As you may know, I’ve been dabbling with crochet on occasion. I bought a pattern awhile ago because I thought the booties were adorable! I started a pair, which didn’t turn out very well, and are still in my UFO pile. I decided that they didn’t turn out well mostly due to my poor crochet skills. So I tried again, with yarn that matches the items already given to/for Charlie. I had some help from Shawn (who crochets) and I made an adjustment to hide the worst parts. Overall, I’m happy with how they turned out - and now that I have an in-focus shot, I’m ready to wrap them and send them off.

#6 for 2013

Pattern: Baby Baseball Tennis Shoes by Marcia Peterson

Size: 9 months with size G hook

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in white and dark country blue

Mods: chain st across top of toe to hide loose stitches.

(I originally named the post “Gangbusters!” but since it took so long to get all the photos loaded, etc., I’ve changed the title!)

First, I (actually) finished my baby boy cardigan - buttons and all. This completes my 12 in ‘12 goal!

 Pattern: Sirdar Snuggly DK 1897

Size: 2-3 years, shawl-collared version

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly DK, 4 skeins

Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) & US 5 (3.75 mm)

Some trouble with oddly worded instructions for collar, but easily resolved. This sweater was started when we were out in California for Molly’s graduation from law school. Some difficulty with attaching sleeves, but worked out in the end.

I’ve been working on charity items for the MKG 2012 charity project (including de-stashing some of my completed items that I knit for fun but don’t really want to keep), as well as for the Cheyenne River Youth Project. There was an annual “Mittenz Blitz” for them in September, but they also need hats, slippers, afghans, etc. and take them pretty much throughout the year. There is a Yahoo! group dedicated to their support with purchased and handmade items, and they have various months where they concentrate on providing items for certain needs. I joined the group primarily to get the timing of the items, and have been surprised at the quantity of purchased goods that individuals send out.

In addition, I’m still trying to finish up UFO’s around here, and to use up a large portion some of my stash. Years ago, my friend Michelle had purchased some yarn for her daughter to use (but at the time, the daughter was not comfortable knitting with thinner yarns) and when she didn’t want it, she sold it to me. It’s Jaggerspun on cones, and it’s waxed so I think it was intended for knitting machines. I’m not sure how many yards are on the cones, but I’m sure it’s in the thousands of yards. I went online to try to figure out what this was (it has one of those labels that says stuff like 3/10.5 or whatever). Apparently this is a fingering weight yarn, 70% Lambswool 30% Baby Alpaca. Of course, hand wash. I’ve been staring at these 2 cones off and on ever since, not having a clue what I wanted to do with it. I’ve now decided to knit with both cones combined so it’s more-or-less a sport weight yarn. I made this hat (my 13th project for the year - and will be sent out for one of the charities):

Pattern: Junior Ski Hat from Patti’s Creations

Size: as written

Yarn: semi-mystery Jaggerspun held double, color Steel, and KnitPicks Brava Sport, color Black (for lining)

I didn’t bother with pom poms or funky braid with tassel for the top. I’m guessing in a dark color like this, it will likely go to a boy, and he probably won’t want all that girly stuff on his hat.

 #14  This hat is the same wool I used on a sweater I made (#8 of my 12 in 12, posted here), trying to use up the left over yarn to make hat(s) and/or mittens. This will go to the MKG charity drive.

Pattern: Boreal, size L

Yarn: Cascade 220 (lost label, red heathered color)

Needles: Size 8 (5.0 mm)

#15

Ski hat - can’t find pattern. Bought at same time as the Junior Ski Hat above, so probably still published by Patti’s Creations (I bought several of them, the difference being the patterns for the decorations).

Yarn: Lion Brand Microspun - I bought this eons ago (probably around 10 years ago!) and got on a kick to try this hat and the fair isle knitting. Turned out really well, feels great. Will send this to CRYC, even though it’s not wool, it should still keep someone’s head really warm with the thickness of the fair isle. This used 1 skein each of the blue (turquoise), red, yellow, orange and green (kind of a lime green), and 2 skeins black - needed 2 because of finishing and tassle + ties. I think this was when Microspun first was released, and they had all these very bright, almost neon colors. Very fun.

I have no idea what needles I used or anything. I don’t even think I could make that fabulous tassle again! This was all finished except for weaving in the ends, sewing down the lining, and making the ties. But completed before 12/31/12, so it counts! (Plus it’s no longer a WIP and will be out of my house shortly! Win, win!)

#16

Pattern: Mrs. Beeton by Brenda Dayne (free on Knitty or link through Ravelry)

Yarn: Classic Elite Fresco, color Oatmeal #5336

KnitPicks Aloft, color Oat

Clear AB beads, size 8

Needles: US 5 (3.75 mm) and US 6 (4.0 mm)

Made these for Anne for Christmas - despite an expensive gift, just felt the need to add a little something, especially if it could be handmade. Wonderfully soft! I’ve loved these wristwarmers since Angela made a pair and showed them to us back in 2007!

#17

Pattern: Mrs. Beeton

Needles, etc. the same as Anne’s (above)

Yarn: KnitPicks Aloft, color black

KnitPicks Swish DK, color black

Beads: Size 8 multicolor Iris (from firemountaingems)

Had to knit these for Jenny, since I made a pair for Anne! Was considering changing the beads out to be plain black ones, but Jenny saw them in-progress and liked them as they were. Finished these with a day to spare!

Next I’m using the same Jaggerspun (as the plain ski hat above) held double to create a sweater - the same pattern that won at the fairs last summer. The knitting was done long ago, but didn’t get assembled until after the end of the year, so I’ll count this for 2013:

#1

Pattern: Ready to Go! from Patons Little Darlin’s booklet

Size: 4

Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) and US 5 (3.75 mm)

Dave has asked me to make something for a friend’s soon-to-be-born baby. We talked about a sweater, but the baby was due in December and probably won’t wear a sweater until next winter (most likely in warm sleepers and wrapped in blankets for this year). So it eventually evolved into a sweater sized for next year and booties plus a hat for this year!

We chose a pattern I have made before, with yarn left over (so no new expense except buttons)!

#2 (This also was not completed before year end. All the knitting was done, but assembly not completed. I was also madly trying to find buttons that work. Thanks to DD, I was able to use these buttons that she brought from California!)

Pattern: Sirdar Snuggly DK 1897, size 1-2 years

Yarn: KnitPicks Swish DK, marine heather, 4 skeins (123 yd/skein)

Needles: Size 2 (2.75 mm) and size 5 (3.75 mm)

and fun booties

#3

Pattern: Baby booties cars by Oksana Mik, size 0-6 months

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft, 2 shades of blue, white

Vanna’s Choice, Cranberry

Needles: Size 1 (2.25 mm)

These booties were a lot harder than they look! Knit on very small needles, using worsted weight. Had some conversation with another Raveler and she made hers with DK, and said they turned out much better. Seems the trick to a really cute bootie is in the choice of buttons for the headlights! (Dave nixed the buttons for headlights, worried about the choking factor.) I did knit an extra “sock” portion, because I felt the opening on the bootie was loose enough that they could be easily kicked off. The sock portion will help to keep them snugly on the feet!

Then he wanted to add a hat! :)  The booties and hat were “for now” and the sweater for next fall.

#4

Pattern: I Heart Cables by Justyna Lorkowska

Size: Infant

Yarn: Caron’s Simply Soft - Dark Country Blue

Needles: Size 5 & 6

I thought originally that this would be waaaay too big,  but it’s actually just about right. Recipient is 3 months old now and it fits great. Should be just enough to see him through the rest of the winter.

#5

Pattern: (not yet named)

Yarn: Lamb’s Pride Bulky, Forest Shadows

Needles: Size 8 (5.0 mm) 

This is a test mitten pattern - no name yet! I volunteered for this because the designer used Lamb’s Pride Bulky. I have two skeins that I bought eons ago to make Bella’s Mittens when Yarn Harbor was doing a monthly mitten KAL. While the pattern calls for bulky yarn, I think the Lamb’s Pride is bulkier - and Ravelry has it listed as “super bulky.” At any rate, I just about broke my needles and hurt my hands trying to use it for the Bella’s, so I gave up. I’ve been trying to find a pattern to use it up, and every time I’ve started, I’ve been unhappy with the results. By the time I use a needle big enough to not be a super-tight knit, it seems so loose I can’t imagine it would keep anyone warm. This pattern needed some sizing work, but I finally got a pair that fits me well - and they are thick and warm and fantastic! But, I can guarantee I’ll never use this yarn again!

I’m still working away - several works-in-progress! I’m even crocheting some booties for the same baby who received the cars booties. By the time they were all finished, I think the baby had already outgrown them. So he gets another pair of booties - this time a crochet pattern that I think is absolutely darling. Stay tuned!

 My friend Mary and I signed up for a Craftsy class on Brioche Knitting. We decided to watch it together and help each other pick up the techniques. This has been the most difficulty I’ve had with knitting in a very long time. I think some of it is the way it is being taught, but some of it must be the way we’ve broken up the lessons (because of limited learning time together). I have gone back and re-watched some of the earlier lessons, and now seem to hear things I thought she should have said (and apparently did)! Anyway, the end result is that we wanted to make the “Alex Scarf.”

I have finally had my “aha!” moments and have managed a full repeat of the Alex patterning. I chose KnitPicks Chroma in black (for the dark, background color) and Galapagos for the light, main color. The Galapagos is a long color change yarn, and it’s turning out just as wonderful as I had hoped! So, while I’ve hated learning this technique, I am loving the result. I hope that the rest of the scarf finally goes smoothly!

I’ve continued to work on my “12 in ‘12″ to complete at least 12 projects in 2012 - hopefully a good portion of them being ‘wips’ and clearing up some needles and some project bags. We have also just completed the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the concurrent “Ravellenic Games” (formerly known as Ravelympics), and competition in the County Fair.

I have finished several projects - some new and some not. Awhile ago, I purchased a kit from KnitPicks for striped mittens, which included 1 each of 5 different colors of Gloss DK. After looking at the kit for awhile, I decided I was crazy to consider not interested in making mittens that required weaving in all those ends. But now I had 5 single balls of DK yarn, and what can you do with that? I made the baby mitts and Daisy baby booties with 2 of the balls, and have used some for a pair of Baby Mary Janes (not yet completed), but that still left 3 balls. Then I stumbled upon the Aviatrix pattern - multiple sizes and weights of yarn! And free to boot! Eureka! So I made one from each of the 3 remaining balls of yarn. Nos. 5-7 of my 12 in ‘12. Each one is the DK 45g, 18.5″ size. I entered the purple one and won first prize in both the county and the state fairs! These were already completed, so did not count for the Ravellenic Games.

Pattern: Aviatrix Baby Hat by Justine Turner

Size: DK weight, 45 g size (18.5″)

Yarn: KnitPicks Gloss DK in Masala (brown), Jade (green) and Mulberry (purple), 1 skein each.

Needles: US 4 (3.5mm) & 6 (4.0mm)

I finally finished the sweater I started on this trip - one that I have done in bits and pieces, and have caused myself a lot of extra trouble because I didn’t stick with it. (Trying to replicate the 2nd sleeve, attaching the button band differently on one side than the other, etc.) I dashed to find the buttons I had purchased for this sweater (I have 3 different sets!) and couldn’t find the ones I wanted and ended up with these in order to get it finished for the County Fair. I won first place, and one of the comments was that these buttons were perfect for the sweater! In the state fair, it won a second place ribbon. Also completed/worked on so it didn’t count for the Ravellenic Games, but #8 of my 12 in ‘12.

Pattern: Oregon Sweater for kids, size 3-4 years

Yarn: Cascade 220 (tossed ball band so I don’t have color - this is a heathered burgundy) *not* superwash

Mods: Knit as continuous piece (not separate fronts and back). Added stitch on each side of sleeve openings for seaming (but forgot to adjust ribbing at shoulder so sleeve would butt up against a knit stitch instead of the purl as it is). Made ‘false seam’ on each side and continued down sleeves. Picked up sts around sleeve opening and knit down, but altered quantity and then had to change the decrease rate, etc. Also knit in the round (pattern calls for flat knitted sleeves). This pattern was great because she used rows, etc., not measurements (ie. knit front until 12″ from start). This greatly helped in putting button bands on, etc.

I completed another “pixie hat” to enter into the county fair. (Hedging my bets because I wasn’t sure if they’d take the Aviatrix as “plain” or “texture.”) I won a first place ribbon! This qualified for the Ravellenic Games, and could be entered as multiple events. Also, #9 of my 12 in ‘12.

This will be added to my collection of items going to the Knitters’ Guild charity project for 2012.

I entered a couple of sweaters that were completed late last year.

(This is what it looks like, but the color is way off - is more of a teal color that leans to the green side.)

Pattern: Ready to Go! from Paton’s Little Darlin’s booklet

Size: 6

Yarn: KnitPicks Stroll Sport, Tidepool Heather

Won first place, and a purple “Excellence” ribbon! (Entered in the state fair, won second place.)

Pattern: February Sweater on Two Needles, by Elizabeth Zimmerman

Yarn: KnitPicks Swish DK, Marine Heather (top photo closer to true color)

Mods: Sleeves picked up and knit in the round.

Love the buttons! Bought at JoAnn’s years ago. Google had managed to eat one, but luckily they were 2 to a card, so I still had the 3 I needed. They compliment this yarn so nicely!

Won first place!  (Entered in the state fair, won second place.)

I have been a member of the Knitting Delight Yahoo! group for quite awhile. Patterns are designed by Birgit Freyer, and she is amazing. I have purchased several of her patterns (although I haven’t managed to actually make any yet - one piece is “in progress”), and most recently decided to buy the Lazy Katy and Lazy Lara patterns. Both these make “shawlettes” - scarf type lacy pieces that are intended for neck & shoulder coverage only. I was particularly intrigued by the Lazy Katy, as it is asymmetrical and most folks make it with a long-color-change varigated yarn. I finished my Lazy Katy and finally entered it in the Fair. They changed the category from scarf to shawl/stole, and it took 4th place. It really is more of a scarf, but I guess they figured if it had lacy edges and wrapped around anything, it was a shawl. :(  This is #10 of my 12 in ‘12.

Pattern: Lazy Katy by Birgit Freyer

Yarn: 2 skeins Jojoland Melody, color 002

Mods: added 12 extra rows

I finished a WIP for the Ravellenic Games (too late for the Fair, and already had an entry for that category).  This is the first of the two Cold Spring Cardigans that I have knit (the 2nd is still in pieces). I used the yarn and colors from the pattern, but didn’t think forward to putting it together. Adding the sleeves made it very difficult. I also altered the neckline - they seem to have a rolled edge (even though the photo looks like a garter neckline, which would match the sleeve and bottom of sweater edges), so I made it garter. It took forever to find buttons for this sweater! Matching teal is really a problem! Always too blue, or too green. I finally found these at “What in Yarnation” in Cannon Falls. It does make the sweater “girly” now, instead of unisex, but I’m happy to have found some cute buttons that match. This is #11 of my 12 in ‘12.

Pattern: Cold Spring Cardigan

Yarn: Valley Yarns, Sugarloaf in Teal and Sweetpea

mods: garter neckline

I did mark as “finished” my Baby Boy Cardigan for the Ravellenic Games, but it still needs buttons. I have “ordered” (they’re still figuring out if they can order them) buttons from Yarn Garage. Otherwise, I’ll have to try Hancock Fabrics or Skeins or Coldwater Collaborative. JoAnn’s has a crappy selection of buttons (drastically reduced volume/selection), and the local yarn shops don’t seem to have much for this sweater (and the Little Harvey Cardi that is made from the same yarn). This yarn has been as hard to match as the teal of the Cold Spring cardigan! The browns are on the red side, so they just don’t match with any brown or wood buttons I’ve found. I’ll post a photo once buttons have been obtained.

My goal for the Ravellenic Games was originally 6 WIP’s. I added the pixie hat once I decided to hedge my bets for the Fair. I “finished” 2 of my 6 WIP’s, so I have completed 11/12 of my 12 in ‘12 project/goal, and 2/3 of my Ravellenic Games goals. I have pulled out all the instructions, needles, etc. for the other 4 WIPs, so I’m pretty sure I’ll have well over my 12 in ‘12 by the end of the year. Yea!

My second pair of Daisy Baby Booties.

This pair turned out a tad smaller, slightly longer than 3″ (good thing the intended recipient is a preemie).

Details:

KnitPicks Swish DK in Coal and Peapod

2.5 mm needles, 2.25mm hook (for flower)

I know it’s not too hard to complete 12 projects in a year if they’re all this small (start to finish in 3 evenings), and I promise they won’t be. I’m really determined to finish several of the baby sweaters I have in the “nearly finished” UFO pile. I know I’m distracted by these adorable booties, and I have a couple of others I’m still working on, but it will be over soon (the above-mentioned recipient has a baptism this weekend). I’m also making progress on a toy giraffe for the MKG charity project. Stay tuned!

I seem to respond well to challenges (reasonable challenges!) for my knitting, as well as specific project/goals (knitting olympics, charity projects, etc.). Otherwise, I tend to flit from project to project, finishing by luck or lack of other stimuli. Of course, the smaller the project, the more likely it will be finished in a timely manner - but that is also no guarantee. Stumbling blocks for gauge, loss of needles (Google), underestimating yarn yardage, needing to ‘rewrite’ the pattern for various reasons, pattern errata problems - all of these generally cause me to stick the project in a bag and leave it, usually indefinitely.

Thankfully, I now have Ravelry to show me what a slacker Iam  help me out. In the past, it was difficult and time consuming to pick up an abandoned project. Finding the pattern, remembering which needle I used, the adjustments I made to one side/sleeve to be able to match to the other all conspired to keep me from finishing a project started long ago. My Ravelry projects page tells me (usually) all of that information. I was recently browsing through my projects, strolling down memory lane, until I looked at some of the start dates of these “WIP’s”… three years… really???

So, while I do have a couple of WIP’s that are ‘current’ - and an intriguing charity project for the MKG, I’ve decided to add another challenge in the hopes that I can have some lovely FO’s to show for my efforts.

I am challenging myself to finish 12 projects by the end of 2012. No requirements for size, new or UFO, one-per-month, etc., just complete 12 by the end of the year. My focus will be primarily on finishing UFO’s that have been sitting long enough that I’m glad I wasn’t making them for my children   around for quite some time. I do have three projects done already (OK, they were new this year, but it still counts!):

Hagrid’s Mystery Motorcycle Socks, 72 stitch version

KnitPicks Essential, Kettle-Dyed, Colorway: Ivy (2 skeins) - the photo color is way off, this is more of a forest green

Brittany dpns, size 1 (2.25 mm)

and

Daisy Baby Booties, 6 month size

KnitPicks Gloss DK (Whirlpool, Cranberry)

Needles: 2.5 (3.0 mm)

and

Soft Wave Baby Mittens

KnitPicks Gloss DK - Whirlpool

needles: size 4 (3.5 mm)  for mitt and size 1.5 (2.5mm) for tie

I’ve pulled several projects from the pile and am currently searching for the patterns so I can finish them up. Perhaps I’ll even manage more than 12?

I spend time every day, deleting these posts and banning the URLs, and I’m just plain tired of wasting my time because of these spammers.

So, I have gone through my posting histories and disabled new comments on all previous posts. If you are new to the blog and browse through previous posts, you will need to come back to the current post to leave any comments. It is rare to get spam on the current entry (I’m not sure why), but if that changes now because they can’t leave comments anywhere else, I may turn off comments on the current post (after a period of time).

Of course, you can reach me through Ravelry (I’m knittinginpublic) or email directly (if you’re a friend) if you can’t leave a comment.

This time, it was my turn to help.

Molly’s friend, Jo-Anne (I met her when we went to San Francisco for Molly’s graduation) had a sweater she had knit for her grandson, but discovered that the neckline was too tight for him to get it over his head.

I told her she could send it to me, and I’d take a look and see what I could do.

The neckline was definitely too small. The bind off was a little tight, but I think the real culprit was that the neckline was garter stitch. The sweater was also knit of cotton, which has absolutely no “give” to it, so the problem was compounded. I ripped out the neckline, removed the back and front bind offs, and reknit the collar. I tried a multitude of “lace” and stretchy binds-offs, but none made this neckline any stretchier. I ended up with a traditional bind off, with a needle THREE sizes too big! It’s a little floppy/loose, but it’s now big enough to get over a 20″ head. I was considering making a button opening, but a button only at the neck edge would have looked funny, and creating a faux opening along the shoulder would have been difficult and probably not very good looking.

The neckline ended up being a little square-ish, but I think I was able to keep the style/integrity of the sweater.

This was a learning experience for me, too - garter stitch is not a preferred edging, especially anywhere that needs significant stretch (like a neckline). It was also a reminder to watch neck openings on kids’ sweaters (they are notoriously small on many patterns).

 The sweater is on it’s way back to grandma now, and on to Christmas knitting!

the announcement

the ticket to attend

marquee on the auditorium

knitting while I was waiting for the ceremony to start — we were told to wear “business casual”

I brought my shawl (wearing it for the first time). Great decision, it was just enough to take the chill from the air conditioning, and the slight breeze once we were outside. Also, Molly commented that everyone was dressed in dark clothing (duh - how many of us have business casual that isn’t dark?) and thanks to the white shawl, she was able to pick me out of the crowd). :)  I also got a very nice compliment on the shawl from one of the ‘ushers’ and even Dave commented on how nice it felt (Shibui Silk Cloud, 60% mohair, 40% silk).

After the ceremony, they served cake, water, and strawberries to the graduates and families in the street in front of the auditorium (the street was blocked off for graduation).

Our graduate with her loving & supportive hubby in the park across the street from the auditorium. She had to return the gown and hood (not even available for purchase, if you wanted to buy it!), but was able to keep the cap. (Her law school is the tower in the background.) More photos of the graduate on her blog.

While that was the purpose and highlight of our visit, we actually spent a week in California - arriving a few days before graduation and staying a few days after graduation.

We arrived in California with only loosely planned days, which is great for the ability to change plans with the weather and other factors. I finally saw Molly’s apartment (good thing, since they are now moving)! A cute one-bedroom with BIG closets. Chris’s parents also came out for the graduation, and the day of their arrival, we headed to California Pizza Kitchen for dinner. John & Lucie had been up since the crack of dawn (after very few hours of sleep) and had flown all the way across the country! I chose CPK for my birthday dinner (Molly sent us certificates for birthday dinners while in California), mostly because Molly had often gone to CPK when she was in Boston, and I was curious what it was like.

The food was very good, and we used the opportunity to send our Chris (at home) a “where’s Waldo” picture. I was amazed that John & Lucie didn’t fall asleep in their food!

Molly cooked two delicious dinners for us, we had a fun evening playing a card game about trading beans, and on Saturday we had a “girls day” planned so we could knit and visit. I had the opportunity to meet Chris & Molly’s pastor’s wife, Joanne. She and Molly knit during church services, and she has asked Molly’s advice on knitting problems. She was a delightful lady, and unfortunately couldn’t stay very long (graduation parties to attend). Lucie also joined us, and while she’s not a knitter, she worked on award plaques for her robotics team.

While the girls stayed in and crafted, the boys went down to Fisherman’s Wharf

and stopped by the Ghirardelli shop (where Dave bought an enormous mixed bag of chocolate)

The graduation was on Sunday, and we worried about getting there on time as many of the streets were blocked off for the annual “Bay to Breakers” run. Molly worked out the route, and we left church early so we had additional time in case it was needed. (Everything worked out very well.) After graduation, we had dinner at Chris & Molly’s favorite italian restaurant, Cafe Altano. It was a very nice dinner and the staff was terrific. John & Lucie left directly from the restaurant to head to the airport.

On Monday, we again split up: Chris and Dave went to tour Alcatraz, and Molly & I went yarn shop hopping. We visited Atelier which was a nice little shop. I bought some buttons there, and had a nice conversation with the gal who was working that day. Next stop was Imagiknit. This was a much larger store. They were definitely NOT as friendly as Atelier, and were not as welcoming. I don’t know if I’d ever make this my LYS if I lived in the area - of course, I may have just hit them on a “bad day.” They did have a nice selection of yarn (I bought some Malabrigo Sock there), a fairly nice collection of buttons where Molly found buttons for a baby pea coat she was making, and quite a few patterns - although I didn’t find anything I wanted to buy. Molly and I took a break for lunch, and just after we got our sandwiches, the boys called to say they were done at Alcatraz and it was time to pick them up.

We then headed to Palo Alto, saw the Stanford campus, and had dinner in a strip mall nearby. California is definitely not a meat-and-potatoes kind of place, and is certainly more expensive than home. We had plans to see a retro-type theater that Molly had discovered last summer - the Stanford. They play only old movies (she saw “Rear Window” last summer), and she thought we might enjoy it. The drawback was that while we were there, the only film available was a musical (and those of you that know Dave, know that musicals are not his “thing”). While eating dinner, Dave & I both got hit with a wave of exhaustion - we had been going full tilt for 5 days already - and we thought we would skip the movie after all. Since Palo Alto is so far from Molly’s, we decided it was unlikely we’d be able to make it back if we didn’t go that evening, so we decided to stop over and at least see the theater.

While they have a free-standing box office in front, they apparently no longer use that, so we had to go into the lobby

The guy at the counter couldn’t let us go in to look around until we had bought tickets.

However, the theater offers a movie ticket pack that gives you a discounted admission, and he agreed that if we bought the pack (4 tickets) that he could let us go in (without using them) to look around (this was, of course, after Molly explained that we were visiting from out of town). We wandered around a little, and “woke up” a bit — and decided to stay and see the movie (so we used the movie pack)! This theater reminded Dave & I of the days (long, long ago!) when we worked at the theater. The carpeting was similar, the layout of the building - everything reminded us of the theaters we knew years ago. Once the previous film let out, we had a chance to go in and see the seating area - with the velvet curtains for the screen, the balcony, etc. One of the neat things about this theater, is that is has a real organ-player inbetween shows! Molly said he plays all the way through on silent films, and plays during intermissions during the ‘regular’ shows. :)  The organ rises through the flooring (and retracts when he’s done) - all while he is playing the organ.

We are so thrilled we opted to stay and see the movie - it was a great experience!

On our last “tourist” day in California, we were going to drive along US1 and see the beautiful coast, however the weather was not cooperating. It was foggy and Molly said you wouldn’t be able to see anything. So we took a drive down to a card room so Dave could play for awhile, and Molly and I spent some time knitting. We then headed down to meet Chris, who had started his summer job at Google!

(I was sure we had some photos, but they have disappeared for the moment.)

We were able to join him for dinner at the Google cafeteria as his guests. Totally amazing place, and what a great opportunity for him. Lots of places for the brainiacs that work there to relax and “play” and Dave was able to visit the Google gift shop - and bought LOTS of stuff. Unfortunately, photos are not allowed inside the building.

Apparently, new-hires at Google are called “Nooglers” and are given a beanie to wear (they only have to wear it for a short time). I thought it was very cute, and we’re looking forward to seeing the beanie in person in a few weeks when Chris & Molly come to visit.

One of the items that Dave bought at the gift shop were Android collectibles - so I give you a shot of the Noogler:

Molly and Chris were fantastic hosts - and love having company. We’re very proud of her accomplishments and were thrilled to be there to see her graduate. They both have such bright futures!

I’ve only breezed through San Franscisco once before, in the early 80’s, but this time I had a chance to do some touristy things, and visit my ‘kids.’ Thanks, Chris & Molly!

Of course, I did some knitting in public in honor of the day — I knit a few rounds on a baby hat I’m working on while I was celebrating my sister’s 60th birthday at Chianti Grill in Roseville. (No pictures, but I was there - and I was knitting!)

How about you?