X is for Cross Roads

A day in the city, in Castro District, the gay capital of the world, the weekend after gay pride, a week after gay marriage legalization in America. 

America's cross roads. 

W is for Water

I don't know how to swim.

For years people tried to teach me. I learned how to move my limps in the water but if I was tossed in a river I'd be dead. As I got older people gave up teaching me to swim. There were more important things in life, like studying, or working, or bringing up wee little dogs and child. I can't remember the last time I tried to swim. In Chinese they called people like me dryland duck.

My husband is a good swimmer. A few weeks ago we got talking and he suggested that he could teach me. I gave it a good thought for a few days. I like to be independent, so the idea of having to count on other people to save me has always bothered me. And we live in sunny California and what can go wrong with parading around in skimpy fabric (once I gained the well tuned swimmer body). Not to mention I can use some calorie burning to earn all the mocha and cookies that end up in my belly (and other places).

So we start.

Yesterday I was able to swim on my own almost the entire width of the pool, on the shallow end of course. Let's hope that progress is still ahead and I won't retire as an advanced beginner.

V is for Very Springy

Project:  Spring in London
Pattern:  Nurmilintu by Heidi Alander, free download on Ravelry
Yarn:  Lisa Souza Sock! and Sweet Fiber Yarns Silky Sock
Yardage:  450 yards + 372 yards, used every inch
Needles: Size 6 & 7
Cast on: April 23, 2015

Cast off: May 25, 2015

Notes: Started the project for our trip to London, with the greatest intention to enjoy spring in London with flowers and greenery in what I'd assumed, warm weather. Let's just say California has spoiled me and London was a bit colder than I expected. Nonetheless a spring is a spring, there were greenery and flowers, and warm weather for the locals. I knitted the garter portion on buses and tubes. Started lace section on the plane home. One skein of sock yarn does not make it big enough so I added the yellow portion which is a lighter weight and I had to go up a needle size. The lace edging is light and pretty.