We started out the week with a trip to North Conway, New Hampshire. We drove up on Monday and stayed overnight. We chose the motel room, not for the great amenities (there was no shampoo! have you ever heard of such a thing?!?) but rather for the view from our back balcony. Here’s the sock, enjoying the view and a cocktail before dinner.

On Monday night we had a wonderful meal at the Stonehurst Manor. What a beautiful inn and restaurant! The food was incredible – cedar planked salmon for me and baked haddock with lobster cream sauce for Dale. I also had, quite possibly, the best martini of my life! Next time we head up this way, we’re staying at this place. I’ll bet there’s even shampoo in the rooms.

On Tuesday we took a ride on the railroad. The Conway Scenic Railroad, to be exact. We rode first class in the Gertrude Emma Pullman Parlor and Observation Car and had great views of farmland and covered bridges and the Saco River. The sock had a great time.

We spent the rest of the day driving through the White Mountain National Forest. We drove around Mt. Washington and over the Kancamagus Highway (please note – this is the correct spelling!) before heading home. The sock was impressed with the view of Mt. Washington from the Mt. Washington Hotel. I was, too.

We spent Wednesday hanging out at home, catching up on laundry and knitting. The felted flamingo? It’s taking forever.

Tales of our adventures in Southern New England in the next post.

The weekend in Manchester, Vermont at Hildene was great fun. The weather was ideal, despite a brief period of showers on Sunday morning. The company was fantastic; we caught up with old friends and made some new ones, too. The knitting was plentiful and the sock I started in the car on the way up moved along very quickly.

Here are two progress shots. This is the sock hanging out on the front lawn of the mansion. We were camped in this field and the scenery was breathtaking.

I got the sock to pose with Capt. Sy, Col. Burbank, Lt. Julius and Captain Rieke. I know it’s hard to see the sock with the officers wearing their white gloves but Dale is holding the sock and Matt is holding the ball of yarn. This sock is from the book Socks, Socks, Socks and it’s a cable twist rib pattern done up in Cascade 220.

I’m officially on vacation this week and next. I have lots of plans, including blocking the Leaf Lace Shawl and starting some new projects. I’ll keep you guys posted on my travels and knitting progress.

I leave you with this picture from the beautiful gardens of Hildene.

Some people have “rules” about what they do on certain days of the week. You know them – it’s the “Tuesdays are for spinning” folks. I think this is a good idea, ya’ll know how I like rules to keep my projects in line. This rule doesn’t work in my world, howevah, due to one tiny problem – I don’t spin. And, a note to you bunnycrack spin addicts, don’t even try to get me started with spinning, I’m all set with hobbies.

So, my most neglected hobby lately is scrapbooking quilting. I used to be completely addicted to quilting. I couldn’t go a day without sewing some patch to another patch. Then knitting entered my life and, well, you know the rest, you’ve heard it all before. However, I still love quilts and to get quilts I have to actually quilt now and again. Duh. Therefore, I have made a new rule. (insert imaginary drumroll here, please)

Wednesdays are for quilting!!

The results of this rule will be tremendous. I might actually will finish the Morning Star quilt for my bed before the weather gets cold again. I might actually will finish the Pinwheel quilt for the dining room table. I might actually will start AND finish a new Log Cabin quilt. Best of all, I won’t have to hear any crap from the Hungry Quilters about knitting at quilt night.

I even have a picture to show you that I’m serious about this new rule.

That, my blog readers, is a Longaberger Small Serving Tray (did I mention that my new baskets had come in?) filled with 2″ strips ready to become a Log Cabin quilt. I actually went to quilting last night and spent my time ironing and cutting these scraps. I also helped Lois sew the binding on a quilt she made for a church raffle. I figure this way she’ll owe me and have to want to help me with my quilt since this is a wedding gift and I need it done by September 10th. I think I’m off to a great start and I’m charging my readers with keeping me honest and on track with my commitment to quilting once a week. If I drop the ball, feel free to dope slap me.

Want to know something else? The real reason I’ve been quilting and knitting and working like mad is to provide me with a distraction from this! It’s been sitting in my office since last Tuesday and I still have to wait 2 more days before I can open it. The Harry Potter fans out there feel my pain, I’m sure. The torture is almost unbearable. Knitting and quilting are my only sources of relief.

Speaking of knitting (yeah, cuz, Hi! this is a knitting blog) I haven’t touched the socks since Tuesday because what little knitting time I had yesterday was devoted to the never-ending Leaf Lace Shawl and, starting the Log Cabin quilt because, after all, Wednesdays are for Quilting. But, I have to show you how cute the sock looks in this basket. It’s the perfect size for a carry-along sock project, doncha think?

Another Saturday, another party. This one was at my co-worker Amy’s house and we had a great time. There was loads of food and a truckload of beer and even jello shots, too. Mmmm. Mmmm. Mmmm.

Just down the road from the party we spotted an Eastern Box turtle trying to cross the road. Dale pulled over and I jumped out and grabbed her and we brought her with us to Amy’s. I thought perhaps I could pass her off as a hostess gift but that didn’t work. There were a lot of interested kids there, though, so Dale put her in a plastic tub, hoping she would come out of her shell so they could get a look at her before we returned her to the woods. She finally came out and in my continuing attempt to show the sock a good time, I let her have a go with it. Ya know what? Turtles apparently don’t have a gift for knitting. She got, like, nothing done.

Isn’t she cool looking, though? If you want to read more about Eastern Box turtles, check out this.

Just a quick note to let ya’ll know that Brant, Heather and Ambrynn came home this morning. Heather’s blood pressure has lowered and she has been sprung. They are thrilled beyond measure!

Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes, it really made a difference.

Ambrynn wishes you all a safe and peaceful weekend.