We rarely went to the beach when I was a young girl; we lived in land-locked western states like Wyoming and New Mexico, and the beach was several days away. I remember only one vacation where we traveled to the beach – our 1990 trip to Florida. Perhaps this land-locked childhood is the reason that I so look forward to the beach vacation every year!

We don’t even have to leave the state of Maryland to get to the Atlantic Ocean! (Although we do cross into Delaware to take advantage of the tax-free shopping, and the quaint seashores!)

Arriving on Friday afternoon, we did not waste any time – Kris was looking forward to trying out his new crab cage, and I had some trekking to do. So we trekked down to the docks on the bayside, and enjoyed ourselves!

Kris caught quite a few crabs, only to play with them for a few minutes and send them back on their way in the bay.

I had to reuse the picture I took last year – this year’s crabs were too quick to photograph! We walked up and down the docks, and luckily I had my Trekking sock with me for a photoshoot.

Trekking by the docks of the bay, wasting time…

I am using Trekking XXL colorway #108, and matching it with Nancy Bush’s Sleeping Socks pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks. I am planning to add a heel, unlike the book pattern – I am looking at the Dutch/Horseshoe Heel, as it will probably be the best fit for this pattern.

Unfortunately, in a moment of clumbsiness, I dropped my fourth double-pointed needle right into the water… and the extra needle was at home! It was metal, and I began to wonder if a bamboo needle would have floated. So, we planned a trip to the yarn shop to pick up a spare set. A minor setback in my Trekking sock progress, but I had other projects to keep me busy.

We greeted Kris’s family later in the day, and made plans to head out to Assateague Island the next day. Kris, his father, and his brother have enjoyed clamming off the shores of Assateague for many years, and I was looking for any excuse to get out and ride my bike… so we were off to the “Wild Pony Island”.

Now you hear stories, but you just never know how bad it is till you actually get there… There are tales about the mosquitoes of Assateague Island, and let me tell you, they are all true. Within 3 minutes of getting out of the car and unloading my bike from the bike rack, I had approximately 200 bites all over my body – they even bit through my clothes! They were absolutely vampiric! Once I got on the bike and got some wind around me, they could not “latch” on. Because of this, I was not able to take many pictures of Assateague. I couldn’t subject myself to more bites by being a standing target! I did manage a few however…

I did not see as many wild ponies on the island this year (Last year, I saw several!). This was the only group I came across on my ride: three ponies eating marsh grasses. The ponies that live on Assateague (and the neighboring southern tip of the island, called Chincoteague) are of unknown origin. The two main theories are that the ponies are descendents of the horses kept by the colonial settlers (in the 17th century), or horses that survived a Spanish shipwreck and swam ashore, adapting to the climate and the brackish water and marsh plants for food. Both theories are very plausible, but regardless of their origins, the ponies are a fascinating part of the beautiful island.

There are paved bike trails all over the National Seashore, and the adjacent State Park. I enjoyed my ride all over the island – about 14 miles on the particular trails I chose – and arrived back at the bayside just in time to see Kris and his dad bringing in their fresh clams. (They prepared a clam feast that evening – and I heard it was very good. I don’t eat seafood, so I will take their word for it!)

Although I became quite immersed in my current book, Alias Grace, and took many long walks on the beach with Kris, I managed to get in some knitting! While at the beach, I knew I had to get to Sea Needles, the great shop I discovered last year in Bethany Beach, Delaware, to get a replacement set of DPNs for my Trekking sock. On the way there, I worked on my Blueberry Waffle knee socks – just perfect for the Socks on Vacation contest for the Summer of Socks!

I have a few more inches to go before the heel turn. I hope it is smooth sailing from there – these socks are taking forever!

Although I was tempted by their new shipment of sock yarns (so many beautiful colors!), I went to the shop with a list – and I stuck to it. I stayed true to the Summer of Stash rule! I bought some replacement needles for the socks, and some other needles for a one of next month’s purple projects. I went to see the new books and pattern pamphlets and I was impressed by some of the new Berroco patterns – Norah Gaughan is a good influence! – and I left with the Keltic and the Memoirs Collection books.

… and I discovered a new yarn shop – just off Coastal Highway on Fenwick Island! It is called The Spinning Wheel. They carry a full line of Patons yarns, some sock yarns, and some goodies not seen in other shops – handmade buttons, kits, etc. They have a large pattern and book collection, as well as a wall full of needlepoint and embroidery kits. I was very tempted to try one of the Kristin Nicholas stitch kits – they are so cute! I just may have to track one down in my area. However, I walked out with two books: one is a gift for momma, the other is the Patons’ Indigo Days Collection, the book I have admired many times online, and finally saw in the store.

I really could go on and on… but I don’t want this to turn into a boring vacation slideshow! For those of you that are interested, you can see more photographs of my trip on my Flickr page – don’t miss my adorable husband, my naughty picture, and another trek on the beach … and one more -

I am the one with the skirt, and without all of the hair on my legs

1. Ocean City Beach, 2. Blue Trashcans, 3. Knitting on the Beach, 4. Blue Beach Umbrellas, 5. Blue Shawl, 6. Kris on the Beach

Our beach vacation was suprisingly sunny and mild, considering all of the rains and flooding we had at home, just about 100 miles away. We had a wonderful and relaxing time!  I took a number of photographs: sights and seascapes, trekking with my socks, and enjoying time with my honey… Now I need to unpack, do laundry, and read a few hundred emails!

More details to come, my friends!  it is good to be “home”, both in my house with my pets, and in the blogland!

I usually like to have a theme, or a common thread in my blog posts… but I just have too many disparate topics and pictures to discuss, so the whole thing went right out the window – it is all about randomness in this post!

My recent Carla pullover took 497 yards off my total yarn count. Plus, I sent the remaining 3 balls (213 yards) to Amy, so that is 710 yards gone from my stash! However, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to reveal a lovely gift I received from Lu at Maglia!

She has an Etsy shop – all her own hand-dyed yarns. Amazing colors!

So, for those keeping track: two steps forward, one step back! (but what a beautiful step back!)  Thank you Lu!

(76454) – (710 )+ (400) = 76144 yards in the stash

I decided on a pattern for my Trekking XXL #108 for the Trek Along with Me and Summer of Socks knitalongs.  I started the "Heeless Sleeping Sock" in Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. However, I am planning to make a heel in the sock, and I doubt I will ever actually sleep in them.  I neglected to take a picture yesterday when I cast on, but imagine a traveling diagonal rib… and imagine the beauty of Trekking sock yarn rolled into one sock.  There, now you have it!

I am planning some fun "treks" with my sock, so stay tuned! Also, for the Summer of Socks, I am planning to clean out some of my sock WIPs, and incorporate Project Spectrum colors for July and August, all of which will achieve my goals for a Stashbusting Summer.

Tomorrow morning, we are leaving for our beach vacation! It is only 5 days, but I love going there! The only part I don't like? Leaving my doggie girls behind. Sure, they have great accomodations at the pet hotel here, but look at Bella's face. Sad, no?

We are heading to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, to North Ocean City/Fenwick area.  We have made this trip for many years – even before we were married – and I look forward to it every year.  Lazy days of reading and knitting, walks on the beach, shopping at the great used book store and the Sea Needles yarn shop in Bethany, and buying the fresh produce from the farmers' markets. 

And this year, we are taking our bikes!  I am hoping to ride all along the coast.

I hope the weather cooperates!  But if not, I am taking some good books, and some great knitting with me.  I just finished reading A Year in the World, by Frances Mayes.  This book sounded so good from the synopsis – I love a good travelogue – but I was kind of disappointed with it in the end.  I started a new book last night, Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood, and it is very interesting so far.  It will be a good companion at the beach. 

Many thanks for your kind and encouraging comments and emails about my weight loss.  I actually set up a page with more information about my "journey", including my exercise regimen, my diet, and some helpful tips and articles.  I will update the page periodically with new pictures and information.  This site is really for me – as a record to see how far I have come - but I am happy to share it with you, if it can provide any inspiration. I welcome any comments or questions.  Check it out on my sidebar (right above the monthly archives): Weigh Down.

For that last little bit of randomness, I created some Flickr mosaics of my photographs from my study abroad trip to Israel, which occured six years ago this month. Those of you who have read my blog for over a year may remember my photographs and explanations at the bottom of all of my June 2005 and part of my July 2005 posts, celebrating my five-year anniversary of that life-changing trip. 

While putting these mosaics together, I noticed that each one of them showed off the amazing blue sky – and since this is a special blue month, they need to be shown! 

Have a lovely week and I will be back next week with beach pictures and some knitting progress!

Many many thanks for your kind comments on my recent knit! You made me blush! I enjoyed wearing my new sweater this weekend, even with temperatures in the 90s, the sweater was quite cool and comfortable.

I had every intention of blogging last night with the winner of the little contest, but I got caught up in the best game on earth. Just as predicted, I bawled like a little baby when the game finished, and I am sure I would have done the same had the Oilers had won. The tears started even before the Cup came out! Amazing!

So, without further ado… the winner of the Cotton Tape is…

Amy at I Heart Knitting!

Thanks for all of the entries! Stay tuned for another contest next month… it is a great way to celebrate big events (like my upcoming 2-year blogiversary!)

With Carla off the needles, I decided to assess my current works-in-progress. Project Spectrum has helped me choose projects for the past four months. The yarn is in the stash, and I am just deciding how to use it best. The biggest “linger knit” is my Pomegranate Hoodie; named for the lovely color of the Woolarina yarn (and its striking similarity to my favorite fruit.)

Just as a reminder, this simple hoodie pattern is from the Knitting to Go deck. It calls for mohair, but I am using a laceweight hand-dyed merino, and it is working very well. The completed back looks “skinny” but will really open up after a good blocking. I started on a sleeve during last night’s hockey game, and plan to take this one to the beach with me this weekend. I started it in Project Spectrum’s Pink/Red month of March, and as the months passed and I started new color projects, it fell by the wayside.

My sock projects are a little behind this month, but I am not worried. I rarely wear socks in the summertime, but I plan to use the Summer of Socks and the Trek Along with Me knitalongs to enhance my sock drawer for the fall and winter. The Summer of Socks only counts socks knit between the Summer Solstice (tomorrow, June 21st) and the Autumnal Equinox (September 21st). So my Blueberry Waffle socks will not count for this, but my Trekking socks most definitely will… as soon as I decide on a pattern! I have a few in mind, but am very open to suggestions. For Trekking yarns, I prefer simple patterns, in order to show off the natural variegation/striping of the yarn.

I also started something new, and you will probably not see it again until it is finished.

It is another super secret sister knit- this time for Mimi. She turns 23 next month, and I wanted to do something special. That is all I am going to say about it – I want some element of surprise!

Our weekend was great – Saturday started early with our longest bike ride yet (18 miles) and later inthe afternoon, we took Kris’s dad out for dinner. On Sunday, I spent the day with my family. Unfortunately my camera had some problems, and I was not able to document any of it. The last picture I took was one of my sister making a ridiculous face – I think this picture must have broken it!

It was Dad’s day, but I spent a good time in the afternoon knitting with my mom. I brought over my swift and ballwinder, and we wound up her stash. She has some beautiful yarns – mostly from the Festival, and a few gifts from me.

She has been knitting and felting up a storm! She just completed her third felted purse. The large multi-colored one was my Mother’s Day gift to her – a felt kit from Cloverhill Yarn Shop. It is Lamb’s Pride Worsted and Noro Kuryeon. The smaller purses are both Sophie bags from MagKnits.She is planning her next project: she wants to make her first garment!

CARLA PULLOVER
Pattern: “Carla” from Rowan’s book, It’s a Tape Thing (2004)
Designed by: Kim Hargreaves
Yarn: 7 balls of Rowan Cotton Tape in Glint colorway
Needles: Takumi Clover Bamboos, size 11 and 13
Started: June 3rd, 2006  Finished: June 15th, 2006
Modifications: Changed the sleeves to 3/4 length

Whether it is far away…

or close up…

I am loving this sweater!

The Carla sweater took me a little over a week to knit - she demanded my full attention with her lacy stitches and interesting details (See the weaving / embroidery on the sleeves?  This was done over the dropped stitch pattern, as described in the book.)  She demanded my attention so much that I actually skipped my yoga class yesterday in order to seam her up!  Of course, after all of this, I now have the perfect summer sweater.  (And just in time!  We leave for our beach getaway in one week!) I am so glad I went with the smaller size, like Angela suggested.  I made the Medium (36″), and it fits perfectly.  I may have to tailor it a little as I lose more weight. 

Oh Rowan!  Why did you discontinue a yarn after I fall in love with it?  Sure I got a little taste of the Cotton Tape with my Virtue Beret last fall, but after this sweater, I am in love with the stuff  … and now, this is all that is left … albeit, at a great sale price! (just because I am on a yarn diet does not mean that I can’t enable YOU to buy more!)  

I got this yarn at Ann’s Swap last February.  We threw all of our yarns in a big pile and then everyone went through and found what they liked.  We used the “honor system” for the trades, taking what we thought was fair, depending on how many others took the yarns that we brought.  Because this yarn was essentially free for me -  even though I traded a lot of my stash yarn for it – I would like to pay it forward to another knitter or crocheter.

 I have three full balls of Cotton Tape left!

Who wants the yarn?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

You may ask… what can I do with only three balls of Cotton Tape?  Well, here are a few possibilities…

1. Virtue Knit Beret, 2. Cat Crochet Market Bag,
3. Candy Crochet Hat, 4. Thrill Knit Tank (in size 32 or 34)

Of course, you could experiment on your own as well!  So, let me know if you are interested.  I will choose randomly on MONDAY NIGHT.  I will alert the winner and get the package off to you before I head to the beach on Friday. 

Don’t forget that today is the first day of signups for July’s Project Spectrum Postcard Swap.  You can start thinking about your purples now!  Signup continues through July 10th. 

Have a beautiful weekend – we are spending ours with our dads!