Fog!

What do Alaska and my brain have in common?  They’re both foggy.

My brain is foggy because I decided last night that I needed to learn how to crochet granny squares.

I don’t crochet.

I learned, darn it.  And finished two squares at 4:30 AM.  And it’s Cindy’s fault.  All those beautiful squares….  Now that I think about it, I could make quilt squares and achieve the same affect much more easily.

I made those squares and thought I had it out of my system.  Now I’m sitting here wondering if I should run to JoAnn’s and buy some decent crochet hooks and a “Crochet for Idiots” book.  Because, clearly, I’m an idiot.

And here’s some Alaska fog.

I realized that I don’t have a ton of landscape photos, because the weather wasn’t very nice.  We spent Sunday thru Friday on a charter fishing boat.  I did something nasty to my knee the first day, so I didn’t fish.  Standing on the deck of a rocking boat on one leg sounded pretty dangerous.  Besides, I thought I’d signed up for a knitting cruise.  And, as you saw in the last post, that’s what I did.

Oh, we ate a lot too.  I didn’t know it was possible to gain weight eating fresh seafood, but I think I did.

Yes, folks.  That’s fresh crab.  If you look closely, you’ll see little bowls of melted butter.  So much for eating healthy.  And here’s my very sweet brother-in-law kissing the crab goodbye.

We saw this guy one morning.  Well, My Hero and I didn’t, because we were still sleeping.  Someone grabbed my camera and took photos for me.  Actually, that kind of reminds me of me in the morning!

Here’s our bunch checking out a ginormous waterfall.  A little bit later, after some of us had moved away from the front of the boat, the captain got in close enough and drenched my BIL.

My sister and husband are on the left.  Then we have Mom and Dad.  My Hero and I are on the right.

I just realized I didn’t put in any photos of the fishing and the subsequent fish they caught.  We have fish, trust me!  There are a couple of shelves in my freezer that are full.  They caught king, coho, and sockeye salmon.  We also have some halibut, black cod, and red snapper.  Yum!

Oh, and like the smell of bad fish you can’t get rid of,  guess who’s coming back to my house on Saturday???

See you in two days, sis!!!!!

Noro’s Next Top Model

There’s your first glimpse.

Have you seen enough?

Just one more?

How about a shot of the back?

Take your time.

Check out the variation in the colors.

Touch it.  Oh, you can’t.  I wish you could.  It’s so soft and drapey.

Now for the details.

Pattern:  Panda Silk DK Shawl It’s a free pattern from Crystal Palace Yarns.  Thanks, CPY!  This was a good one.

My name for it:  Waves of Alaska

Yarn:  Noro Silk Garden Lite  Color 2039

How many skeins:  I’m pretty sure I used 8 skeins, but a 9th would be good insurance.

Needles:  Size 7 Addi Turbos

Time:  8 days.  I knit this on a fishing charter in Alaska.  I was sure I’d signed on for a knitting cruise!

Measurements:  85″ across and 33″ from top to point.

Mods:  There are 7 tiers and 28 fans in the pattern.  I did 9 tiers and 45 fans, plus the 10 partial fans that finish off the top edge.  I could knit 7 fans from each skein of yarn.  Notice that it’s Silk Garden Lite, which is supposed to be DK weight, but you know how Noro yarn varies.  Regular Silk Garden would probably work.  It would just be a bit heavier.

Conclusion:  I am beyond thrilled with this project.  I wish I had taken a photo before I blocked this shawl, because it was lumpy and nasty.  If you start it, don’t quit because you think it looks ugly.  The blocking absolutely transformed this shawl!

Here’s one more shot with my trusty assistant.  She can always be counted on to help!  (Oh, and note the flowers in my crack!)

What’s next?  I’m finishing two more projects this week.  My Quadrille quilt and Trevi shawl are both getting their borders.  And I haven’t forgotten about Alaska pictures.  I’ve been too busy staring at Waves of Alaska.

I’m off to my sewing room.  I’m pretty sure I hear my name being called from the laundry room, but it may just be my ears ringing, so I’m going to ignore it!

Noro Rocks The House!

Noro rocks my house.  That’s right!  We’re home.

The pump for the swimming pool died and the pool is green.  I have a ton of laundry to do.  We got the highest electric bill ever.  I need to get groceries.

But we’re home and I’m content.

And this is blocking!  Nothing tops Noro yarn.

Details and a photo shoot coming soon.  I also have tons of Alaska photos to go through.  You’ll get to see some of those as well.

Fishing In Alaska

Wow!  That was an experience. We caught halibut, salmon, red snapper.  We trapped crab and shrimp.  (I didn’t actually fish.  I took a lot of photos.)  And we ate a lot.

Here’s my catch of the week!  (Why does the lettering space out like that?)

I knit an entire shawl!  There are strings hanging out all over, and it desperately needs blocking, but I did it!

We’re parked in a harbor in Sitka , Alaska.  We’re going to spend a couple of days in Seattle with friends.  On Sunday, we’ll be home!!!!

More in a few days when I’m back from this wonderland I call The Middle of Nowhere.