Stash Saturday

So not only did I pick up some new stash while away...I came home to my yarn clubs waiting for me...

From Dizzy Color: Sunnydale Patrol 2

This Ain't No Tea Party, Princess

From Mad Color: Mod Color Posse - inspired by musicals, Sweet Transvestite

From Nerd Girl Yarn Random Fandom - Artoo (Love this so much!)

And I visited another LYS while in Florida, post to follow...I bought some indulgence

Lotus Yarn Mimi -100% mink yarn..I nice warm shawl for me...

SWAPOCALYPSE!

This was my next swap....obviously the theme was the apocalypse....my package came from Louisiana this time....

Some snacks that would last throughout an apocalypse....I'm sure Daryl has munched on some beef jerky....

The stitch markers were really awesome!

I just bought a new journal, so I'm trying to decide whether to use this one or my new one...

The yarnz...so my colors...and a new yarn to me!

And she sent me a pattern that was in my queue...The Geology Shawl.  I think this yarn will be perfect for it!

Another successful swap!

WIPS on Vacation

So how many projects do you take on vacation? I took 2 pairs of socks, 2 shawls, and my Lanesplitter skirt.  I also brought yarn for possible 3 other projects...in addition to buying yarn while here....

I finished 1 shawl, renewed working on my Rainbow Wings. I needed to add another ball.  I am on the 7th wedge now...

I also worked on my Vanilla Latte socks, putting a couple inches on them..I have a couple more to go until the heel flap....the yarn is so squooshy, I can't wait to wear these!

I also worked on my dissertation for Nerd Wars, actually starting the project...the yarn is a bit rough, so I normally do 6-8 rows before taking a break.  But it is a pretty easy pattern..and I love the color changes....I'm already dreaming of wearing this to Rhinebeck with tights, ankle boots and awesome socks or legwarmers, depending on the weather...

Sorry the pictures are so dark, I took them at 11:00 at night....

I haven't read the past couple of days, but I did start a zombie book called, San Diego 2014, about a zombie outbreak at the 2014 Comic-Con.....since that Comic-Con is happening now...it's pretty timely...

Hooking up with Ginny

Remember I have a wee giveaway on Monday's post..

Travel Tuesday - Diagon Alley

One of the reasons I went to visit Mom this summer, beyond just hanging out with Mom and her husband, Ed, was to go to the new Harry Potter attraction at Universal Studios.  Two years ago, when I came down with Allison, we had an excellent time at Universal.  We did wait in line for 3 hours for the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey..which was the best ride I've ever gone on...

So yesterday, Wednesday, July 9, we headed to Universal.  It had only been open since the day before...

We got there about 10:00..there was already a 90 minute line just to get into that part of the park...First you get in line (queue up) to get into Diagon Alley.  But the park was giving out tickets to come back later...So I got a ticket to come back at 12:20...I met up with Mom, (who was not going into that part of the park) and had lunch at Mel's Diner (from Alice)

Then we headed over to the ET ride...very tame, but enjoyable...ET was really my second nerdery...Wizard of Oz being first...I collected the cards and had posters up..I saw it three times the first weekend it was out...I love ET....

A little shopping, and then I headed back to Diagon Alley...and got right in....lots of pictures coming up...it was fabulous!  First you are in "London" and you walk through a brick wall (just like the movie) to get to Diagon Alley...

You might recognize Grimmauld Place and the Night Bus

I got in line for the ride, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts..it was an expected 300 minute wait...but first you had to get in line to put your stuff in a locker..no loose things allowed on the ride...that was almost an hour wait...when I finally got into line....the ride broke down.....on Opening Day, I heard from several people..after waiting in line for 5 hours, the ride broke down and they shut it down..so I waited a little over an hour and the ride was still not fixed...so it would have been the 5 hour wait ON TOP of the delay time for the break down...and since I am still not 100%, I decided I'd rather enjoy the rest of Diagon Alley...I can always come back.....so I went and enjoyed Diagon Alley...

The dragon breathes fire!!!!!

The owlery and some costumes from the movies...

The front and back of Weasleys Wizard Wheezes...you actually went in through the back...

Knockturn Alley was sufficiently creepy...and there was a Borgin and Burkes had some fun stuff in it.

Magic Knitting, this was a display window between Ollivander's Wand Shop and The Daily Prophet.

Then Mom and I enjoyed some cheesecake and called it a day...I was starting to hurt...and knew I would not be able to stand in lines....I'll come back in a few months, hopefully physically at 100%..and Mom is always here to visit.

Diagon Alley is very cool....and I will enjoy it again..and hopefully get on the ride then...There is another ride, The Hogwarts Express, but you have to have a park-to-park pass, as it takes you to the other park...this I will probably do next time....

Don't forget I have a small giveaway in yesterday's post.

Ah! The Ocean

Visiting my mom is wonderful, but although she lives in Florida, she does not live close to a beach.  I'm not a lay out, spend all day at the beach kind of girl, but I love walking a beach.

So my aunt and I went out today, mostly to get lunch and snacks for the game (did you follow the World Cup this year?) I did, as I was bedridden during most of it, so many days, watched all three games. So I couldn't miss the final game, although I missed the Brazil vs Netherlands...cus I was looking at spaceships (that will be an upcoming Travel Tuesday post - not tomorrow, that's Universal.)

Anyhow, back to the beach, my aunt actually lives on the east coast of Florida, about 15 minutes from many beaches, so we made a quick stop and walked along the beach...the water here is so warm and so clear...just gorgeous....we walked for about 40 minutes..then spent several minutes trying to clean our feet with little wet wipes...

It was a nice break....

Look at that, perfect beach day!

Please ignore the pasty white legs, this is the waves breaking over my feet.

We found this dead fish on our way back...it was just sitting there on the sand....we checked to make sure it was dead, it must have washed up during high tide...so strange...

There were also many protected turtle nests along the beach.....that is so cool, I'd love to see baby turtles come crawling out of their nests....

Look at the storm, out at sea, the rain was not felt on the beach, but we did hear some thunder.

So dear blog readers, I thought of you...I collected shells along the walk and will send them to a blog reader (anywhere, but if you are not in the US, I'll check customs to see if I can send them.)....many of them have holes, so you could use them for jewelry...so if you'd like some genuine Florida seashells collected from the beach...tell me about a favorite beach memory in the comments...I'll randomly pick a winner next Monday.. leave me a way to get in touch....

Tomorrow we are heading out to a giant Flea Market, and possibly a LYS, there are three in the area......maybe I'll pick up something else at one of those places to add to the package..

Finished Project Friday

For the latest swap, I decided to make something that was a bit challenging for me...a full sized shawl with a lace portion....I have made shawlettes, with easy garter or stockinette stitches....I did have some struggles...I'd have the right number of stitches and then the next row would have too many or too few...after a while, I just muddled through, instead of frogging or tinking each time....

So this is the Out of Gas shawl, inspired by the Firefly episode Out of Gas..
Yarn is Nerd Girl Oh Snap in "Can't Take the Sky From Me."
I was running out of yarn so I supplemented with La Jolla in "Grey Onyx"

I'm pretty proud of it.....I hope she likes it...I plan to make one for myself in a Mad Color yarn called, "Our Mrs. Reynolds" which is a red..inspired by Firefly.

Joining in with Creative Friday and Fiber Arts Friday

Fairy Tale Swap - Another Recent Swap

I'm a fan of fairy tales, especially the Cinderella story, I collect different versions from around the world.  Not necessarily the Disney version....but the many varied versions...so of course I had to participate in a fairytale swap...

She pretty much made everything....I love the fabric on the bag....it has a pocket inside...

She made little Cinderella stitch markers....but the bestest thing?  She dyed yarn for me!  I have one of a kind yarn!

It's "Cinderella Dressed in Yella"  I really love it!....

Another positive swap....