Sunday, February 27, 2011

Vacationing on Dauphin Island

Last week I was on a much needed vacation to Dauphin Island Alabama.  I went with my baby sister to see my mother who had been wintering there.  I love Dauphin Island.   Actually, I love any place that is warm and welcoming in the middle of winter.  I am sure there are more posh warm weather destinations, but the slower pace suited me fine.  Our hotel overlooked a bayou and at night I could walk over to dock and watch the stars while enjoying a night breeze.  I loved the break from my life.


The island has a civil war fort, a bird sanctuary, and lots and lots of gulf views of gulls, breakers, ferries, and oil rigs pumping up black gold.  Some places you could even see large pieces of equipment working on cleaning up some of that black gold that wrecked so much havoc on the gulf last year.  A part of me would love to live this kind life, but I know within a week I would feel trapped by this thirteen mile strip of land.



To break up the monotony we went to Mobile for a Mardi Gras parade.  The floats were wonderful as they rained beads, cups, masks, toys, and moonpies down on the crowds.  I caught many beads and a few moonpies.  This parade was probably the largest parade I have ever been to and honestly it wasn't really that big.  Mobile is very serious about their Mardi Gras season, apparently this parade was one of several.



I made it a point to get into the party celebration and be-decked myself with beads and a very fabulous pair of shades. 



Parades and sandy beaches aside the best thing about my trip was spending time with my mother and baby sister.  They are two of my favorite people and hanging out with them is always fun.  We shopped, we ate good food, and just enjoyed each others company.  Mom came home from her winter break and we are all at our respective homes with memories and some fun photos to remember our good times.  I love vacation.

Monday, February 21, 2011

And the Stars Fell on Alabama

I am home from my brief trip to Daulphin Island, Alabama.  I have so much I could wax on and on about, but I need to unpack and get ready to go back to work tomorrow (yuck).  But right now, I am thinking about the stars.  At night I would sit on a dock or the back porch of the hotel listening to the surf, enjoying the night breezes, and just stare up into the starry sky and dream.  I made up a new constellation of a man on a motorcycle riding his heart out.  I would name that constellation Vernon.  Tonight at home I am missing those stars.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Bought out outlet mall n gulf shores

Friday, February 18, 2011

@ mardi gras parade n mobile great spectacle & lots of moonpies.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Wellslee's all strung out in mobile nice but going out 2 just online next month,

Sunday, February 13, 2011

And the Beat Goes On

This year one of my goals was to blog at least once a week.  Well, sometimes goals aren't met and life goes on.  Everything goes on, there is just no holding it back.  So it is with me.  The world keeps revolving on it axis and I am forced to continue with my struggle with grief.  I am looking at the one year anniversary of my father's death and I feel as if I have spent the last year watching him die everyday. 

Somedays, like today, it is the thought Dad will be out on his motorcycle enjoying the strawberry spring today.  Then like a blot on the day, I remember he is gone and his motorcycle lives under a tarp.  Other days it is the memory of an event like this time last year my dad held my hand and told me he loved me for the last time.  In either case it is a tailspin into grief. 

I do try to put things in perspective and recognize this is the way of life and that nothing I am going through is unique.  These feelings and situation are all apart of the human condition.  I am on my journey and I though I am trying to take the route of acceptance and peace, somedays, I just make the wrong turn and end up here.  Stalled out, wishing my dad would come and pull me out of the mess I have got myself in.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Wrist Buddy, or Everything In Its Place

I have mentioned this before I have been working on a design for a pair of wristwrappers.  I am almost done with that project and in the process I have started working on a second design for a wrist buddy.  I am defining the wrist buddy as a cuff that I can use to hold my dpns (double pointed needles) and any other knitting notions that needs holding.  I don't know about anyone else, but I always have my notions strung out all over my futon.  This situation has caused many lost items and on occasionally a dpn poking me in unkind places. 
Wristwrapper Prototype
My wristwrappers design produced these little cuffs.  I picked up stitches on the back and then stuffed the cuff.  This method was probably the hardest way to do anything,  I have an idea on how to improve this design and make it simpler.  So I am still working on this design, but I am pleased with the idea of the end product.
Wrist Cuffs
The wrist buddy gives me spots for dpns, stitch locks, stitch markers, stitch holders, tapestry needles, and with a safety pin a row counter.  I felt really clever creating my little cuff, and when I look down at the cuff while knitting I know the joy Batman must feel every time he reaches for his utility belt.  Check back I promise to post the pattern for my wrist buddy as soon as it is done.

Wrist Buddy Prototype