Back in June when I drove to Estes Park, Colorado for the Wool Market I stopped at a very sweet little yarn shop called Gove City Yarn in Gove, Kansas. I had read about the shop on my friend Tracy's blog about a year prior and had wished and dreamed of visiting there. I don't know why. Maybe to be in the same place as a virtual friend had been? Somehow it would make me feel closer to Tracy. After reading about her visit to the shop I would see their ads in Interweave Knits and ask my husband "how far away is Gove?" I must have asked him ten times over the space of a year. I knew that when I drove to Estes Park I would be doing everything in my knitterly power to stop and visit that yarn shop.
And I did. And it made me have a few tears and a lump in my throat when I drove up and recognized it from Tracy's post telling of the quaint little community, the shop, and the shop owner. The owner was friendly and outgoing and loved telling about all of the yarns in her shop, especially those special ones that could only be purchased there, spun from the llama and alpaca fiber grown locally. Tracy selected one of those special yarns as her souvenir and I believe she made a shawl.
My souvenir purchase from Gove was two skeins of Manos Del Uruguay in color 113, Wildflowers. I hadn't seen this yarn in person before (nor many of the others she had there) and had long wished to have just the right yarn to make the My So Called Scarf. I had tried other yarns and none had just the right look. It had to be Manos or a similar single ply hand painted yarn.
While knitting the hat/mitt/scarf set for Lila Pearl I ran across a pattern on Ravelry that was similar to the MSCS as it used similar yarn but the flow of stitches drew your eye upward. The delightful name was Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks. The stich is a star stitch but the yarn paired with the pattern name made me think of birds in flight. Others see small flowers. I knew that before returning to the entrelac scarf I had to get out my two precious skeins of Manos and cast on for Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks.
Pattern: Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks by Marianne of A Time To Knit
Yarn: Manos Del Uruguay, 2 skeins, color 113 Wildflowers
Finished Size: 5.5" wide, 81" loooooooong
I have just cleared 4520 unread posts from my bloglines. Some my own. ha And I start anew. I miss my knitting blog friends very much and I don't think I've been myself without them. I haven't been playing on Ravelry. I just haven't been doing much other than chase children and clean house since school started. I'm tired and overweight but there could be something else. It's premature to be guessing about anything at all but I have a doctor appointment Thursday morning for a .... something. Not sure what. "Small hard lump in underarm" is the only way to describe it. We'll see what she says about it. And maybe say a tiny little prayer or think a good thought and send a positive vibe my way.
The afghan project is quietly running itself at the moment while I nap and knit and chase babies. There are still afghans to be returned from seamers and I have received some contact names in Greensburg from a few sources. A lady at church who is part of the quilt guild here in town said that they made lap quilts to send to Greensburg and when they were sent there was nobody to receive them so now their quilts are in police cars being distributed to whoever they encounter that might need something like that. I'm okay with waiting and contacting the churches there when we're ready. I've said many times that I'm glad I'm the project boss so I can make up the rules as we go along and at the moment the latest new rule is that we're waiting until it's the right time to take/send these afghans. The hats and scarfs and other miscellaneous items are another story. I'll keep you posted about how these things find their new owners as soon as I know something and can make a decision about it. The cold weather is pushing me to find people who are ready for them. :)
Currently knitting: Silk Garden entrelac scarf - 65% finished.
Next to knit: Raglan Cardigan for myself, Mission Falls 1824 Wool, sage with evergreen and brick accents at cuffs and bottom - maybe at collar, haven't decided yet.
Lila Pearl at nap time today, lulled to sleep by Dr Seuss. Why does it take a picture like this for me to realize how crazy close that outlet is to her bed? Gotta get one of those special outlet covers.
Everyone have a lovely fall week and take good care of every little thing! :)
XOXOXOXOX
I'm always so happy when you post. You will post again after the doctor's appointment, right? Prayers.
Posted by: Carole | November 27, 2007 at 03:50 PM
What a lovely scarf for YOU Laura - and such a great way to remember a lovely trip & yarn shop discovery. :) I've been seeing that pattern more & more - might just have to give it a try.
Posted by: Amy Artisan | November 27, 2007 at 04:12 PM
That scarf is beautiful! I'm adding it to my Ravelry queue immediately.
Posted by: Amanda | November 27, 2007 at 04:15 PM
I love it! I've already made a star stitch scarf and it was HARD on my hands, so I'll just adore yours. I have two skeins of the same yarn, same colorway that needs to be knit up. Someday. :o)
btw - you look good! Have you been working out?
Posted by: elizabeth | November 27, 2007 at 04:26 PM
Whoa skinny girl you look amazing!
Your daughter is so cute, I totally fell asleep that way every night 'til I was 17 (and sometimes in college too)
Posted by: Britt | November 27, 2007 at 04:55 PM
I'm a fervent believer in prophylactic worrying. If I worry my head off ahead of time, it NEVER turns out to be something to worry about. It's just the things it never occurred to me to worry about that sneak up and bite. So I will take on the worry burden for you....I'll worry about you until you post that the little lump is insignificant.
Posted by: Sharon | November 27, 2007 at 04:59 PM
I love that scarf. I noticed it when you posted it to Flickr today. So glad you let us know which pattern you used. I must knit one as a present!
Thinking about you & will say a prayer for you. Please let us know what the doctor says.
Posted by: Sherry | November 27, 2007 at 05:02 PM
(((hugs 'n prayers)) Try not to worry! Let us do it for you! Please post an update after your MD visit...
Posted by: Kate/Massachusetts | November 27, 2007 at 05:18 PM
Ooooooh!Pretty scarf.
4520 posts!!!! You've got some reading to do, or you can just clear the slate and start over.
Posted by: Vera | November 27, 2007 at 05:31 PM
Lots of prayers coming your way, and don't worry. Like Kate said, we'll worry for you !!
Posted by: Ellie | November 27, 2007 at 05:38 PM
Sending good thoughts your way!!
What a cute picture of Lila Pearl and her buddy Winnie the Pooh, lulled to sleep by good ol' Dr. Seuss.
Posted by: Maureen | November 27, 2007 at 07:25 PM
Prayers heading in your direction!
That scarf is a perfect match for the yarn -- lovely.
Good to see that Pooh was reading, too, before his nap.
Posted by: Sylvia | November 27, 2007 at 07:49 PM
Oh, and if you haven't used Mission Falls 1824 before, definitely swatch and wash the swatch; mine grew a lot and I had to go down a needle size.
Posted by: Sylvia | November 27, 2007 at 07:56 PM
I'll be thinking about you and hoping for good news when you post again.
Posted by: Pat K | November 27, 2007 at 08:58 PM
I love the pattern! It looks like stars to me - either way. Lovely.
I will certainly be thinking of you, wishing and hoping and praying it is benign or nothing at all.
Give that little reader a big squeeze! (and get some outlet covers -- I see uncovered outlets everywhere with a jolt of fear--it's my job{ha no pun intended with the 'jolt'})
Posted by: Miss Scarlett | November 27, 2007 at 11:33 PM
Prayers, good thoughts, good vibes and a whole lotta love coming your way! I'll be thinking about you all day.
The scarf is perfect!
Posted by: margene | November 28, 2007 at 06:44 AM
Please post again after the doctor's visit. I will not rest until we know what is going on. Will think of you all the time. Love your blog and your family photos. Best wishes Alida, East London, South Africa
Posted by: Alida | November 28, 2007 at 06:55 AM
I'm ready to go back to Gove. Maybe next time we'll go together. The scarf is gorgeous! Great stitch pattern to use with that yarn. Saying a prayer that the doctor visit will go well and you'll get news soon on what the "something" is. The picture of Lila Pearl with her book and Pooh bear makes me smile!
Posted by: Wool Winder | November 28, 2007 at 09:12 AM
Hey you. Thinking good thoughts for you.
The sleeping book pic is pretty darned cute. Made me smile. :o)
Happy belated birthday to you!
Posted by: Kyra | November 28, 2007 at 09:29 AM
Had a lump in the same area in college...turned out to be a swollen gland or blocked something or other. I wish a similar annoying, benign thing for you.
Love the scarf, love the Lila photo, I love hearing about your adventures. :)
Posted by: janette | November 28, 2007 at 09:32 AM
Laura, prayers for your doctor's visit, keep us posted. Love the scarf and always enjoy reading your blog and seeing pictures of your lovely family.
Posted by: Barbara | November 28, 2007 at 03:17 PM
Laura as usual your knitting and children are great. Will be thinking of you tomorrow as you go to the doctors. Prayers go without saying and my fingers are crossed for you. hope all goes well xx
Posted by: kirsten | November 28, 2007 at 03:36 PM
Echoing hugs and prayers for you Laura - please keep us posted (okay, pun intended). Your scarf is beautiful and your children are precious as always!
Posted by: Pat | November 28, 2007 at 10:02 PM
Sending lots of love and prayers.
Posted by: Bliss | November 28, 2007 at 11:50 PM
Prayers are being sent from Michigan....Please let us know how the appointment went........The afghans will find their rightful homes when the time is right.
Take care and enjoy the angels...
Posted by: wendy | November 29, 2007 at 09:35 AM
(((((((hugs))))))))
Posted by: christine | December 06, 2007 at 12:49 PM