All dressed up in my newly knitted ribbon tank to go to my Grandma and Grandpa's 65th wedding anniversary mass and reception.

From Audrey's house in California

Here I am blogging from my God-daughters house in California. So far my trip here is going very well.....and I have been here for less than 24 hours and have already visited a local yarn store. It was to die for. My mom bought 7 skeins of cascade 220 so that she can make each of her sisters a sophie bag for their mother/daughter sister reunion next month. I'm thinking she may need my help to get them all done in time.

My beautiful tank and skirt

It's A Miracle

It's a miracle! Yes it is! I finished my ribbon tank! and with two days left to spare. I am planning on wearing it to my Grandma and Grandpa's 65th wedding anniversary this weekend in California.

It is pretty....but I can't take all the credit. Well I could ... But I won't.

There is thee most wonderful lady that works at Knit Wits in Chanhassen. She is not only a crocheting genius but also very very nice and generous. My new friend. Let me introduce you to Jodi.

Anyway.....I went in there yesterday to see if someone could show me how to crochet a border on my ribbon tank. I was not happy with my tank and really didn't think that anything could be done to it to make me want to wear it this weekend. But alas I ventured into the store with (in the very least) the intention of buying some Katia sock yarn.

Okay, so I go in....and Voila! My lucky day. Jodi happens to be the crocheting expert and happens to be working. I introduce myself and show her my dilemma. She, not only teaches me how to crochet (which BTW, I am still practicing) but upon realizing that I am on a time constraint, she offers to let me leave my tank and ribbon with her (to finish for me) while I go pick up my kids. Can you believe that? What an Angel! Knit Wits is not only the closest knitting store to me....but also has such awesome customer service.

Then I came back later (with all three kids in tow) and, Holy Buckets of Yarn....there is my ribbon tank hanging on a hanger on the wall right behind the cash register for like the whole world to see. There was even a spotlight shining down on it. (Okay, not really, but that's the way I choose to recall it) What a sight to behold! I hardly could believe that I, myself, had knitted 90% of that beautiful creation. It actually looked pretty. So...thank you Jodi! I absolutely can't thank you enough. *air kisses everywhere*

Fast forward to this morning.

I am at the mall to buy some girlie "unmentionables" and without any intention of stopping to look at or to purchase anything else. I walk directly into a clothing rack and accidently knock off a burgundy colored skirt. (yep, call me grace) I pick it up to put it back on the rack only to realize that it would match my tank perfectly. The skirt has a silky sheen to it just like the ribbon in my multi colored tank. It is meant to be. Not only is it in my size but also on sale. Marked down 40%. No way! Yes, way! This is even more perfect than the black skirt I was planning to wear with the tank. Of course, I now have a bruise on my right shoulder from running into the metal clothes rack. But really now, who's gonna be looking at that shiner when they won't be able to take their eyes off my lovely tank. Ee-Gatz!

Things are definitely going my way. (knock on wood) Gotta go....got a plane to catch.

My son (born to be wild) Ian on his new birthday present. It goes 20 mph. Eeks!

Socks for Grandma finally got sent off with a bar of pretty soap as well.

I love putting pretty little packages together. The high I get from sending them to surprise one unsuspecting someone is my drug of choice. This one happened to be sent to my mom. She loved it. It includes a pretty face cloth (hand knitted by yours truly), two bars of home made plumeria scented soaps (again by moi) and some bath fizzy balls. (not made by me). This was an especially fun package, because I got to experiment with my "Software by LisaD." labels. Yup, 'cause it's all about me. *wink*

The Best Of Me ............................. (Duluth)

Well leave it to me to screw up on the Duluth plans. I spent the better part of last night ironing the kids "nice clothes" for a reception up in Duluth for my cousin Jordan and his new wife Cara. They were married last October, but Cara's parents threw them this reception for those of the family members that lived here in the mid-west that weren't able to make it out to California for thier official wedding.

Anyway, I planned for the kids to change into their nice clothes in the car once we got close to Duluth. Last night, I laid out a lovely skirt and summer sweater set combo with heels and panty-hose for me. YES! Pantyhose! YIKES! Haven't worn those since Madame Butterfly. Anyway, I double checked the invite yesterday for the time that the "reception" started. Oops. not 5-9p.m. like I wrote down in my planner, but rather 1-5 p.m. Okay, no big deal right? We will just go a few hours earlier than planned.Glad I caught that in time. I got on-line to mapquest and printed out directions to the AmericInn (where I am assuming the reception is being held.) I assume this because there is an insert in the invitation with it's address and local directions.......and right above that it says in bold type. Jordan and Cara's Minnesota Reception.

Flashforward to this morning. First off....we get a late start........(I will take the blame on this too, as I had a hard time getting out of bed with having gone to bed so late from preparation the night before.)The one rather large glass of Pinot Noir didn't help much either So, instead of getting to Duluth and having lunch before the reception at 1:00 as planned......we will now go straight to the reception and cross our fingers that there will be food waiting for us there. All the while, I am thinking how strange to host a reception at the Americ-Inn and at such odd hours. Oh well..........

We are in the car and almost there with only about 1/2 an hour left of the drive and the kids are starving. We pull over at the DQ. Not much for Byron to eat here. So he decides on a Slushie. So do the kids. Meatless burgers and Slushies all around please. We decide to eat inside the Dairy Queen so that no one gets french fry grease on their good clothes in the car. All goes well, and even Olivia (who is known for several spills a day) manages not to even get a single drop of Catsup on her cute new little skort and blouse set. Whew.

We are back in the car and on our way again. We locate the Americ-Inn. And realize very quickly that this is not the kind of place that a reception would be held.....and there are like no cars in the parking lot.

Panic time. Did I read the invite wrong? Why am I sweating so profusely? I thought it was suppose to be cooler up north. Amy said it was supposed to be cooler up north. Ah damn ... What was I thinking in wearing support hose for? Ah yes, I did read the invite wrong. The reception is at Cara's parents house in Saginaw.....and the Americ-Inn is where out of town guests are encouraged to book a room. O.k. Fine, but where on earth is Saginaw? Thank God for cell phones. Anybody who really knows me knows that the number 9 on my cell phone hasn't worked since about a month after I got it last year. (I refused to take it back and exchange it....because after-all it was my fault that it wasn't working.) A word to all cell phone users out there. Always check your pockets before throwing your clothes into the washing machine. If the cell phone gets washed.....the nine WILL die. Of course the contact number given for the reception has a nine in it. So I call 411 instead and ask that they connect me. (411 is also the same number I would call in the event of an actual emergency- to patch me through to 911 (which is the only reason I have a cell phone in the first place- for emergencies. What-ever!

Yay! Finally the phone is ringing on the other end and Cara's mother answered. She gave us good and articulate directions on the phone. Of course.......I read those off wrong to Byron too and we took the VERY scenic route around Duluth. Heads up here....I should never be put in charge of navigation. Big mistake. Huge!

We finally get to Saginaw...and arrive at the party only 2 hours late. That's okay. We are there. We walk up a dirt path in the sweltering humid heat near Lake Carribou. Everyone else who is arriving or leaving this reception at this time are dressed in shorts and t-shirts. You know, BBQ attire. Of course I am innapropriately dressed and look like I am going to Trumps wedding reception. (minus the fur and diamonds) And.... My three children (for the first time in a long time) don't look orphaned, actually wearing nicely pressed slacks and slick combed hair.

We don't know anybody here. Except for my cousin. "Hey, Jordan." and his bride. ..."Hi Cara!" Hugs all around. We talk and sweat some more and the kids are complaining now of the heat. We get soda's (or pop is what they call it hear in the mid-west) from the coolers propped on the side of the house. That feels nice. I tell the kids that they can go to the car and change back into their play clothes. Hesitantly I say this because I foreshadow them going into the mini-van once again only to emerge out orphaned-looking again with mis-matched wrinkled clothing. Oh well.....with this heat....buh-bye vanity. In fact, I push my way to the front of my family and jump into the back seat first to strip off the panty hose. ahhhh. I'm free. So liberating. and then on goes the capri jeans and t-shirt and sandals. We are now all happy campers. Back to the reception and arriving like an entirely differnt looking family.

We sat and ate and talked and laughed. I met many wonderful new people. Cara's family is very nice indeed. Of course they are, why wouldn't they be,right? Cara is such a doll.

I was able to catch up a bit with my cousin Jordan. That was nice. We grew up together in San Jose and hadn't seen each other in a long time. I brought out my knitting and continued working on the sock that I had started in the car for the long drive. All was going well now. 'cause truly, I am the happiest when I am knitting away.

We left at 5:30 and decided since we were so close to Lake Superior that we would go and check it. This was so much fun as well. Walking along North shore reminded Byron and I of Monterey Bay in California. One of our absolute favorite places to get away to on weekends when living on the west coast. Anyway, back to Duluth.....We saw the lighthouses and had a nice dinner at Old Chicago and even walked across the bridge. (ah, what's the name of that bridge?) It's the one that elevates when boats go underneath it? Anyway, we all had so much fun even despite the blister on Olivia's heel from wearing her dressy shoes all day.

We all want to go back soon. It turned out to be a very fun and adventures day....and the reception for Jordan and Cara was a delight. Much more relaxed and comfortable than the anticipated dinner/dancing at the Americ-Inn would have been. Why I hadn't read the invite in it's entirety beforehand.... I will never know.