Trekking in Palacios

Finding ourselves with nothing pressing to do on Saturday, we decided to take a drive to Palacios, Texas. This small town is right on the water and not too far from our house. Our plan was to check out the RV camping sites for future trips and to ride our bikes along the bay in the evening when it wouldn't be so hot. John brought along his fishing tackle and I brought along the Trekking sock (color #115)...just in case.

I was able to knit in the car while John drove. Once I dropped a stitch which just happened to be holding three stitches from a K3tog. Yikes! John pulled over on the shoulder so I could recover these without making matters worse. All ended well and when we arrived in Palacios, we stopped to take this picture of me and the sock near the shrimp boats.


We located an RV park we liked and then explored a few shops in town. It was about 3:00 after all that and still too hot for a bike ride or a trek of any kind really, so I found some shade under a pavilion and set up for knitting and reading.


John fished from a small jetty nearby.

A funny thing happens when he begins to fish--he loses all track of time. It was late when he finished and though cooler, we were both hungry so we went to eat instead of riding bikes. Is it an official trek if you don't get any exercise? Oh well, next time.

Iowa Scenery

Corn is king in Iowa. I never saw so much corn before! Almost every field is planted in corn. And almost every bit of land is farmed. The corn is tall and green this time of year and is really a pretty sight.


I was told that pigs outnumber people in Iowa, but I didn't see any. I did see a herd of buffalo.


And a flock of sheep.


But mostly, I saw corn.

Told you it was tall.

Wonderful Weekend

It was wonderful weekend in Iowa! I finally met Laura, the founder of The Preemie Project.

She is an amazing person. A little over a year ago, after a knee surgery that didn't go as well as planned, Laura found herself needing something to do. With limited mobility and having to cope with a lot of pain, she turned to knitting to keep her sanity. Her mom, Linda, suggested that she knit some booties for the babies at the hospital and from that simple suggestion, The Preemie Project was started. Laura began to ask others through her knitting blog to help her. I believe I'm correct in saying that the project has grown to over 200 volunteers. Some are national volunteers like me, but many are from the Iowa City area. Working together we are able to donate a large number of hats, booties, blankets and bereavement outfits to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Cinics every two months.

All of the volunteers are important to the success of The Preemie Project, but the local volunteers are called upon to help in ways that those of us that live far away cannot. On Saturday and Sunday there were workdays planned to sew blankets for the babies and I was thrilled to be able to join the local volunteers in this effort.

We had an assembly line going. Linda cut out the majority of the blankets. I think this is the hardest part.


Next they were sewn. There were five sewing machines in use on Saturday and six on Sunday. I used a machine that was donated and though old, it sewed beautifully.



Other volunteers turned the blankets, trimmed and pressed the seams to get them ready to be top stitched.


Here's a picture of the group that was there on Sunday.


I had so much fun getting to know everyone. The way things were organized, I got to spend the most time with those in the sewing room. I met Darlene and discovered that she spends time each winter in a little town only 1 1/2 hours from my house. Small world. I learned that Carla can sew us under the table. She worked for hours without ever taking a break. Jane will probably have a new sewing machine by the end of the week. Hers was acting up and besides she needs one with fancy stitches for top stitching. It's for the babies afterall. Laura was sewing too and we spent a lot of time discussing The Preemie Project. She has great ideas and the will to make them happen.

I wish I could have spent more time with everyone working in the other room. Some were friends I know through blogging.

Heather, Me and Megan
(I also met Libby and we took a picture together too, but it's on Laura's camera.)

It was great to meet each volunteer and so much fun to work together. My visit was way too short. I hope I get to go back another day.

At the end of two days of sewing, we had 96 finished blankets! Most of these are the large size. It truly was a wonderful weekend.

Laura, Linda and me

Added later: Must have missed one blanket in the first count. The total blankets sewn this weekend was actually 97.

No More Excuses

Yesterday I did it. I quit making excuses and cleaned the house. The pile of magazines are gone, the sheets are clean, the floors are mopped, the throw rugs are washed and the ring in the tub is no more. I even cleaned up my desk. That's when I came across this poem that John wrote for me.

The Wool Winder

Fibers spun into a yarn
Sheep in meadow, field and barn

Birch-wood needles knit and purl
The ball winder's twist and whirl

Skein is stretched upon the swift
Row markers made just for a gift

Projects made to give away
Blessing someone day by day



It's a blessing to have a husband who supports my knitting obsession and doesn't mind if the house gets a little out of whack once in a while.

Off to Iowa tomorrow. Got to run some last minute errands and pack. There will be knitting time on the plane. I think I'll work on John's Trekking socks.

And because every post is better with a picture. Here's a totally unrelated one I took at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City last month.

No More Excuses

Yesterday I did it. I quit making excuses and cleaned the house. The pile of magazines are gone, the sheets are clean, the floors are mopped, the throw rugs are washed and the ring in the tub is no more. I even cleaned up my desk. That's when I came across this poem that John wrote for me.

The Wool Winder

Fibers spun into a yarn
Sheep in meadow, field and barn

Birch-wood needles knit and purl
The ball winder's twist and whirl

Skein is stretched upon the swift
Row markers made just for a gift

Projects made to give away
Blessing someone day by day



It's a blessing to have a husband who supports my knitting obsession and doesn't mind if the house gets a little out of whack once in a while.

Off to Iowa tomorrow. Got to run some last minute errands and pack. There will be knitting time on the plane. I think I'll work on John's Trekking socks.

And because every post is better with a picture. Here's a totally unrelated one I took at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City last month.

What's Your Excuse?

Now that we're finally getting some sunshine, all the dust and dirt in my house is clearly visible. I should be cleaning, but instead I cut out and sewed six small blankets for The Preemie Project.



My excuse for not cleaning:
I needed to get warmed up for the sewing weekend that's planned in Iowa on Saturday and Sunday. And besides, I can always clean house...tomorrow.

Sleeper Sack

I've been working on a few more things for The Preemie Project to bring with me on my trip to Iowa later this week. This bereavement bunting was designed by Debbie, one of TPP volunteers. I've been wanting to try it for a while and finally found the time. It turned out so well! I followed this pattern as written for the smaller size except for using a fingering weight yarn (Ornaghi Filati Baby Cotton, 100% mercanized cotton) and knitting a ribbed cuff on the sleeves. This tiny bunting will fit a baby weighing less than one pound. Debbie designed the side with the buttons to be the back, but I like it for the front. I wonder which way the nurses will use it?



In other news, Matt is spending a week at camp, so we're finding out what an empty nest feels like. In less than one month he will leave for college and this will be the norm. It's not the first year he's been to camp, but John and I usually take a vacation at the same time so we're rarely home when he's gone. This week is sort of a trial run. Big changes are ahead, but I think we are prepared.

Also, you may notice some sunshine in the pictures above. This make me happy. Sunny skies have been a rare thing here lately. It rained almost every day in June. And July has started out with more of the same. So unusal for Houston this time of year. It's true we needed the rain, but we are all craving sunshine now. Of course, with sunshine there will be heat. It'll feel like a sauna outside before the day's over. The mosquitos are really bad right now too, so pack some insect repellent if you travel this way. The stores are likely to be sold out.