The kicker is, we’re going backpack only. And not even a big backpack; one that fits under the seat. When my kid booked our flights, he noted that it was an extra few hundred dollars for a carry-on, never mind actual checked luggage (which we never have anyway). So we’re doing it LIGHT.

As a result of this, I wasn’t really planning on bringing knitting. WHAT???? Yes, I won’t have much room and I should use it for clothes, shouldn’t I. But when I told my son, he almost looked panicked and said “You have to”. I thought it was hilarious that this dude (he’s 31) is telling me to being knitting on vacation to Asia. To be fair, he’s bringing his laptop so he can work while we’re away. But a laptop that squeezes nicely into a slim pocket is different than balls of yarn and needles.

When I really think about it though, what would I do on the travel days? The long train rides would probably kill me if I didn’t have knitting. So let’s see what I can squeeze into my pack.

I also did some research into potential yarn shops, thinking I would just pick up some sock yarn over there. They don’t seem to have wool wool there. Lots of acrylic and t-shirt yarn for crochet – seems to be very popular out there. So worse case, I pick up some crochet while I’m there.

The luggage restriction only applies to the flights there. The rest of my flights include a carry-on. So if I pick up a few things along the way…

Stay tuned for a potential update from the “road”.

I was pretty excited this morning when I went through the photos and wrote out my pattern. I’ll be recording a few videos for the techniques too. I’ll post the basic pattern here for free but I’ll also publish a paid version with the videos and all the gauges you can use with the details on needle size, stitch count and yardage. Eeeeeek!

After we got the photos taken and warmed up a bit (that wind was arctic yesterday), we went to work on a basket I started about 13 years ago. Yes, you read that right! I made the body of this basket with a group of women from my old spinning guild but I never finished it. It’s been living in a tote for all this time, taunting me. So I asked Louise if she would help me finish it (hers is finished and we used it as a model). How cute is this basket?

I laid awake last night (because hot flashes – also, I figured out how to insert emojis) and imagined how I could sew a little liner for it so my knitting needles wouldn’t fall through the little cracks. The possibilities… of new fabric. Shhhhhh, you heard nothing!

When the basket was finished and my hands were raw, I spent some time working on my crochet star (see last post: https://mimimustknit.ca/bookmarks-knit-or-crochet/) and a pair of socks.

THEN, we started imagining what it would be like to host a knitting/creative retreat in our area. We talked about other pattern designs, a circular sock knitting machine (that we are considering sharing the cost of), etc. WE. HAD. SO. MANY. IDEAS.

I adore spending time with creative people. We feed off each other and there’s literally no limit to what we can imagine.

This morning, I finished my crochet Bookmark for Wine Lovers. I read the instructions wrong at the end and used the secondary colour to finish the side. I think it looks cute like that. Right? Hope the designer doesn’t mind.

It’s still wet but it’s going to be so cute when I put the fringe on! I can’t wait to use it. I think I did ok for my first try?

I ordered some snaps to use with leather so I can make a shawl cuff to go with my new finished Wiley Shawl. I tried to make one yesterday with fabric snaps but it was a fail.

OMG! I can’t believe I almost forgot that THIS happened…

I read Project Hail Mary and saw the movie last week. Amazing book, great movie. When I saw this sweater on Ryan Gosling, I thought “sweet Baby Jesus! That looks just like a Mary Maxim sweater”. But I didn’t give it a second thought. WELL, yesterday, I noticed that it’s all over Instagram! It was even on CBC, NBC… What is happening!?

I posted it in my stories and two people asked me to knit them one. I’m dying… I couldn’t stop laughing all day yesterday.

So, yarn order is going in when I have the last of the measurements. Pattern already purchased. This is actually happening! I’m making a Mary Maxim sweater (but not in the acrylic kit they sell on their site – squeeky acrylic gives me the ick so I try not to use it if I don’t have to). I will use yarn made in Canada at our very own Briggs & Little in Nova Scotia – the oldest woollen mill in the country.

So, that’s what I’ll be doing for the next few weeks I gather.

Off to Montreal tomorrow to hang with the kid. He told me to bring my “gym clothes” so we can go to the gym together. I wonder if he knows that I work out in my underwear most of the time at home. I would NEVER subject anyone to that IRL so… now I have to find some appropriate workout clothing. Garh!

What are you working on?

We spent a LOT of time with him in hospitals and at the long term care facility he was in at the end. So I’m guessing the amount of free time I have now will feel strange for a little while.

So, the title of this post relates to this little site of mine. I mentioned in my last post that hosting and website stuff was not my thing. I have, however, managed to figure out how to keep mine going. It took 823976 phone calls to Bluehost and $200 (CAD) to keep my little blog going. I don’t spend much time here but for some reason, it felt like I would be loosing something if I let it go. I used to blog a lot. When I went back to read some of the old ones, I realized that I’m a decent writer.

On the subject of writing… I wrote my father’s eulogy in English. His sister, my aunt Lorraine, wrote one in French. My little cousin Lorie-Anne read it for me cause I would have sobbed through the whole thing. I ended up getting several compliments on it later in the day. I had written in some sad stuff of course. But I also added a few funny things and it felt good when I heard the people laugh. Oh, and there were so many people. My step-mom said she had never seen the church this packed for a funeral. Dad! You were a popular dude!

The planning and execution came about very quickly – I’m a bit impulsive that way.  In about 12 hours, we picked a destination, researched a bit, booked our time off and booked our trip.  We leave in less than a month.

I feel like leaping off a cliff!  I won’t.  But planning travel always makes me feel like I can fly.  Strange, I know.  What can I say.  I’m addicted.

I got to see these two this weekend:

Makes my heart sing.  (My son and my sister.)

The new workshop is a go.

The blanket is finished.

Gauge checked and ready to rock on the sweater.

I’m going to finish this post and cast on before my night shift.  Woot!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR and all that good stuff.