So the countdown begins. . . and what was the very first thing I did when I found out we were going to England again after all these years? A trip to the knitting store! I love a project when I travel — I also thought you might enjoy seeing our little knitting shop. With music of course!
I took my camera to take pictures in case I saw anything pretty along the way! The shop is only about a block from my house, so past the little houses I did go, hyacinths popping all around . . .
And like so many shops and restaurants in New England, Knit Works is in an old house; right at the end of Main Street.
There’s a kitchen in the back, complete with kettle and cups, where the girls drop in to knit together on Wednesday nights; no appointment needed! Isn’t it perfect that it’s in a kitchen?
It’s a house of color and creativity. The mind boggles at the possibilities!
This little project was on the kitchen table, a hat, being knitted by Michaela, one of the women working there. Look at the beads she’s knitting in! Isn’t that adorable? You can just catch a glimpse of this whimsical variegated yarn in the lower left of the photo. I visited with Michaela while looking around the store for the perfect little project for me. First requirement: it must be something that requires absolutely no knitting knowledge.
Oooo, the colors! I do remember sitting on my mother’s knees, leaning back into her, her arms around me, the knitting needles in front of me, her fingers working my fingers, teaching me to wrap the yarn around the needle and make a stitch. I loved it, but with all the other fun things I love to do, that’s about as good as I ever got. The last time we sailed on the QE II, the lady next to me on the deck chair taught me to use my little finger to wrap the yarn around the needle, that was a BIG improvement to the way I’d been doing it.
So I will make a nice long scarf. Easiest thing in the world and perfect to do on a ship; perfect to do while watching the Chelsea Flower Show on BBC. There will be no thinking involved, but it will make me feel like I’m accomplishing something, and that will be enough. The biggest problem is what color??? I always have such a hard time choosing.
But this time, I came armed — I had my new secret weapon with me, my colors! Remember a few months ago when I went with my girlfriends and had my colors done? (Click there if you
missed that post and want to see it.) Everyone received a wallet like ←this with individually chosen color swatches that were just right for each of us.
It changed my whole way of life. Now I don’t have to wonder what color yarn to buy! And I can get on the Landsend web site, hold my colors up to the screen and get the right shade of whatever! It’s really wonderful.
The other thing I love about knitting stores . . . they always have comfy chairs where you can just sit and knit if you want to . . . particularly good when it’s winter (or looks like winter) and you want to get out of the house, talk to friends, or learn something new!
♥ ♥ ♥
So I said good-bye to Michaela and Alix, (if you ever come to the island, and need a project, go say hello to them!). I picked up my bundle and my camera and headed back home.
If I ever went to prison, which of course I will never do (I’m so not the prison type), I know I would come out of it better than I went in. Because I would have projects. I would either get thin, speak French, knit scarves, make a diary, or something. A long trip is a little like prison, no normal things go on, you’re out of your element; so I’m determined to come home having accomplished something … I’m gathering my projects . . . I have a little collection of books to read, now the scarf to remember the trip by, and a diary! I won’t come home speaking French or thin. I would really need prison for those things.
Back home I went, past my own front door, and up the driveway . . .
I laid it all out to show Joe (who was fascinated as I’m sure you know; he could barely contain his excitement when he said, “Are you talkin’ to me?”). It will be a royal purple scarf (so appropriate) that starts with a thin stripe of lime on the edge, then purple, then another thin stripe, then the whole rest of it will be purple! Pretty? My colors! That dark purple is supposedly one of my “wow” colors.
A couple hours later, I was painting in my studio when I swiveled around in my office chair to go to the kitchen, and there, on the floor in front of my feet, was my lime yarn in stages of unraveling. Jack, my kitten, brings me gifts; usually it’s his ball! I forgot about kittens and yarn. I feared for the purple and ran to where I’d left it.
Lime is the color of my true love’s eyes. Funny to discover I just love men with facial hair! 🙂
♥ So innocent, and pure as the driven snow. He didn’t get the purple!
So that’s the end of the story, a happy ending. All is well. LOVED your comments about the trip. SO excited to have you along, as excited as I am to take me!
I think about showing you the wild Atlantic over the ship’s rail in a video; isn’t it just amazing that we can do that? And that’s just the beginning. We’re going to Beatrix Potter’s House!
It’s much more fun to go on a trip when you have someone (s) to share it with. I have such plans for us!! ♥ Only five weeks before we go! Have a wonderful day girlfriends!
I love that yarn shop! I am still trying to learn to knit, but I can crochet. I see another fine use of the beloved card catalog. That quote is one of my favorites. I can sit and sew a fine seam, and I LOVE strawberries and whipped cream!
PS My mom always takes a knitting prodject along. One time she was in the hospital and asked me to bring her Christmas stocking prodject to her. A year later I went home again and I asked how the stockings came out. She looked at me and said, “You only brought me one needle.” I thought that the cable the stocking was on had a needle tip on each end!
Hahaha!
Hi again, I am not a knitter (yet!!) but I saw the coolest idea: to knit a scarf – one small section every day – using a yarn colour (blue, white, cream, grey) to match the colour that the sky that day! Isn’t that neat?
What a sweet idea!
I think that is a neat idea! One could tell in what season you were knitting each section. I wonder if one lived in Sunny CA, would the scarf be mostly blue???
And yellow!
That’s so cool! would love to see a finished one 🙂
What color would best describe smog?
I would say a mixture of gray and brown, sometimes, like in LA, with a touch of sunset thrown in.
There is a whole flicker group doing this, one lady is making a shawl with the same principle, one row a day, according to the sky colour. They are so inspiring! And a perfect project for a voyage…
Happy scarf knitting anyway 🙂 Having your colours done is such fun.
You do know that you have to book an appointment to visit Miss Potter’s home in advance, don’t you? It would be so sad to turn up and not be able to get in.
Really? I looked it up, was afraid of that, but web site just said to go early because they only let a few in at a time and will give you your “time” to be there. Did I read the wrong thing?
It is a while since I was there (years and years) and it was summertime. We had a few days staying nearby and so were able to get tickets quite easily…but the queues for them later on each day did lead to disappointments for some people. Long delays and a rather overcrowded atmosphere too. I suppose that by “in advance” you need to be there absolutely first thing in the morning and then be prepared to go somewhere else for a while before your entrance time. I don’t mean to be a killjoy, but it really is busy in high season! Check out this site 🙂 You are going to have a fabulous trip and what a year to go! Love Gill.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hilltop/
Can I book in advance to visit Hill Top?
No, the tickets are only available on the day from our Hill Top ticket office; at busy times it is advisable to plan to come early in the day as we can often sell out by lunchtime. The only exception to this is if you are an organised tour group and then you need to talk to us well in advance about making a visit and you will need a booking.
We’re getting to the Lake District before kids get out of school, but I’m sure we’ll see lots of people. These days they only let 12 or so people into the house at a time! So that’s good. It’s worth it to me, and I’m not a crowds person. We belong to the National Trust and have stayed in some of their houses, love them so much, for what they’ve done, protecting such beautiful and historical places.
Now you have inspired me to learn to knit. Susan, you are so encouraging to me. I ran right out and got the pretty spring wreath on my front door last week. I love it. I also have several branches of spring around in my home. Of course they are not real as we still have snow in our yard!! But they remind me that spring is on the way. Can’t wait for your trip to England as I feel I’m going with you!!
Your neighbors probably love you for perking things up! Knitting is so easy and fun, I keep telling myself I will go over to the store on winter nights and learn more, but I don’t! Maybe next winter!
What a charming little yarn shop Susan! The colors you have chosen for your project are divine. I love the look on Jack’s face!! He is just adorable and so expressive! I bet he has lots of stories he could tell. Enjoy yourself today. I’m so looking forward to “our” trip to England! ♥
Only five weeks to lose weight, buy new clothes and pack! I am most excited about Beatrix Potter’s house! And none of us girlfriends have to worry about passports. Just passed your post on to a knitting friend who will just go wild when she sees the knitting shop. Also I want to thank you for telling us about Gladys Taber. I now own the House at Stillmeadow and I can’t stop reading it. What a treasure. Hope everyone has a fabulous rest of the week! We have a 20% chance of rain in West Texas….come on rain!
Praying for rain Chris!
We need rain too! Hot and windy. We’re on fire! YIKES!
Can’t imagine it right now, it’s wet, gray and windy here, windows tightly closed, sweaters on, very chilly day. Stay safe Cathy!
We burned up last year. And I’m praying it doesn’t happen again. I will pray for rain for you too.
Few years ago we lost over 500,000 acres to fire. I am praying for you too. My brother and son live in Co.
I just heard the news on CO. I am praying for the residents out there. A controlled burn during 70mph winds!?!
I wonder who’s idea that was?
Forest Service apparently! Having grown up in the Rocky Mt west I know that farmers & rancher go out in spring to do “controlled burns” and, of course, the wind takes it away! Could never ever understand the mental process!
Forest Service has issued an apology and is conducting an investigation. . . too late now!
Very sad – lives lost. Every year I ask myself when are “they” going to learn that controlled burns don’t work in the windy spring months. CRAZINESS! Tornados – Fires – Floods – prayers help. Thank you everybody!
Hello Chris,
I lived about one mile from that house and would drive by and stop to think about all the stories Gladys wrote while living there. I still get choked up thinking about it. I hope you have many wonderful years there. It is a very special home. This June we’re spending a month in CT, and I WILL be back in SB for a visit and will again drive by Stillmeadow one more time!
I’ve heard they will be having the Friends of Gladys Taber Reunion at Stillmeadow next year!!
OMG!
I know, I’m going to try to go.
Hi Susan,
What wonderful colors you chose for your scarf. I know what you mean about deciding on a color (or colors). So many beautiful selections.
Only 5 weeks….yikes. So much to do, but I know you will get everything organized in time.
Thank you for your photos around town and your neighborhood. They always adds a special touch to your blog.
Jack reminds me of a dog we used to have. We loved that little mutt but he was such a destructive critter. He always had that “who me?” expression on his face. We miss him like crazy.
Have a wonderful day.
xoxo Pam
I absolutely love your choice of yarn colors, that lime will really “pop” with the purple…beautiful! You obviously are very anxious for your trip, the yearning to be somewhere can be overwhelming sometimes….that is how I feel about New England and plan to move there someday once my daughters are grown and out of school. We all have to have our dreams!
So very true. Something to dream about is essential.
Hi Susan,
Well I guess Jack knows his colors, smart kitty. Yes I’m looking forward to our trip, I wonder what I should buy before we go?
Nancy Jo
A teacup for our tea parties 🙂
Oh wow…I am first to leave a comment. This is kind of fun. I love the yarn colors, the green is just beautiful. I can just imagine you sitting in a deck chair with your cup of tea, knitting, with the ocean breeze blowing. ahhhhh I am relaxed just thinking of it. Now when you use the green yarn, you will think of Jack and how he looked up at you so sweetly the day he played with the yarn! Happy trip planning!
Might have to make that my screen saver for the trip!
Now I’m wanting to take a trip to my favorite cross-stitch shop – as well as a trip across the ocean! Guess I better get going!!!!! 🙂
I love businesses in old houses – so cozy! You just want to hunker down and stay forever! Creativeness just wells up and out! Oh the possibilities . . .
Thank you again, dear Susan, for the lovely and colorful post. I cannot contain my excitement about our trip! And I won’t even need motion sickness pills!
I visited the Cunard site and it really does get one in the mood for a journey… and it encourages the long, slooooooow sort of excursion – just the kind I love!
And while you are “whiling away” your days aboard ship knitting, what sort of “diversion” will Joe be working on?
Enjoy this lovely day.
He could read the paper all day long. And books. He loves to read and never gets enough of it. He will be very happy. He will also take pictures of all the machinery he can find, anything with a bolt in it!
You are so very lucky to be there during the queen’s anniversary – what a thrill!
And the anniversary of the Titanic sinking; although I don’t know if there will be events in the Southhampton area for that – too tragic.
I’m going to try my best not to think about it! 🙂
oh how sweet…he was just trying
to help! and he could have to…a nice
round ball was what he had in mind…
alas the poor little man has no thumbs!
have you ever seen “if cats had thumbs”?
beyond hilarious! i’m not sure how to add
a link to a comment…but if you’re bored,
i have it at the very bottom of my blog…
or you can you tube it…anyone with a
cat sees the absolute truth in it! ;}
m ^..^
How cute! It’s a commercial!
ROTHFLMAO!!! That’s toooooo cute!
Cats not having thumbs is the only reason they need us – oh and laps & legs to keep them warm! LOL! Love the commercial!
Okay…that was just too funny…..especially at the end when the paw comes up, waves and gives the thumbs up sign !!!!!!!!
What a darling little yarn shop! I am determined to learn to knit! Have more knitting project books than I can count BECAUSE one day I know I will learn to knit and will make the cute things in the books! Ha! There are such cute things to make “out there!” I love how you said Joe said “Are you talkin’ to me?” Reminded me of when I come home so excited about something and go on and on and my hubby, Greg, says the very same words, “Are you talkin’ to me? Should I be listening?” Men sometimes don’t “get it!” I love the colors you chose and the lime green will be a nice reminder of your sweet Jack as you’re knitting! Perfect project. Maybe I’ll start a scarf and knit along with you on your journey! LOVE how excited we all are about your (OUR) trip! 🙂
Me too!
Good Morning Susan!!!! your post just had me in giggles…. between the going to prison and loving men with face hair- lol I can feel the excitement in your post getting ready for the trip!!!! that’s just as exciting as going!!!!! enjoy your day! p.s. I also loved the colors!!!!
I’m trying to figure out how you wrap the yarn with your little finger. Unless you knit continental style? I have always knitted carrying the yarn between my second and middle fingers of my right hand and I can whip the yarn around the needle really quickly that way – but I’m always willing to learn a new trick.
Love to knit (all kinds of needlework, actually). It’s good for you – relaxing like meditation and yet the colors can be invigorating. Love the grape/lime combination. The ocean often looks purple with swirls of lime and aqua, so you’ll be color coordinated!
I think I’m talking about the same thing you’re doing, couldn’t quite describe it!
The tea shop I go to has a tea room where girlfriends can sip tea and knit. I love the old home stores in NE. My quilt and pewter shops closed last May when I was in NH. I see that you are using mohair, please send a pic of the finished scarf. 🙂
I will, in a about three months if all goes as planned! 🙂
I like the way you corrected yourself! I thought I was the only one who still messes up (besides the younger generation). I even correct myself when I am talking. It really confuses the person I am talking to. LOL
I didn’t know it went through twice, sometimes I write a comment, and it just will not go through, so I write it again. Sometimes it goes and sometimes it doesn’t and then there’s this one! So I deleted one of them, because it let me, but around here, one never knows!
That yarn shop was so sweet! It would be great to have a quilt shop like that too! I sure do enjoy reading your blog and I’m glad your purple yarn was Okay 🙂
When I was a little girl we went to England on the USS United States. I have such memories of the grand ship. I loved the formal dining room and the stewards who wore white gloves and doled out little pats of butter from an iced tray. We then lived in Scotland for two years and I attended public school there. In third grade an hour was alotted for the girls to knit!! Every day after morning lessons, our teacher would instruct the girls to take out your knitting and we’d all sit and knit and chat. I can’t remember what the yucky boys did, lol
LOL, snip and snail hunting 🙂
OH….you have so inspired me to learn to knit. How funny too as I have been thinking of trying it and a friend said she would give me a lesson. Love the photos of the shop. What a warm and cozy oasis in winter. A scarf with sky colors is a fabulous idea and here on CA. Beach the shades would be blue, blue, light blue (fog) and sunset yellow! Can hardly wait to see photos and read about your trip. So many places to see in the world!
What fun!!!!!! Once again…thank you Susan ! P.S. I want to find a special tea-cup now as well !
Oh Susan! Thanks for the first-thing-in-the-morning smile! My little devil cat, Chocolate Mousse (aka the Devil Cat of Doom, or Honey Badger) has a “nose” for yarn. She will find it even if it’s in a plastic ziplock bag, rip it out and strew it all over the house. I have to close the door to my room if I want to knit, so she can’t come in and attach the yarn.
beautiful Spring walk to knitting shop – and that shop!!! A dream come true right at the end of your street 🙂 My favorite kniting store here closed 🙁 They were wonderful! I’ve got friends, cousin, all on board for trip and Beatrix Potter’s house – Jack is just too adorable ~ also loved his face in the previous post when you wrote that you were going LOL 🙂 Five weeks and counting – you must be so excited!!!
You guys are making me even more excited than I was all by myself!
Love it Susan, love the yarn shop and love the colours you chose. I think my knitting skills are about on a par with yours. I can just about manage a scarf. I’ve always envied those ladies who can sit there and just make it seem effortless. I remember we had to knit a dishcloth when at school. I used to pull the wool so tight that it had to be cut off the needles! I’m not quite that bad these days but not far off.
LOL!
Oh thats wonderful I to havent been to England for years , hubby has never been. I like the country side of England the little towns and villages best not so much London never liked cities ! I like Cornwall the little village on the shore with a beach made of shells ! Lovely yarn store . I cant wait till you go to England to see and hear about it . Wonderful photos , I just love little ma & pa shops they are the best ! Have a great day !
p.s. my nieces gave me a special teacup – on tray on guest room bed – favorite box of tea – I keep it on my kitchen counter, so I’m ready for England, Susan 🙂
Perfect!
I’ll use it tonight to celebrate the anticipation! You make both the everyday and the really BIG events of like worth celebrating, and I love it!
p.s. I now know that I knit “continental” (the way I learned from my mom), but for years I looked for someone who could help me knit “backwards” LOL 🙂
:-)!
Good morning Susan, and everyone!
Back from our trip, had a marvelous time, and now I get to go along on yours… perfect! Our first trip to England was 5 years ago… I could hardly wait to get there. It was wonderful. We stayed at a bed and breakfast down in Dorset called Church House… I would highly, highly recommend staying there if you ever get the chance. Lovely couple and their daughter Paul, Susy and Lucy Wilson) are the innkeepers, and the meals are divine, the accommodations (a three hundred year old thatched roof house) intriguing and oh so comfy, and the surrounding area full of history, gardens, castles and gorgeous scenery. Had lunch in Salisbury following a tour of the cathedral there… climbed all the way to the top… the view was stunning. The lunch was at the “New Inn”… built in the 1400s. Absolutely mind boggling to me. Also visited Bath (and had High Tea at the Pump Room, oh my goodness, it was delicious!),Stonehenge, Shaftesbury, Sir Walter Raleigh’s castle, and other marvelous sites. Hope to go back someday and visit Yorkshire, the Lake District and Wales.
Love the knitting project… and the colors are gorgeous! Looking forward to seeing everything unfold as you embark on your voyage. Happy planning to you!
Susan, as I read your words, I feel like you are talking to me right in this room. You are like a long lost friend. I love your stories! I’ve never had my colors done, but your colors could be mine. Purple is one color I get told I look good on. I look forward to going on your trip with you. Enjoy your vacation!
Pam from Michigan
Hi Pam,
I am convinced that everyone looks good in some shade of purple. It just seems to be complimentary!
Thank you for the wonderful post~ it just made my day!! 🙂 What a darling yarn shop & I love your new yarn! That picture of Jack sitting next to the yarn just cracks me up! I always tell my hubby that if I ever went back to England, we would go visit where Beatrix Potter lived! I can’t wait for the travel blog~ 5 more weeks!!!
Good morning Sue!
I am so excited for you and Joe to go to England again, what a dream come true. I would love to take that trip as well it sounds like it will be fantastic. I fell in love with Miss Potter and I so want to go to the lake district to see her home, how exciting for you. Now about your colors….they are the same as mine, autumn colors for sure, I love wearing purple and green together that scarf will be purrrfect! Jack will love snuggling with it, after all everything looks good with black and white! My mom tried to teach me to knit when I was a child, I tried God knows, but I just couldn’t seem to get the hang of it but it is something I always wanted to do. Can’t wait to come along on your trip Sue!!!!
So looking forward to sharing your trip to England ! Beatrix Potter is a favorite. There are some beautiful books about her farm etc at the library.
Have you read the series of “lightly fictionalized” mysteries about her life and farms complete with subplots of little talking animals? Absolutely adorable !
They are by Susan Whitting Albert and very cleverly written. Yes, one must always take knitting on a trip!
Good Morning Sweet Sue…First… Oh My Goodness…JACK! & that Photo of him with The Un~Raveled Green Yarn…He Is Hilarious & so Freaking Cute! Meow~ Purple is My Most Favorite Color(I Swear!) 🙂 I’ve Had Two Different Bedrooms in My Life Painted Shades of Purple….Gorgeous! (L♥ve The Louis Armstrong Song♫…Makes Me Weepy ♫ cause it is “A Wonderful~World”….) “Knit~Works” is such an Adorable Shop…& The Perfect Kitchen for all The Girlies to Sit Knit & Chit~Chat… 🙂 My Mom is Beyond a Marvelous Knitter…omgggggg She (Irene) Has Made Me Ponchos & Scrafs & Hats…& Afghans….Amazing & when ever I wear One Of Her Creations Out & About …Someone always Stops Me & Admires My Mom’s Work… 🙂 I sadly can Barely Squeak out a Scarf….(Poor Me) 🙂 But Thank God for My Mom’s Talent! ♥ Joe is Funny 🙂 “Are You Talkin’ to Me”? I Love it! 🙂 when You said only 5 Weeks until The Grand Bon Voyage…I got Goose~Bumps…April 1st is this Sunday…Yikes! so Very Soon You Sweet Sue will Be Knitting Your Royal~Purple Scarf…Sharing Your Adventures With Us…I Do Believe that I am going to Buy a New Tea~Cup Too…I Know Our Tea~Parties are going to Be Delightful! Yay! Wishing You & All a Glorious Thursday…Rainy…or Sunny…Chilly or Warm…Spring is Here! Twirling into a Flower Patch! xoxo Poof!♫♫♫♥
Poof! Angie♥
xoxo ♥ 🙂 *Poof* Sweet Sue! (Twirling) 🙂
The look of innocence on Jack’s face is precious! I can almost hear him purring..”Me! I didn’t do anything…honest”!
I love yarn shops, especially the smaller specialty ones. I both knit & crochet and viewing row after row of bright yarm colors always excites me to take on yet another project. How can you resist? 🙂
The colors you chose for your project sound wonderful. I’ll be looking forward to seeing a really pretty scarf emerge from your needles!
Marilyn (in Dallas)
Good morning, friend~
You crack me up! You DO realize….they’d never let you have a knitting needle in a prison cell?….hahaha I had a quick visual of sweet you asking, ever so nicely of the warden, “Please, kind sir, do you think I could do a little knitting project while I’m here?”
All kidding aside, I love your color choice for the scarf! It’s funny…I’ve never had my colors done (it’s on my list) but when I was looking for a dress for my son’s wedding about a year and a half ago, I went shopping with the intention of finding something in a rust or burgundy color, as it was a fall wedding. I couldn’t find anything in that color palette so my daughter-in-love suggested I try on this stunning deep purple dress. When I came out of the dressing room, everyone in the shop ooohed and aaahed! I didn’t own a single article of purple in my wardrobe so I was very unsure but ended up getting it. I have never had so many compliments in my life! I went out and have added a couple more purple tops to my closet and the reaction is always the same….I get the WOW! from people. It will be interesting to see if it is indeed one of my colors. I’m a blue-eyed blonde (opposite of you) so…go figure!
This knitting post reminded me of a huge project I took on way back when I was 18 yrs. old. I knit an afghan for my parents, made up of panels of different sampler patterns. It took me almost a year!!! My boyfriend (now my husband of almost 36 yrs.) could not understand how I had the patience to pick up that knitting and stick with it for so long. He thought knitting was something “old ladies” did! I have made a couple of scarves for my kids over the years but I think, now, I’ll get ready to knit myself one. I love the comment about knitting according to the color of the sky. Shades of blue….or royal purple….how do I ever decide?!
Hope you have a wonderful day…it’s a bit dreary and cold here, too, but a good day to make lists and do more planning for your (our) trip, right?
talk to you soon…
xoxoDebbie
Hmmm, no I didn’t think about knitting needles as possible weapons! Another good reason not to go to prison!
We were told it wasn’t our hair coloring but a layer under our skin. Probably you are an Autumn too, but we were all surprised to find out what we are.
Jack the cat could eat no fat
So Susan brought him Lime
The Purple’s safe, so hide it quick;
Remember Jack can climb.
🙂 OK, I will remember, that is so cute!
What a wonderful wool shop to have so close to you. My mother taught me to knit when I was about five, ostensibly to keep me out of her hair. My dolls had many, many scarves in many different colours. When my children were young, I knit a lot of baby sweaters and I’m still knitting them now for the grandchildren, along with, yes, scarves, blankets, hats, mitts. It’s so soothing and calming to sit and knit something simple, just the rhythm of it brings joy. Your scarf is going to be beautiful, the colours you chose are so perfect for you. Looking forward to your trip, hope the next five weeks go quickly, I so want to see Beatrix Potter’s house and garden.
Jack looks so handsome in green! My grandmother taught me to knit when I was young, I wish I had kept it up, I don’t remember how to anymore.
Bonjour Susan – a little French to go with the mention of speaking French in your post! If I was in Paris, I’d eat macarons and say bonjour all day except when it was evening, then I’d say bonsoir! I wish I was in Paris! I adore knitting and I end up with plenty of scrap wool left-over from projects. The hospital near me always needs little knitted hats (beanies) to keep the tiny heads of all the premature babies warm so, I use the scraps to knit the hats – they are about the size of a teacup, teensy-weensy and very cute. I don’t know if you (the USA) have a similar hospital programme?
Now, I’d like to say a big merci (ooh-la-la French again) for the effort you put into this wonderful blog. It must take a good amount of time reading all the comments and even a lot of ‘think time’ as you ponder the next post. I appreciate it and adore it. Au revoir!
Merci Annie!
Oh, knitting! I love to knit and absolutely must have a project (or 16) going at all times. Dishcloth knitting is my favorite car (travel) knitting — small, easy, and of course, in the end you have some lovely hand knit dishcloths for your home. Just a thought, in case you need a break from the scarf – which looks lovely by the way. Oh, and hand knit dish towels are wonderful travel knitting projects too, and I do love a hand knit dish towel — nothing like it — who knew ;)?
So excited about your upcoming trip!
♥
G
Hello Susan !
What marvelous pictures once again. Why is it that a yarn store always reminds me of a box of chocolates. Just can never decide which one to pick ! It is all so luscious and mind boggling. Oh and since that deep purple is my f-a-v-o-r-i-t-e color I just guess you will have to send that scarf along to me when you get back home again. Love that color ……lol………..meantime, these will be the longest five weeks ever, you do realize that, right? For all of us girlfriends too…….lol
It’s long and short at the same time!
Hi Susan, I’m sure you know this but the Queen Mary II is not just a cruise ship – it is an “Ocean Liner”……quite a big difference. I’m so happy you got some pretty yarn and the colors are so very nice together. Your yarn store looks so cozy. We don’t have anything like that here. We have in our neighborhood a group called “Stitch n Chat” and we get together once a month. Last week we were all learning to knit since a lady in our group introduced us to these lacy scarfs she knits which don’t look wintery at all so we can wear them here in Fl. They have them online at marymaxim.com and you can click for a free catalog. I am a crocheter and not a knitter but I am determined to learn. It seems harder to use 2 needles instead of 1. As they say, practice makes perfect. So we are all going to try and make these scarfs and some of the yarn has metallic thread or sequins which for the life of me I can’t imagine how you can knit or crochet with sequins right in the yarn. I have to apologize because in my last note I said I loved the “college” you were standing in front of but I meant to say “cottage”. I still go back and look at it and can picture myself living in it! I’m wondering if you got to go inside of it. Know you’ll have a wonderful time! It really is so exciting and can’t wait to follow you and Joe on your trip. Have fun even getting ready for it! Gail/Joe, Beverly Hills, Fl
Isn’t it sweet? I think we’re staying there again this time!
I love the colors of yarn! My husbands late Aunt Peg always used to say “When ever you are sittind down, you should always have a project in your hands.” She practiced what she preached, and left many a gift to pass to her family! Have a good day!
What a darling shop! My Aunt tried to teach me to knit once. I am left handed; she is right handed…and it just didn’t work. Sad face. Book Recommendation specially for this post: Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. Cute story about knitting store in NYC and the gals therein. Just finished; hope you enjoy!
Question: Since I am a non-knitter – does Michaela sell those darling hats? Love cute hats! Linda in San Diego
You should ask her!
I will! I will! Why didn’t I think of that!
She’ll be so surprised!
Ooooo, I loved the pictures of that knit shop and wish there was one near me that I could walk to. I learned to knit when I turned twenty. It was something that I had always wanted to do, but no one in my family knits so I had to find a teacher. Thankfully, at the time I was determined to begin knitting, a woman openned a yarn shop in my hometown. She taught me to knit and I have enjoyed that hobby now for over 25 years. I knit a lot of dishcloths out of cotton yarns and practice new stitiches this way. When I get finished, I have a nice little gift for someone and often include them in a basket with little soaps, potpourris, etc. If I had a knit shop near me like you do, I would be there constantly. Love the color choices you made for your scarf. Happy knitting and Bon Voyage! -Donna
I’m the graphic artist at a Library System, here in NW New Jersey — we have a group of gals that meet every Wednesday called the Sussex County Library Needlers — they have WAY TOO MUCH FUN! Sometime the laughter coming from the Community Room makes those of us who have to work think it aught to
be outlawed! :o) It started off as a knitting group but has grown to accept anyone who loves to do “needlework”. I wish it included food, like so many of our “cozy” mysteries do — I just finished one called Due or Die — naturally a library themed mystery with knitting!
I so happy for you — a trip to England — thank you for thinking of taking us “girlfriends” with you — I fear that is the only way I’ll get there — through
your kind and generous lens and diary. Your a peach!
Your Library Needlers sound like fun!!
I love love love the colors of your future scarf, going to be so pretty, oh Jack!
Your wreath is lovely!!! too!
What a special surprise to check your blog on this stormy dark day in western Minnesota and find a new post…about one of my favorite pasttimes…KNITTING!!!…what a darling yarn shop…a yarn shop opened in this tiny town several years ago and is still going strong…there is a tree outside the front door and one year the girls knitted a “cozy” for the trunk of the tree…colorful and fun…I love the colors and project you chose for “our” voyage across the ocean…will you be able to put the yarn away and not start knitting before you leave???…right now I am knitting little egg “cozies” for my three year old granddaughter Sophie’s preschool class…I will send the cozies, plastic eggs to fit inside the cozies and stickers for Sophie and her Mom/our daughter to fill and then pass out to her classmates…you can search for the pattern to these cozies if you go to http://www.knittingonthenet.com First you knit the little basket and then you make an I-cord for the handle…couldn’t be cuter when they are done…they don’t take very long to knit…if I was as computer savvy as you Susan, I could put a picture of the cozies that are finished, but since I’m not, you will have to go to the website or just picture these cute little baskets in your mind…I need to put “learning how to post pictures on the computer” on my long term to do list…Have a great day and thank you for keeping us posted on what you are doing in your little corner of the world…xoxo…
It’s so funny, I was wondering if I would be able to wait. I know I can roll it now. That’ll be a start. Thank you for the link! I also loved the little yellow slippers!
You are very welcome…I’m off to check out marymaxim.com…
Just called Knitworks and asked about the pattern of the little striped dress in one of your pictures. She was so happy to hear that the shop’s pictures were on your blog. I had started out by saying, “This may sound a bit strange, but I saw pictures of your shop on Susan Branch’s blog” and she said, “That’s not strange at all”…. Very helpful, very sweet woman. She will call me back with info on the pattern and, if the pattern is available, will sell me the yarn also and ship to me! LOVE the island mentality – grew up with it on Block Island and miss it so much…
You just made someone’s day! Mine for one, and definitely the girls in the shop. Sweet of you to do that!
The First Rule of Leaving the House . . always take a camera in case there is something to photograph (yesterday it just happened to be a Red Kite flying just yards above the house and sending me into a mad panic to try and get a photograph just to prove it)
First Rule of Any Shop Selling Anything of Multi-hue and Colours . . Don’t let me in, especially on my own, or you might never find me again. Of course, I will be in there somewhere, underneath the yarns, or simply gazing, awestruck, at the beautiful colours and textures. I try not to touch, but like Jack I just can’t help myself . . they are like magnets and they call in hushed, fairy voices “buy me . . buy me” or “take me home” Of course, not all hear the gentle whispers, but for those of us who do there is no escaping their siren calls . .
Royal Purple with a hint of Lime is such a zingy combination . . a little dash of lime does wonders for colour schemes and cooking!
You’re so right!
Im so excited about our trip!!! I need one! LOl! I think I will knit with you! Good reason too. Not that I need one. Love the sky idea. Have lots of fun!!! What started you liking Beatrix I guess I missed that one. Your lucky to have found your soulmate!
What I love about her is the difference she made. She was an original; she did the thing she loved with no real training, she always followed her heart. She took all the money she made and put it toward preserving a good deal of the Lake District where she lived until she died at age 77.
Lots of videos….Lots of pictures, please! Can’t wait:)
I’m a knitter too, and I think you’ve chosen a perfect project to work on. I’ve run out of things to knit! The last thing I knitted was a Christmas advent garland for my fireplace…..small mittens, stockings and hats…….one for each day of December leading up to Christmas. All strung on a red i-cord. So cute!! You must keep yarn away from pets!…..we had a Golden Retriever puppy that took a ball of yarn into his crate and unraveled the whole thing! I threw it away! I’m sure he had a grand time playing with it tho.
Love the sound of your garland!!
Can’t wait to “see” Beatrix Potter’s house! How fun it will be to travel along with you! But I’m most anxious to see how it’s captured in your diary! Jack is NOT going to like your adventure. He may turn a naughty cheek when he finds out. Perhaps he needs his own lime green ball of yarn to vent on.
Won’t you miss the joy happening in your own early Summer garden? Summer is the best time of the year here in the Pacific NW…I can barely pull myself away.
Susan, you may need to get a head count of how many girlfriends are going at some point! 🙂
Everyone is so excited to make the trip with you.
I hope we don’t make the boat tippy!
please tell me how long the trip to England on a boat is?? Sounds so fun.
We’ll be on the ship seven days over and seven back.
Hi Susan!
Thanks for introducing me to the hummingbird cam site. One of Phoebe’s eggs hatched this morning and Mary Jo is now the star of the moment.
SO exciting! Now’s when it gets scary because of all the predators!
Hello Sister…you see we must be related, your yarn colors are what I’m using in my decor and loving it. I have just recently, almost 2 weeks ago, “adopted” 2 kitties that had been left behind when a house in my neighborhood was abandoned (a lot of foreclosures in my state). I found out the kitties had been outside and neighbors occasionally gave them food for almost 2 1/2 months. I’ve never had an indoor cat let along 2 cats and wonder if your love of your cats influenced me. Well, I can hardly wait to travel with you. Bye from your sister in Arizona.
You are in for some serious laughing! Enjoy!
Yarn and cats! They are the perfect mix. Shortly after adopting our pure bred Siamese cat, rescued after Hurricane Charlie, I walked out of my bedroom, into the living room and saw an “Awful sight”. There was red all over the carpet–strings of it. And right in the middle was “Chuck” aka Charlie. My first thought was, OMG he’s injured and bleeding all over the carpet. Then my eyes refocused and I realized Chuck had found my red yarn. What a character! He loves to sit in my lap when I knit and “HELP”.
Can’t wait to hear all about your trip. If I can’t come with; at least I get to share. Happy sailing! Love, Kathy
Yippee! We’re going too! Only for a week, and we’re flying, but whee! I’m a huge Anglophile! Early May for us. We have cousins in London to visit. This is our first time. I’ve been to Paris (looooved it), but never England. I know I won’t be ready to come home after only a week, but it’s a good start, and I’m told a week is a decent amount of time for London. But oh, I want to see all of it…Cornwall, and Yorkshire, and on and on.
Thanks for the yarn shop tour. Learning to knit is on my bucket list. I love to crochet, though not terribly good at it. Every fall, as soon as the temp. dips, I’m seized by a desperate urge to buy more yarn and crochet. Seriously, I could sit on the sofa all day and crochet, drink tea, and watch old movies.
Hope your trip is amazing!!
If you can, get on the train one day and just go down toward Kent (or toward the Cotswolds), stop where it’s pretty, have lunch and go back. So you can see it; it’s so sosososo pretty.
Love the visit to the yarn shop. All the colors and project possibilities! So excited for you and Joe to be going on such a wonderful journey. Thank you for taking us with you. I can’t wait! Just don’t be like me and get so covered up in projects and books and other good things that you forget to take some time to sit on a deck chair and just “be”. ☺
I love knitting and always have a couple of projects going–something small with shorter rows for when I wait for Norm at the bus stop, something larger for when I sit and knit and have more time to get across a row. I hate to put anything down in the middle of a row! 🙂 There is something about knitting that is almost like meditation to me, slows me down, gives me time to think, etc. I LOVE teaching friends to knit and spreading the joy…And I love taking a project along on a trip. Will be fun to check the progress of your scarf on the trip to England! I’m getting excited just for you!!! That was a cute picture of Jack with the yarn. Betti, the darker-colored of our two schnauzers, has a “thing” for yarn…I have to watch her like a hawk. If I leave my canvas knitting bag on the floor and leave the room for an instant, she is there with her head in the bag. She doesn’t chew it or eat it, she rolls it around the floor until it is a hopeless tangle unravelled. She and Jack would have real fun together!!! I’ve given up scolding as she obviously isn’t doing it to be naughty (Ha! little angel!) but is just enjoying an “alternative toy”! So I warn girlfriends if they bring their knitting–either keep the knitting bags off the floor or watch it carefully! 🙂
I do hope you enjoy Beatrix Potter’s house. I grew up in Cumbria and, even though I now live in the East of England, I have taken my 10 year old daughter to visit the Lake District and the house every year since she was born. Enjoy! x
Lucky you to live so close!
Love the idea you’re going back to England……and I’ll be wanting the BOOK about it all, all the while reading the daily? blogs. I’d love to be trotting ’round behind you two. As for yarn shops, you’d go abs crazy were you to visit the one nearest to me, in a little town called COMFORT (Tx) called THE TINSMITH’S WIFE….this because it’s in an old house that was originally a tinsmith’s shop. They have the largest supply of beautiful yarns I’ve ever seen in one place! Jack will be lonesome while you’re gone. Have a wonderful time Phyllis
I’m so envious of your trip to Beatrix Potter’s house/farm!! This weekend I will watch “Miss Potter” for the hundredth time and dream of someday going there myself – I know your trip will be amazing!
That movie is already packed to go with us!
I so wish I could knit. I learned when I was 10, taught to me by a very sweet English lady, but I couldn’t get the hang of the baby finger thing, so I gave it up and forgot most of it. Hurray for you and I hope once you are back from your trip and have time, that you visit the knitting shop and join those ladies in the kitchen for tea and some heavy duty knitting and chatting.
So, when you had your colors done, did they predict Jack would be lime? lol!
XO,
Jane From Chicago
I think he’s a Winter 🙂
Hello, Ms. Susan~the knit shop is absolutely charming! If I get to the Vineyard, I know where my second stop will be 🙂 We have a charming little knit shop here where it’s like walking in to Cheers, everybody says hi who are sitting around the table kinitting and if they know you they announce your name and then another round of greeting from everyone with your name, very homey. My husband loves the knit shop because there’s large jars of peanut M&Ms, Lindt chocolates and two other jars of goodies AND Anne, the owner always offers coffee, tea, water and wine. Great place! I think Joe would even enjoy it while waiting for you to peruse all of the beautiful yarns and trinkets. (I know you like the water and we’re close to the ocean just south of the space center and lots of bolts there. ha!) I read one of the previous posts that mentioned knitting needles as potential weapons. And, yes, you may be restricted about taking circular needles NOT straight needles. So, before you go, make sure you have your project cast on and a couple of rows knitted. That way you have a “work in progress” and they won’t take your needles away. Besides, you’re less likely to loose stitches on circular needles and it’s so easy to stop and pick up, too. It’s been our experience here at Port Canaveral needles are absconded particularly if they are straight even though there is work in progress on them but the circular needles appear less harmful. I would die if they took my Addi turbo needles away (straight or circular). It would be a painful way to sail away sans needles across the Atlantic. You could have the whole scarf done in that time. Right? Now if they only had a little quaint knit/yarn boutique on board, wouldn’t that be wonderful? I’m marking the days off your calendar until you sail. I love to cruise. Oh, and I need to mention the shop is having a knitting cruise the first weekend in November and Melissa Leapman is the celebrity knitter coming with us. Great girlfriend fun. Cruising with Susan Branch in the spring and cruising with Melissa Leapman in the fall! Fun! Fun!
Aren’t you smart! I’ll make sure to do it!
What a charming little yarn store! It makes me yearn for lovely days of knitting and relaxing. I don’t know how to knit though, so perhaps I’ll just stick to the relaxing and throw a book or some journaling in there for good measure.
I love little mischievous Jack, too! He makes me heart happy and makes me miss my own kitty which lives in Idaho with my parents.
Have a lovely day Susan!
Jack is the one thing I can hardly stand to leave. Girl Kitty too, but she is older and much quieter, Jack is so huggie, I know I’m going to yearn for him.
The last time we were in England (2000) I missed my kitties so much. We were in Broadway on High St when I spotted a store that had stuffed animals. They didn’t have any kitties but I bought a stuffed doggie I could cuddle. His name is Benjamin and he will be traveling with us to CT in June. He will also be joining us on our girlfriend voyage on the QM. I can’t wait to set sail!
We needed a pet!
Mary Ann! That is such a wonderful idea 🙂 I love that you have a traveling companion now.
Susan, it’ll be good that you’ll have this blog to look at all of the adorable photos and videos of Jack when your heart misses him most. Not the same thing at all, but still a wonderful way to stay connected. 🙂
I do love running him through my hands though!
Susan, This is so wonderful, so exciting, I’m sitting on the edge of my chair!!!! I can’t wait to go along with you, especially to Beatrix’s place. Oh my goodness! What a darling yarn shop! I love your color selection, b-u-ti-ful – only to match the wearer!
I’ve had several puppy yarn run-ins in the past, wasn’t pretty. Actually I was sobbing as I came home from work one day and found my entire yarn basket had been strewn all over the living room, all around the cocktail table, a scarf-in-progress unravelled. Called my husband and in between sobs tried to gather and salvage what I could. Yarn + kitties + pups = does not equate!
Please tell us what books you’re taking along to read. I have a few excursions coming up and need reading material. You always have such great suggestions.
Preparing for the trip is half the fun. Thanks for allowing us the vicarious jaunt!
xoox,
Jeanette
The yarn shop was charming Sue thanks for taking us along. By the way. I have a new tea cup for your trip to England. I’m going to use it each time I sit to look at where we are going that day. I’ll make myself a cup to tea and enjoy the trip. A cup of tea always has a way of making things seem a little more cozy…don’t ya think? Well, I’ll mark my calander for five more weeks then off we go! So looking forward to it! I could use the vacation….even if it’s only through the eyes of another! LOL! FOSB 4~Ever! ~ Doreen ~
I like it, we can have tea!
I can’t think of anyone who should be going to England more than you! You will see and find all the most delicious things and sights England has to offer to “fill you up”… and then share them with all of us in your heart and soul warming way 🙂 Too wonderful ! We are all so lucky-
Oh that little scamp Jack – his expression is priceless…”what did I do?” Adorable boy 🙂
What a charming knit shoppe…….that shoppe would be kitty paradise! LOL
Just the beauty in the colors of the yarn is enough to make you go ahhhhhhhhh……I especially like the close up photo of the twisted yarns….colors and textures inspire me! Since I don’t knit….but would like to learn, and since my kitty loves laying on afgans….I think that my first project could be a kitty sized afgan…..because she would love it and never notice the first time knitter mistakes…..LOL.
So looking forward to England….and Beatrix Potter’s house…..I am making sure I have some dramamine too! Can one get virtually seasick? LOL…… Can’t wait!
I think I better hold the camera really still if I don’t want everyone looking away!
Hyacinths, & a charming knitting shop, & a delightful note, what a Wonderful World!! And, sailing to England with my dear BFF GFs. Gulp, sigh, thank you dear Susan!! xoxoxo
LOVE the colors you chose……one of my favorite colors to wear and to play with is periwinkle and lime……..can’t wait to see the finished scarf!!
I just checked on Phoebe the hummingbird – one of the eggs has hatched and you can see her new baby. We have a little quilt store in Bakersfield called Strawberry Patches – It is a very comfortable and homey place to shop. The owners blog is where I learned about you.
I have heard of it, people love that store!
She use to carry some of your fabric.
Tell her there is a new introduction in April from Cranston (if she’s interested!).
I did.
Hi Susan and Linda:
You can bet I’ll be looking for your new line with Cranston at quilt market in May. I can’t wait!! Susan I’d also like to carry some of your books and gifts. You know, a SB department right here at Strawberry Patches. If you could share some of the sources for those I would appreciate it.
Hi Suzanne, how nice to hear from you! I forwarded your comment to Judy at my Studio — she should be getting in touch with you, but you can write her too, [email protected]/~susanbs3/susanbranch/ Your store is famous! I’d love to be there! xoxo
My mom tried to teach me to knit, sew and crochet when I was a child. I was hopeless at all three, and macrame as a teenager took me forever to learn. Finally, as an adult, I taught myself to cross-stitch and love it, I design my own projects. Sometimes it just takes a while to discover what you’re good at! Can’t wait to go along on your trip…we got a brochure in the mail for Cunard yesterday…hubby is drooling over it!
That’s how it starts, first the drooling!
Hi Susan and GF’s: First of all, those flowers are gorgeous!!! I so admire knitters.. I crochet, but never could get the hang of knitting… something about those two needles.. kind of like chopsticks, which I haven’t mastered either!!! LOL… Thanks for the little trip to the yarn shop. None of those around me but would LOVE to visit one one day. Just buy my yarn at Michael’s or JoAnn’s or even discount stores sometimes carry yarn… I could spend sooo much time dreaming and creating beautiful things in my head .. sometimes they don’t translate to reality though!! LOL… Your colors are beautiful and I hope you model it for us when finished. I would have never put those two colors together, but they are very pretty!… I always seem to take projects and books and magazines on trips, but then I wind up not doing much of anything except watching the view and people and everything else going on while traveling, afraid I might miss something while looking down at my crochet or reading!.. Enjoy the planning stage as well for I think that is just as much fun!! Have a beautiful day all!
Yarn shops are SO colorful and then there’s touching all the marvelous different yarns — heavenly. LOVE your description of your knitting skills level — and that reminded me that I have still not finished my never ending scarf which is entirely knitted so garter stitch all the way with a hole or two here and there — it awaits some button embellishments and a button fringe which I’m going to attempt — but first I have to bind it off! Maybe I will start another knitting project for the trip to England and to have for our own travels across country this summer and fall! Always an inspiration to be found here. And I have the perfect teacup and saucer waiting for travel blog days.
Hi Susan,
Your yarn selection is beautiful! I am part of a knitting group that meets every Monday morning, as much for the chatting as for the knitting! I am knitting my first pair of socks, so wish me luck. Your knitting shop looks so cozy and welcoming. Knitting is also therapeutic, a good way to work out problems, or just forget about them for a little while.
The planning and looking forward to part of a trip are just about as much fun as going on it! Looking forward to it with you!
good morning everyone, hello susan. okay for connie from connecticut and debbie s from Illinois and anyone else i have the trip info for you!! this is going to be a bit of a long post so sorry in advance. here we go: go to this link for the Oxford Experience: http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/details.php?id=Q220-38&pos=134&wks=5 hope that works if not let me know, a word about the courses register for these as soon as the list is released sometime the prior october. for the jane austn tours: http:// http://www.britishtours.com/jane-austen-tour or just put jane austen tour into google and pick from that, also the city of Bath offers many walking tours so check into that. also the jane austen society of america offers a 9 day tour. be sure to call your bank and credit card companies and let them know you are traveling and where you will be because if they see the extra activity they may put your cards on hold and its very difficult to call from overseas to straighten that out. also our us dollar is $1.60 to the british pound, example 100 british pounds will cost you 160.00 dollars. they use a chip and pin system of credit card there, so your card may not work at an unattended machine, so go someplace where a person will be waiting on you and they can make the card work, also buying pounds before you get there is more expensive than getting them at an atm over there. best credit card for over there is capital one, they don’t tack on the 2-3% foreign transaction fee other cards do …. hope this all helps. have a fun trip. hugs….. 🙂
Good information Pat! I thank you too!
you’re very welcome, hope it helps and have an enjoyable trip!! my sis will also be there in London in May and she will pick up any brochures on the jane austen tours.
Oh Thank You for the lovely yarn shop tour !!!!! Yarn shops are my MOST favorite thing in life !!!!! I rather knit than breath and I LOVE seeing different shops :0)
My Aunt just got back from England … she went to the wonderful shop ” Wool ” and brought me some lovely yarn !!!!!
Cannot wait to ” go along ” to England with you !!!!
Thank You !!!!
ps …. lime green and purple ….. my 2 Favorite colors !!!!! :0)
I would love to go to England someday, but I will enjoy it through your blog for now…Love the pictures of yarn, yarn and lots of yarn!
One of my black and white Springer Spaniels loves to play with a ball of yarn. Scads of yarn all over the house and a very pleased look on his face. I really have to hide my knitting well. Do you think it is a black and white thing? LOL Love that royal purple and lime green. It will be beautiful! Life is all about the colors!
Yes, definitely, a black and white thing! LOL
I love the ‘autumn’ colors you picked for your knitting, Susan. Can’t wait to see your scarf all finished and worn! Knitting sounds like the perfect way to pass amiable time on a ship. I’ve never knitted, but I really admire the handiwork of those that do!
Jack, as ever, is adorable- yes, you can clearly see by your pictures just how sweet and innocent he is! 😉 Surely your lovely green yarn went on an unraveling spree all on it’s own!
Happy counting down the days- how do you even sleep at night?
It’s not that easy. I end up trying on clothes before bed! 🙂
Really love the idea of knitting a scarf while on vacation and every time you use it you will think of your trip….such a simple idea but one I’d never thought of. I am so doing that (but I’m flying so I’ll have to leave the knitting needles in my suitcase for the flight I think!) xx
ps- love purple and lime green together.
This is how I get scarves! 🙂
You can knit on the plane :0)
I just love countdowns…and vacations and people who are really good at sharing things (that would be you!). I want to hear all about it…every detail…I have never been to Europe and that is one of my most cherished dreams. I hope I can go someday! Until then, I’ll be visiting vicariously through you Sweet Sue! xoxo Your friend, Jacqui
OK, I’ll try to find good places for you to go!
Your scarf will be extra special because, besides being so pretty, is will hold lots and lots of traveling memories! It’ll become a wonderful souvenir of this lovely trip. I’d love to get my “colors” done. I bought a book (sometime back in the ’70’s I think) that was a do-it-yourself project to determine one’s color season, and I could never determine whether I was an autumn or a spring! I love autumn-y colors, so I just decided I’d be autumn. Happy packing!
I had exactly the same problem. Autumn is (apparently, and probably too simplistically) just a more muted palette of the Spring colors, which are very clear.
Priceless picture of Jack being naughty – loved the knitting shop and what a great idea to have projects lined up to work on and then they become momentos of your trip. Must remember that one. One of my embroidery projects completed two years ago is called “Marty’s hip surgery embroidered quilt.” LoL
Husband remembers the grand staircase on the ship bringing his family from England to the US, he was nine – his Mummy and sisters were seasick in their room and he and his Dad went to bring their dinners to them and dear little Marty tripped and dropped two of the dinners. Definitely a memory for him.
Judy C
I loved the trip to the yarn shop! But it was your last photo of Jack with the yarn that literally cracked me up!! Welcome to my world. Every morning, for the last 2 1/2 years, I wake up to a trail of yarn balls, leading from the living room, or my studio to my side of the bed. Sometimes they are neat balls of yarn, sometimes only 3 or 4, but… sometimes, perhaps when there is a full moon, I find a wild tangle of yarn, multiple colors, all twisted together, the balls ending at my bed. I always laugh at seeing this, because I would love to have seen the frenzy of kitty pleasure that created this mess! I have learned to hide my good yarn projects, and put my good yarn on high shelves in baggies. I do keep a basket of “kitchen cotton” yarn, I use to make washcloths and potholders, and this is what the cats now use for their midnight activities. I really don’t mind them having fun with this yarn. I just don’t know which cat is doing it, either Moochi or Abbey. They both sleep on the end of our bed, and are always there when I wake up. So, it’s a mystery! However, lately I’ve started telling my husband that he MUST stop playing with my yarn at night! Then he cracks up laughing.
Love your mystery! Think I need a new spot for the yarn, the basket next to the chair is just toooooo tempting.
And yet another thing we have in common and to love about you Susan. My favorite place…New England; my favorite cats…black/white; AND I’m a passionate knitter! Can’t wait to hear about your trip. It sounds fabulous! Safe travels.
PS- I volunteer at my local animal shelter and also foster kittens for them. Knitting is nearly impossible with a kitten on your lap 😉 Usually the kittie takes precedence over the knitting. Does Jack allow you to knit????
No way, I have to do everything when he naps or is upstairs bothering Girl Kitty.
I truly believe that one of the most fun parts of the trip is the planning itself. The planning of projects, where you will go, what you will see, where you will eat, etc. I change my mind a million times – thus adding to the F U N ! I am so excited for you.nks
Today I was thinking (actually sending mind power) for you to post. Thanks for
“hearing” me. LoL
Nicki
What a darling yarn shop!!! You chose perfect colours for your scarf.
Visiting the Lake Country and Beatrix Potter’s house has been on my list ever since I saw the movie! If you haven’t see Miss Potter yet you absolutely must. Rene Z. and Ewen McGregor star in it.
Also……..the Queen Mary makes a stop in Halifax. Wondering if it does it before or after transatlantic trips? I would be delighted to give you and Joe a lovely short personalized tour if you happen to arrive. I am an unabashed ambassador for my city and province. I love it here and enjoy showing it off:)
Excited for your trip!
Shelagh from Nova Scotia
Not sure — I think I do remember it stopping there, but I think it was in the middle of the night! I don’t think we were awake. I’m not sure, I may have dreamed it!
Hehe, Actually I just looked it up and it’s first visit is on July 3rd arriving from New York but it then turns and heads to Boston and NYC again. I think it is a Big Band cruise so whoever is lucky enough to do that short jaunt will have a lovely Fred Astairish time! One day if you ever have the inclination to visit the East coast of Canada. (your neighbor) drop me a line:)
~Shelagh~
Oh how wonderful that would be for a whole ocean liner of big band music. Thank you Shelagh, I’ll keep that in mind!
I love the look on Jack’s face–total Innocence! (‘who, Me’? ‘Meow’!)…I also laughed when I read the part about Prison and improving oneself…I have thought that a few times…There is a women’s prison about 40 miles away from me, which has a popular quilting program…The prisoners make 3 quilts each during the time they’re in the program–two for donation to outside charities; one to keep for themselves. (As a quilter, I’ve often thought, ‘Hmmm, I’d have more time to sew, if I was at Coffee Creek!’)–however, that’s not in my plan, either!
At any rate, look what great taste Jack has–the green matches his eyes–how COULD a girl resist a mustachioed kitty such as he?!
looking forward to ‘our’ journey!
I visited London several years ago with a friend. One day we took the train to Oxford and went to see C.S. Lewis’s home. Later that day, we went to the Pub where he would go once a week with J.R. Tolkein. Really a great day. I know you will have a wonderful journey! I look forward to your posts!!
I did not know those two men were friends! And me with an English degree.
This is going to be so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can feel it now. I’ve been taking knitting classes for the past 10 weeks—I’ve still got a long way to go, but my favorite part is looking at all the skeins and touching them for softness—tactile, visual…..and they serve tea there. It’s a darling shop in a 100 year old homestead right here in town—
Oh my……
and to the gal who is talking about the Jane Austin tour. I’m a retired English teacher and I was TAUGHT by the former president of the Jane Austin society…she’s still affiliated but talk about educated….I got a good one!!!
Continue the fun!!
xoxo
Joann in CO
How lucky to have someone with a passion for literature for a teacher!! You are going to be an expert knitter Joann!
I always wondered if knitting is hard. I learned to quilt after 40 and now I am thinking 46 is maybe a good time to try knitting. It looks like fun with those colors. Cant wait to see more of trip. It is a riany day so nice surprise to see your blog in my mail.
I think it’s really easy, but then look what I make. If you can quilt, you can do anything!
You should find a nice local yarn shop, and just go in, touch some yarn, then talk to them about lessons or someone who will teach you. It’s really very easy, once you learn where to insert the needle, how to wrap it, then how to pull the new stitch through. You will be knitting with your eyes closed before long!
I learned to knit from my second grade school teacher, during recess! She knitted while we played, and when I saw what she was doing, I just had to know how! So, I brought needles and yarn to school, and I learned. There are also great books for beginners with great pictures and explanations. Go for it!!
An avid knitter in Colorado sees a delightful yarn shop on Martha’s Vineyard….complete with an antique card file……that’s reason enough to schedule a vacation! Looks like a place I could spend the day in. Once again, a wonderful blog post 🙂
Just 5 weeks to go–now we all have something to look forward to. I have to wait until the last week in June for my vacation to that “other” island, Nantucket. My Emma Bridgewater Diamond Jubilee mug arrived so quickly; I’ve already had two big cups of tea in it. I could not resist it when I saw “60 years a Queen”, which is what I will be on October 24. You should have bought Jack his own skein of yarn!
I use mine everyday at 4 pm, I couldn’t resist it either!
Love your little yarn shoppe…how lucky you are. I had to page down just as I was reading about your yarn and then….your purple one and THEN appears that captivating, delightful, magnetic, fabulous, charmer JACK with those eyes that say, “WHO ME”. I nearly fell off my chair laughing so hard.
Picked my first red ripe tomato this morning – yum. Have my teacup(s) ready. Also, wonderful colors you choose for your scarf. Wish I could knit but, that’s my sisters talent:)
You picked a tomato? Where are you? Central America?
SW Florida
Wow! Can’t believe it, tomatoes! Lucky you. It’s practically a declared holiday around here when the first tomato gets ripe!
ME TOO…..I pack my knitting before I pack my clothes!!!! So far this Spring trip I have crocheted a cute baby hat to match the cuter baby sweater that is nearly finished. AND….an easy peasy scarf to knit on when I do not need to think!!!!
I love it that you pack your yarn/knitting first! I keep a basket in our car with at least two projects in it, and some embroidery work too. My husband always wants to drive, so I always get something done! It also works for the times he has to stop at the hardware store, and I really don’t want to go in!
LOL. I keep books for exactly the same reason!