denver!

We are getting ready to take a trip to Denver to see DD. She is performing a couple of big parts in Don Quixote. I haven't seen her dance in a few years. It's been even longer for DH. Part of the reason is because when she is performing she is so busy we don't get to spend any time with her so we opt to go during the Summer instead. During performances they do a show on Friday, 2 on Saturday and another on Sunday. We'll be seeing 2 to see her do all of her parts. We scheduled this trip so that we are there on the last show weekend and she will have Monday and Tuesday off. Looks like we will be spending that time helping her move and then leaving Wednesday morning. I'm really excited about getting some time off and seeing DD. I still have most of my vacation left this year and if I don't take it by December 31 I lose it.
Here is my THIRD finish for October. These are for a Christmas present. I seem to be on a knitting path lately. I have a number of projects ready to take with me for the trip. We will spend a lot of time with nothing specific to do. We might do some things around Denver, but I'm thinking a lot of time just relaxing will be nice. I wanted to finish this pair of socks so I could start on a new pair to take. I also have some wool applique and a small hand quilting project I'm taking. Maybe I'll have another finish by the time I get back.
DS is staying here and will watch the kitties. We promised him a trip out in the Spring when he and his sister can spend some fun time together. Ballet is not his favorite thing. He spent more time than he cared to growing up, at ballet performances.
DS's hand is healing pretty well, but as of the last visit to the Dr. it's looking like he can't go back to work until December 1. He is doing physical therapy supposedly every hour, but it's hard for him to sit around waiting for every hour to arrive. He is starting to go a little stir crazy. His splint is rigid plastic so he can do some things without worrying about re injury, but not a lot. He's has read a LOT of books and now owns a loads of dvd's.

aren't these the cutest?

I have completed my second project for October!
There has been a sudden rash of pregnancies at my office (must be something in the air) and I have been waiting for someone to have a baby girl so I could make these little booties ever since I saw the free pattern on Ravelry. All of the children so far and any others who already know are boys except for one... so my friend James is going to be the lucky recipient of these for his first little baby, a girl due November 4.
I think they are just adorable and told DS that he needed to have a grandbaby for me so I could make some more. He looked at me, rolled his eyes and in that dry monotone he uses said "I don't think you really want that do you?" He's 21 so he's right of course, but I don't know why he can't just play along with his silly mother. ;-)

productivity

I had a good time this weekend working in my sewing room. I pulled out my UFO tote and got some really old projects ready to work on again. I am determined to force myself to get started. I know as soon as I get myself going I will be so glad I did.

I finished my first October project today. I have made a number of these Santa wall hangings and given them away. Mine has been finished except for binding for quite some time. Why is it that the one we do for ourselves is always last??

retail therapy

I didn't post my purchases from our mystery trip last weekend. When Kathie commented about my new repro fabrics it started me thinking about how I shop. I had planned my projects for the weekend carefully. I used all scraps except for the lining for my tote bag. It made no dent whatsoever in what I have either in my cupboards or my scrap bins. Goodness knows I have no need for more fabric. I had brought enought to keep myself busy and planned not to shop at all.

We walked to the first shop and I checked out a nice selection of sale fabrics. I liked a couple of them, but walked right on by. I meandered around in the shop admiring and touching a few. Others were taking bolt after bolt up to the counter to have varying amounts cut and I was feeling so proud of my self restraint. Then I found it..... A beautiful Jo Morton. Light and perfect for a background of a miniature quilt. I picked that up and then it was all over. I went around and started picking up all the fabrics I had been admiring and had dismissed. It's like I can resist if there isn't anything amazing, but as soon as I find one thing to buy my mind says "why not more". Here is the fabric I ended up with from the 2 shops where we stopped. After my first day's break I didn't see much point in abstaining on the second. I also got 4 skeins of sock yarn and a fat 8th of green wool for a project I am wanting to start.

How do you shop? Do you find that when you start you keep on going? There must be something that keeps us all adding and adding to our stashes.