Treasures, Knitted and National

Vacation, yep, I was on vacation for a whole week.  We were mostly based at home, so my intention was to blog about my doings during the week, but that was foolishly optimistic.  We hosted friends from Germany and were busy sightseeing, eating, and enjoying life as much as possible in the heat and humidity.  Payback for when Emily and I visited them in Germany the summer of 2003 in extreme heat, but thankfully we had air conditioning, most of the time!

Without intending to, we managed to hit most of the tourism highlights that they knew from National Treasure, the Nicholas Cage film from last year.  We didn't make it to DC, but we did get here:

and here:

We also got up to NYC and, because we took a Circle Line Tour, we were right next to the Intrepid Museum.  The next day we made it to Ground Zero, and passed by Trinity Church, site of the film's climax, en route to South Street Seaport.  Didn't make it to Seaport Yarns, but now I know where it is. Sorry, forgot the camera!

We also made it to a local music festival, the shopping mall, held dinner parties for as many as 13 (ok, our two families accounted for 9 of these folks, but hey, it's a feat to feed 9 people for a week), hosted both Midnight and Paco for the week, and roped the adult male member of the visiting party into assisting Martin with demolishing a wall in our basement.

Knitting, did I knit amidst this whirlwind of activity?

A bit.  I finished the second sleeve of Charm, but only after our friends departed for the next leg of their vacation in the wilds of IL.  I've set in one sleeve and it's not going perfectly, but that's what aggressive blocking is for.

I also worked on a great mindless project* on Sunday afternoon while at Marsh Creek State Park.  We brought lawn chairs, and while Mart and the girls boated, I read (Harry Potter #5, still working up to #6) and knit.  Here's what I saw while lounging under a tree:

But, more important than my actual knitting, I received knitting treasures in the mail from my Secret Pal!  What you see here are a compilation of several packages that I've gotten over the last few weeks, and been too distracted to blog about, but not to appreciate!

First up, there's a pattern for a mitered felted backpack which looks like great fun to knit, and some handspun wool and silk which is unbelievably gorgeous and will make something wonderful, very soon.  I greatly admire people who can spin as well as knit.

Next up we have the partial contents of another amazing package.  What's not here are the consumables for people and pets that were already being put to good use.  Yummy. Marge**, both Paco and Midnight expressed their deepest thanks for their treats and toys!

What you do see is the really cool little felted bag that my SP made from Colinette Point 5 in Jay, some WI Maple Syrup, a lovely bar of soap, a book mark and a great candle.  What more could a stressed out hostess want?

And, best of all, it arrived the day before my birthday!  Yep, last Friday I celebrated my 29th birthday for the 14th time.  Sorry for the long catch up post!

*Tuja from Dale of Norway, I'm doing it in Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora in Fuschia, pics to follow.

**Marge Simpson, what a great pseudonym for a SP!

Comments

[Rebekah]

Sounds like a really good week! I loved that movie, and would love to see some more of this country's history. Living in the Midwest, we are somewhat limited on old history, but still there's enough.

[Hope]

YO. Happy Birthday. What right did you have keeping that little tidbit from me? Huh? I wanna know.

[Krista]

Fun places. I've never been to any of those. It's on my list for "someday".

By the way, since you asked on my blog, my daughter's birthday was actually the 24th, but since we weren't home that day, we celebrated this past weekend. So, I guess she doesn't share your birthday. Happy Birthday, by the way.

[Shelley]

What great goodies! And if you were to come to DC you had better told me! My vote is that you do cast on for Martha. We can Martha along together...Lord knows you'll be done before I even get the sleeves! What's lurking behind the curtain will not disenagrate!