Home Sweet Home

Well, the winter avoidance is over for another year. And mostly, it worked. We arrived home yesterday from our 2-week road trip to Florida to find the yard mostly bare, but the lake still very frozen. I am hoping these warm temps do their thing and get the ice out quickly.

Once again, my hubby did ALL the driving, so I did ALL the knitting! On the way there, I finished my Colour Affection shawl, which I still need to block and darn in the ends. I took this pic which shows the colours and the yarn. I really love it!

On the way home,  I made lots of "hexipuffs" for the Beekeeper's Quilt - 24 in fact!

That brings my total puffs to 101 - YIPPEE, my first hundred done! Only a gazillion left to go!

The second Sarasota adventure was as good as last year, maybe even better. We did some of the same things - like wonderful beach walks at Siesta Key and Anna Maria Island. So, two great beach bar lunches.

This year, we went to the Ringling Museum, which we didn't do last year. Not sure what I was expecting, but it certainly exceeded my expectations a million fold. I was blown away by the artwork for the circus posters and a gigantic mural on the wall at the entry to the museum. The Ringling property itself is worth the admission, but when you add in all the galleries, plus a bonus Herb Ritts exhibit in the art galleries, it was virtually a sensory overload.

Inside the Circus museum is a replica of the Ringling Circus in its heyday, created by Howard Tibbals. He spent 50 years creating a to-scale model of the circus with over 45,000 items that he either carved or molded from clay. I could have spent a week there! I bought the book at the gift shop and have spent a lot of time reading more about him. He is a philanthropist in every respect and donated over $10 Million to the hands-on, interactive exhibit in the museum.

Here is a picture of Mr. Tibbals with some of the train cars that he created. He started as a child and is said to have spent over 20 hours a week for 50 years and is not done yet! What a legacy!!!! If you happen to be in the Sarasota area, don't walk RUN to this amazing place.

I did my fair share of outlet shopping and walked away with a few great bargains. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I fell under the Eileen Fisher spell at her beautiful store. I meant to just "fondle" but fell hopelessly in love with this outfit, so treated myself. I guess once a decade is ok.

We saw a hockey game in Tampa, which was so much fun. Louder and way more passionate than any Leaf game I have ever seen. And walking out onto the warm summer air on the rooftop patio for a beer while waiting for the crowd to leave was a huge treat.

So now back to reality until next year. Lots to do getting ready for hooking workshops, and it will be nice to start pulling loops again. The sun is shining, the laundry is waiting. But it really is nice to be home again.