Noro Nirvana

Today was yet another busy day in the world. Kevin was meeting with his old coworkers (there's a story there, you are right), and I took the opportunity of being waaaay across town to go to a new yarn shop.

I went to Knit'n From The Heart, a little store that for some reason I have driven by multiple times while never stopping. I have no idea why this has happened, but it will never ever happen again. You know why? Cause I went inside and found.....

I snagged a bad picture - this is just one section of Noro - there were MORE!!!!

Noro Heaven!! An entire section of their store devoted to Noro. LOVE times a zillion thankyouverymuch! And a ton, a literal ton of Taiyo. And it was on sale! And it was all over the place, and I stayed there for an hour looking at their Noro samples, Noro books, and fondling yarn. It was darn lucky that I happen to be broke right now, or else I'd still be recovering from my Noro purchases. As it was, there was just a minor purchase, but I was informed of a frequent buyer program. Yes, please!

I was especially happy because I have had a big problem finding Taiyo locally lately. This means I now have a new source besides online. The other Noros are just icing on the cake but oh, it is such a prettily decorated cake!

Frankly, I just want to move over there, and go work at this store now. I doubt they're hiring, but I may beg my way into a volunteer position, will work for Noro yarn? It could work... I'm sure it's not the first time it's been suggested.

Books vs. Kindles

I grew up a book lover. As a kid, I used to go to the library where I'd check out 20-30 books at a time, read them all, and return a few weeks later for more. I read so much, that believe it or not, I read every book in my smalltown library on horses, cats, and dogs. Seriously. Fiction, and non-fiction. We had to fake a library card to a nearby town with the help of friends and start using the larger library there.

Along with this went bookstores of course, and book sales, and of course eventually the big box bookstores. While I still prefer the small ones, there of course was something mesmerizing about a big box store. Like the people in You've Got Mail, to a degree I was sucked in.

At the same time, a big part of my heart has always been with the used book. Whenever I pick up a used book, I think of the people who have read it before me. I love finding an inscribed name somewhere or a turned down page. I love thinking about what the person who previously read this book thought of it.

The smell and feel of a book in my hands, the crack of a new spine, or the way a favorite book flips open to a special page is a little magical to me. I am comforted by having books around me. As a kid, we moved a lot, but my books always made it through the move. When I look at the shelves now, I remember each time I read the book, where I was, and my feelings that went along with that place and time. I am virtually unable to get rid of a book, to the degree that at work one night I was tossing out the garbage and saw someone had thrown away a copy of Atonement. I was so bothered by this, I fished the book out of the dumpster, cleaned it up and took it home. Ironically enough, I had read Atonement a few years before this, and had not cared for the book. The writing was fine, but the mood it set isn't one I care for. In any case, I had a new copy to live on my shelf.

Today, found me sitting in my bookstore reading a bit and knitting while I waited for someone at an appointment. I found myself people watching more than reading, and realized with a jolt of sadness, that there were practically no people there. Sure, there were a few, a woman prepping for a wedding with the crazed determination to find the perfect book to help her. A girl with a nasty cold looking for something from Rachel Ray, a few kids with their parents, gravitating toward the games and toys, begging their parents for money to spend. An older gentleman seemed to be feeling the same I did, and was enjoying a new hardcover and the air conditioning.

We are entering a new era in the written word, and while I understand the practicality of it, it makes me sad, and reticent to change. While everyone else in my family is clinging to their new Kindle and singing the praises, I keep putting off getting one, or being given one. I've used every excuse in the book from not needing one, to not wanting me (or them) to spend the money, to the fact that maybe I should get an Ipad and have all my devices on one thing. But, the real reason, is that I can't quite let go of my pages. Sure, I understand why they're better. The ability to get books cheaper, faster, store them easier, and in much, much less space. The fact that soon we may have a library at our fingertips, and students won't have to carry bookbags, just a Kindle.

But, the fact is, my memories are still so tied up in books, bookstores, and being surrounded by books, I'm not sure I can ever really let them go. And it's sad to me, that that era is dying. The days of the bookstore is numbered in the way that Record stores were. Borders has announced they're closing all their doors, and who knows how long the rest will go on for. Some of this is intriguing to me, could you live in a house without bookshelves? Without a book living in every corner - (could you use the bookshelves for your yarn stash??)

And maybe I will give in and get that Kindle - eventually.

Seriously Random

Seriously random - the odds and ends, the last couple days of our trip. Finally, a bit late. But never fear... There may be yet another trip in our not so distant future....

Blurry - but a picture of JP Patches the famous Seattle clown.

I want to explore this neighborhood more, on our next trip.
And stop at this little coffee shop.

EMP - another thing we still need to do. It's supposed to look like a smashed guitar..

Seattle Art Museum outdoor sculpture garden

Down on the waterfront

The stadiums with a Mariners game raging inside.

A light at our favorite restaurant in Auburn Trotters. We always take it over

And their sundaes are the best!

Taking over Trotters with old friends

A lot of old friends.....

In my hometown, and the next, lavender is on all the streets growing like crazy.
The entire area is scented with lavender!

The Cascades

Goodbye mountains

Goodbye Washington

We're back with the cats

Quacked Up

We decided to ride the Ducks of Seattle this year. A seriously touristy thing to do for someone who grew up there, but they seemed to have so much fun. Plus I am always up for useless trivia....

We caught our ride at the Space Needle

The duck whistles were a couple dollars. This was either a good
or a bad. Depending on the volume.

The people in front of them left after 4 minutes of quacking.

Pike Place Market - the only corporation allowed in PPM is Starbucks
because it started there as a small business.

Hard Rock. the guitar sign here is upside down, and is a Fender vs
a Gibson. Every other Hard Rock has a Gibson.

We headed out to Lake Union

The city skyline - or part of it.

Some of the houseboats. They have to have an engine onboard.

Another duck

Floating houses. Only 500 are allowed on the lake ever, and a lot
without a house currently starts at 900,000.

The entire skyline.

Gasworks park. A shut down refinery, with spectacular views.

Recognize this house? I did!

It's the Sleepless in Seattle House! It sold last summer for 3 million
dollars. I was so excited to see it, I LOVE THAT MOVIE!

Going home we were getting a little chilly, but still having fun.

The house on the right with the columns is owned by the founder of
Lowes.

I have no idea how one could Kayak, let alone Kayak standing up.

I love boats.

This is an old toolshed which rents for 800.00 a month. It's around 200 square feet.

Personally, I'd live in this house.

One big fishing boat was moored there.