Madli's Shawl Progress

As promised, here is a photo of my progress on Madli's Shawl from Interweave Knits Summer 2004 by Nancy Bush. I really believe that I have gotten the hang of the pattern now. I am even doing better of the nipps (You knit and yarn over three times, followed by a final knit. On the next row you have to purl into all seven stitches at once!) My knitting time on this project is limited because I am still at my daughter's and I find four year old boys rather dangerous around a lace project.



While on Maui my husband and I found and antique poster shop. We bought, among others, these two posters for our home. I knew Peugeut made bicycles but never knew that they made sewing machines. In addition to knitting I also do quilting and have a collection of several sewing machines. These posters represent my interests, cycling and needle craft.






Speaking of cycling, yesterday my daughter and I went out for a short ride in Palos Verdes. The area she took me to was beautiful. We were on a road on a cliff right beside the ocean. I could see all the way to Malibu. Being a desert person seeing the ocean is always special to me. I think the plan is to go back there this afternoon when the boys are in preschool.

California Dreaming

I am now in California visiting my youngest daughter and her family. She has 4 year old twin sons. If I do say so my grandsons (for future reference, referred to as Big Bub and Little Bub) are a delight.

I am working on two projects that I took to California with me. On is a very simple pattern from Rowan Book number 27 called Blanket Coat by Kim Hargreaves. It is a fun jacket that will be perfect for visits here to the beach. I started it ages ago and made a very silly mistake on one of the front panels. I did the math on the number of rows I completed on the back before the armhole. Well being the great CPA that I am I can't subtract and shorted the front by 20 rows. This coat has a hood incorporated in the front panel and I finished one front before and part of the other one before I discovered my mistake. I was so frustrated because it is such a simple pattern and I made a simple mistake that I put it away for ages. I now have successfully completed the fronts and backs so all that is left are the sleeves. I am three fourths finished with one sleeve. I hope to have pictures once I return home next week. In the meantime here is a picture from Rowan.




















The other project that I have is Madli's Shawl from Interweave Knits Summer 2004 by Nancy Bush. It is a twelve row repeat lace pattern. First you have a 25 row border and then you repeat the twelve row lace pattern 32 times. I have just finished row four on the 8th repeat. I hope to have pictures soon for you. I am not making much progress at this point because it is not something one (read that I) can do with two four year olds around.

On the exercise front I was able to go to a spinning class with my daughter at her local Y yesterday. Afterwards we were able to weight train. Felt good to get back to exercising. Tomorrow while the Bubs are at preschool we are going out for a bike ride. Right now my daughter is at the Trilab getting fitted for her new bicycle. I will ride the old one. She has promised to go easy on me.

Aloha

Today is my last day in the tropical paradise known as Maui. We have been very blessed by beautiful weather. There have been clouds a few days but no real threat of rain. Not the same for the people on Oahu who have been facing some severe flooding. Good thoughts for them.

I am surprised at how little knitting I have gotten done here. Lots of activities that include sand. I find that sand and knitting just don't mix. Tonight we have a five hour flight back to Los Angeles so I should be able to a lot in then.


We did have chance to take a 54' sloop-rigged catamaran to Lanai with Trilogy Excursions. It was a very relaxing day.






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While on the catamaran we were able to see some humpback whales and spinner dolphins. This picture is not one I took because my camera does not have that sort of range but I wanted you to have the feel of what I saw. What wonderful animals. We have been very fortunate to see some from shore as we drove around the island.



The other thing I did hear that was really exciting was that I had THREE, yes, THREE spa days here: The Grand Wailea Spa Grande. It was a very relaxing day. For Christmas my husband gave me gift certificates for the spa and I had enough for two days and he agreed to a third!

OK, now for why he agreed to the third day. On Monday while snorkeling when the catamaran took us to a beach he lost his wedding ring in the water. He then spent four days keeping it a secret from me. You see this is the second wedding ring he has lost in the Pacific. The first in San Diego a year after we married. His plan this time was to get back to Tucson and order another one before I figured it out. (I am stopping on the way home for a week and a have to visit our daughter and her family. TriathleteB). But he got caught when I noticed yesterday. He said the thought he might make it because it took me five days to notice! LOL

A Trace of Rain, Hanne and Packing the Yarn

We had rain yesterday! Now I know to most people that is no big deal but when you live in the desert southwest it is something to get excited about. The official measurement at the airport was "a trace". After four months of nothing, a trace does not help much, so those of you in rain saturated areas please send rain.

I am making progress on my Hanne Falkenberg jacket. I am working on the back of Decapo. I have completed the first two of three color bands. I have completed about 20% of the third color. Since the number of stitches increases each row it will take me a bit of time to see major progress. I will persist.



The total picture.

A close up with better views of the color pattern.








Saturday morning my husband and I leave for California. We will spend two days with our daughter and her family and then on to Maui for a week. As with most of my vacations I spend lots of time figuring out what knitting to take. I have decided not to take Decapo because I am knitting it on my only pair of rosewood needles. I would be very upset if they got broken. I will report tomorrow on what projects I decide to take.

Today's workout with my trainer at the gym involved working on core muscles. Probably won't get out on the road on my bike but will probably ride the training in front of the tv at least and hour.