Knitting in the Shadows: Test Rides and Knitting Progress

August 02, 2009

Test Rides and Knitting Progress

We stopped in Cleveland (well, okay, Shaker Heights, but how many of you know where that is), Ohio on our way home to visit my dad's grad school office-mate Wally (who turned out to be his brother from another mother, and remains one of his closest friends). Wally and my dad have started this fun thing over the past few years. Once each summer they take a motorcycle trip together. This means, of course, that Wally has motorcycles in his garage. The girls were better at persuading Wally to give them motorcycle rides than they were their own grandfather.

Here's Kitty, all geared up and ready for her first motorcycle ride. You can see the grin through the full face helmet.

And here's Bookworm, equally ready...

There they go...

This may have been a mistake. Kitty has stopped indicating she wants a car... now she wants a motorcycle when she turns 16. It certainly made me miss my motorcycle days.

We had a lovely visit with folks who are so much family.... and then departed the next day. That was not a pretty day. I woke with the headache from hell. Sinuses were evil, the ice pick was in my eye, my neck was tight... I tried meds (pseudo ephedrine, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and whatever the real thing is in claritin), and coffee, and yoga stretches. I thought "legs up the wall" was going to kill me. Who knew that could be painful? And then, when I tried to get out of it --- WOW... new heights to pain. Sigh.

Eventually, the pain receded enough that I was able to load 'em all up in the car to head home. I did have to take a break at one of the lovelier Ohio rest stops -- I napped in a lovely grove of trees while the girls watched over me. I dreamt of R.A.D. class. But the nap revived me enough to get us home.

I didn't unpack the car -- I came in, at the wonderful dinner that Golf Pro fixed for me, sat with him for about 1/2 an hour, and went to bed.

But I promised knitting pictures didn't I?
Here's the first run shots of the Shrug I made for Bookworm:

Dontcha just love the outfit? When we've done all the laundry, we'll put together an outfit that looks like we mean it, and take the pictures again. In the mean time, here's the back.

One last look, before we call this one done...

Now, I need to figure out the next size to knit... and to find some test knitters so I can release the pattern.

Meanwhile, there's that question of the sleeves... no, not those sleeves, Natalia's sleeves. I did finally reach a decision, frogged one sleeve back, and reknit it to match the other. Here they are: