No, I didn’t drop off the end of the earth in North Dakota. I had a great time with my sisters; two biological, and one cousin who is an honorary sister. We partied as hard as can be done in Fargo, which is growing into a surprisingly sophisticated little city. If it wasn’t for the weather, I could see living there. It’s that sub-zero winter weather that would very seriously deter me from moving to ND. Snow I don’t mind as much, though it was a bit absurd that it snowed while we were there. Yes, in mid-May.
We ate, drank, shopped, laughed, and visited my mother’s only living sibling (out of nine of them). And played cards. Is it only in North Dakota that people do this when they get together? Whenever we’re in a family bunch, inevitably the cards come out. Hours can be spent around the kitchen table playing card games, gossiping, and eating munchies (and drinking bourbon). There were a couple of nights that we were up until 2 AM playing “hand and foot”, a canasta-like game that got rather wildly competitive.
I did manage to get one yarn-shopping experience in. Moorhead is just over the river into Minnesota, and the Knitty Gritty Cafe is there. It is a lovely place; if you ever get in the vicinity, check it out. Here are a couple of photos:
That first one is my sister Diane pretending to be interested in yarn. Neither of my sisters knits; they try to be good sports when I drag them to a yarn shop. This place has mostly yarn from higher-end companies, including Southwest Trading Company, Colinette, Mango Moon, and Anny Blatt. I bought this:
It’s a little hard to tell from that picture, but there are six skeins, enough for a little summer top.
I did manage to knit on the plane. Here is the evidence:
As is usual for me, I arrived at the airport in Seattle with about an hour to spare. I get quite anxious about flying and missing planes, and drive my spouse crazy by making him get us there way ahead of time. I worked on the Birch shawl while waiting for my plane to arrive. I have been putting in a floss lifeline every other repeat, and am still using markers as well. I had decided that I wasn’t going to use the lifeline any more, as I hadn’t made any mistakes up until now. “Up until now” is the operative phrase in that sentence. Fortunately I hadn’t taken out the last lifeline, as I screwed it up the second row into the pattern repeat. The more I tried to fix it, the more messed up it got. So out it came. This stuff is not fun to rip out; I only had a row and a half to take out, and I think if it had been more, I’d have just cut it off. Here’s a picture of me getting the stitches back on the needles.
One word of advice. When you are threading a lifeline through the stitches on your needle, make sure you get ALL of them on the lifeline. I missed one towards the end of the row, and just managed by dumb luck to notice it as it was attempting to unravel down the shawl.
One last photo that gives just a little hint of the good time that we had:
No cards until the wee hours of the morning are universal, my friends and I play when we get together, especially at the cottage.
Great to see you knitting up a storm, hope that your finger isn’t giving you to much trouble.
My family always plays cards when we get together. And let me tell you, do not play spoons with my aunts! You are likely to lose an arm!
I love the sock pictures. ‘Here is my sock taking it’s first airplane trip. Don’t be scared, Socky!’ ‘Here is Socky at the wet bar. Don’t drink too much, Socky!’ Glad that you are back to knitting and had a fun time with your sisters.
My family is from western Minnesota (Alexandria) and hand and foot is the rage. Every time you play with someone new, though, you have to spend about half an hour laying down which precise set of “house rules” are going to be used in the game. It can get _nasty_. We were out there last weekend, and although there was no snow, it was CHILLY! Glad you had fun.
OK….excuse my ignorance but please explain the lifeline. Does that mean you can tink back to that row and have all of your stitches just waiting to be picked up???? If so you are my hero. I have just started to try to knit lace like patterns and I keep having to frog the entire thing over one mistake. Frustrating. Welcome home and welcome back to blog-land.
Looks like your sock partied pretty darn hard.
😉
I love family gatherings. Luckily, I was blessed with a functional family and it is fun to get together. Sounds as if you were, too.
I watched a movie yesterday, “Eulogy,” and it was a dumb movie, but it was interesting to watch the dysfunction.
Happy Knitting…
Okay. Where have I been. How did you manage to knit in, on and near a plane with needles? Pictures on a blog are always fun. Thank you.
Can you see you and I playing ‘hand and foot’? That would have been priceless. Birch is looking good despite the hiccups. Let me know how you like the bamboo whenever you start on it. I have some white from Habu that was purchased in a rare moment of “rarity lust”. Since then (7/04) it has become less rare, and I’ve learned about drapey yarns. Welcome back.
Lorette: I’m so glad to see you’ve recovered and are back amongst the knitting. I’ve been cringing in the kitchen around knives for months just thinking about your accident. I love your ND story and pictures. It’s all very reminiscent of my trips home to the Midwest (the early arrival at the airport, knitting on the plane, dragging family members to knitting stores, fun with sisters, and yes, the games). It looks like a wonderful trip home.
Looking forward to seeing the Bamboo top. You are a smart knitter to use a lifeline. I haven’t tried it and think I will on the next shawl. I always have a mess on my hands. Why can’t we knit lace without mistakes?
My family played cards years ago when we’d have get togethers. Everyone is too spread out now so it doesn’t happen any longer.
Looks like you and that sock really had fun with the family.
Can socks get drunk?
I love the Bamboo yarn. It’s one of my favorites to knit with. Very soft and the drap is perfect for a summer top.
yay new yarn shop! Aren’t those great! I love your new bamboo yarn, I have got to try that stuff out!
Thanks for all those new pictures! Glad you had great trip.
The Minnesota side of our family invariably brings out the dice for a game of “10,000.”
I’ve also managed to get a few hooked on knitting.
Li
Great photos–sounds like a very nice time. The new Bamboo yarn looks really pretty.
I have that same colorway of sock yarn–so that is what it looks like knit up–very cute! 🙂
I heard the weather was cold up in Fargo from my parents. I almost wish I were there, it’s only 103 at noon here today. Being an ND girl myself, I feel like I’m gonna melt!
I will have to visit the Cafe in Moorhead next time I’m there. It looks like a great place to relax, shop for yarn and knit. I went to college in Moorhead and MSU, but that was years ago, and knitting wasn’t cool back then, so there weren’t nice knit shops that I can remember.
I heard the weather was cold up in Fargo from my parents. I almost wish I were there, it’s only 103 at noon here today. Being an ND girl myself, I feel like I’m gonna melt!
I will have to visit the Cafe in Moorhead next time I’m there. It looks like a great place to relax, shop for yarn and knit. I went to college in Moorhead at MSU, but that was years ago, and knitting wasn’t cool back then, so there weren’t nice knit shops that I can remember.
oops…..
What absoultey beautiful yarns!! I could just stay in those store for hours myself. i’d have to touch and feel each yarn. It’s be so difficult to decide what to buy!
Watch out wallet! sounds like you had a fab time!
So *that’s* what a lifeline is! Great idea, especially with lace. Lovely Birch, by the way 🙂
I know it’s a little late, but I have to laugh at the pic of my mom in the knitting store. No clue, no clue! teehee!