I had mentioned alpaca on cones that were my share of the treasures brought back from Bolivia to my friend Carmen. With the exception of the Paprika, these were all natural colors in light fingering weight. (I drooled over the other dyed cone which was a boucle. Alpaca Boucle? Then I thought of the many skeins of such I already have languishing in my stash. What would I do with it? Never mind, after fondling it for a while, I put it back in the box).

I had forgotten to mention this

lavendar merino lace

it was on sale, cheap

Now all I have to do is upload the pix to Ravelry. Somehow it always feels nicer to hit the “use yarn from stash” button when I start a project. Only thing is – I really shouldn’t be starting any new projects.

But most importantly, the optometry clinic personnel decided that there was more wrong with my military issue glasses than bent frames, found me an appointment this afternoon and replacement glasses on order for me.

All of this put me in an obviously cheerful mood as I headed into the Altstadt at the end of the business day. I found the mate to Ms Maus’s fleece jacket, only in black. Somehow I can’t see myself in mint green and the only one they had left in the nice red was a size large.

To thank her for both suggesting the jacket and giving me directions – I found this

Flushi in green

which should coordinate with her jacket, highlighted by two of her other favorite colors – yellow and orange.

(This is the only one of my offspring who has not spent months in the I will wear anything as long as it is black phase of teen age fashion).

Rödel now stocks KnitPro needles (KnitPicks for you US based knitters). They are more expensive than mail ordering from the US but have the advantage that they were right on the rack in front of me. The woman who forgot to bring along sock needles. US price = $6.79 EU price = 5.95€.

Oragami

Since the body of the cardigan is not all that portable,

sides and more than 1/2 the back

the sleeve came along with me today.

18 more cm to the sleeve cap

I am making progress, but it is really slow going. 50 gm of yarn makes 12″ or about 31 cm of sleeve (the magic number is 49 cm to get to the sleeve cap shaping this is looking like a really good train knitting project.

Off to pack – it is back to München in the morning.

A pack of discontinued colors at a great price (14 skeins)

Jamieson's Shetland

A bright and cheerful scarf kit

J&S Scarf Kit

The new Hanne Falkenberg Kit. I am still contemplating swapping out the cream for navy

Donna

and last, but certainly not least – a bit of buffalo. Incredibly soft plus I love the color.

Buffalo Gold

Now, I just need a couple of life times…..

organiized. Finally.

Seriously, this closet contains the total and complete UK stash not including WIPs and the sock yarn. I have a sweater envelope with the handspun, two bins of lace yarns, the large box is Kauni, a bag of Smart, Drops and Dale, and the rest of various yarns. I could knit at top speed between now and when I leave the UK and not use it all up. There is definitely some which will find a new home rather than be transported back.

Last evening saw (heard?) the first annual RAMC (V) Band Concert. The members are all in the Territorial Army which makes them Volunteers who more than likely put in much more time than they ever will recover in either drill credit or pay. From Marches through Overtures, Regimental Songs and a Fairy Tale, it was a great program. I only regret a few more people didn’t get themselves out for the program. Did I mention that it was free? Or that I was not organized enough to bring along my camera?

The gym is closed on Sunday, so I substituted some spinning wheel treadling -

singles

two ply

but have no clue as to what it will eventually become.

After a couple of days of getting my strength back (plus putting the DH on a plane this morning back to Germany) it seemed time to tackle the disorder with detours out to get running shoes for the daughter and an exercise hour at the gym.

George had purchased this wonderful huge basket for me several years ago at a German craft fair. It is lined which makes it safe for yarn. Rather than dribs and drabs of this and that – I decided to load in all the sock yarn.

just a few skeins and balls

Did I mention that he is 61 today and we took him out for dinner last night? That I still need to find him a present? There are always the usual fall backs: books, music, luggage…. Knitted things are rarely an option: he either tucks them away or runs them through the washer and dryer which does not do much good to a handspun, hand knit vest.

Since he is on his way back to Germany, I rewarded myself with a trip to the gym and a bit of spinning – with fiber from LimeGreenJelly

BFL

looking over the city

A bit clearer on the weemd

We meandered around the city a bit,

doors and

arches

and old ceilings

saw Gaudi architecture

Gaudi House Windows

Gaudi - balconies and mosaics

and found this:

leading here. Run by Jennifer (kamikazeknits on Ravelery) she has all sorts of goodies in her store. Including the 3.00 mm KnitPro tips…

shop interior

This stop made up for dinner which was late and featured dead stuff of both fish and flesh variety. Their alternative for me was Risotto.

slime flavored with mushroom

as apposed to yesterday which featured this wonderful custard.

.

Is it the hard part or the easy part? The vest is complete. Except for the steeks and the ribbing. About now is when my brain goes out to lunch and wants to move on to other projects….

front - knitting complete

Back - knitting complete

Scheherazade

I did mention that the Eldest decided that the periwinkle was too busy? Moving on – I am going to knit it again in cream – Loüet Gems. Since the yarn has now arrived – I really don’t have much of an excuse not to start it.

Loüet Gems - cream sock weight

Phoenix

But I also picked up some more Kauni from ScandinavianKnittingDesign the other day.

Kauni - solid purple

Kauni - solid red

including this wonderful color which I think would be fine as one of the colors in a Phoenix. (Meg Swanson’s Knitting Book).

Kauni - EU

Of course, I should catch Raverly up with my projects as well… One of these days

ah, the Munchkin? I got it as a contrast color for a stranded vest.

Of course, I could just add all of this to the stash and take out something that is a bit more aged…….

Towering Redwoods

Looking at a cross-section from a tree harvested 90 years ago -

from before 1100

that started growing about 1000 years ago.

The day is gorgeous, about 16°C with the sun shining and a crisp wind blowing. The bay has an amazing lack of sail boats out on the water. Perhaps they are not allowed?

SF Bay

Janet picked me up this morning and we are cruising- military and interesting sites. We are not quite the same as when we worked together at 5th G Emergency Room in the early 80s. Life has happened to us. But underneath those changes, there has been steady treelike growth with the ability to weather challenges.

The Presidio has passed from Army hands to those of Immigration -

Officers' Club - Presidio

remains, the housing is now rented by private individuals, Letterman has been closed for almost 2 decades.

In other locations, the Park Service or Coast Guard has taken over former Army sites so that you can now take pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge

or walk on the beach/study marine mammals on a former Nike Missile site

Beach at Marine Station

We lunched at Saul’s Delicatessen in Berkley then took a side trip to Oakland. Small store there with the unlikely name of Article Pract. Yarn store. We spent time both looking around and adding to our respective stashes.

I found some interesting sock yarn called Mini Moochi, a merino and nylon blend.

Mini Moochi Sock Yarn

and bought three colors of baby Merino Malbrigo lace. Neither the photos or the monitor really does these amazing luscious feeling skeins justice.

Reds - malbrigo lace

Tourage - Malbrigo Lace

Blues - Malbrigo Lace

Griffin Vest

I finally managed to get past the ribbing on the Griffin Vest -

Griffins - ribbing joined

ok – from the right side you can start to see the feet!

Griffins - feet

Scheherzade

I had only 20 rows knit when I got on UA 901 yesterday. Finishing the third set of charts put me at 150 rows and about 25% complete. This is for the Eldest. The color is periwinkle and the yarn is lovely. Even so, I don’t think it is going to turn out to be what she wants. So sometime between now and 23 May I might have to squeeze in an alternate shawl.

Scheherazade - first three charts

It is late and I am not sure at all about my body and the time zones. Helpfully, it is still 10°C here while it is -12°c in Heidelberg and 3°C in Camberley. I think I have the best of the three locations.

You would not think it was such a hard thing to accomplish: the taking off of an empty roll, opening a package and placing a brand new roll on the hanger. Doesn’t take skill past that of the average 3 year old, or maybe a two year old if the number of rolls lost to kittens and toddlers is any indication.

Classic appearance

In the presence of an open package, the process should become even easier.

Open Package

So why is it that mothers seem to be the only ones in a household capable of hanging a new roll of toilet paper? Who don’t find it impossible to go beyond the laziness of plunking the new role down on the toilet back, the floor or the nearest handy surface?

the reality of upstairs

I think it was a mother at wits end who came up with the idea of super-sized rolls just to decrease the hassle. Double size rolls should mean half the incidence of the above noted nuisance, right? Instead, I have noticed that the consumption of toilet paper has increased. Perhaps it is the impression that the roll is so big it will last forever or some other factor beyond my ken.

The end result is almost as many empty cores as before gracing the bathroom at close to double the expense. It boggles the mind which needs to turn to knitting for sanity.

Yarn

This ball of yarn -

Noro Silk Garden #265

is destined to become this hat (for those of you who are on Ravelry).

Books

.Blood Noir – Laurel Hamilton. Amazingly enough, this one actually has a story line separate from sex and violence. I really don’t remember Anita being such a wimp and so doubt filled. I wonder if the author is trying to make her a bit more real and sympathetic. Instead, she has lost some of the good character points while not gaining much of anything.

On the Speakers

In the Wake of the Wind – David Arkestone.
.

And then there is the fact that I really should make a list of those things which I absolutely need to get done, just so I don’t miss any. But even the idea of that list is giving me the willies. If I acknowledge everything, it feels like it will be overwhelming. If I don’t make a list, something is going to fall and cost me more than just time and money.

If I group items, the list will be shorter. If I don’t, it will seem like I am making headway as I check them off.

What a dilemma.

So I solved it by driving to RAF Croughton. My putative excuse was needing to fill out paperwork for the new gas program card. And the mail, can not forget the importance of the mail run, especially when it nets lace weight yarn from KnitPicks.

Yarn

Agean Blue Gloss Lace

Berry Shimmer

Audio Books

Variable Star – Robert Heinlein and Spider Robinson. Read by Spider, it is a great story and the perfect blend between the old Heinlein juveniles and Robinson’s own great style. Perfectly safe for public listening, teens and adults (yes, there is mention of sex, no, none of it is described in detail in the script).

Poison Heart – Mary Logue is on the car CD player. It is an excellent choice for driving distances. About relationships, small town Wisconsin, and “how is she going to solve it” rather than “who dun’it” I was entertained but not distracted.

Arbiter Chronicles – Man walks into a bar by the Prometheus Radio Theater. Full cast decent production, quality really decent. There is a whole series of short stories in 3-6 parts available for download.