This past week we took a much needed vacation.  Like. MUCH NEEDED vacation.    I honestly can not remember a “vacation” that was not spent driving to see inlaws or other extended family.

Not that I don’t love my in-laws.  But we needed this vacation time for just us.  And we took full advantage of it.

We went camping for a few nights at Greenleaf State Park.  My family really enjoyed the swimming, seeing some wildlife, witnessing brilliant sunrises, sitting by the campfire making real s’mores, and enjoying peace under the stars.

I myself am thankful that I could still have my coffee.

Of course I took my knitting and reading along.  I worked on project samples for my knitting classes, and finished two of them.

One project sample is the Knit Square Basket.  This really is a quick and simple knit, and the finished basket is actually pretty cute.  I may line it with a fabric and some interfacing to give it a little bit more structure.  Or I may leave it as is.

Another class sample that was completed is the Scribble Scrabble Scarf (modeled by my lovely oldest).  This is another project that is really simple, but the varied weights in yarn work in concert to make a unique finished scarf.   This one received several compliments already. I definitely will  be making another one in lighter colors.

For personal knitting, I worked on my Maedwe Shawlette.   The Maedwe pattern is by AnneLena Mattison. This yarn is Alegria by Manos del Uruguay, purchased at Get Stitchin’ in Tulsa.

I have been working this project off and on since the fall. I really hope to finish this before it reaches the 1 year knit-versary mark, but who knows.  I’m currently at the 1/2 way mark and am starting to decrease.

It has become my in the car project, or when I just need mindless knitting when I’m chatting. Honestly this pattern is a little boring for me.  But I absolutely love knitting with this yarn, and am so pleased with how these colors are pooling.   I will be using this yarn again in a future project.

I also did some research reading, and the whole family listened to several audio books together.   We discovered one audiobook from our library titled “The Penderwicks” by Jeanne Birdsall.

My girls devoured this audio book at night in their tents, and begged to relisten to it on the way home.  I found the story to be charming, and in a way reminded me of “Under the Lilacs” by Louisa May Alcott.   If you have not read this book already, go read it.

I did have one finish off that was not my class samples.

I finished these socks that I have been working on for a while.   The pattern is “Maritime Wool Socks” by Simone Van Iderstine. The yarn is Plymouth Yarn Encore Colorspun Worsted, also purchased at Get Stitchin’ in Tulsa.

I really am happy with how the hint of green shows against the brown in these socks.  It reminded me of a grapevine in the early spring just as the new Grape Leaves begin to form. So I named these my Early Spring Grapevine Socks.

This is my 2nd or 3rd pair of Maritime Socks that I have knit, and I’m sure I will make more.

I wish our vacation could have been a little longer. However I am thankful that we got the time we did.   Now we are back to our everyday life, and trying to play catch up with the laundry (hahahahahahahahahah).

I hope you are able to enjoy some R & R time yourselves.  Happy Knitting Friends!