What I Did On My Summer Vacation pt. 1

As I travelled around Germany these last couple of weeks, I realized something about myself; I have an unhealthy obsession with street signs.

Here are a few of my favorites-

So much information without any words.

I love this kid holding his Mom's hand.
This hangs above a place for parents with buggies to sit on the train.

I love all of the details.

This guy has a hat on.

This little girl has a bow in her hair.

This one is wearing a belt.

And how cool of Germany to institute a Hokey-Pokey Zone!

I can't quite tell if this is "Put your right arm in" or "Put your left leg out"

More German fun tomorrow!

Jess

Home Again, Home Again

It is so good to come home to giant kids who seem to have grown 5 inches each in 2 weeks.
It is so good to come home to a wonderful husband who kept the house in one piece.
It is so good to come home to a birthday email from Dad.
It is so good to come home to a morning birthday surprise at Grammie's.
It is good to be home.

Deutchland

Hallo from Deutschland!
I am having a terrific time here.
The choir had a concert last night and I had to fight the tears.
The kids spent the weekend and Monday with the families of a local girls choir here in Neuss and the girls came up and sang a song with our kids at the end of the concert.
It was trancendent.
We take a trip to the Dom in Köln today and I can't wait to see the kids' reaction to the immense beauty of a gothic cathedral in the midst of a modern city.
I am running our of internet cafe time so I will sign off now,
Tschüß
Jeß

Deutschland or Bust!

Hey everyone!
I will be absent for the next two weeks.
I am off to Germany tomorrow and I won't be back until July.

I am really quite excited.
I will be travelling with the HoH Children's Choir and they are a great group of kids and they sound terrific.

My two sadnesses are these-
I will miss my family a lot.
I have never been away from my kids for longer than 5 days, and the last time I was separated from my husband for that long was 7 years ago.

Also, I fear that I will completely miss the fresh strawberry season.
It's starting about a week later this year than in past years, so I might be able to get in on the strawberry action when I get home.

I wish everyone a couple of weeks full of playing in the sprinklers and seeing things grow.
Jess

We Have a Winner!

I had the Elder Hug-a-Bug pull a name from a bowl and the Rocket goes to...



Auntie Krista!

The sewing is begun, but I ran out of stuffing.
I hope to have it finished before Thursday when I get on the plane, but if not I hope that you will forgive the wait until July.

See you later,
Jess

Some Weekend Knitting

On Saturday while working at the Yarn store I cast-off my 1824 sweater.

With the help of my yarny friends I got some buttons and it is all set for the trip to Deutschland.

It feels good to knit down my stash somewhat.

When I first started knitting about 7 years ago, I made the brazen comment that no one should have a stash.

"How dumb to amass more yarn than you could knit up in one project."

Well, then I started working at the Yarnery and also at Coldwater Collaborative in Excelsior, MN and I saw new yarns come in and sale yarns and I had a discount, so dangerous, and so began my stash.

Also, I hadn't anticipated the projects that would be left to moulder while I puzzled out a problem.

Mine is by far not the biggest stash out there, but it does fill up about three big Rubbermaid tubs, and a basket or three.

As I clearly have a problem, as soon as I was finished with the 1824 I immediately cast on Rogue .

I am using some more stash.

About 5 years ago, the Yarnery discontinued the older put-up of the Soft Shetland from Jamieson, and I bought 15 skeins as they were considerably discounted.

I have been half-heartedly knitting a Kristin Nicholas sweater with it since then, but the pattern was pretty complicated and I didn't then nor do I now have the patience or attention span to finish it.

It is a shame, because I do love the Nicholas sweater, but I will also love the Rogue.

I am cardiganizing it, there is a link on the Girl From Auntie's website, and I am thoroughly enjoying the knitting.

These Girl From Auntie patterns are great because they are mostly stockinette with a few spectacular cable patterns thrown in for interest.

Such fun, and they look complicated and impressive...

Have a beautiful Monday,

The weather here should be perfect for outdoor activity.

Talk to you soon,

Jess

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the Father's out there and especially to the best three Dads out there, My Dad, My Father-in-Law and my Hubtastic Husband.