Vacations & Knitting

Just when Summer was ending, we were able to squeeze in a few vacation days. We spent a week in San Antonio, cruising the River Walk, remembering the Alamo, visiting Gruene, Berne and Fredricksburg, taking pictures of the LDS Temple. It was really HOT there, but fun just the same. It was a great city to visit. Many thanks to my sister and brother-in-law for always generously sharing their time-share with us. We ate a lot of great Tex-Mex and BBQ. Kyle is the super-sleuth of finding little out-of-the-way eating establishments. They often look scary from the outside, but always end up being delicious!! We shopped at a HUGE outlet Mall, where we found some great deals, and at many eclectic boutiques in the small surrounding towns.

My take-along knitting project was my "Stella" sweater. The yarn came wrapped on a cone, so it was easy to slip into my carry-on bag. It knit up really fast, with a lace weight yarn and large needles. I've finished the body, and I'm currently working on the left sleeve. I may actually get to wear this Summer sweater before the weather cools. It is looking like my "Eva" sweater may be put "on-hold" until next Summer. Fall is coming and I'm itching to start knitting warmer sweaters.

The day after we returned, my husband went to work on an Elk Hunting Ranch for 2 months, and I traveled with my grandchildren to see Dinosaur Land in Vernal, Utah. School has begun again, and we wanted to squeeze one more fun trip in. It was a one-day whirlwind trip, but so much fun! I always forget how excited little boys get about dinosaurs. It was amazing to see the dinosaur bones of many different types of dinosaurs, still in the mountainside.

Dont's these two guys look alike? I couldn't resist taking these pictures. It guess it is an "Easton-asaurous"???

After this fun week, it was back to work and back to school. However, it was also time to start up "Knit Night" again. We had a great turn-out and we started our "Lady Kina" KAL. There were so many fun colors, chosen for these sweaters. We should have quite a fashion show of them at the end of the year. In addition, some brought their Summer Projects to share.

Tiffany took a quilt piecing class over the Summer. She made this beautiful sampler quilt. It is all ready for quilting, and just in time for the arrival of her fourth child.

This cute little guy was the recipient of one of Erica's "Poor Baby" Sweaters. Lucky guy. You'll remember that Erica knit 3 "Poor Baby" sweaters at our last "Knit Night" KAL.

Jennifer is expecting her first baby in December. She knit these two darling little elephants over the Summer. The original pattern produced the small one, and she figured out how to upsize it, but using bulkier yarn and larger needles. They are so cute! Jennifer's Mom is quite amazed at how quickly Jennifer is picking up knitting skills. She is a little concerned that she may be "left in the dust".

Along with my "Stella", I am frantically knitting to finish up "MY" "Lady Kina" sweater. It is coming along nicely, but will likely not fit "ME" in the end. I was a little late in figuring out the pattern was written for French sizing. Oh well . . . I already have some small sized volunteers to take it off my hands. You can see from the picture what a difference blocking makes. I can't wait to get this intertwined leaf pattern stretched out. It is working up just as I had hoped.

Well, now that Fall is in the air, I have a few KALs of my own, that I am hoping to participate in. I've joined Amy Herzog's Fall Festival Sweater KAL.  I've decided to knit "Leaving", designed by Anne Hanson.  I've chosen Lisa Souza Baby Alpaca Silk in the color "Cranaliscious.  I can't wait to get started.  I plan to swatch this weekend, so I can get my Custom Fit pattern ordered up and ready to go.

The nip of Fall is in the air, and the leaves are quickly changing.  Our garden is producing like crazy, and I'll be freezing lots of grean beans this weekend, along with trying some new cucumber and zucchini recipes.  It has been a great Summer!  Happy Knitting!