a few pictures from the car. The city skyline is amazing. The plants on the overpasses are gorgeous. The Space Needle is The Space Needle. Pike Place Market is wonderful, but I had no desire to drive downtown yesterday. We may make it back there later. Or we may not.

I didn't get many pictures of Snohomish yesterday either, but I will in the next few days. I also didn't get any good Mt Rainier pics (darn trees kept getting in the way as we drove past). We went to a fantastic Farmer's Market in Everett at the marina (the kind of Farmer's Market that has live music) but I forgot my camera.

We did eat at the Pilchuck Drive In, where I ate fish and chips as a girl. They're still excellent. And the fish is still served in the formed cardboard dishes.

Oh- and I finished the inside out socks, and gave them to the recipient... and forgot to take a picture.

Half Blood Princes, and Saturday Market

We avoided the worst of the afternoon heat yesterday by seeing Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I thought it was the best movie adaptation yet- beautiful to look at, it captured the characters and the story as well as a condensation could (omitting a lot, including the explanation of the Half-Blood Prince), and finally got the Quidditch sequences right (those were always the weakest parts of any of the movies, I think). The kids have grown very well into their roles and the adult actors are perfect. I cried buckets, as expected. And I would be willing to see it again, in the theater, if we have another really hot afternoon.

This afternoon was plenty warm, but not as bad as yesterday. Jane and I took the Blueline Max from the Lloyd Center, past The Convention Center (where I will spend several wonderful days very soon- it's the green glass towers), to the Saturday Market, which was crowded but amazing- hot in the sun but nice in the shade. I didn't buy anything, but I looked, and admired, and smelled, and tried on a new headband. Like it?

Tomorrow, we head to my home town, Snohomish, WA. It'll be good to see the old stomping grounds again.

Rose City Pepperheads

We just got back from the Gresham Farmer's Market. South Dakota has many many advantages and beauties, and I don't want to live anywhere else (though I would love to travel more), but it does not have produce that anyone on either coast would even consider as a food product. On vacation, we like to roam the grocery stores and check out un-spotted mushrooms, and non-limp celery. We went almost to the source this morning, with the farmer's market- with an amazing array of freshly picked cherries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and every kind of vegetable and fruit that is in season. I forgot to take my camera, but I tasted, bought, and had for lunch (with cream cheese on crackers) some pepper jelly from Rose City Pepperheads (http://www.rosecitypepperheads.com/ ).

I bought Smokin' Margarita, Hawaiian Jalapeno, Mango Madness, and some little sampler jars (some for gifts). We're going to the Portland Saturday Market later today. I'll take the camera along.

a conversation

Us, in one of the most beautiful spots in the world with spectacular scenery, fantastic weather, great shopping, yummy food, and a wonderful family experience only missing the other son and family, to the girls: What did you like the best about the beach?


Three Girls, in unison: OMIGOD! There was that cutest little doggie! It had a red sweater on! It was so so so cute! The owners let us pet it! Can we have a dog?

we interrupt our regular broadcast

We're in Cannon Beach, but the wifi is really really slow, so unless I find a quicker connection somewhere, updates may be infrequent until Friday. I'll check in, with pics, as I can.

p.s. there's a yarn store here

p.s.s. suddenly, I can upload pics: Hwy 26 with very tall trees, me on our deck, The Waves Motel (where we're staying http://www.thewavesmotel.com/), and Haystack Rock, one of the most famous views in Oregon. I'll take more pics of this amazing town tomorrow.

My Brain on Vacation

actual conversation:
Small girl in back seat: What's the capitol of Alaska?
Me, immediately: Anchorage
Driver, with raised eyebrow: Um, that would be Juneau

I'm surprised I didn't say Dutch Harbor.

Yesterday I asked my friend Jane if she forgot her other sack from the Fred Meyer purchases only to have her point to my right hand, where I was holding it.

There are a great many more examples of Vacation Stupidity (and the fact that I am totally directionally impaired- not good in a place that is not set out on a grid, like South Dakota), but I don't have the will to tell them all. I am not quite acclimated yet, I guess.

However, outside of some major memory lapses, I'm having a most wonderful time. We served halved cherry tomatoes and salad shrimp on the Himilayan Salt block last night and they were amazing. I think I'll go back to The Meadow before the Sock Summit (I'll be returning here about a week after we get home) and buy more for us, and as souvenirs for friends. The finishing salts were amazing on the grilled veggies and steak last night. I didn't put any salt on the cake Jane made: dense chocolate cake with a layer of chocolate ganache and then thick praline on top. And yes, I had a slice. A small slice and it was heaven.

Today, we head to Cannon Beach- the 2nd most beautiful place in the world. Prepare for thousands of pictures and loads of gushing, about the beach and the rocks, but also about the town itself. I love love love Cannon Beach, and I think you'll understand why soon.

Mississippi Avenue

So far, we've eaten and shopped- a pretty good way to begin a vacation. We had lunch at Flying Pie Pizzaria. Our Miss Piggy whole wheat extra thin crust pizza was, perhaps, the best pizza I've had in my life. Then we went to Trader Joe's and found wine (it's evidently Three Buck Chuck these days), including a lovely muscat, and an almond flavored sparkling wine for this evening (it's chilling, and I don't remember the name. If it's any good, I'll post the name tomorrow).

Then we went to Mississippi Avenue, which is chock full of trendy and hip shops. I generally feel out of place in trendy and hip shops because I am neither (and hever have been), but the people here were great. We visited an interesting place that sold synthetic Owl vomit (with real skeleton). We saw Re-Find, an architechtural salvage place with an amazing entry sculpture. and we went to The Meadow (http://www.atthemeadow.com/shop/ ) to taste and buy finishing salt.

I had seen a piece on the store on CBS Sunday, and was intrigued. The store sells over 80 kinds of salt, including salt blocks and dishes for cooking and serving. The staff was wonderful, walking us through the intricacies of sea salt, letting us taste and smell (yes, smell) assorted salts, and answered all of our newbie questions.

Turns out that salt is not just salt- and that I can quickly rack up as much in salt as I can in yarn.

I bought a largish jar of Cyuprus Silver flake salt (shaped like little pyramids and flakes)- it's very very salty and light (and big). I got a medium size jar of Alaea Volcanic salt from Hawaii for my son and his wife (though we may taste a bit too) that is brown and granular and smooth. I bought a little jar of Barrique chardonnay salt that is light brown, granular, wet (sticks together a bit), and has a light smoky taste that we'll use on the grilled veggies tonight. I also bought a pink Himalayan Salt block for serving veggies and cheeses. We're giving it a workout tonight.

Oh, and we got some chocolates too- a Lemon Pepper white chocolate that is amazing, and some salt chocolate that is interesting.

I'm no gourmet, but it was great fun (and I used to sneak and eat rock salt plain, so it was a treat). and I can still taste the salts, 2 hours later. (yes, that is a good thing).