Catch Up

Sorry for the lack of posts. I had a writing deadline this week and so I've been pounding away at the keyboard doing work instead of blogging. My knitting remains untouched--I haven't had a free evening in eons (begin sound of violin wailing now).

Thing 1 and I drove to Santa Clara on Saturday for Stitches West. The market was, as always, overwhelming in a totally good way. I didn't buy a ton of things, but I'm awfully happy with what I did get, including skeins of hand-dyed tencel and cashmere from Just Our Yarn, some really pretty variegated laceweight merino from Jojoland (I've never heard of them before), and a beaded scarf kit. I also came away with some cool buttons (one of which has a Saint Bernard on it!) and a gorgeous glass shawl closure thingy from Moving Mud. I'm wearing that this very minute.

Much to my surprise and delight, Thing 1 loved Stitches. There was some initial confusion because when I told her we were going to a yarn show, she was picturing a show--you know, a performance of some kind. Dancing yarn, maybe? Anyway, once we got that straightened out she was happy. In fact, she immediately announced she wants to learn to knit now. Then she wanted yarn. Turns out the kid has great taste in yarn. I bought her some Blue Sky cotton and some hand-dyed superwash merino, and had to steer her away from cashmere and the skein of beaded yarn that cost $135. So she already has a yarn stash! She also got a cat button (for her child, someday, she said) and she used her own money to buy a basket. As we stood in line at one point, she thanked me for taking her and made me promise I would bring her next year. The women behind us practically broke into applause. Clearly, I've been training her right.

Here she is at the Hyatt afterward, enjoying room service:

On Sunday we went to the Tech Museum in San Jose. I had to pick for her because she couldn't make up her mind which of her 3 options to choose. I've been to the Winchester Mystery House before, and I thought she'd really enjoy the Tech, so that's where we went. It's a fabulous place! Lots of fun stuff, even for grownups. Here's Thing 1 on a jet pack simulator:

When we returned home Sunday, there was a package waiting for me from Jody in Singapore. The Things started snatching goodies away so quickly I didn't get a picture, so here's Thing 1 posing with only a few of the wonderful things Jody sent:

The Pocky got a bit crunched in the mail, but I'm sure it'll taste just as good. :-) Thanks, Jody!