Beach Holidaze

Bar Harbor, Maine. July 4th parade. Bee's Yarn shop is the background

A few years ago, we were in Bar Harbor, Maine on Independence Day. Bar Harbor is a lovely small town on the Maine coast, and they really know how to celebrate July 4th. There was a parade through the streets, a lobster fest at a local park, and fireworks over the harbor at night. Loads of fun.

Bar Harbor is a great place for a summer holiday. But don’t plan to go there in the fall or winter, as it mostly closes up. The B&B we stayed in was only open from May to October. Because of the short season, the retailers have some unique ways to make it through the winter. For example, our B&B was only steps from a yarn shop, Bees. But Bees was part yarn shop, part candy store. So, the selection was a bit light on most things. That didn’t keep me from buying some sock yarn, but it wasn’t a shop you linger in. I did inspect those skeins for chocolate.

Because that was my experience with seaside yarn shops, my expectations for Coastal Yarns in Cannon Beach, Oregon weren’t very high. Cannon Beach is the closest Pacific Ocean beach to Portland, and it is a lovely village. Pretty typical for places that depend on tourists. T-shirt shops, candle emporiums, and crab shacks. And Coastal Yarns. This shop surprised me. The store is a L-shaped, so there is a lot of light. And even though it’s small, there was a table, chairs and small couch in a sunny nook. And the yarn selection was mostly fabulous. A good selection of basic to luxury yarns. But the draw for me was a huge selection Blue Moon yarn. I was just agog, wondering how much I could sneak into my luggage without The Husband noticing. When I made my selections, and was paying, I mentioned the selection of Blue Moon yarn. The clerk answered, “Oh, but we’re expecting more next week — we’re nearly sold out.” It took me a few minutes to realize that I couldn’t wait for the UPS guy with her.

Cannon Beach, Oregon. Coastal Yarn is there, somewhere.

On another note. I am now writing a column for examiner.com. I’m the Austin Craft Shop Examiner. If you want to read more of my blather, check it out.

Hidden Friends

The dining room table where I drink my morning coffee is cluttered with my stuff. Journal, pens, glue stick, tape, a couple of knitting patterns, a sock in progress. I like to think of it as my desk, but it’s not. I like it here. There is a window that looks out to the back yard. The cats lurk around, watching for strangers outside. I tell the Husband that I plan my day here, but that’s not exactly true. I think about past day’s events. Knitting, meals, surfing, reading, shopping. I record yesterday as a memory, rather than as it happens.

Last weekend, I went to a memorial service for a friend that passed away. She had leukemia. The standard homily is that she lost her battle with cancer. I get the metaphor. But to me she was Sisyphus, who after pushing that boulder for ten years, just stopped the struggle. The memorial service was that mix of sadness and joy that is a characteristic of these events. The sadness of the loss, and the joy of seeing people that you haven’t seen in a long time. When I got dressed to go, in my somber black and grey, I added a shawl I recently finished. Not for the warmth, but the color. A few months back I made a sweater for her. She picked out the yarn, a clear blue. She told me that her mother always dressed her in neutral colors and earth tones, but she longed for blue. At the reception when friends commented on the shawl, I kept that memory to myself.

Like Carol’s family and friends, I will miss her. I will horde my memories of her. I will think of her in blue.

Such Potential

Damson is finished. This was such a fun project. The yarn is alpaca, hand dyed by a friend. She’s taking her hand-spun and dyed yarn to Taos next month for the Wool Festival. The yarn is so lovely, light yet wonderfully warm. I used some variegated for the loopy edging.

I’m not quite done with these triangular shawls, but I did branch out just a bit.

That is Kay Gardner’s latest free warshcloth pattern. Linoleum Dishcloth.

And it is time to start knitting scarves for the Red Scarf Project. One is done.

Another one is started.

And a potential third.

And here’s my next potential triangle.

Puddleduck

I’m not a good shopper.  I hate malls and trying on clothes. Clerks in those fashion-forward independent retail clothing stores give me the creeps. The last item of clothing I shopped for was a pair of yoga pants. I wander around in Goodwill occasionally. My uniform is jeans and a T-shirt. Shorts in the summer. And comfy shoes. I’m not trendy.

I recently read on Ravelry that the next big thing is small triangular shawls. There are dozens of these patterns out there, designed for sock-weight yarn. I have loads of sock yarn and a fully loaded sock drawer. It’s a match made in heaven.  I’ve completed these so far:

A second Silk Kerchief.

The Landscape Shawl

Ishbel

Springtime Bandit

And I’m working on another one, Damson. I’m ahead of the curve. It’s a bit scary.

There’s a Nap for That

Had a rough day? Woke up your humans before breakfast. Explored the garage. Chased your sibling. Had belly rubs.

Just too tired to think?

There’s a nap for that.