Heading home

There wasn’t much knitting while I was away

My room was so small that I didn’t have anywhere to sit and knit. Normally I spend some time in the cabin watching a tv show or movie in quiet and knitting. Also on such a short cruise I didn’t want to spend time in my room - there was too much to see and do.

I will have some knitting time in the next few hours. I’m checked into a hotel in Miami because my flight isn’t until 10pm. You can book a hotel by the airport for the day and it isn’t very expensive. My room is very nice - recently updated.

The bed was comfy. Yes there was a nap.

Most Royal Caribbean ships don’t have an Atrium. I did enjoy walking through the Atrium on the Getaway and stopping to see what was happening. Lip Sync wars. 

Guess the song and artist.

This was Deal or No Deal on the second night. The show gets quite a crowd.

Leaving Nassau.

We had to take tenders into Great Stirrup Cay - the Norwegian Cruise line private island in the Bahamas.

The ship from the tender.

I was on the second tender boat and got a great seat at the pool. A short walk to the pool, washroom, food and bar.

The beach and way in the distance is Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay.

I will say that I prefer CocoCay but Great Stirrup Cay is still being developed. In a few years I might have a different opinion.

I enjoyed my cruise and it was nice to get away for a few days. Now it’s back to reality. Tomorrow morning I will be in the store packing boxes. Then getting ready for Saturday. Right now it says sunny with clouds. The big problem is the wind but we’ll deal with that.

Now a bit of knitting. Have a good evening - I’m looking forward to seeing my family. 

Happy Saturday

I’ve had a great day so far. We got to Nassau this morning to nice weather. It wasn’t too hot and a few clouds. Then we had rain and now it is so hot. I’m sitting in the lounge writing before a nap. Here are some more pictures.

I made it into the stitch pattern on Grevillia.

I knit in the Atrium. A movie (Freakier Friday) was playing so it was a good time to pull out my needles. Starbucks is beside the Atrium. Norwegian has a package you can purchase for unlimited Starbucks. I’m so happy!!

This morning after breakfast I hung out in the Atrium to do the Soduko challenge. I wasn’t quick enough 😂. Then trivia. Didn’t win that either but had fun at both.

My cabin. I said it was small. I did sleep well last night. No one walking by the room in the night talking. No kids running. 

The Atrium is on the 6th floor. I’m looking down from the 8th floor here.

Atlantis on Paradise Island.

Three more ships came into port after us this morning.

Last night in the Atrium they played Deal or No Deal. You could purchase tickets to play in the hope of playing the final. I showed up late so I don’t know how this lady made it. Everyone was getting involved yelling numbers. There must have been 200 people watching (some on the higher floors looking over the railing). The poor lady ended up winning 1 cent. It is being played again tonight so I’ll get there early. But before a steak dinner at one of the specialty restaurants.

Now my decision is knitting or napping. 

New front yard

We have grass that isn’t full of weeds. 

They even set up the sprinklers in our planters so we don’t have to worry about watering the flowers.

I wanted to blog yesterday but I did something crazy. I was up very early this morning and in a car by 2:15 to get the airport. I flew to Miami and I’m on a cruise. This time with Norwegian. It is a weekend trip and I fly home Monday night. It was booked very last minute. I’m super tired so it’s going to be a quick post. The cruise was cheap because I’m staying in a solo studio cabin. What does that mean? I have a double bed. The shower is in my room. There is a separate toilet area but it’s small. There isn’t room for me to write. I’m in the Studio lounge.

Only people in the solo studio cabins can enter the lounge. It’s quiet right now but it was loud earlier this afternoon.

My internet is very slow tonight so I’m going to sign off and I’ll show lots more pictures tomorrow. I’m learning a whole new routine because I normally cruise with Royal Caribbean. 

Tomorrow we’re in Nassau and I’m staying on the ship. Sunday we’re are at their private island and I’m excited for that. A few days away was really needed.

New Sock Yarn

I placed an order for new Opal colours this afternoon.

These should arrive in a week or two.

There will be odd balls of Opal at the Outdoor sale - if you are a sock knitter bring a big bag with you. We have many, many balls put away.

I filled more garbage bags with yarn today and now I need to go through the house and find boxes for putting the yarn out. 

New Project

I’ve been in a bit of a knitting funk so I’m going to start a new project.

I’m going to make Ambah O’Brien’s Grevillia (pattern purchased on Ravelry). Mom Jeans Practically Perfect Sock with the Capricorn Theme Pack.

I’ve already knit the shawl and enjoyed it. This is one skein of Emma’s Practically Perfect Sock with a PPS Theme Pack.

Gorgeous Grevilleas, a flower native to Australia, come in a wide array of colours. When I was choosing a colour palette for this design, I found myself drawn to light to dark pinky-reds. The airy lace pattern and range of colours remind me of the spiky, loopy flowers of these beautiful bush flowers. Alternately this will knit up beautifully in a single colour: solid, speckle or gradient. An airy, asymmetrical triangle, this shawl will be fun to knit and lovely to wear all year round. 

The pattern includes both written and charted instructions to choose between.

I spent this morning at home - the sprinkler company came to work on the front lawn.

They only made it until 11:30 when the rain started. They’ll be back tomorrow.

Now it’s hockey and baseball time.

Outdoor sale

Lynn and Alex started to bag up yarn for the Outdoor Sale on Friday.

Older colours of Emma’s Crazy Beautiful Club

Remaining Madelinetosh

There will be yarns with sweater quantities available plus lots of single balls. There will be great finds - you never know what we’ll pull out of storage.

Dad and I went to Terra this afternoon. We needed a few plants. Dad didn’t have anything to do at work so it was a bit of a ‘get dad out of the house’. Plus we stopped for Dairy Queen on the way home which made him happy. He could eat ice cream for every meal of the day.

Tomorrow he is in charge of a concrete pour in Hamilton. We didn’t think we needed to bake but found out this afternoon that baking is required. It’s going to be a busy evening. If dad was to show up without treats for the Apollo guys they might leave before starting the job 🤣