It would seem that I dropped a couple of days there, not quite sure what happened. My memories of the last few days really only seem to be a collection of vignettes of my computer screen, endless cups of coffee and database searches, and I see a lot of replies in my inbox, so I must be emailing people. Every day the number in there is lower, and hope is dawning on the horizon with a warm glow. In the meantime I’m knitting garter stitch (about a row a day, I’ll show it to you later – it’s a whole new project) wishing that my camera was fixed (I’ve done nothing to make that happen) and now… sitting in the airport again, on my way to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and I’m thinking about Dallas (and about how I really, really wish I could teleport all these places because I am starting to be automatically cranky in airports) and how surprised I was there.
I don’t know what I was expecting Dallas to be, but I’d never been there and I watched TV in the eighties, so its PR was really all I had to go on. I expected it to be flashy or something. I expected cowboy hats – maybe big jewellery. Absolutely an unusual standard of lipstick and hair and perhaps the tiniest little proclivity towards shoulder pads and evening dresses at lunchtime.
Nope. It looked like this. (As always, you may click to embiggen small knitters)
See that? Just the sort of knitters that you would expect. There they are, looking for all the world like I could be anywhere, and I found that really, really comforting. I know I say it all the time, but I can’t tell you how much I like it that knitters are about the same everywhere I go. Their accent’s change, what they’re wearing changes, what they’re knitting changes, but the basics stay just the same. Proof? There were lots of pre-knitters:
That’s Erica/Tom/Nathanial, Michelle with wee Joseph (very serious guy) Emily and Isaac, Cindy and Connor, and Nancy and Evie – with Evie modelling a very nice February Baby sweater. (Rav Link.)
There were lots of first sock knitters, brutally honest about the perils that lurk in the depths of a first pair of socks.
It went reasonably well for Cynthia, Diana, Randi,Joanna, and our resident overachiever, Sabina. (Perfect, patterned knee socks that fit – right out of the gate. Don’t hate her because her socks are beautiful.)
Then there were these 1st sock knitters, sent here by the fates to make all of us feel better about our own mistakes.
Christy knit a beautiful pair of first socks…
but the bind off is too tight, and they cannot be placed on human feet.
This is Sharon, who knit two beautiful first socks…
that came out two entirely unrelated sizes.
and this is Trisha, who’s first socks are absolutely perfect…
if you live in the Arctic, which Dallas is not, even if you do jack up the AC.
Finally, this is Stacia, who is not displaying her first socks, as they had fallen prey to another really common problem knitters have.
Her husband stole them and won’t give them back.
People brought me things ( I never thought people would bring me things, and I know that I should probably love it less for the sake of being humble and less consumerist and all that, but I really, really love it. It’s charming and thoughtful and makes me feel less lonely and far from home, and I just love it. I’m thrilled and surprised everytime someone does it. I never expect it, and I think it’s unbelievably kind. I’m also really, really glad that not everyone does it, because I would be buried in really great stuff really fast, so I’m glad it’s just the occasional things here and there.) Mary Kay brought me a Boa, in case there was some sort of Texas accessory emergency, for which I am, by nature… woefully unprepared.
Enid brought me a totally great Hawaii washcloth to add to my collection.
Lara brought me a seriously funky little fertility doll that her mum Ruth dyed the fibre for, and she spun,knit and wrote the pattern for. (It’s my fault she’s making that face. Sorry.)
Lissa and Magnolia brought me DINNER, which was really grand, since vegetarian feed can be in short supply in Texas…
I totally got a “private” beer. (This was in response to a twitter I wrote earlier in the day about a very kind person who wrote to me to let me know that I was in grave spiritual danger (I believe that means I’m going to hell, not sure) because I am a role model for people and therefore shouldn’t speak of drinking alcohol in public. Apparently this person believes that my influence is far greater than anyone had ever imagined.)
She need not worry. I drank this one in private. It was very good.
This here, now this is a good one. Its a Texas Knitters’ 6-pack from Ron and his lovely wife Theresa at Buffalo Gold (That, all by itself is almost enough of a reason to want to live there) it’s a little bit of their lovely yarn, and … um….
“Coffee”. Yeah. That’s what was in that cup. Absolutely.
I got to meet Melanie from Pink Lemon Twist , creator of the mystery stole series and wearing a shawl of her own devising – I think it’s Flamenco. (I wonder if she realizes how many people she influenced?)
I met Harrison (11) and Stuart (7) both competent knitters,
and that’s Kimberlyn in the picture with Stuart, holding open Knitting Rules to the page where I explain how to measure gauge, which I signed for her, because she claims that page changed a very great deal about how well gauge was working for her. Kimberlyn apparently was shocked to see gauge being measured horizontally across the stitches in that picture. Up until that exact moment, she had been measuring it VERTICALLY – like row gauge, which would totally make it hard to “get gauge” … well. Ever. Things are better now. I think I love her for copping to it.
Finally, there was Laura with a good old fashioned knitting tatoo. (I love that sentence.)
See? Totally normal – at least for knitters.
In fact, the only thing that I was shocked by in Dallas, television didn’t help me prepare for, and if you’re Canadian you might want to sturdy up, or take a deep breath or something before you look at this. It’s a little hard to imagine, and certainly not something you expect to see.
A guy in a zamboni, WEARING SHORTS.
I may never recover from the juxtaposition.
I am so jealous of all the fun you guys are having! Come back and see us this side of the pond sometime soon PLEASE!
mmmmm….shiner bock!! You can talk about drinking good beer to me anytime!!
Shorts?? Whoa….A new adaptation!
Looks like a wonderful time. And yeah in Texas it’s warm enough for the Zamboni guys to wear shorts! 😉
I really love the zamboni guy! The whole entry made me giggle (which was necessary, as right before this I was knitting on a shawl with 450+ stitch rows. It’s *great* for my RSI…)!
So glad you had fun in Dallas!
Looks like Texas was a smashing success. And I’m ever so impressed at how good you are getting taking pictures with no viewer!
Glad you liked TX, we like you too. Wanted to update you on the socks for my dentist. She took $50 off the bill for the crown. Thanks for the idea. Sabine is also an awesome quilter!!!
I’ll bet they won’t be wearing shorts in Saskatoon!!
Glad you had a good time here in Texas. We loved having you here. Thanks again for the fun, the knitting and the laughs.
I could probably top the zamboni driver with a picture of Saint Tim snowmobiling in upstate New York this past winter…in shorts. Silly Kentucky boy. We’d gone to pick up a antique spinning wheel and a sheep…in our car. Pretty silly as well ;-).
http://myfavoritesheep.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-saint-tim-spent-his-winter-vacation.html
Hey chick, my daughter has a knitting tat on her ankle. I feel like it’s my fault, since I taught her to knit, and it’s your fault too, since she and I own every book you wrote, and she loves your humour. Hope at some point you and Tina can actually enjoy the sock summit.
g’day from down under.
Texas is actually a little like Newfoundland, only hotter – people speak in their own language, they are very proud of where they come from, nature is a powerful force, they have never really accepted being part of the country they are in….the comparisons are many, Seriously!
Also, if you ever find yourself there again – the world’s greatest South Indian food outside of South India is in Irving, TX, just outside of Dallas. Not to be missed!!
We enjoyed you too, and we’re very glad that we didn’t disappoint. 🙂
Have a great weekend!
In Texas it’s probably even warm enough for Zamboni guys to just wear scratchy wool thongs.
Well… we ARE wearing shorts in Saskatoon… its not THAT cold today (laugh) it is JUNE after all… but it would still be a BIT too cold to be wearing shorts while on a zamboni (laugh) … I would think ANYWHERE, not just here…
Meet you there, I’ll bring the beer!
OMG thanks for the warning but a zamboni guy in shorts requires a stronger warning. Maybe some sort of alert.
We lived in Hawaii for 8 years. I quickly got over the shock that you could have an ice rink in a tropical paradise, but never could reconcile the kids skating in shorts and tank tops with mittens and scarves. It wasn’t just that it looked funny, I just couldn’t figure out where on the island they bought them.
Welcome to the South, where juxtapositions are a way of life.
Looks like you had a terrific visit!
“A guy in a zamboni, WEARING SHORTS.”
I think I just fainted a little. There just aren’t words to follow that statement really.
You are getting so good at taking pics with your camera. Thanks for the post today, it was a much needed break from prepping over 20 pounds of spinning fiber. Now must get back to dyeing.
I would’ve thought there’d be bigger hair. And more eye makeup. Huh.
I need that fertility doll pattern YESTERDAY. Lara, help a sister out!
You’re a star, Steph!
Uh…beer…a scratchy thongy thing…and a fertility doll…sounds like a bit too much fun to me! Be careful!!
so what happened to the beer??
I’m so glad you had such a great time in Texas! I’ve never been, but everyone I know who has has really enjoyed it. Although I’m not sure I can get over the sight of a Zamboni driver in shorts…
Zamboni. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.
to counterbalance the juxtaposition i suggest you find a lawn in dallas and mow it wearing a snowsuit! HAHAHAHA
I feel pretty well qualified to determine if you’re in “grave spiritual danger.” Go ahead and refer all those queries to me. It’s the least I can do.
Well, I might not have worn shorts today in Saskatoon, but I did wear flip flops …and a wool sweater!
Can’t wait to meet you this weekend Stephanie!
I used to go to Dallas almost monthly for work in the 80s, and it was NOT my favorite place. Now I know that my distaste was because I was unable to hang out with TX knitters, not because I was snobbish or because Texans think Minnesotans are beneath them and a bunch of farmers and deserve to be treated with contempt.
But Stephanie… what have YOU been knitting??
Jesus turned water into wine and he wasn’t in “grave spiritual danger”…someone needs a Ha Ha implant!
Since I know you’re not that busy or anything, can you go bug Lara for that fertility doll pattern? Pretty please? As a doula, I would love to be able to knit that for my friends and clients.
Thanks a bunch!
Really – whoever said that about you not drinking beer in public needs to get a life – her own & not try to take over yours. I don’t drink much & never drink beer (don’t like it – I’m a wine or scotch gal) but would never, ever think of saying something that rude to anyone, much less a charming person such as your self. I bet whoever said that is a recovering alcoholic.
I very much wish that I could go and meet you on Saturday. Unfortunately, I’m in the middle of my one-income, two kids, and major house renos years, and I can’t get out to the conference. Wish that there was some sort of meet-and-knit on Friday night in Saskatoon, so I could bask in knitterly glory and still afford food.
Enjoy the conference!
-dael
Hey! I wondered if Presbytera was one…and she is! Cool.
I visited west Texas as a vegetarian and nearly starved to death. This was over a decade ago; I assume it’s at least a little better. I ate a lot of iceburg lettuce and mashed potatoes.
But I’d love to get back to Texas again! Everyone was so friendly.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with drinking beer. Overindulging, maybe, but not with moderate drinking. Talk about it as much as you want. 🙂
P.S. If you haven’t yet, you should convince the publishing company that you need to go on tour in Hawai’i. I lived there for a year in high school, and I still go back on occasion with my husband. I’m going in a few weeks – want to come with us? The washcloth made me think of that.
Hey, I’m a Mormon, and I say, go enjoy your beer and don’t let anyone make you feel hassled over it. I’m not going to drink one, but that’s just me running my own life only in the way I happen to like.
LOVE the idea of a zamboni guy in shorts!
zOMG! I’ve stayed at the hotel attached to that mall that has that ice rink in it!
Heh. I *lived* in Dallas. In the *eighties*. Let’s just say everything you imagined was correct. Of course, I didn’t know any other knitters then……
You can also see Zamboni guys in shorts if you go to the Houston Galleria. (Not that I live in Houston — not for a lifetime have I lived there — but I know these things.)
Great post! Glad to see there’s light at the end of the email tunnel. Especially glad to see your sense of humor and love for knitters has survived the registration stress… Hoping by now all realize that none of us get to do everything we want in life but if we keep breathing and create joy we stand a chance of doing other great things. Just a philosothought for the day.;-)
I totally am about the Knitter’s Six Pack, and I see where you’ve also now got the beginnings of a Private Beer Stash. Coolness. But I’m confused–what is the young man in shorts ‘boni-ing, exacty?
Btw, I blogged about one of your books, today. Cheers!
ps I am on meds and cannot type or spell toady.
Er, today.
So exciting to see your Dallas post! I’m glad we surprised you by being normal knitters, and I’m glad you could understand us with our accents.
But the zamboni? I see that all the time. 😉
I can actually see myself in one of your photos – I feel like I’m on top of the world, or at least on top of a large, natural fiber, stash!
I’ll have 8x10s of you for show-and-tell at our Saturday knitting group at the Richardson (Texas) Public Library – DeweyKnit. Thanks again for your visit.
Thanks for coming to Dallas! It was so much fun seeing you and meeting Dallas knitters (just moved here at the first of the year). Come back soon!
Looks like an absolute success. But who would ever doubt it would be? (And that’s MY kind of six-pack — all it needs is a ball of sock yarn in each slot!)
Ohhhhhhh… we lived in Saskatoon for 8 years..I bought my three Philosopher’s Fair Isle sweater kits at the Haus of Stitches !
I wish I was going to be there with you guys !!!
(I loved Saskatoon….. you can tell..)
We really must entice you to the Maritimes….!!!!
You will have a great time in Saskatchewan.
Happy continued travels !!!
So glad to see your post. Things are getting back to normal after the registration. Thanks so much for all your hard work. I’m so in your corner with all of this. Hugs.
I do really read your blog for the great, snappy, witty writing and the knitting, but I’ve just realized that I’ve learnt more new words here in the last couple of months than anywhere else (and I am a BIG reader). The latest was ‘zamboni’ — had to go and look it up … thanks, Stephanie, for constantly enlarging my vocabulary (and I’m not even counting ‘to kinnear’, which enlarged everyone’s!!).
I have a cat names Shinerbock…wanna guess what I was doing the night I got him?
Hope you had more than one beer, the first one tastes great and goes down kind of fast!
My daughter and I had so much fun hearing you speak. Remember she’s the aerospace engineering major who gets puzzled looks when people find out that she knits? Anyway, I love your sense of humor (even in the midst of technological crisis) and especially how you enjoy people (knitters) and you make all of us feel special. Also enjoyed seeing all the cool knitters and their cool knitted stuff, too. And I’m glad you found us pretty normal in the hair and make up area, ha. Glad you liked Dallas. We like you too! P.S. Don’t know how that zamboni guy does that, the one time I got out on the ice with my son’s kindergarten class I was wishing for a lot more warm clothes. Maybe it’s a male thing, my dh and sons tend to wear shorts year round–they can’t ever believe that it could actually be warm enough for pants or a coat.
Funnily enough, sometimes gauge lies just as much when you measure it the normal way as when you goober it up. Go figure.
Stephanie, we had a fantastic time – thank you so much for being so generous with your time & your brain. Stuart says “She rocks, totally.” So there you have it.
It was so cool to finally meet you =) My sister and I laughed all evening.(she’s the one who said she made her t-shirt) BTW… After being questioned about my hand knit socks, I shared the whole theta brain wave thing with my new employer (a great chiropractor) and the staff who thought it was totally cool. Their eyes didn’t even glaze over. In fact, I may have two new knitting students! yaay
A very famous American once said:
Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
— Benjamin Franklin
Looks like you’re getting better at picture taking with a screenless camera. Always a pleasure to read your blog. Will you show us what you’re knitting soon?
och! thar’s no hot laddie holdin’ a thong there!
Sadly
Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya’ Tomorrow. It’s only a day away. See ya’ tomorrow!
Doreen
Glad to see you had as good of a time there as we did! I really didn’t think I could get my foot up on the table. I think its funny that I was so set on showing you my tattoo that I totally forgot to show you my knitting. It was a mitten…
And yes, by the way, I am wearing shorts in Saskatchewan – even right now.
Doreen
Do they really even need a zamboni in Texas? Oh, um, GO PENS!!
tis lovely meeting so many people
i cant be where you are nor will be
but if the pope and brad pitt cant
get in i shall not weep nor mourn
thank you for the generous posting
What, the Zamboni guys don’t wear shorts in Canada? 😉
And yes, Doreen, we need Zamboni guys because Texans need somewhere cold to prevent dying from heat stroke from about April to November. 😀
There was ice? in Dallas? in June? How the heck did they manage that? weird!
(and I’m glad things are getting a little more normal, or better, or something like that…)
I am de-lurking because I have to say, a guy on a zamboni wearing shorts actually made me laugh out loud. I don’t think I’ve EVER seen that before.
Oh yeah, you’ve been to the South. You’ve got to watch that alcohol consumption. It’s strictly for medicinal purposes in the South. However their total committment to hospitality is awesome.
I’m loving all those Texas sized socks!
It’s not materialistic to like gifts. Gifts are in a whole separate category from other things. Enjoy!
We had so much fun during your visit, Steph, that Dallas can’t wait for you to come back! Come baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!
Stephanie,
I love seeing the world thru your eyes. You have a great talent for making me smile. Thanks so much for sharing with us. 🙂
A zamboni in Dallas? I’m aghast. Okay, I’m a big hockey fan and I know that there is hockey in Dallas, but that doesn’t make it right. If you didn’t grow up with a rink in your backyard or on the school playground, then it’s probably too warm for hockey. Wait, I take that back… Denver is probably too warm, too, but I do love the Avs!!
Happy travels!
The Dallas group look like lovely knitters and the tattoo is cool. I’m grateful people brought treats, because your schedule can probably feel like a grind sometimes. Have a lovely next stop.
Wait, don’t they know that you are Canadian? It is your patriotic duty to drink beer and speak of drinking beer. Your Canadian citizenship could otherwise be revoked!
Totally jealous that you got Shiner Bock! It is awesome beer. Last time I was in Dallas I was responsible for drinking all the Shiner Bock at one particular bar. They obviously did not stock enough for a weekend.
Frankly, I find it reassuring that you speak of drinking beer. It’s what real people do. And there’s no sense in pretending that one doesn’t have faults. That sounds so stressful, I may need a beer.
So glad you enjoyed “Dallas” enough to consider a return trip! The Legacy bookstore staff (in Plano) kindly enabled me by getting you to sign “my” copy of Free Range Knitting. My non-knitting daughter picked it up from them and said she would like to read it while she has custody of it. I told her I would be there to claim it in two weeks!! Enjoy!
Shiner bock is great, but just the tip of the iceberg on Texas beer and wines…please hurry back…
We are too wearing shorts in Saskatoon. Why, on Monday we actually got sunburns here. However, tonight you could possibly get away with wearing a parka.
We are so glad you are here now. I hope your stay is lovely and that Saskatchewan treats you well. See you Saturday!
Okay, the knitter’s 6-pack was totally awesome… as was the private beer–you got a good group there in Texas–I’m glad they took care of you, I think you needed it!
We were delighted to meet you, and so glad that dinner was grand. I’ve lived here for four years or so, been veg for just about one, and I KNOW how hard it is to find veg here – that’s why we brought the tamales, my very favorite treat from the farmer’s market.
Which it occurred to me later that I had no idea if you were familiar with them (I tried to eat the corn husk the first time; I’m pretty sure you are not the idiot that I am).
So yeah. Glad we could help out there! Thank you again for coming to the Metroplex! It was fantastic!
Wow! A Zamboni driver in shorts!!! In upstate NY (about 30 miles near the US/Canadian border. Not just above NYC!) we could tell it was a warm day when the Zamboni guy wore cords, a turtleneck, and a wool sweater! Thanks for taking and posting the picture because even though you are very trustworthy, a Zamboni guy in shorts is still really hard to believe! What a riot! The Zamboni guy in shorts is much more shocking than a snowmobiler in shorts (a previous comment.) I have friends who’ve done that in the spring after a winter where we received a lot of snow. The air temp could be in the 60’s or low 70″s and we’d still have a couple feet of snow on the ground so they would wear shorts. Great fun! Sorry that someone made the beer comment. You might want to remind her that Jesus drank wine in public and even shared it with others, so I think you’re safe. Happy and safe travels. You have to show us what your current knitting is! We’re a very curious bunch of knitters don’t you know!
Hope that others know you were at LEGACY BOOKS. A big new INDIE bookstore. Glad you got private beer. Private TEXAS beer. And yes, the Zamboni drivers here usually wear shorts.
Whatever made you think knitters would be seriously different anywhere?
And your pics – don’t take this the wrong way – I don’t think the lack of a screen is having a serious impact. Take that as a compliment.
Also, just to let you know – whether deliberate or accidental – some of your pics are clickable, some not. I was trying to get a better look at the knees on the guy on the Zamboni, and it didn’t work. Same for some others.
Zamboni and shorts? Wait… What?
Your blog is always so entertaining. I may even be late for work, but I just had to finish reading this post, really funny. Also thanks for the link to Pink Lemonade. I had to add this blog to my folder as well. Her patterns are lovely.
Wow, so many great people and tons of fun stories. You ought to consider writing a book!
😉
does lara publish her pattern for the fertility doll?
you are such a sweet-natured person! if someone had told me that i was in immortal danger for drinking alcohol in public, the very next photo of me would be with 2 beers in hand!!
glad you enjoyed texas, but hope you get a travel-breather soon………
Canadians drink beer – get over it!
It’s food
Maybe they were corduroy shorts….
Buffalo Gold, Lace shawls, newbie first socks, brown bagging private stock beer…
But the prize goes to….(drumroll please)
Man in shorts driving the Zamboni!!!!!
LMA totally OFF!!!
OK, the guy in the zamboni is just making my day. I’ve been watching the Stanley Cup playoffs obsessively, so it is all zamboni all the time.
The shorts, seriously, gave me a shudder. That’s just… WRONG. I’m shivering *for* him!
Can I tell you how much I adore that last picture? Lots.
Perhaps we should introduce him to the lovely Texan lady who knit those huge, warm socks?
Shiner and yarn–no finer entertainment to be had. We Texans drink our beer in public. Even the Baptists. Where are you supposed to drink it? Sitting in the back of your closet?
Now the vegetarian thing… See, you were in Dallas. They’re like that. If, on the other hand, you had gone to Fort Worth, you would have found the Spiral Diner and other lovely veggie options. Not that there’s a rivalry or anything…
When my daughter came home from her first day of 1st grade at a new school, my husband asked her if she was going to like it there. Her answer? “Dad, they have a zamboni (a ride-on floor cleaner that looks like a mini Zam) that cleans the lunchroom and the hallways. It’s the best school ever!” She also mentioned the nice teachers. The head custodian told her that maybe by the time she is in the middle grades level (the school is pre-K to 12th grades) he might let her take a turn “zamming” the lunchroom.
Got to see you in Austin (I was going to bring you pictures of my new Mr. and Ms. Washie, replacing those smashed in my house …) but had to rush out!
You were GREAT!
Austin is actually your best Texan shot for vegetarian food – Dallas prolly worst … and Houston somewhere in the middle. Oh, won’t you come to Houston next time you’re in town? I’ll host! And, I’ll be prepared for the crowd!!!!! I even have the venue picked out! 😉 Take care, and don’t let the travel get you too down.
I have to agree with some of my pre-commentors:
I do learn lots of new words in your blog (I also had to look up Zamboni 🙂 ) and I am keen to learn what you have been knitting this last few weeks. How is the shawl doing? And what was this about good wool and gartner stich?
I am curious. But more important that that is that you find time to relax a bit. Your schedule is quite hectic these days 🙂
I just love that knitter’s 6-pack and will now shamelessly steal and reappropriate the whole concept (spinner’s 6-pack; arriving traveler’s 6-pack, etc).
Zamboni guy in shorts – yeah, welcome to TX, what’s the big deal? (says the one who NEVER got the point of the cotton sweater and shorts outfit until she moved from Houston to So Cal.)
the knitters sixpack — I LOVE IT!!! and I want one!!!
It was great seeing you!
Lara’s fertility doll pattern is available on Etsy as the Venus de Merino — http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25799628
And the thing about the zamboni driver in shorts is that the big problem with having hockey in Dallas is the extreme difficulty in keeping the rink frozen…
Isn’t the fertility doll the Woman from Willendorf? 24,000 BCE. Lara definitely needs to write up the pattern.
The only other thing to mention about the photo of the shorts-wearing-zamboni-driving dude is that he’s in a Shopping MALL. A Mall in TEXAS. Which is to say the epicenter of all things cultural. (I’m a native Texan, lived in Dallas in the 80’s so I’ve got a special dispensation to make comments like this.)
I’ve had way too much coffee, because looking at those pictures got me to wondering — if you put all the people in one year’s worth of pictures together — would they fill a stadium?! I bet the knitters would — and still have a line standing outside, patiently knitting, waiting to get in.
Grave Spiritual Danger? Naaaahhhh… “Beer is proof that God Loves us and wants us to be happy!”
And Beer that says “Brewed and available only in Texas” is just one more part of the experience! 🙂
Isn’t Dallas green? That was my big shock visiting it from the UK. Oh, and friendly too. Couldn’t get my head around it!
What a great idea-the knitter’s sixpack!
I love Texas. I’m so glad you’re having fun there. Can’t wait to see your garter stitch project.
Great post! My favourite was the picture of the baby in the February sweater but with short sleeves! Not something we would think to do here (Manitoba) but a great idea for Texas. You have to give knitters credit!
It would, of course, figure that you -finally- go to Dallas the year I move away to the Great White North. I’m glad you had fun! See, us Texans aren’t so different after all 😀 Now you just need to come to Chicago soon so I can finally see you….
LOVE the guy in the Zamboni! Instantly makes me think of my favorite Newfie joke, though. Are Newfie jokes allowed in places that house them?
I’m very glad to see the Dallas knitters, but will be more glad when the Saskatchewan Knitters make the cut!
See you tomorrow, Stephanie.
Must go knit now!
I LOVE IT!!!!
The picture of the zamboni driver is awesome!
The zamboni picture does not make sense. Are you suggesting that in some places, hockey is played in spaces which do not require woolens and boots? How do they keep the ice from melting (in floor refrigeration, I know). Still. That’s just wrong.
Have fun in Saskatchewan – the provincial motto is “hard to spell, easy to draw!
Yesterday, when I first read this entry and the comments, and was scooting around the Internet looking up things and sites people referred to, I saw an ad for one of those oval plaques you put on your car that say where the owner is from – USA or CAN or whatever. Only this one was for knitters, and said “SSK”. But I don’t remember where I found it and all my attempts to re-find it have been fruitless.
Anybody have an idea where I could get such a thing?
Y’all come back now, heah?
As for this question: “I sat next to a nun on the plane today, and now there are monks. Do you think the planet is trying to tell me something?”
Yes. Mercury is no longer in retrograde and the rightness is returning to your world.
As for veggie food in Dallas – it’s not so bad (I think there are worse places, like Waco and El Paso), you just have to stick to the ethnic restaurants and avoid BBQ joints unless you really really like fried okra. I think it’s the only thing they have without meat.
concerning the ice rink pic, if I ran the world, only places that had real winters with snow would have hockey teams. (Go Wings!)
Congratulations! Your experience, “Sorry, You Can’t Fly Because Your Name Is Hyphenated,” is listed first on Consumerist’s “Top Posts of the Week.” (June 5th blog post)
they way you feel about the shorts guy on the zamboni is the way i felt when you said you were finishing a sweater to bring on your spring/summer southern tour. what the…?
Sounds like you got your mojo back!
Wow, you know you’re Canadian when the Zamboni driver shocks you.
I must say I have seen our local Zamboni driver in shorts once. But he was cannon-ball-ing into my pool in swim trunks at a party my parents were having last summer. Coming from a small town, you start to know everyone 🙂
I think you’re right that people are pretty much the same everywhere.
As for the drinking and your spiritual walk, no where in the bible does it say thou shalt not drink. What it does say is “all things in moderation”. Kind of practical and sensible.
Please come to Corvallis!!! (It’s in Oregon)
I’m so glad I forced my sister to go see you! I must say I had a great time meeting you vicariously… she was the first one up, as she has a toddler and was happy to take advantage of pre-boarding. Thank you for that. I’m sure all of the folks without toddlers thank you for that too.
She said you were hilarious, which I fully expected. I am loving your books (have read four in a month or so), and am happy the Texans showed you a good time. They are a hospitable bunch, those Texans. It must be great to travel around seeing friends you haven’t met yet. My knit group in Santa Barbara is trying to figure out how to get you here… it’s really a lovely place, and you could take lots of gorgeous photos with or without a functional camera screen. Could we bribe you with more private beer?
Happy trails!
Our students wear flipflops an appalling part of the year! Gives me the shivers.
I immediately bought the Flamenco shawl – a friend performs and teaches Flamenco, and it’s perfect for her! I’d seen other patterns, but they were far too long for her size. What a wonderful gift you gave both of us with that picture and link.
Evie enjoyed meeting you, too. But you weren’t her first Canadian. We seem to be surrounded by them here! (Those that get tired of the cold come to Texas for the heat.)
I’m so glad that you finally made it to Dallas, and that you didn’t get spooked by all the urbanite Moms. (There are a few.)
We had a great time, thank you!
Talk about overachievers….LOVE that BuffaloGold present Stephanie. Can’t wait to see what you make.
I just had to chime in on the fertility/knitting goddess. I’m the person who dyed the wool, although it was pretty rough wool and I was only using up some dye after dyeing (dying?) something else – hate to waste it. Lara’s Ravelry name is hearse angel and that will link you to her Etsy store and her web site. As her mother, I’m (of course) extremely proud of her. Oh, and the picture of her is definitely not flattering. Oh, well.
It’s called The Harlot Effect. (I think we can expect that term to show up in the list of new words like “kinnear” did.) People buy what you blog. Ask Rabbitch.
Congrats on the Buffalo Gold gifts! I love their stuff, and Ron & crew are really great!