Shocking. Just. Shocking.

Home. With classic “Cheryl” timing, my homecoming coincides with a most dreadful winter storm. I’d love to show you a photo to juxtapose with the above, just for the shock value, but I refuse to go outdoors to take one. You’ll just have to trust me. I shan’t be leaving the house today. I had two doctor’s appointments scheduled for today, one of which was cancelled by the doctor, the other by me. I did go out to start the car (just in case) and take the first crack at the snow drifting over the walk but that’s it. That’s positively it.

Grenada was incredible. Beyond the beaches, warm water and sunshine, the gracious people, and their simple style of life, are amazing. I admire their lack of acquisitiveness, lack of wastefulness and appreciation of humble things. Though I can’t bring home the soft salty air, I can keep a new perspective about what’s important in life. I hope we’ll go back again and again.

Despite all the swimming, boating, hiking and beach combing, I managed to finish the first Solfar Sock by Cookie A. It’s a lovely, poetic lace pattern, beautifully written and charted but, to be honest, I’ll stick with my short row heel anytime. I remember now why I favor it over the classic ‘flap-and-gusset’, for style, fit and sleekness as much as for speed. I managed to get the second sock cast on and was 20-0r-so rows to the good by the time we got on the plane to come home.

As you’ll recall, I checked with the TSA about knitting needles before we left, wanting to jeopardize neither needles nor knitting at the security counter. Just in case, I tucked an extra set of Platina dp’s in my checked baggage as well as some emergency birch needles in my project bag. As promised, all was well. I happily knitted on both legs of the flight. When we tried to board in Grenada for the trip home, however, they took a slightly different, and somewhat irrational view. There are no x-ray machines for baggage on the tiny island, and the agent who was inspecting my carry-on bag took exception to my knitting. She resented the yarn as much as the needles! Long story short, she refused to allow the newly cast-on sock and needles, but allowed my project bag containing two more sets of dp’s! This would have left me with one finished sock, but no more Alegria sock yarn to finish the second. Ever the gentleman, Carl sprinted back through the airport to check in my carry-on bag. Bless him 🙂

So…here I sit with a ‘snow day’. Seems the perfect time to knit the shawl collar and bands on my Buttonbox vest in time to take it to New Orleans. Perhaps it’s for the best…