Knit-a-Way 2010

You can listen to the podcast recorded at the retreat here High Fiber Diet, Episode 70.

I needed this weekend. It could not have come at a better time than two weeks before my husband deploys. The stress level at the house had gone from 20 to 140 in a matter of 5 days and we were at each others throats. With this get a way, I was able to relax and enjoy life for a bit and Sarge was able to decompress at home. I will tell you it was a bit odd to be the one leaving with the car and not the one waving goodbye when I left. I guess seeing it from the other side makes me appreciate it a bit more. My MIL went with me and it was a great time to just talk on the drive over and back.
Anyways...
The retreat house we went to was a large (read can sleep 35 comfortably, if you have air mattresses for the basement). The only downside I saw was the water pressure in the kitchen. Other than that it was FAB!
This is what we pulled up to on Thursday night, after driving 4 1/2 hours to get there. Well worth it!



This is the side that faces Lake Huron. Beautiful views and wonderful breezes all day long.



The event was wonderful!



We had a good time, met new friends, talked, laughed and just relaxed. We went to Mary Maxims on Friday after I had a massage for over an hour. I felt so good. On Saturday I was a bit sore but it went away. Lorrie and I went to Hobby Lobby and then headed to a wonderful restaurant for lunch on Saturday afternoon. The best Pizza I have had in a while. When I go back next year instead of carting food across the state, I am ordering take out from here. OMG good!! We really didn't need to go out for lunch that day, as there was an overload of food at the house. All women who know how to have a good time. We drank, yes I brought Scrumpy's and it was gone on the 1st night. After that I drank margaritas and water, with a few Pepsi's thrown in. One of the other retreaters brought the best granola I have had in a while. Homemade and only 1 point on WW for a 1/2 cup YUM! I hope she posts the recipe soon, I want to make some. I will link it when she does. Both Friday and Saturday nights we had prize drawings. I walked away with yarn, a butt/overall bag full of stuff, a sock bag and more yarn. Quite happy with my haul, though I could have done with bringing back less stuff than I took. As it was both MIL and I had extra bags and had an over stuffed car.
I am not going to post oodles of photos here, but instead you can go look at my flickr page. The page has both photos of the house, view and all the goodies I picked up, won or swapped all weekend.
I am signed up for next year, just need to send a check for the deposit before I forget.
Now it is back to the grind and getting ready for Sarge to deploy, Boo to graduate and me to at least pass my classes.

Yarn Store Rant

You all know me, I love to rant. Here is another one for your reading pleasure

I have been trying to figure out how to blog about experiences I had this last weekend. I hope I do this justice, but remember I am more of a math person than English major.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to three different yarn stores. Each had there good points and their bad points. Two, I had never been to one I go to a bit more than my husband thinks I should.

The pluses to all three stores, was the yarn selections. Each had different high points and each seemed to cater to a different crowd. I eneded up with patterns from two of the three stores, some will be used in a swap and one will be made up for the Sarge. I saw a book at the other store that I would love to pick up in the future, it just wasn't in the budget for this week.

I am not sure if I was just over tired this weekend or if my mission of "The Perfect" was not one that could be fulfilled.

Here starts my rant:

I admit, summer is not the best sales time for a knitting store, but I would think from a retail perspective, you would try to be inviting to people who are shopping, even if they are just shopping for vacation souvenir yarn.

By inviting, I mean:

Air conditioning- Picking up and loving yarn is important. When you are hot and it is humid, the feel of wool changes. What could be the softest yummiest yarn for an evening shrug or cardigan, will stick to the humid skin and be itchy/yucky to the feel.

Be helpful but not judgmental in other words, remember the old adage that the customer is right? Yep, it is retail and even knitters can vote with their dollars where they will go. If the customer asks for a certain type of yarn, do not put down that type of yarn just to make a sale. I can understand that you as a store will not carry all types of yarn. I understand as a business you will show me something else that will work. This is fine; I may find it is something I like. However, if I want a certain brand and I have fallen in love with it, then I will go somewhere else to get this yarn.

Respect the customers: Do not sit and gab it up with your regulars and when someone asks a question, or act as if they are infringing on your free time. Really? Are we not all customers even if we are not yet friends? This was a huge thing this weekend and it really surprised me.

Have knowledgeable people working for you. When a customer asks a question, have the ability to look up an answer if you do not know it. Do not be www.cantdoit. The internet is a great tool. It may even help your store out. Classes to learn a new stitch at TNNA cost more than a basic internet class at your local college. A decent PC or laptop is about a grand these days, think of it as a business investment/tool and use it. Along these lines, know the popular patterns on the net; know how to pronounce the Clapotis or the Seraphina. Even if you do not enjoy the pattern, know it because thousands of knitters do, and they love it. In addition, have someone on hand that knows how to crochet. Being looked down on as a crocheter can cost you a HUGE sale.

As I said, maybe, it was just me being cranky this weekend, it was a long drive, two hot days and I was very tired at the end of it.
This is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

A Little less crooked

Now that I have had down time from the vacation, my head feels a little less crooked.

I got to open my Say Goodbye to Winter Swap package while recording the podcast on Saturday.
I had the most wonderful spoiler, Anita.
She sent me :

• Camel for spinning


• Two hats for C-Pap


• A pink ink pad and Sheep stamp for letterboxing.


• Chocolate covered espresso beans


• Chai Spice tea


• 9" Hiya Hiya circs


• A Tote that says " So much yarn, so little time"


• A Leather Journal

What a wonderful swap box,thank you so much. It was well worth the wait.

The Sarge and Boo finished up her room, except for the steam cleaning, which is my part. She likes bright colors, I just wonder how she is going to sleep in it.

We need to replace the blinds

And put back on the switch plates.

I also finally got the photos of all my loot from the trip. Wow, I didn't think I bought this much, but hey, I promised the Sarge that I would use it all, it will not become stash.

and the books, part are what Anita gave me when we met up. I am finishing the one I was reading on the trip before I dive into these.

More photos, sorry these are all heavy, I finished the " I do not have the clap"-Clapotis

Here is my MIL wearing it.

Finally, King Tut is telling me to hurry, he wants to play, so I am off

Homeward bound

Wednesday morning we set off for the long trek back to Michigan.
We searched out a route through Ft.Wayne that would end our yarn crawl in Lansing. Yes, we had to hit Threadbear.

We had a slow breakfast at the hotel and then we were off to Knitting Off Broadway in Ft.Wayne, IN.
It was a smallish store but very busy while we were there. We were both hungry so we left fairly quick. The ladies had told us about Mad Anthony's Brewing Co and Munchies. The food was SO GOOD.
I had Scooby Snacks. Yes like scooby dooby doo

They are steak fries with cape cod seasoning and served with a cucumber dipping sauce that is to die for good!! Along with this, I had a yummy Frisco melt and a lemonade. Perfect lunch.
Deb had a Ruben and red beans & rice. Yummy. Neither of us tried a brew, but we were on the road so not a problem.

On the way to the freeway, we stopped for gas and I saw they sold local wines there. I picked up a country white from St. James Winery. I love wine :)

Off and going for another couple hundred miles and we were at ThreadBear Fiber Arts by 5pm.
We were both looking for yarn for our "Trip Sweater" something to remember the trip with. Yeah, like the credit card bill wouldn't be a reminder.
I ended up purchasing Curvy Knits by Jillian Moreno to make the A-Line tunic and enough Artesanal in a light heathered blue to use for it. I also bought enough Malabrigo sock yarn to make up the Leafy shawl that Deb has been working on and a pattern for the Prairie Blanket.
Deborah bought enough wool for the Origami Sweater she wants to make up and two skeins of Dream in color in autumn greens. Yum!
Oh, I ripped out the scarf on Noro. Was not happy after almost 1/2 way done. I have decided I am going to make up the Swiss cheese scarf instead and have fun with it. (pattern is a Ravelry download)

We went out to dinner at Cheddars and had an awesome Hawaiian chicken salad and then a snookie for dessert. (hey one last hurrah before we go home)
I pulled into the drive way at 10:05pm

It is good to be home. Today I have done laundry, cleaned up the kitchen some and started dinner in the crock-pot, as well as blog about everything.
You will notice their are no photos. Yes bad blogger! No cookie!
I left my card in the laptop when I uploaded on Tuesday night. I didn't know and was taking photos all day without a memory card. Hopefully I can grab some from Deborah in a few days.

If it's Tuesday it must be Frankfort

Tuesday on the road again.
After a late night doing laundry and watching a movie, we were up early on Tuesday so we could head into the Smokey mountains to Gatlinburg. I had no idea that we would be going through Pigeon Forge, Dolly Patrons’ hometown and home to Dollywood. Wow , what a tourist trap. I can see why people go though, there are oodles to do for kids and adults. Yes I am a country music fan.
Driving through, we had fog most of the way, when it started to lift the Mountains were beautiful.
I never knew I missed mountains as much as I do. This trip has been eye opening in that event.

We made it to the Smokey MTN spinnery
about 10 am and the owner was wonderful. I asked about local wools and she had said they were out.
She did point me to some camel (no I did not buy any) and she showed me some Vicuna, which was 300+ an ounce, yeah a bit out of my price range.
It was OMG SOFT!! yes, I am talking orgasm inducing fiber.

I did pickup some Shetland wool and a skein of alpaca (over 600 yards) to make something. I also picked up some soap to use for making laundry soap. Yummy smelling, called country kitchen.
Oh, the owner showed me how to comb a top
and pull finger roving with a diz.
I want a diz now too cool.



Look at this cash register, yes she used it to ring up our purchases.

After we left and headed back through the mountains to Frankfort, KY.

On the way into Frankfort, we stopped at the Travel Welcome center for culture.
So many neat hand made items. There was a spinning display
Metal roses
and animals.


We went to The Woolery.
This is a shop that has been online for a while and open since 1981, but is just opening a brick and mortar storefront.

Chris and Nancy Miller, the owners.
The shop is beautiful.
They have their official opening in April and AnitaT works there
(can you tell my back was hurting in these photos?)
It was so great to see her again. We took pictures, I bought smaller bobbins for my Babe, YAY they sell Babe stuff.
(I will be getting my conversion kit from them when I pay off the credit card from the trip)
After going to the store, we went and got a hotel for the night.
Even with all the driving today, this was the most relaxing day of the trip.

AnitaT and her husband came and picked me up and we headed out for dinner. Anita’s friend Paula met up with us at Johnnie Carino’s and we spent a few hours with good food, good conversation and good company.

What a lovely set of people!
After, we headed over to Anita’s house, which BTW is beautiful!
Her “Crap” room is one I dream of having one day. I talked her into opening her box from the swap, and we had a blast. I cannot say enough about this lady, if you ever have the chance to meet her, do so!
Her whole family was very inviting and comfortable.

Disclaimer: I am not a drinker so I am sure I was quite talkative after two drinks, so I apologize for anything I might have said during dinner or after, but man, I needed those drinks.
Thank you so much for a wonderful evening.

Monday on the road

Monday started out a little later than we have been going each day. We left out of Columbus at 930am headed for Knitch in Atlanta.
Careful or the Knitting bug will get you as you walk in

Kathy (Mountainpurl)on Ravelry had given me the heads up that we wanted to go there. Boy was she right. Kim the owner was wonderful.
Very helpful with pointing out fibers and types of yarns. They are a southern distributor for Bluemoon fibers, so you all know I just had to purchase a skein of Raven socks that rock in Valkyrie.
I also purchased some locally dyed BFL (the pink/red braid in front )
and some cashgora fiber, second shelf all the way to the right (a goat that is bred between a cashmere goad and an angora goat that you get mohair from) that I had heard about on the Yarn Spinners podcast . I was able to put my hands in both full Cashmere,(Top shelf all the way to the left) and full cashgora and the podcaster was correct. The only difference was that with the cashmere, your heat radiates back on you where with Cashgora it whisks it away. Both are soft and yummy. I picked up 1 oz of the cashgora to try to spin it.
We went to Atkins Park Restaurant for lunch, This is the home of the "Best Burger in Atlanta" though they tried to talk us into chicken n dumplings, we stuck to the burgers.
Very good!

Kim told us about another yarn store around the area, The whole nine yarns and we headed up the HWY to the store. Outside there was another Gazebo, must be the south. I love it!

There we met the owner Debi.
What a lovely lady. We ended up chatting and taking photos and chatting more. Yummy yarn, wonderful patterns and good conversation. She did invite us to spin night, but I had left my wheel at home and we had planned to be in Gatlinburg by nightfall.
We left her shop about 5 pm; both of us want to come back!
Oh, I picked up the 3rd and 4th skein of yarn needed for my Noro 2 row scarf I am working on (yes I finished my Clapotis, so I had to start another road scarf while I was at the hotel). I promise I am not going over my yarn budget and I will knit all of this, it will not become stash yarn.LOL
About the Noro silk garden, other than a bit of VM in a couple of spots, this time knitting with it has not been so bad. It is still not my favorite yarn to knit with, but as this is what hubby ad bought me for our anniversary, I figure I need to make something I will wear with it.

Columbus, GA and family weekend

We went to Ft. Benning on Saturday and picked up Deborah's son. He has changed so much. Yes, went in a boy and came out a man. A man a mom and cousin-in-law can be proud of.

I tried to give Deb time with her son without butting in and I had pleanty of homework to get done for college, so that is what I did on Saturday evening and Sunday during the day. Yep, spent time on blackboard for college and knitted. Well, I also talked to the Sgt a couple of times on my little pink phone. BTW, I LOVE my little computer. Yeah, you need an external CD drive at first to get programs on it, (I hardly ever use the disc drive on my regular computer, so no biggie there) but once it is going, it is awesome!

Sunday afternoon, before we took her son back to base, the rain let up *YAY*

We were able to go to the River Walk in Columbus. It is beautiful and full of history. The promenade has plaques and gazebos that relate back to the history of the Columbus area. Very rich in civil war history. I love history and was soaking it all in.

I had never heard of the battle of Columbus, never knew that the confederate flag was once a Naval flag and that the Star Spangled banner was written for the flag that was flown over a fort in this area before it was moved . The area houses are beautiful and make me feel like we are walking through a set for Gone with the Wind. (one of my favorite movies)

Another history note of the area, Coke. Yep the drink. The statue I am standing behind is of the guy who wrote the recipe for Coke Syrup. Too cool.

Here are Deb and her son with the same statue.

Some silly person decided to add a bottle of dish soap to the fountain (we found the bottle)