As always, SPA was fantastic. How could a weekend away, full of knitting, spinning, eating and drinking with my best fiber buds not be?
Sharon and I headed up on Thursday and had lunch at the Harraseeket Inn. We wanted to check out the new spinning space and we had heard the food was good. The food was excellent – we both had lobster stew and salad – but it was also fairly pricey. And the spinning room, while large, was quite a distance from the parking lot. Even if Sharon had dropped me at the front door, it would have been a real challenge for me (in my breathless pneumonia laden condition) to walk that distance with my wheel. We decided then and there that we would make the best of it at the Hilton and find a space to spin. The rest of Thursday was spent meeting up with other early arrivals, enjoying a cocktail (or two!) at the Hilton bar, and spinning in the lobby.
Friday’s spinning
Friday morning we woke up to no power in the hotel. Our room wasn’t cold at all but others were pretty chilly. We gathered in the lobby and found coffee and set up our wheels. Basically we staked a claim! The morning passed quickly but not without drama as vendors and hotel guests worried about what would happen if the power was not restored. Fortunately, it came back on right before noon. I never saw a look of relief like the one on the hotel manager’s face, I can tell you that! It wasn’t long before the rest of our friends arrived and the vendor room opened. We shopped for a bit and went back to spinning in the lobby. It was crowded but manageable and we had a nice (but long) dinner in the hotel dining room.
Saturday’s spinning
On Saturday we decided to skip trying to find space in the lobby and we spun in Martha’s room as she had a suite. It worked out beautifully. It was peaceful and there was plenty of room for anyone who wanted to be there. The day passed quickly and we headed to the Azure Cafe for dinner. The food was great but the service was poor – and I’m being kind. I was quite disappointed as I was the one who suggested we go there because it was so great last year. Looks like we’ll be on the look out for someplace new next year. We spent the rest of the evening spinning some more in Martha’s room.
Sunday’s spinning
Sunday came all too quickly! We visited the vendors one last time and then found a corner by the hotel bar for spinning. It was nice to hang out with people I hadn’t seen much all weekend and I finished up another 4 oz braid of fiber before it was time to head home.
I am not exaggerating when I say that SPA is one of my favorite weekends of the year.
It was so much fun. It is the time when I look forward to laughing til I cry with you. You held up well. Azure was not your fault.
I look forward to SPA weekend every year too. It was a great weekend even with the little blips. I did miss having the big open space for everyone to gather at the Hilton; it would have been nice to be able to visit with more people while spinning.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Hope you are feeling
better. Pneumonia takes a long time, doesn’t it?
What a nice weekend!
I’m so envious of your weekend with friends and your spinning time, your eating time, your cocktail time (which you did not admit to). The weekend sounds like heaven.
Sounds like so much fun. Someday I will need to take up spinning. I know I’d love it. Your newly spun colors are so cheerful!
Fun, fun, fun! And it looks like you got tons of spinning done. It’s all beautiful!
I missed you guys so much. And the Lobster stew. Trying to make it up for New Hampshire when the weather is more predictable for flights.
I know… it’s hard to explain just how great it is, isn’t it? It was nice to “find” you all in Martha’s room on Saturday night… we ended up meeting some new friends and I tried to spin again (disaster!!!).
Funny, our service at Azure was outstanding. Dinner was very filling (too much food!) and our waitress was great, but it got really busy, really fast there.
Next year: Sapiano’s Pizza— big tables, beer/wine, awesome pizza, pasta, sandwiches…
Glad you were feeling up to going this year…
It sounds like such a great weekend. One of these years …..
Such fun! Hope you’re back to 100% soon!
*dreamy sigh* I hope to go one of these years.
From all accounts, that sounds like a fantastic time, no power aside! I’m thoroughly impressed with how much spinning you got done too.
Sounds like you had a really great time. I’m not a spinner, but I now how relaxing one of those “get away and knit” weekends are.
Hope you are continuing to improve, health wise.
It was fun wasn’t it? I’m betting it was a fluke at Azure this year….last year it was fabulous!
It was great to see you. 😉
sounds like a fabulous weekend (in spite of cruddy service at that one place, and lack of public space to spin). I’m so glad that you were able to get there 🙂 and your spinning looks divine (as per usual)
It really sounds like a great time despite the lousy service and the difficulty finding places to spin. Your spinnig is gorgeous! Very springy colors.
I’m glad you felt well enough to enjoy yourself! I think I’d fall in love with any hotel if I walked in and found a lobbyful of spinners – what a great mental image!
I’m so glad you were able to go and make the most of it, even with the pneumonia. It sounds like a fantastic time!
Sounds like a fabulous weekend. What’s the fiber in the first picture? Did you get a new wheel? I thought you had a Lendrum…
Am so glad that you had such a wonderful time…and the spinning looks beautiful!!!
Sounds like so much fun! I’m so glad you were feeling up to going & that power wasn’t out too long. The colors look wonderful 🙂
Sorry to have missed you — we must have crosssed paths somewhere… That orange, oh that orange! Gorgeous!!!!
Now show us what you bought. ;^)
I’m so glad it was a good weekend and that you were well enough to go. It wouldn’t be a memorable weekend without the little dramas.
xo
For me this year it was short but sweet. I wished I didn’t have to leave early, but I cherished the time with friends. Next year in the Town Hall!
That sounds wonderful! Glad you had such a nice weekend, even with the glitches.
That sounds lovely. Thanks for the story, in beautiful words and beautiful pictures! Oh, and thanks for the list of pattern links (yesterday?) I want to make all of them!
Fun to see all the different yarns you got spun up!
Beautiful spinning! It sounds like a (mostly) good weekend ;o)
I can understand why this is a favorite weekend. I have always heard great things about SPA.