Off Grid

I have been teaching at the Madrona Winter Retreat.  You will be pleased to know that Ms. Crazy Pants' assignment (which officially took my stress level to 11)  may actually have established me as an Undiscovered Talent.  Due to the Media Blackout surrounding the event, I'm sorry that I can't tell you anything more, but let me assure you that next year, the bar surrounding "Teacher Talent Night" has been well and truly set.  I hereby challenge all comers for next year:  Bring It.

Please excuse the fact that my posts last week were thin on the ground.  I'm sorry to admit that this week will be more of the same, due to the fact that I'm challenging myself to something really hard.

I'd love to tell you more about it, and in the course of time, I promise that I will.  But for today, MUM's the word.

I'm doing really challenging stuff, at an undisclosed location, which is guaranteed to make me a better knitter, teacher, story-teller, and Friend of the Knitter.  There is NO shortage of things in my life that will keep me humble, and I am learning new lessons almost faster than I can absorb them. 

I'm really far from home, and even the web access here is not a sure thing, so I won't even try to post again till next week.  In the meantime, how about you cats comment about what's going on in your neck o' the woods, and I promise to put them all up as fast as I can?

Next week, I'll tell you about the worst person I ever met in the world of knitting, the most staggering class I ever taught, and weather I can knit a pair of socks in 5 days or not.  What could possibly go wrong?  (Yeah, I said it. Turns out the Knitting Gods already know where to find me.)  Oh, and in case you're wondering, the Queen Bee is done.  Stay Tuned!

Knitting in the Woods

Among the many surprises waiting for me last weekend at the Acorn Street knitting retreat was the next town over from the lodge: Roslyn, WA.  Yep, THAT Roslyn:

The knitters and I explored four different studies of Stranded Colorwork, in two days.  We worked with socks, mittens, steeks and hats.  It was a yarny whirlwind.

Every great breakfast spread includes a ball-winder, n'est-ce pas?

Nancy and Jeanette discussed the finer points after class.

Lisa relaxed between projects.

Casey, Elsa and Carla enjoyed their getaway together.

Nancy posed for me with Harry, with her wee stowaway.  (He's a Xoloitzcuintli -just say "sho-lo").

Everybody studied really hard, and made beautiful knitting, and even more beautiful friends.  And after that, we adjourned to the pub.  Yep.  THAT pub.

Nice Work If You Can Get It

Don't cry for me, Gentle Readers.  I'm spending the weekend at the office:

I know, right?  This is the Grand Fir Lodge, at Suncadia.  I have known for months that I was going to go play with the knitters of Acorn Street, and that it was going to be someplace in the wilderness, in Washington State.  I've been aware that I would be teaching them colorwork, from toe to head (literally - we're starting with socks, ending with hats, and hitting everything possible in between).  And I've even been dimly cognizant that the resort was "super nice", in the words of my sister, who's heard of it.

But today, when it's time to pack up my yarn and hit the road, I realized that I still have no idea where it really is, or how to get there.  So naturally, I Googled it.  And only then, did I fully understand that I might just be

THE LUCKIEST KNITTER IN THE WORLD.

Can you believe this joint?  And I get to stay there for 4 days?  WHILE KNITTING?

I am suddenly cured of my self-pity over having missed both family vacations this summer due to book writing.  CURED, I tell you.

There are still a couple of slots available for this adventure, my friends.  So while this is very late notice, if you happen to be thinking "Golly, I'd like to just run away and knit all weekend..." (And who among us hasn't? Like, Hourly?) I hereby grant you permission:  Come hang out with us in the woods and knit!

I'll see you all in the salt mines.  I think we'll be able to tough it out.