I never thought I'd be a Snowbird

I went somewhat reluctantly (to Florida) as I don't mind winters (for the most part). And, let's face it, I have lots of hand-knit winter woollies to keep me warm. Also, I enjoy my work and the people at Westport Yarns.

This was the first time in my life that I wasn't taking classes, raising kids, or working. I thought (and brought) tons of stuff to do that has been on the back burner for years. The amount of knitting I brought could've lasted me a year or more. I looked ahead at 4 months in Florida as a time to catch up: designing, reading, and exercising were a few of my goals.

 What's that expression? The best laid plans of mice and men? I am full of cliches today.

I will admit that I enjoyed it far more than I expected. Time had a way of evaporating and I never got to my lengthy list of stuff on the back burner. Of course I knit ~ everywhere.

What's more, Harry, LOVED IT.  

 

We enjoyed the beach, walks, and the climate. What's more, my parents were walking distance away. Harry and my Dad became best buds. He even won over my mother.

I found new friends at Knit or Knot Yarns where I taught classes. 

The other thing I got into was doTERRA Essential Oils and became a Wellness Advocate. I experimented with different blends for rollers and diffusing. If you're not sure of what Essential Oils, are, you can click here to read more.

The oils were beneficial to me for improved sleeping, relieving headaches, and sore muscles. I experimented with blends to aid in memory, tinnitus, and boosting immunity. This has become a new passion for me. If you want more information ~ you can email me pam.grushkin at gmail.com

I also tried a new art form, Alcohol Inks. My mother is and has been an artist all her life. She has worked in oils, watercolor, Japanese watercolor, clay, and now Alcohol Inks. I really enjoyed it! I only did it once, and I could see myself getting hooked. My sister even wanted one of my paintings!

We got back to Connecticut in time for (one more?) snow storm and some chilly weather. I'm happy to wear some winter woollies. My husband, on the other hand, is not so happy.

Tucker and Harry had a happy reunion.

Road Trip ~ Day 3 & 4

On our third day, we drove through South Carolina and landed in Jacksonville, Florida. Harry loved the scenic pond area with Turtles and Egrets.

As promised, we found a yarn store near our hotel. (Or did we find a hotel near a yarn store?)

A Stitch in time, Jacksonville, FL

It was a lovely store that reminded me (in layout) of Hook'n Needle in Westport, CT (years ago). They had knitting, crochet, and needlepoint. I had a lovely chat with the owner, Susan.

I enjoyed wandering in and out of all the rooms and finding all sorts of yarny treasures. In the end, I bought a skein of Blue Herons Cotton Rayon Seed (Worsted: 68% Rayon, 32% Cotton, 475 yards).

The BEST THING about our stay in Jacksonville was our dinner at Clark's Fish Camp . Per an article online, Clark's is "rumored to be one of the largest privately owned collections of taxidermy in the country, Clark's menagerie of preserved animals includes lions, tigers, monkeys, bears, giraffes, deer, bobcats, and a flock of birds that gaze eerily at guests in the bar area and dining rooms."

Once you get over the disturbing side of taxidermy, it was wild, literally.

To top it off, they had a live Alligator, named Lily, swimming around a tank. 

When in Rome (so to speak)... we tried fried gator tails, hush puppies, and shrimp with grit cakes. While I'm glad we tried the gator tails, I can't say I'd order them again. No, they did not taste like chicken ~ more gamey. We loved the shrimp with grit cakes!

Harry was really confused.

On Thursday, we drove to Jupiter. Harry took up his position in the back.

And made himself at home in our winter home.

Road Trip ~ Day 2

Harry was ready for the day's travel.

 Is it a bracelet? Is it a ruler? It is both, it's a wrist ruler. It's what all the best dressed knitting nerds are wearing.  Can't find a tape measure? Look to your wrist.

 After knitting 11" on my Making Waves Poncho  in Anzula For Better or Worsted (Worsted: 100% Merino, 200 yards), I decided to work on something else.

To keep it interesting, I timed myself knitting my Flap Happy Two during yesterday’s travels. I know what you're thinking, no one knows how to have a good time like I do.

360 miles and 4 hours later the hat was done. No, we did not drive 90 miles an hour, I used a stop watch. Yarn: Katia Azteca Milrayes (Aran: 53% Wool, 47% Acrylic, 197 yards). All day I was trying to think of what this color (#704) reminded me of, 

when it finally hit me - snow cones!

 

 Later on Harry took up his position in the back, looking out the window.

We drove through 3 states: Virginia, North Carolina, finally stopping in South Carolina. At the end of the day, we were treated to seeing someone wearing fuzzy monster slippers at a Wendy's. I couldn't help but think that they match the hat I knit.😜

Road Trip ~ Day 1

I struggle with packing whether it's a weekend, a week, or in this case months!  I think I struggle with what projects to bring more than the clothes!

Harry has been anxious all week as we began packing. He sat on the bed while I laid out clothing and would put his chin on each new pile of clothing I laid out. The minute we put his bed in the car, he leaped into the car and settled into his bed. No commands necessary!

I feel like I'm traveling with kids again, I have a bag just for him filled with his bowls, old toys, new toys and special treats.

We covered 300 miles and 6 states: Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and stopped in Alexandria, Virginia.

Harry is loving the sights and smells. 

 

We stopped in Baltimore for seafood and Harry got served water on a silver platter!

You may be wondering why we chose Alexandria as our first stopover. Well, that's easy, I wanted to visit Fibre Space! Joe has (graciously) given me a 10 mile off the highway yarn store boundary. I tried to fit two stores in one day, but that was pushing it. Isn't this the cutest building. I love the chairs out front. Charming.

The store was filled with interesting yarns, samples, and notions. I thoroughly enjoyed wandering around.  In the end, I bought Debbie Bliss Eco Baby Cotton for a baby gift.  I would've done more damage had I not been to Rhinebeck. Fibre Space carried Miss Babs and Neighborhood Yarns ~ both of which I bought at Rhinebeck.

Harry's next adventure was the hotel room.  HE LOVES IT! What a big puppy grin!

And after a long day of travel we settled in for snoozing and knitting while watching Netflix.

Road Trip ~ Got Yarn, Will Travel.

My sister and I took a road trip to Montreal. Road trips are awesome for knitting! 

 We wandered around Old Montreal and enjoyed the architecture.

First on our list was trying Poutine. For those of you who don't know what this is (I certainly didn't before visiting), it is a dish of French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. I had mine with caramelized onions on it. While we waited I enjoyed an ice cold local beer and knit.

We ate in a Polish restaurant and made our own sampler of borscht, pierogos, and a Polish version of an eggroll. All delicious!

We took a food tour of the Mile End section of Montreal. It was a wonderful tour packed with local foods, local history, and interesting shops/buildings.

Awesome Florist shop.

Street art!

Hot bagels fresh from St. Viateur's Bagel Shop, what could be better? I could have stopped the tour there and ate bagels all day.

We learned that there are two bagel shops and you are devoted to one or the other, Fairmont. Our tour guide called out to a passerby, "St. Viateur or Fairmont?" She called back, adamantly,  "Fairmont!"

There was an amazing chocolate shop, where we not only had a square of chocolate but a sample of liquid chocolate. Talk about feeling a jolt of energy!

After the (3 hour tour), we punched in the address of a local yarn store, La Maison Tricotée, and began to walk.  The good news is that it didn't rain at all during the tour (it was a hot/humid day), the bad news is that the skies opened as we walked to the yarn store.

It was worth it. What's more, the sun came out as we reached the shop. Isn't that poetic?

It was a charming shop with adorable miniatures knit up and in the window, like this mini yarn store,

 and yummy treats ~ calorie free.

They also served real yummy treats, and tea.

 

We made a friend, a charming young woman. She practiced English with us, Nancy practiced French with her,

and I helped her with her knitting. A good time was had by all.

I loved wandering the shop, there were many Canadian yarns that I hadn't seen and some that I don't see often.

Of course I found some souvenirs!  😀

Randomly, there were whimsical signs for the bathrooms...

and doors!

For an added bonus, Comicon was in the convention center across the street. It added just one more dimension to the people watching. There were superheroes and Clingons. The  hotel manager said he felt very safe as there were three Batmans (Batmen?) staying at the hotel.  We met Batman and Wonder Woman in the lounge. Who knew they were a thing?

 

And of course there was a cute dog with speckled socks.