Shopping… and other things

A and I went up to Bangor shopping Friday afternoon – she got out of work early, and needed new shoes.

I did not need new shoes.

But I got some really nice boots anyway. Dress boots that are just slightly over ankle height, and have an adjustable top, to having large calves did not make them impossible. Can’t wait for boots/tights season now!

We also went to JoAnn’s – can you believe I got in there, got what I needed and got out with only ONE extra thing? every word is true! Got some craft supplies for little niece E’s birthday next month, and some paper and a hexagon punch for me. Already thinking of some fun birthday cards to make with that punch – and as November has 4 family birthdays in it, thinking of fun cards is a good thing. 😉 I also got some acrylic yarn in girly colors – realized all these hats – none great for little girls. So I got some pinks and purples and will make some little hats over the next few weeks.

Then we did go to KFC, and stopped at Lowe’s on the way home, I got another can of spray paint, I am addicted, I think… and now it is too cold to paint outdoors, so I may have to wait until spring to do the chairs…

Saturday was a slow and easy day – L came over and she and A did a bit of ceiling insulating in the basement while I did data entry and some Halloween card wrap up details. Then we vegged and watched taped shows from this week, and I knit on the shawl. Boy, the rows crawl since that last increase, but I made it to the first 6 row YO round. Not much more to go now – I only have 5 more skeins of yarn – lol. Might wind up with a bit of the border yarn left over, but I am going to try not to. I have saved three skeins for that, it should be more than enough.

Today, more of the same – A went to the dump while I did data entry and prepped the cards for mailing. We went off to visit A’s sister S, had to deliver a couple of mystery packages – although we thought we had gotten enough for one for each radiation treatment, it seems we are two short. So, A picked up a couple more things, we wrapped them and delivered them. S is so cute, she has all the opened ones on display, and the pile of unopened ones below. She is loving this one part of having radiation, which was the point. She did tell us that weekends are a let down (no treatment, no gift.) so if we ever do it again for anyone, we should include weekends! Good feedback. She seems healthy and in good spirits, but a little anxious about next steps – visit to the dentist and the oncologist the week after finishing. Unrelated, of course, but in her mind, they are related, as she went to the dentist and then for her mammogram 6 months ago. It’s been a long 6 months for her, I know.

Odds and Ends

Getting my brain back on track this week! Yesterday was the first day back in the office in 2 weeks, and in some ways, it felt like I never left. Got a big pile of work to get through, surprise, surprise. Got the unofficial word that we got another grant I wrote, though. Pretty amazing if it is true, as it was a tough one, very competitive. So that was super news.

So. WIP update. Haven’t done any crocheting on the little baby blanket, as I have been focused on the PI shawl. This is why I try not to have more than one project on the hook/needles at once! I also have a mobile project, a scarf that I actually can’t wait to finish and show you, it is a fun story, but I will wait until the end to show you. 🙂

The Pi shawl – I made excellent progress last week in Phoenix. And I don’t have enough yarn. 😦 I thought I did, and that I had figured it rightly. I went with only 30 rows in the last section, and the garter stitch edge. I would have done better to keep knitting around and then done the crochet edge that EZ said was adequate. But, since I didn’t, I will have to ask my sister to go get me one more skein. 😦 If you want to do Pi with Quince and Co Finch, I suggest at least seven skeins. Using US size 8 needles, I started with 5, and will need 6 to complete it, and I know it would be a bit nicer if it was a bit wider. That being said – I highly recommend this yarn for this project – it is just yummy. Spun tightly and round, very stretchy (which may save this project in the blocking) all wool but far from scratchy. Nice body to it. I can’t wait to wrap it around me.

Besides knitting…

A, L and I did the AIDS walk in Bar Harbor Saturday – I was exhausted, so we did not hang around for the festivities, but it was a beautiful day for a stroll around Bar Harbor. Only the “newlywed and nearly dead” left for tourists, much more manageable! We finished the license plate game for the 3rd time this summer, when we spotted a Louisiana plate down by the harbor. We even have a spare Hawaii to start next year. That means that we have set a record – between Memorial Day and Columbus Day, we have seen cars from every state at least three times. Usually it is a struggle to get this done twice. A sign of a better economy?

Sunday was a lay-low day for me – I worked on putting the pool away and did laundry and knit. The pool is a SAD TALE. When I popped open the plug to let the air out of the rim, the plug pulled out in my hand. That finishes off the pool. So instead of clearing it up and putting it away, we will haul it to the dump next weekend when we have the truck again. Next spring we will get a new one, slightly different style, I think. I’d like one I don’t have to work so hard to set up and take down. But still small. I don’t need a big family sized one, just something to get in and cool down, relax. So I will be doing some research this winter.

Last night, I went to Bangor and met A. We had planned a trip to Hobby Lobby and then supper at the Olive Garden, but Hobby Lobby still isn’t open. It should open on the 27th, so we will go next month. I look forward to seeing what it is all about. Supper at Olive Garden was good as always, and the leftovers will be good tonight.

I think that is it, for what I have been doing since I got home.

Working on a fun Friday list for you, since last week’s was so boring. 🙂

Phoenix AZ day 3

Still hot. Still humid.

Today the workshops were pretty much topical to my work, so that was good. Lunch was even decent, chicken, but well prepared.

Once I got through the conference stuff, I ventured out, and walked about 6 blocks (on the shady side of the street where it was only about 95) to the public market, aka farmers market. It was small, but very nice. If I was staying longer, I would have bought some veggies and baked goods. As it was, I bought an Italian ice, and walked back. But I was impressed with the set up – they had a pavilion, with a cooling system (mist coming down from the ceiling, like the produce section of the grocery store) and they even had a market café.

So that was my big venture out into Phoenix, I have to say, that downtown is not a great place for a conference. I hear there are some nice areas around here, and I wish we had been dropped in one that at least had a neighborhood to explore.

Instead, I have been knitting and reading. Just finished My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. It was like reading a letter from my best friend. She is an amazing woman, who has worked brutally hard to get to where she is today, and when I read this, I am so glad that she is where she is. Not an easy life, but an easy read. I hope she writes more.

The Pi shawl races along, since I knit on it all day long. I am on my last increase round, and a little nervous about how the yarn will hold out – I just started my third ball (out of 5) so I am hopeful I will get to a decent size before I run out. If not, then I will have to decide if it is worth a trip to Portland for one more skein… or bug my sister to run and get me one and mail it to me. Sadly, I think the store will be closed when I land there Friday night.

That’s it, tomorrow promises to e even less exciting. 🙂

But wait, I forgot the most exciting thing – they had a raffle, and I won it!!!!! a $50 gift certificate here in the hotel, so it will cover the rest of my dinners/breakfasts. Nice! It was one of those deals where you had to sit through the boring luncheon presentation and be present to win. I actually got up to leave the lunch, then remembered the raffle so sat back down. Imagine my surprise when they read my number off.

This on top of winning another giveaway here on word press – Rainbow junkie gave away a rainbow of yarn and a hand crocheted coaster, and I won that. I have never been so lucky in my life! Aside: I did NOT win the 300 million Powerball last night, but I do intend to buy a ticket.