Goodbye, beach!

Okay- I'm so enamored with the beach that I have to show you a couple more pictures and then I'll stop. Mostly because I'm back in Indy now and the only thing remotely close to a beach is a children's sand-box with a puddle in it.

And I got to go to a fundraiser! I know it sounds really lame, but I thought it was really fun. I got to go buy a dress (75% off! score!) and even bought a little head-bandey thing to go with my lack of hair. Thank goodness I took my just-in-case black heels- I never travel without them. And the best part? It was a fundraiser for the Humane Society, a cause of which I thoroughly approve. Where else can you get all dolled up and have your picture taken with a llama?

Speaking of animals, Madeline and Lacey did finally start to get along- they had about 2 days of hissing and slapping and then this switch flipped or something and they were BFFs. They play-faught for the rest of the trip and my mom told me that when Madeline and I left, Lacey kept walking around the house crying for Madeline. Madeline is laying down next to me looking all sad for herself, so it looks like it's mutual. Good thing Lacey is coming over for Thanksgiving- I'll be sure to share some cat-attack pics.

I feel like I'm forgetting something- oh yes. Knitting. And things of that nature. I took 2 knitting projects and a cross-stitch project with me to Florida, all things on "The List". For those who are just tuning in, "The List" is a giant post-it note with a list of all of the projects that I would like to finish in 2010 whether they're knitting, crocheting, rug hooking, or cross-stitching. It's a big list, but I'm chugging through it. I did have to add one itty-bitty little shawl because I'm going to be teaching another class soon and would like to have my own pattern ready so I don't have to worry about the rights and getting everything okay-ed and getting everyone paid. It's just easier that way- except for the whole designing part. But I'll get to that later.

Barter Socks

These socks are part of a trade: this woman will fix an old cedar chest for me that will someday hold my stash in it's entirety (which means I need to STOP BUYING YARN) and she would like paid for her services in socks. Which is just about perfect- especially since the yarn I'm using is stash. Anyhoo, the pattern in called Farrow Rib, which takes so long that if I weren't already past the gusset on the first one, I'd change patterns. That being said, it's absolutely perfect for Jo and is very squishy and should last a very long time. Yarn is Alpaca With A Twist Socrates in the Macaw color. Now if only I could find a dentist who would take a blanket for some veneers...

*This is my new sheep from Sarasota! I found her in a set of 2 at the Women's Exchange, a place that is either really fun or really terrible- depending on how long your mother wants to look at Dutch-made ceramics.

Hillbilly Sampler

I totally love my Apple Pie cross-stitch sample even though it's very country and doesn't really go with anything other than my love for kitschy decorations and making pie. I actually got quite a bit done in Florida- I found it very enjoyable to sit on the porch in the mornings and stitch while nearby lizards licked their own eyeballs. Very zen. Sorry for the crap picture- we've now hit the time of year when pictures must be taken before work in order to use natural light, which means little to no creativity in the photography.

Madeline's Pinwheel

I didn't take this one to Florida, but it is a current "List" item. I have a frogged sweater's worth of this color and I'd like to see it gone. Plus my little breakfast-enthusiast has outgrown her felted kitty bed and would like something nice and wooly for winter. Once again with the crap picture thing.

So that's it! I had a great time and can't wait to go down again in January to teach my classes!