CarmelKnits, etc.

Gabby had her annual senior wellness visit at the veterinary clinic on Friday. She is in great health. Her blood work apparently is that of a two year old Boxer. However... Her urinalysis was diluted right at the critical point where they start to question things... It's possible that she simply drank a trough of water before we went down (she did) and that's what caused it. Or it could be something else. Either way they were going to need another sample. All I had to do, this is the funny part of the conversation, all I had to do was get a fresh sample from her... Come again? How does one obtain a urine sample from a dog. The doctor was very helpful with suggestions. Follow her around and try and catch it on/in a ziploc baggy tupperware coffee cup soak it up with a paper towel if she goes on cement paper plate (that was my favorite) Perplexed with my task ahead and distracted because we had friends over for dinner I replayed the conversation with...

Chevron Baby Blanket by Purl Soho on the Purl Bee Blog.

And this happens... Thank goodness I had to stop for fuel. Thank goodness I looked down at my feet. Thank God I was only a mile from home.

Does this happen to you? A new package of yarn arrives in the mail and even though you know what's inside, you know what project it's for, you've planned to start it after you finish the current project on your needles, all you need to do is safely tuck it away in the stash and make a mental note that it's there and ready when you are done with your current WIP. That's always the plan when I track the packages and see that it's waiting on the porch. I know what it is. I know what project it's for. I know exactly when said project needs to be done. I have a fairly substantial project on the needles with a 'need to finish by date' that is creeping closer at an alarming rate. I get home. I calmly approach the front porch where I see a very squishy pillow shaped package waiting for me. I pick it up and as I soon as I feel the softness of the package my whole plan goes down the crapper. Sorry dogs, Momma's gotta wind up some y...

D: will you do me a favor today? Me: what is it? (I rarely give a straight up yes when anyone asks me this question) D: will you go to the team store and pick me up a Seahawks tee? Me: the one in Seattle? D: no at the mall. Me: The mall? (I say this a little taken aback and with some surprise) D: yes... The mall Me: ummm okay *i quick pull out my phone D: what are you doing Me: pulling up a map of the mall. D: why? Me: I need to map out the quickest way in and out in relation to the team store... I have mall aversion. I don't think I've voluntarily gone to the mall in 25 years... I go at Christmas because we are procrastinators, but even then I'm not that willing :) and the last two Christmases we've gone to mall I've broken out in a rash all over my torso... Not fun. Needless to say I did the favor, d will be sporting a new vintage looking Seahawks shirt at the preseason game against the Broncos tonight... Me! I'll be kicking it with my...

Here? Where is Here? Here is Camden, Maine. Specifically, the Cashmere Goat Yarn Shop. It's delicious. Seriously. They have an incredible variety of yarn, a nice wide open shop with a back room that also doubles as a classroom not to mention holds more scrumptious yarns to squeeze, oooh and ahhh over. Specifically though, they carry a couple local yarns to Maine. 1. Swan Island yarn (I bought 2 skeins of the Worsted Merino in color Logwood and 1, skein of fingering in natural white... Kicking myself for not buying all they had in stock because it's, it's wonderful) 2. String Theory (I didn't buy a skein of this and don't worry, I've kicked myself plenty for it) So, as mentioned I picked up 2 skeins of the Swan Island Worsted Merino in Logwood. I already had a project in mind for it. Michelle Wangs Eternity Scarf. It used to be free on Ravelry but was reworked last fall in conjuction with Brooklyn Tweed's yarns and now the pattern is f...

Eternity Scarf by Michelle Wang... I'm using the Swan Island Merino Worsted in color Logwood that I found at The Cashmere Goat in Camden, Maine. This will probably be my one of favorite souvenirs...

In the process of catching up from being gone for a week I finally feel like I've got a fingertip hold on things now... I think took like 6 gazillion pictures that I need to review (probably closer to 600) We had a wonderful time. I want to go back and do it all again. I think we will go back and do it again... What we did was fly to Boston, Ma Drive to Camden, ME Board a 70ft sailboat named Destiny Sailed around Penobscot Bay all the way from Camden to Northeast Harbor, to the Fox Islands and back to Camden. Amazing. The most relaxed I've ever been. The best food prepared by our own chef. Plus time spent with my favorite people in the world.

First let me point out that dolphins in the wild are fast, tiny, beautiful creatures and trying to capture them on camera almost toppled me right off the sailboat. I went to bed last night bummed that I apparently didn't catch one photo of the jumping creatures when one caught my eye... You have to want to see it. It's there. I promise I edited the photo below this so you could see it for real... Happy Monday!

I'm on the other side of the country sailing right now... I brought three projects with me. 1. Fingering weight Simple Beret for Margie I finished en route to Boston. 2. Baby Socks I started on the airplane and finished one on day two aboard Destiny. 3. I'm back on track with my Ivy Trellis Socks after a brief tipping of the heel, restarting and fudging a bit with the stitches. 4. My moms Color Affection is down in our cabin which is in the bow of the ship. The days have been lovely. We arrived in Camden late Tuesday and the next morning we did an unguided walking tour and found The Cashmere Goat... A yarn shop! It wasn't open though. We'll disembark there next week again and calmly walk our way over... Who am I kidding, it's my mom and I, we'll freaking run! From peering stalker-like thru the windows they have a nice variety of yarn but after some research we discovered they have some local wools and alpacas... My souvenir gift list is getting sho...