Camping with Friends

While the computer was down and out, we headed to Indiana for the annual NIPA Campout. We had the most gorgeous weather this year, no huge thunderstorm leading to the flu for me this time. YAY! It was in the 70's, sunny with a bit of a breeze, among the trees at the Indiana Dunes State Park.


Deb, getting ready to set up the tent.



Visiting with Jess, Nakai and Patricia on the first evening.


We had a great time visiting with old friends and meeting new ones. I love how we may not see some of these people for a whole year or maybe only twice a year and i feel as close to them as if i see them all the time. Year after year the bonds grow tighter, as community should be.



Look, there was even some proof of my knitting at camp...Greg in the Jayne Cobb hat. Very cunning, indeed!


There was some relaxing, by guys named Dan...hmm.



During the day on Saturday there was some entertainment. Our friend Peter playing flute, Brian, Karen and others drumming and Kate dancing. Such fun.



We had a our version of "Stone Soup" acted out for us before a wonderful community meal of soup and bread on Saturday evening. In our version, some witches come to town.

On Saturday morning every camper brings their contribution to the soup pots and they are brought to a boil and stirred and then the pots are placed in a cooler lined with newspaper where they "cook" all day...amazingly enough, it's always ready in time for dinner each year.



I had some visitors in the early afternoon...

My friend Christine - her daughter Maya and my friend Jennifer and her son Jack came out to visit. I've known these lovely gals since elementary school, oh some stories they could tell! The campout happened to coincide with Jennifer and Jack's month long visit to the area to spend time with her folks...normally they reside in Arizona.

My Mom and DanTheMan also came to visit and they stayed to enjoy soup with us too.



Mid afternoon, our friends Greg and Kelé renewed their vows for their 10 year anniversary. This time, the tied the knot and exchanged rings in a hand fasting ritual. I knitted 8 feet of icord for them to use to "tie the knot" with.


While Kelé was getting her hair done, Greg was off playing Kubb with his buddy, Matt...in the distance, Greg's wearing the kilt.


More tomorrow...

~Suz~

And we're baaaack

Deb did some financial magic yesterday...well, her and her Mom, and she came home with a new laptop that was on closeout over at the local Office Depot. It only took us about seven hours, one trip to the local Comcast store and two tech phone calls to get the thing online. For a while it would go online in safe mode but not in regular mode...oh, how fun that was?! And then all of a sudden after the 10th reboot, it was mysteriously online in regular mode. Hmmm. Curious.

Anyway, here we are. I've made my way through email, Flickr and Ravelry and now i'm blogging. Notice how i'm avoiding Bloglines? Yikes! I'm afraid.

I've not yet added the camera software so no new pics from our trip home, yet. We took a lot of pics.

One of the big highlights of our trip home was being involved in a hand fasting ritual for our friends Greg & Kelé, who were renewing their vows after 10 years of marriage. It was really fun to be a part of that. I think i ended up knitting 8 feet of i-cord for them to use to "tie the knot" with. I was shooting for 10 feet and would have had it if i didn't have to make coffee for a whole camp full of caffeine addicts. LOL! It was an adventure.

We've been home since Tuesday night and i've not knit one stitch. I have an icky head/throat thingy that has me feeling like crapola. So, i'm out of here for now.

Happy Knitting!

~Suz~

A Horrible Death

Dear Friends~

I'm really not trying to ignore you and i swear that i'm not pissed off at you (do you hear that, Dave?!)...our computer up and died on July 9th. :( That would account for my lack of blogging as well as all of meaningful comments that i tend to make on your blogs. Heh! The lack of computer also means that i've been behind in reading and replying to emails. Sorry about all of that. We're hoping to be back online with a new PC in the first week of August. So, i'll "see" you then! Can't wait, i miss everyone.

I'm writing this from my Dad's PC in Indiana. We're home for the annual NIPA campout and to visit with some other friends. We'll be back in Maryland late on the 23rd.

Hope everyone is doing well. I should have lots of knitting to show you when i get back!

~Suz~

Sneaking in some Knitting

The baby items have been shipped off to Wendy in Indiana for her Le Leche League Event. It's the 50th Anniversary Celebration, being held in Chicago.

Here's the last item i made, it goes with the Baby Albert Coat...



I'm trying to make some drum covers for our drums. It will be good to have the heads covered for our drive to Indiana for the Annual NIPA Campout to be held at the Indiana Dunes State Park. It will also be good to have some form of dust covers here at home other than bandannas.

I'm using this pattern for the top and then i'll pick up stitches around with a circular needle and knit down the sides. I'm planning to try it on from time to time to see where i should add decreases as the drums taper. I had gotten to the point where i had a few inches done down the sides and tried it on my doumbek, but it was too small so it had to be ripped and restarted. Here's where it's at now...



I know, it doesn't look like much, yet. Hang in there.

I also made some progress on my socklette and the latest Black Soldier Sock...


Cuff & heel flap...oooh. Exciting. LOL!


Some 2x2 ribbing in black. Only about 9 more inches to go!

See? There is some knitting going on. ;)

~Suz~

Wonderful Robin Part II

And i'm back!

Pssst, come closer. Closer! Ok, between you and me, at this moment, i see no signs of threatening weather here in the Northern Maryland area. Let's hope it stays that way so i can ramble on without being interrupted.

As i was saying in my last post, i've been very fortunate to accumulate some really wonderful online friends to add to my small collection of really good real life friends. I think it's important to be surrounded by good people, whether they be close in proximity or far away. The good energy of just one other person can keep me soaring for days!

My friendship with Robin M. sort of happened by chance. I decided to take the plunge into my very first swap and was assigned into Robin's group of swappers. During the course of Secret Pal 10, Robin has been a very attentive Hostess and has always been quick to reply when i've sent a question, concern or even a silly little comment. We've bantered back and forth...mostly her listening to me, but we won't go into that. ;) I've read Robin's blog from time to time, but it had been one of the blogs that i'd forgotten to subscribe to for a while and then i'd stumble upon it and think to myself..."oh, yeah...that's Robin's blog!". Now, we're connected on Ravelry and so i'm always reminded to check up on her and i often click over to see what she's added to her stash or to see what new patterns she's added to her queue for future creations.

About two weeks ago, we were emailing back and forth and i learned that she doesn't live in Chicago, but in a suburb with which i am familiar. Jokingly i asked her if she could go over to another town and have some of my favorite pizza for me. Oh, hahahaha, right?! Instead, she suggested that she send some of that pizza to me! And she did! On Tuesday a lovely box, that i hugged for a few minutes, arrived. It was from Lou Malnati's...my all time favorite Chicago Style Pizza place. Yummy - Yum - Yum!! Deb and i ate it all by ourselves and didn't even share with anyone else. I know, i know...that's certainly not in the same spirit as Robin's generous gift, but if you knew the crazies that we live with, you'd understand! Trust me!!

Thank you very much Robin! I'd post a picture of said pizza, but we ate it before i thought to take a picture. We didn't even take goofy pictures of us while we were eating it...how lame is that?!!

Oh, i'm not done! More gifties arrived today, from Erin's Photo Scavenger Hunt contest. You'll have to come back again to see what i won!

Wow. My mail box has been very busy...however, there's one package i've been waiting for that has yet to arrive. :( Hmmm. We shall see.

~Suz~

Wonderful Gifts

Never let it be said that Knit Bloggers are not a generous bunch. That's pure bunk! Recently i've been gifted with the generosity of two such wonderful knit bloggers...in a strange coincidence, both of them are named Robin.

Robin over at For The Love of Fiber, held a contest a few weeks ago. I was one of her prize winners and was able to choose from a selection of books. The other day, i received a wonderful package that held the book and some other goodies, look and see...


More Sensational Knitted Socks!



Yummy smelling soap that i can't wait to try. It's called "Flowers of Summer" and it's very pretty. It arrived just in time too, i had recently finished up the oatmeal soap that we bought at MDSW.


(i have to hurry, it's starting to thunder!)




An adorable sheepy memo pad! Isn't it too cute? It will be great for carrying around in my knitting bag in case i need to take notes.



Gorgeous stitch markers made by Robin. She said she made small ones for me so i can use them with my sock knitting. Hey Robin, i can use them with my lace knitting too! Oh, Yeah!! They're so pretty! Above the stitch markers is a magnet with Robin's info on it too. One can never have enough magnets, especially to remind us of special friends or special places.

Thank you Robin for the contest, the prize of a wonderful sock knitting book and all of the extra goodies that you sent along in my package. You went way above and beyond and your generosity is such a gift to me.

Eeeek. A storm is really brewing and the thunder is getting bad. You'll just have to wait for a seperate post about my other special Robin. Besides, she deserves her own post too! ;)

~Suz~