Well, time to write a bit about our recent trip to California. The impetus for the trip was the Rock Star’s cousin S’s wedding to the beautiful M. The wedding was planned for the day before Labor Day, but we went out 10 days early so we could visit the Rock Star’s father and step-mother. After the parental visit, we planned a few days in San Francisco with his brother (including one night of extreme debauchery for the bachelor party). Then we drove north the Anderson Valley area of California for the wedding. This first vacation blog entry will be about the parental visit and the drive to SF. Parts of it are not a pretty tale, so I’ll try to go over them quickly…and get to the parts where I molest, fondle and buy yarn.

The flight to Cali went very well. the Boy is a fantastic little traveler. Here he is enjoying the view before take off:

We landed in San Jose and rented a car to drive to Arroyo Grande, where the parents live. His dad is pretty nice and we like seeing him, but his step-mom is horrible and it makes everthing very tense. the Boy is actually a pretty well behaved kid, but between her absolute refusal to move any valuable, fragile objects out of the way and her horrible barking, snapping, fucked up little dogs, the Boy was fairly miserable. It was hard on us to keep telling him no, no, no…but he listened and was doing ok. At one point, THB (the heinous bitch) actually yelled at my l’il guy to not touch her things. His face kind of crumpled up and he said, “But all my things are at home…” and ran to me crying. While I comforted him, she proceeded to lecture my husband. He pushed back asking if she was actually criticizing our parenting, and maybe we should just go stay in a motel. His father stepped in to say he really, really wanted us to be there and told the stepmother she was out of line. After I got the Boy settled down, one of the fucking little shelties chased him down the hall, trying to bite his feet and I scooped him up and we got out of there for the day. We had a fun day out of the house with Grampa, leaving her to stew with her own yucky self. That was the pattern for the rest of the visit. As long as we were away from her, we had a good time. The day to leave finally came and we high tailed it outta there.

We stopped in the town of Arroyo Grande. Mommy needed a bit of yarn therapy after all that. Yarnology filled the bill nicely. I had a nice knit chat with some ladies there. Much yarn was molested and these were the ones who followed me home:

Manos del Uruguay Worsted:

Manos del Uruguay Cotton Stria:

Berocco Plush (destined to be a cute bunny):

Claudia Handpainted Sock Yarn:

A historical note. I’ve never really had any sort of respectable stash. I generally buy yarn with a specific project in mind, make it, and buy some more yarn, and so on. These purchases constitute the beginning of what could be considered an actual Stash. I purchased yarn because it felt nice and I liked the colors and I have absolutely no idea what I’ll do with it, besides fondle. I’m now a knitter with stash. I like how it feels…

This trip also marks the first time I’ve had more than one project on the needles. I’ve decided to give up my knitting monogamy and cast on for what I feel like, when I feel like it. This trip I worked on my LFFCS/BOBA and got this far:

I also cast on Bellatrix in Purple Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome, got to the gusset, frogged it and started over. I got past the heel this time, but have decided I don’t like this yarn for this pattern so it’s on it’s way to the frog pond, too. I want a very poisonous colored yarn for this pattern. Something in Acid green or purple and black. The pattern is fun and easy, but stretchy as hell. I have my eye on some Wollmeise Poison Nr. 5 or maybe Scout’s Swag Death Eater. Here’s the pic that’s making me drool. It’s Bellatrix in Wollmeise Poison Nr. 5 by Missy:

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I also cast on for Fetzensocks from one of my Yahoo sock knitting groups. Pumpkin by Lisa Souza is absolutely luscious!!
. I love this pattern and I love this yarn.

So that was the first leg of the trip. Many more adventures and more yarn to come. Stay tuned for a story about a fantastic yarn store in San Francisco!