This is a bit of a mess

I've started this about 20 times, trying to launch into a fantastic accounting of a wonderful evening, but the truth is that I might be too tired and delirious to pull it together in a way that tells accurately about how wonderful it was. Since I've already shown you the palm trees, let's just let'er rip.

Petaluma is an hour from San Francisco...two and a half hours in traffic (which it was ) across the bridge (which it was.) Big thanks to the Tiny Tyrant (seen here looking totally smug about getting me there on time) who told me to get a move on if I wanted to get across the bridge with time to spare.

I arrived with about 45 minutes to spare. (Good call on the leaving early.) I went and sat in the basement where I pre-signed books, had a lovely cup of tea and enjoyed the fine company of the ladies from Knitterly, who made me feel very welcome indeed. They admired my reward sweater, which is indeed (as Margaret guessed Ruth's Kauni Cardigan. (There's a brilliant one happening here at Purlwise) Margaret gets no points for guessing though, since it was spotting her sweater in progress when I was in NYC a while ago that got me sending emails to fetch the yarn from Denmark in the first place. She's an enabler of the highest order.)
More on the sweater later, since I actually knit 10 cm of the body before noticing I had made an enormous error (I blame lack of sleep, rather than my stupidity) and ripping the beast back.

Sweater seen here in a coffeeshop a few centimetres before its entirely appropriate demise.
Updates on that one as I rebuild. Where was I? Right.
Petaluma.

I think a lovely time was had by all, certainly by me. It could be the sunshine, it could be the lack of real cold, perhaps it is the wine or the ocean...but the Petaluma knitters were a darned good bunch. Generous, funny....They were great. My good time looked like this.

Babies (this guy is Nolan. See how he's reaching for the sock? The force is in him.)

Baby Hannah.

(Homebirthed babies always have a nice look about them)

There were lots of first socks....

Elizabeth


Baraka

Mindy (Actually a crocheter...but we take all kinds.)

And Makaela....

Who I have got to tell you, restored my faith in real first sock knitting. None of these beautiful, no issue first socks for Makeala, NO SIR. Those two socks she's holding? Those two Very Different socks?
They are her first PAIR. (Atta girl. Three cheers for first socks that suck. You're my sort of knitter darlin', my sort entirely. )

There were birthday knitters...
Amy

Julie (from Atlanta) and Katie (from Philly) are here for Julie's birthday

Katherine

There were knitters with special talents....

Alison Hyde (holding her author copy of her brand, spanking new, soon to be out book. I tried to steal it sort of accidentally.)

Phil and Kristine.

Curators of Curious Creek Fibres. (Beautiful stuff.) Phil won some sock yarn from me a while back (he came up with the best scrabble word) and he now has a stash of 1 (one) skein, but Kristine is helping him out. He's clutching his practice piece there...and swears he's going to knit socks.

There was Romi

From Designs by Romi.

Laura made a California washcloth

Kelly made a California washcloth too (with the bay knit in.)

Christine, Traci and Pat drove from Half Moon Bay (I don't know where that is, but it sounds beautiful)

Jane fulfilled a brilliant function...

Lending me a pair of scissors to trim the ends off my new sweater, which is smashing, and does fit, and was totally forgotten in the rush. I'll try to remember pictures tomorrow.

Laura was our Petaluma hat lady...

and she collected a great many beautiful hats.

Now, if you'll forgive me the lack of poetry, wit and finesse...I'm off to bed. I'm in a bit of a time warp, writing about Petaluma when I've just had a good time in Portland as I pack for Victoria...
and if I don't lie down I'll fall down. More tomorrow.

PS. A deep and personal thank you to Sylvia and Silvia....Who's chocolate covered coffee beans are the only reason I made the 4:30 airport call the next morning. You are blessed women.