This week…

I’m  not up to too much. I have some classes scheduled later this week at Michael’s, but otherwise my week is pretty open. I am planning on accomplishing three major goals this week, however: finishing up 4 samples for designs (2 shawls I’m still designing, a scarf in 3 widths that is started, and the Saturn Storm socks I’ve mentioned several times already);   watching a craftsy “learn to design lace socks class” that I bought months ago, and finish putting previously published patterns on all the sites I sell – a task I really dread & as such, procrastinate a lot on! I’m also hoping to get some weaving done this week

What I’m reading: a book borrowed (read that as stole) from my dad, previously read – Hope of Earth

What I’m doing: packing for upcoming vacation, going out to eat & to the movies with a friend later on today, and hopefully doing some letterboxing locally, including replanting a couple of boxes that got lost last year. I’m also planning on making some “healthy” snacks & freezing them for our trip. maybe these cookies

What I’ve been making: constant 12″ charity square making (various patterns), scrap socks, & the aforementioned design samples

What I’m watching: Lost & ST:TNG on Netflix, catching up on Bomb Girls on tivo, and watching too many ‘end of the world’ type of movies

Hello!

A week ago today, my in-laws took Jon & I, my sister in law Julie & her husband Brian to NYC for a day bus trip for our birthdays. My in-laws regularly go on the bus trip, but it’s the first time Jon & I have gone with them, and the first time we’ve gone to NYC as “adults” – I was a senior in high school the last time I went, and Jon was 15 or 16! Now, we are not at all city people (despite Jon growing up in a small city), but it was definitely an experience! We were dropped off at Rockerfeller Center,

walked to Times Square, walked back to Central Park (visiting a lot of stores along the way),


spent most of the day in Central Park,

including going to the zoo & seeing the Ice Age 4D movie, walked back to Times Square to eat at Planet Hollywood,

(I know, it’s a horrid picture! It was worse before editing – my camera hates indoor photos!)
only to walk most of the way back to Central Park to pick up the bus! Talk about a long day!

Yesterday was my niece’s birthday party – great fun, though I hurt my back running around playing games with her and the rest of the kids. So much so that we probably won’t end up doing anything with my parents today for my own birthday, but it was worth it. We seldom see our niece so we treasured every minute.

Afterwards, we headed up to York, Maine, for a few hours, even though I was suffering… I didn’t realize quite how much until I stood up, but I did manage to snap a few photos though Jon had to take most of them. I managed to take a couple of photos of FOs I will share later on this week on FO Friday, and I did manage to snap this one of one of my latest designs that’s currently in testing…

and a better photo of my free “three triangles” shawl

since I wasn’t happy with the last batch I took.

regular blog readers know it’s tradition for Jon to draw our initials in the sand, which Jon did (I actually forgot all about it, but shh… don’t tell Jon!) He took this photo so you can all see…

Nemo had washed away most of the sand on the beach and had uncovered an old ship, roughly from the Revolutionary War, so Jon took photos for me to share with ya’ll…

there was quite a crowd around the ship. It’s been uncovered a few times over the last century – after we got home we found this article about it

I managed to get lots of crocheting done in the ride up & back, mainly on a project I can’t share with you – yet.

what have you been up to this weekend?

I just wanted to talk about a few more things about our vacation Hope no one minds, I know I don’t normally share a ton of personal things on this blog, but this is our first vacation in five years, other than camping with my parents for a few nights in the summer.

after climbing a mountain our first day there, this was the best day weather wise

at the narrow gauge railroad museum in portland, maine

the beach at sunset

walking along the beach after sunset, that’s the moon you see here!

and, on the way home…

the things you see on the highway!

So we went to Maine for our 12th wedding anniversary. We stayed at a great little place called the Sea Mist Resort in Wells, Maine. We had a little kitchenette, there was an indoor heated pool & hot tub (that we only had time to use once) & staff was very very friendly! we’ll definitely stay there again.

It rained – a lot – every day, in fact. We did manage to do almost everything on our list, however. We visited a great yarn store in Kennebunk, called the Ball & Skein, where I managed to buy this

locally dyed yarn…

and this

and this…

They had a great yarn group going on while we were there, & the lady who took care of me was very friendly & nice. I was very impressed & this will definitely be a regular stop.

We also went to the Yarn Seller, a yarn store I usually end up visiting every trip to Maine…

it’s a very cheerful, inviting place.

that’s what I walked out with…

I loved this sign (sorry it’s so grainy & blurry)