Tag Archives: travel

Let’s Go Home Knitting

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My brain is full and I’m ready to head home tomorrow from my work conference. My travel socks didn’t get as much work as I had hoped at the conference. A lot of the days I chose not to carry my backpack and just a small clutch so I could move around the conference better. Which means less knitting but a healthier back and less foot pain.

I have seven hours of travel tomorrow so my goal is to double this progress and at least get through the full rainbow. Do you think I can make it?

Happy Knitting!!

A New Travel Sock

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I have a quick work conference this week so of course none of my current knitting would work. I DEFINITELY needed to cast on something new!

I pulled some vintage KirbyWirby sock yarn from my stash. This one is her Rose Apothecary Remix color. I hand wound this into a big ball and I had a wee little toe for my flight halfway across the country.

I strategically got an aisle seat so I could knit comfortably on the first flight leg, but was not so lucky on leg number two. So I read my book for the last two hours. I am reading the latest Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum book. Yeah, I know they are all the same but I find that comforting!

Now I’m off to learn a whole bunch! Happy Knitting!!

Kansas Is More Than Flat

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Thanks to Thanksgiving travel, the family decided to take the scenic route to see family. That takes us through the tall grass prairies of the Flint Hills of Kansas.

There is an overlook right off the highway that we pulled off for. You can go right up to the edge of the bluff and look out for MILES. It’s fully fall now so the foliage is gone but it is still pretty spectacular

The kids and I stopped to read about the features of the North American tall grass prairie. And then hustled back to the car because it was super cool and super windy. Sometimes its nice to remember that Kansas is more than just flat land, lol.

Happy Friday!

Hill Country Weavers Yarn Shop

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While in Texas, I had half a day to kill before my flight left for home. I hopped into an Uber and found the closest yarn store which happened to be Hill Country Weavers. Y’all…this shop was the bomb!

This shop had all kinds of yarn brands that I haven’t been able to lay hands on yet. I touched La Bien Aimee, Life in the Long Grass, Madeline Tosh and many more. Even the bathroom had a life size sheep painting!

I might have spent my budget plush some but it was totally worth it. I grabbed a mix of sock yarn, DK and worsted. I had some Uneek Worsted in a self striping pattern (top), La Bien Aimee BFL Sock, Life In the Long Grass Fine Sock, Madeline Tosh DK, Madelinetosh Pashmina, and two skeins of Spin Cycle!

Truth be told, other than the hat I cast on with the Uneek Worsted, I have zero plans for this yarn. I just wanted some special/souvenir pieces to add to my collection and stash. These are yarns I don’t normally get to lay hands on. Definitely yarn to remember!!

Happy Knitting!!

Conference Knitting

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I finished my first Celebrate The Night sock tube on the plane, which meant sock number two is all I had left for session knitting. In my hotel I got the self striping added to the solid toe I already had started.

Day one was a blur and I didn’t get much added. But three stripes isn’t anything to sneeze at. Day two and three made made more substantial progress. I finished the first repeat of stripes and I’m halfway through the second.

I didn’t get any funny looks and a few people stopped to talk and ask questions. It was nice to have something in my hands to offset the social anxiety of being around 6,100 people in a post-COVID world.

The trip was a much needed break from a chaotic work schedule and from being a 24/7 mom. I met up with some work friends and coworkers and we might have lit up Texas a tiny bit. I was a soul recharging trip, even with the heat index of 110!

Happy Knitting!!

Stripes On A Plane

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I recently had the opportunity travel for a work conference. I decided to take my Celebrate The Night socks with me as my travel knitting. I had kind of a long way around to get from Kansas to Texas so I was flying for 10 hours. I managed A LOT of stripes.

By the time I touched down in Texas, I had a finished cuff on sock number one. Felt really good! I purposely used my nine inch wooden circular needles and left my DPNs in my checked bag to avoid security questions. I decided the afterthought heel was best left for my return home.

Stay tuned for my conference update and a last minute yarn shop trip. Happy Knitting!!

Filling My Bucket

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I turned 35 this past November and I decided to fill my bucket a little. I have a dear friend from college that lives in Portland Oregon whom I rarely get to see. On kind of a whim I snagged some flight deals from Southwest and set up a birthday trip. Just me…no kids, no husbands, no adulting. Just a weekend with old friends to recharge my batteries a bit.

First up….I spotted the famous PDX carpet that has been highlighted by the likes of the Yarn Harlot and has inspired many an indie dyed yarn colorway. Apparently its an institution and I in true tourist fashion snagged a photo.

Right from the airport we grabbed some Cuban food for brunch and did some shopping in the little neighborhood by her house. I snagged some books from Powels, christmas presents for my kiddos and soaked up all the weird that is the Pacific Northwest. That night my friend threw me a personal birthday party in her gorgeous house. We had homemade fish tacos, wine and chocolate peanut butter cake!

The next morning I was served homemade quiche after I slept for a magnificent 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Did I mention my friend’s husband is a classically trained chef? I was in heaven….

After breakfast we did some more shopping and I picked up a new winter coat for PB and I and then my friend took me to a YARN STORE. The store was awesome and it deserves it’s own special post.

On Sunday night before I had to fly out we went out for ramen and Korean BBQ. I had Bibimbap with pulled porkand it was GLORIOUS. Then we met up with a local friend and went to a stand up comedy event that supported LGTBQ charities. We had wine at the show and laughed so hard we cried.

The morning of my flight the grey Oregon skies parted and sent me off with this glorious sunrise. I’m told that this kind of sunrise is rare this time of year so I felt extra special.

And I flew home to my hubby and babies….and an arctic blast. I did get a lot of knitting done while I was on the airplanes and while lounging around the house chatting with my friend. But I think I’ll share all that on separate posts. I was exhausted from all the coming and going but it was worth it. I may or may not be plotting my next trip already….

Socks On Vacation

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I lost my every loving mind and decided it was a good idea to load up my small children, husband and mother and take a weekend vacation. Jellybean had one wish….to sleep in a hotel. So we planned a simple weekend where my mom could attend a quilt show and the rest of us could play at Science City in Union Station in Kansas City and then we would all have a nice stay in a hotel.

Y’all, it was chaos and no one got any sleep in an unfamiliar place. But all reports say that everyone had a good time. PB up and finally decided to fully commit to walking! We had two adjoining rooms with the second having a balcony. After a FULL day running around Saturday I snuck out on to the patio with Dad’s 2019 Christmas Socks and put on a few rounds after the kids went to sleep.

The Kansas humidity made the wool a little sticky in my hands. But you can’t argue with the sunset view!

Happy Knitting!!

Socks In The Wild

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I spent some time stomping around my hometown with Jellybean visiting Papa and Grandma last weekend. It was a crisp 40 degrees Fahrenheit but that didn’t stop Jellybean from convincing Papa to play at the park. I played chauffeur.

I wisely chose to sit in the mini van with podcasts (and heat) while Papa chased Jellybean. I had my Vacation Vanilla Socks tucked into my backpack and when I examined them I realized I was ready to start the heel! I improvised some fancy stitch markers from scraps of yarn scavenged from the bottom of my knitting bag and off I went with a standard toe up gusset heel.

This is the second sock and i’m secretly hoping to finish them before PB’s arrival. We shall see…

Happy Knitting

Yarn Shop Adventures

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My travels for work had me gone over Valentines. Which is not a huge thing for the hubby and I but still seemed a bummer to miss both my boys on such a fun day. I consoled myself by using my first solo Uber and locating a LYS in St. Paul. I found the Yarnery!

It was delightful and the staff was friendly and helpful. They had a TON of yarns that I don’t have access back in Kansas. The shop was organized by weight and very very pretty. I settled on three very pretty yarns and two cash register splurges…

I got some Mrs Crosby Hat Box in the Pansy color. This was a sport weight yarn. Then I chose some Neighborhood Fiber Co. Rustic Fingering in the Easterwood color. This 100% is most definitely for a shawl or hat. Finally from a sale bin I chose a single 50 gram skein of Shibui Knits Staccato in Raspberry. It was the only one of the color but I figured I could make a small pair of mitts while trying a new to me yarn.

Then I splurged on an Yarnery enamel pin and some Love + Leche balm. It was very very dry in Minnesota even compared to Kansas. My lips and hands were in dire need of some hydration!

Finally I rounded out the night by having Valentines dinner delivered to my room. I chose rosemary cheese fries with a side of molten chocolate brownie with ice cream! It was mom-free zone slice of heaven.

I can’t wait to go back next year! Happy knitting!!