Spring Break Scramble

I was going to blog this morning when I was off from work, but instead I spent ages looking at vacation packages on Travelocity.  You see, SOMEBODY was supposed to make Spring Break plans weeks ago, but didn't.  SOMEBODY has a whole week off from work while the kids are on break, while I only have Wed-Sun.  SOMEBODY was going to take the children off somewhere cool and I was going to fly to meet them there later.

SOMEBODY strikes again!

So, at the very last minute, I'm frantically trying to find a trip that will be kid-friendly, sunny (oh please, be sunny) and within our budget.  Miraculously, I found one.  Ladies and gentlemen, we're heading to Orlando!

I have not been in the Orlando area since my parents took me to Disney World when I was four, so I'm not expecting to recognize anything.  DH went to Disney as a teenager, youngest daughter has never been and is convinced that she is the last child in the Western Hemisphere to make it there.  She is over the moon with excitement; I hope it lives up to her expectations.  I'm a little worried she's expecting lots of scary thrill rides, which is really not what the park is about.  Hopefully that Disney magic will hit her when we get there and she'll have fun.

There are so many other parks and attractions in Orlando that we could visit, but I don't think we'll want to do that every day.  I hoping for at least one day sleeping in and then lounging by the pool!

Since I blog approximately once per millennium, I have a lot to show you again.  First, I got some really beautiful roving from Paradise Fibers and spun up a 2 oz skein.

Ashland Bay Superwash Merino/Alpaca 70/30

The pictures don't do it justice, but there are multiple shades of gray blended throughout the yarn.  And soft?  Oh, yeah!  The mailing slip actually pronounced this fiber "perfect for socks", so that may be what I knit with it.

I also squeaked by and got my squares off for the Briar Rose afghan just in time.  For the second two squares I used a basketweave pattern.  Easy to execute and I like how it looks.

You'll have to take my word for it that square 4 looked just like this one. 

Just to remind you, I was knitting squares for an afghan that will be assembled from many different knitters.  Kim has posted some photos of the squares on her blog, and you can read more about the project here.  Everyone who donates to our worthy cause (The Hope Lodge in Grand Rapids, MI) has a chance to win the afghan.  And for all the worthy knitters who don't win, patterns for all of the squares will be for sale, also benefiting Hope Lodge.

Two seconds after I met Kim's deadline, another one loomed before me.  My mom's birthday is March 21st!  I decided a quick little lace scarf was in order.

Hurriedly blocking last night.

Final dimensions were 36" x 18".  I used Evelyn A. Clark's new book, Knitting Lace Triangles, for my design.  She calls this stitch pattern Medallion Lace.  The yarn is called Dawn, it is a wool/silk blend and blocked out beautifully.  Neither picture captures the color, it is actually a rusty orange.  Mom loves sunset colors, so I'm hoping she'll like it.

Evelyn recommends beads to embellish the edge points.  Who am I to argue?  I had perfect little peachy beads in my bead stash.  I didn't have a crochet hook small enough to thread through them, so I finagled a little hook gadget out of beading wire and it got the job done.

The scarf and a new book went out priority mail this AM, so it is all in the hands of the USPS now.

Next project?  I am actually one square into a baby-sized Rambling Rows afghan, and I also feel some socks coming on.  Grumperina described a wacky way to knit one row stripes without a jog today.  I couldn't quite bend my head around it, but I'm hoping that it will make more sense with needles in my hand.  If not, there is no shortage of other sock patterns on my wanna-knit list!

Comments

[Pam]

OMG Woman! Just how fast did you knit that scarf for your Mom? (Sometimes I light a candle and dip an end of the yarn into the melted wax and pinch the end. It's usually stiff enough to get it through the bead.) I do like the colors in the yarn for the Briar Rose afghan. Yummy. Not doing too well on finishing my squares for Brandon's comfort blanket. Have fun on spring break!

[Kim]

Your squares are great! So happy you are off to sunny skies - enjoy and give Mickey a hug for me.

[Kim]

OMG, how did I not comment on the mom scarf and that superwash - both are beautiful! Can't wait to see what you make with the yarn.

[KTMay]

Wow, that is REALLY pretty! Love your color choice too!

[Karen in Toledo]

Gorgeous stuff! The beads are a great touch and I love how it blocked out! Have a great time meeting up with the family at the Happiest Place on Earth.