Two bears, one shawl and 1119 miles

Hello earthling

It's "back to school" time of year and that means the annual drive to Annapolis, MD to drop Youngest Daughter off at school. 

I pulled out a bag of leftover Lion Brand Wool Ease and set to work. 1037 miles later - I had two little bears.

Oliver - Mother Bear Project Bear #1.

Clara - Mother Bear Project Bear #2.

Smile!

Boy, were these addictive! And I was pleasantly surprised how easy the pattern went. I adapted the pattern from "Knitting for Peace" into an in-the-round version and then went a step further and made it a la Magic Loop.

After I finished two, I pulled out my Botany Shawl and went to town on that as well. I have about two more rows to go before binding off, blocking and  - photos! I guess there is something to traveling long, long distances in search of an education!

Along the way, we stopped off to tour the Gettysburg Battlefield. Very interesting - but also very sobering as well.

Monument to the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment 

"Travel broadens the mind"

but perhaps, it makes it taller?" Heightens the mind? I'm not really sure what the exact phrase is!

But we definitely have moved into "more rarified circles?" I'm not sure if I can keep this punning up much longer . . . 

Obviously, we are traveling out west - Colorado to be exact. Everyone is having a good time (which is a miracle indeed), I am knitting in the car and all is right with the world

Here's the prairies for good measure - Nebraska!

A photo montage for your inspection:

Pike's Peak

My daughter's photo of the US Air Force Academy - she was aiming for the "Air Force guys!"

Garden of the Guys, er, Gods!

Lovely!

"I thought I saw a Black Widow Spider - Classic Peg!"

I preferred this kind of bug.

People watching in Boulder on a Saturday morning was amazing. And so was my trip to Gypsy Wools - just a little yarn for the road.

More to come - perhaps a finished object even?

Yarn - forward!

This past weekend was not only relaxing - it was rewarding.

I acquired two lots of unusual yarn and bought one lot for only $1! And I won a book!

I've used this Persia Color in another colorway before - it knits up beautifully next to a plain color wool. And - it was the $1 yarn!

I just love the sparkle and fluff.

This was two skeins of an old but free yarn called Laine Dor - it might even be Laine D'or but the label is done is a spiffy 1970s font and I can't read it. It's mohair and I'm using it on my trip to Pennsylvania to make a simple little shawl from the free patterns on the  Mary Maxim site. Plane knitting in all senses of the word!

I also got this skein of yarn in my goody bag.

It's a lovely blue color and it seems destined for mittens or a hat.

As a door prize, I also won this fun book.

One of my table mates offered me "a lot of yarn" for it but I think the patterns are well worth the keeping.  

Although I'd love to be working on my Turning Glass cardigan, I need to knit a baby sweater for a little baby girl at my church. And I need to knit it before she grows even more! So I'm pulling out some stash yarn

Jamieson's Soft Shetland in granny smith colorway

 to knit a Rosemary's Little Sweater. Simple and quick (or so I'm hoping.)

And I'll be traveling with all this knitting so - you probably won't getting another post until about Monday. Enjoy the snow!