Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to my 2 favorite dads! I love you!


My dad, doing his favorite thing - fishing:

And my husband - how many dads would let their kids turn them into mermaids? Such a good sport!

Summer = Family Time (and a little knitting)

Greetings from Gulf Shores:

Dad's always such a good sport. There's no way I'd let them bury me in the sand:

So glad G & P joined us this year. It was our first beach vacation with them since I was a kid:

3 generations - G, Me, and D1&2:

G and D1 at Stacey's Rexall Drugstore in Foley, AL - opened in 1923 - full service soda fountain - we went back for more a few days later:

Oh, and, as luck would have it, look at what was delivered while we were away:

Yes, those are the swimsuits we were supposed to take with us. Thank goodness that Gulf Shores has a Wally World!

I did manage to do a little knitting here and there. My After Dark Robe has been out of hibernation for about a month. The back is done and I am almost finished with the front left side:

When I couldn't stand another minute of stockinette, I started the Swirl Shawl out of some Koigu sock yarn I bought with a birthday gift certificate a while back. These little medallions are rather addictive once you start on them - kind of like "potato chip" knitting as Gigi and Jasmin like to say.

And finally, I added to my dishrag cotton stash. How could I be expected to resist colorways named Fiesta and Gumdrop? And what better souvenir could I ask for?

Emergency Knitting

There are a few things that I try never to leave the house without -- my cell phone, my purse, my ipod, and my knitting. What if, horror of horrors, I was stuck in traffic or had car trouble and had no knitting with me? What would I do to pass the time? What would I do to calm my nerves? I know - I have become obsessed.

Tonight, on my way home, my obsession served me well. My car, apparently a nail magnet given the number of flat tires I've had since buying it, picked up a large chunk of metal in one of the tires. I heard it thumping and pulled over on the interstate but there was no flat tire. I got back in my car and drove a bit further. The thumping got worse and worse until I saw something out of my rearview mirror fly out from under my car. Then I heard it - a sickening pssssssss thud thud thud thud. I pulled over again and, yep, my tire had turned into a pancake.

I called AAA and settled in with my knitting. That comforting click-slide-click of the needles made those 20 minutes of wait time fly by. Before I knew it, the service truck was there. This very nice man had my tire changed in under an hour. As he was packing his gear to leave, I hopped in my car to drive away. . .click . . .click click click . . .deader than a doornail. My hazard lights had drained my battery. Luckily, the gentleman had not left yet. With a smile, he jumped my car and sent me on my way - wishing me a good evening. AAA Man, you are my hero!

So, there you have it. In addition to a AAA card, spare tire, flashlight, and cell phone, emergency knitting should be considered essential equipment for every car.