Day 2 - Kinderdijk, May 10

Started a new shawl to knit on during the trip.  The name is Antarktis and it is a pattern I have had in my Ravelry library for quite a while.  The yarn is Celestial Merino Mottled by Lucy Neatby and is now discontinued so I have had it for even longer than the pattern.  But nice to work with and pattern doesn't require much concentration so I can keep my hands busy.

 

Day 2 was 21c, clear and mostly sunny.

Very short night as couldn't sleep much -- still making adjustments for the time change and excitement of the trip.  Finally here, on board, and we are moving.

 

Coffee, tea,  juice and pastries are always available outside the lounge.  Continental Breakfast available on the Aquavit Terrace and a full breakfast and buffet items available in the restaurant.  Headed for the restaurant as found we were both very hungry.  Lovely selection of items - eggs cooked to order or an omelet, bacon, sausages, cereal, yoghurt, fruit, nuts, smoked salmon, cheeses and several different type of bread and buns.

 

Our travels in the morning saw us going Rotterdam which was interesting.  Also starting to really notice the different bridges and ferries that we see.  Near Rotterdam is a replica of the biblical ark which some millionaire built as a tourist attraction.  Andrea has some very good pictures of it and of the giraffe at the front but I don't have her pictures (as yet!).

 

At 10 a.m. we arrived at Kinderdijk and met our guide James.  Very nice man who had taught special needs children for 28 years.  Fair amount of walking but worth it for the views.  Area noted for two things -- windmills --

19 in this one area out of only 28 remaining in the area.  Eight of them date from 1740 and one was reconstructed in the 1980s.

 -- and moving water by internal or shown external pumps from the polders to the river.  Very impressive engineering feat and many like James live on polders and depend on this technology to keep their habitat available.

 This is a picture of the Royal Family's summer home undergoing some restoration before they arrive shortly for a two week summer visit.

 

After a tour of the site and some toured a wheelhouse we headed back to the ship for our safety drill.  Getting the life jackets from under the beds was the hardest part I think.

 

At 1p.m. we cast off while lunch was being served.  Saw the first of livestock in the area -- some cows and then these sheep.

Also took some pictures of our room for anyone interested.
Our room from the doorway.

Our bathroom which was immediately on your right.

 In the afternoon there were several presentations and a Dutch Tea that I would have like to have gone to but took a nap instead.  Andrea says there was too much gluten in the food available and I must say I did need my sleep as only getting about 2 hours at a time.

 

Special dinner for a welcome but I can't find my notes.  Know it was good, looked lovely and attentively served.  Also had a good wine server who loved finding good red wines for Andrea.  Must admit to having my share of white wines as we decided to upgrade to the Silver Package which meant better wines and a better selection.

My knitting by the end of this day.

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Isn't it lovely!

You mean you think it just looks like a soft, mushy blob?








Here I will spread it out a bit for you so you can have a slightly better view.









Even using a 60" long circular knitting needle, that is about as much as I can spread it out. There are 9 sections like this and, when the centre is finished, each row will be all the lace. Only 140 stitches in each section when I reach that point.

Bought the yarn and pattern at the K-W Knitters Fair in 2010 when I made the mistake of taking a knitting Granddaughter with me. Let's just say that she did very well for herself.








To give you an idea, this next picture shows the yarn with a penny. It falls in the category of "cobweb" weight.





And maybe one year this is what it will look like.




And before you comment, Jess, NO it is obviously not done yet.

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Olympics - Day 10

Certainly Celebrating today!

Scott and Tessa won Gold! As if winning Gold wasn't enough, they are the youngest ever to do so and the first North Americans to do it. A full North American sweep would have been good but I am thrilled with the final results. Their program was awsome and they are enjoying it. Just loved watching Scott's reactions! Hope they savor and enjoy every moment of it.

The shawl is all knit! Lace definitely needs blocking before it looks good but I like it even now. The name given it by the pattern developer is Limberlost Luna. It will wait awhile for blocking as that takes a lot of pins and hard work and I never said anything about doing it during the Olympics.

Have a Board meeting tonight so not sure how much knitting I'll get done. Off to shovel snow just now so I can get to swimming. Have missed 2 weeks and I need it now!

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Olympics - Day 5

Back to work Wednesday after 7 days of not doing too much. Well, I did a lot on one day but paid for it the following few days. Still feeling very weak but improving.

Beaver - did a few rows, ripped them out as thought they were wrong, worked them again and got same result so guess I was doing it right.

Shawl - finished the wing part and did a few rows of the open lace. Have 5 or 7 more to do then start the edging.

Olympics -- watched the snowboarders, some hockey, and other highlights. Off to watch the men skating tonight.

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Opening Ceremonies

Well, they weren't perfect and they weren't like China's but I enjoyed seeing them.

We don't celebrate the Native people as much as we should and I was glad they were given the position they were given. If only it was done every day and not just for the Olympics. The ceremonial dress! The dancing! The energy! What a great start.

And when k.d.lang sang -- that gave me goosebumps. Was so glad to see and hear her in that position. Have seen an article since that several prominent singers did not appear but there is always the closing ceremony.

Was impressed by those chosen to carry the Olympic flag. What a nice assortment of people. Especial hooray for Betty Fox.

Could think of several I would have preferred to light the outside flame instead of Gretzky but can understand the reasoning behind it because of the Gold medal team.

With the eventual lighting of the inside torch, I cast on the first stitch for my Beaver. Lots and lots of short rows and counting but it is fun seeing something develop and trying to figure out exactly what part I am working on.












Before the lighting, I worked on my shawl as that also was part of my challenge -- to get caught up and finished the last 2 clues during the Olympics. Nearing the end of the wing design and then lots and lots of the openwork area for across the top and down the sides. (And a special pat on the back for those who noticed and questioned the white thread just down from the needle. That is considered a lifeline so, if I notice a mistake down or row or two, I can take out the stitches knowing they won't go down past that point. It pulls out easily and won't show once the shawl is blocked.)

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Danny's Shawl - Finished

Found out a few weeks ago that the baby girl had been born before Christmas but that is all I know as yet. So a bit late but the shawl is finished and I even have pictures.





The pattern is based on one called Girasole by Jared Flood. Decided I wanted a slightly smaller shawl so after one of the larger charts, I have repeated one of the first lace charts and made the edging using that. Did a crochet cast off and it does lay nice when opened up. Sometimes the edges are so tight they curl up.

Have also finished 4 long cowls, 1 hat, 2 neckwarmers and a scarf in the past 2 months but no pictures on a card I can find just now. You will have to wait and see for them.

Long line still of WIPs (works in progress)and planned works so keeping busy.

With a weather drop to very chilly weather here, hope you are warm and enjoying today.

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Danny's Shawl - Update

Shawl has been put aside and will be given a new designation sometime in the future. Ran into a section that I didn't like how it was looking and haven't had time to change it and really, really need to be working on it.

So did the easiest thing possible -- started a new shawl. Have been admiring a pattern for several months and decided it would go perfect for her. So, Thursday night I went online, purchased and downloaded the pattern named Girasole. And started knitting. Don't have too much done as yet as Son needs a hat (more about that later). The pattern is easy to read, the chart is extremely clear and in big type. Looking forward to working on it.

Two weeks ago Son was working on the north shore of Canada in a place that used to be called Pelly Bay. With wind chill, the temperature was -40 Celcius. Very, very cold. And he went with no handknits from a Mother who knits. I felt so very bad that I bought him a ball of yarn Friday night and have been busy making a hat. At the very boring part of plain ribbing but it is getting done. Hopefully will add a picture later even if it is not modelled. Lovely yellow and orange colour. He has bought a new coat -- black down that comes down over his hips instead of a bomber jacket. For some reason he thinks it will be much better. I certainly hope so!

While he was Up North, my Sis was at Key West, Florida. Slightly different temperature and views. Next week he is near Edmonton and then 2 weeks in the Far North again. Great experience for him.

Now, better get back to his hat then the shawl which is my big reward.

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The Baby Shawl -- Update 3

Was very surprised at how much I got done this past weekend.

Finished the plain knitting section and did two pattern rows of the first lace band.

Considering I drove to DD2's house on Saturday, with her to Flit's place for her Open House on Sunday, on Monday I saw AJ's final soccer game of the season -- which they won -- and drove home, so I think I did very well.

Good thing I did as I found out I have 2 more shawls to be done in the next 6-7 months (just told about them), received the info for the wedding afghan, have a coat and sweater for me started plus socks, of course, to carry about.

It is the Kitchener-Waterloo Knitter's Fair this Saturday which I have to go to, of course. That is a given for me although I have missed several years. Will look at shawl yarn and if a pattern jumps out at me, I might consider it. It would really have to scream my name as I do have a lot already. No one charges for looking, thank goodness.

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The Baby Shawl -- Update 2

Surprising how fast the knitting goes with this few of stitches and not much pattern.

I am working on row 42 and long stretches are just plain knitting. Have to watch for when I do the few stitches of pattern but enjoying the progress. This is all within an easily charted - and therefore easy to knit - section.

First picture is how the needle was used for the first rows when there was way more needle than stitches. Two loops of the centre cord were pulled out to allow the knitting points to be at the right angle and not pull the knitting. I am partway through a row.



The next picture is with just one loop while knitting. Means more stitches and less adjustments for the needle.

Now comes the part I really like -- when all the stitches fit on the needle and I can just work round and around.

This will be one of the few times you will be able to see what the shawl looks like as it is difficult to get it to open up enough while knitting on the circular needles.

For the knitters, the needles are from KnitPicks and the cords come off the points. Presently using a 40" (100 cm) long cord and size 6 mm needles. Number of stitches is now 20 stitches. That is all I am going to count. If you want the total number - just multiply by 8.
Now you see why I don't want to know.

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