Our Cuban excursion

With the house build and career concerns, we didn't think we would be going away this year. That was, however, until it reached -55C and The Guy lost his mind. We got a great deal on a week at our favourite resort and off we go.

It couldn't have come at a better time. We've had two months of stress and worry and then I lost my good friend days after we booked. We needed a break.

Our view of the pool

It was the first time The Guy and I had travelled away for a week together with just ourselves. Normally (including on our honeymoon) we travel with a group.  This would be just us, a week, no distractions, and no one else to talk to. It was as enticing as it was intimidating.

My favourite view

We beached, we lounged, we played in the waves. We ate, we shopped, we drank Pina Coladas. It was glorious. We read, we napped, we went to bed ridiculously early.

Celebrating Cuba with cardboard decor

A friend asked about my favourite part of the trip this time. I admitted it was the fact I got to read 11 books (12 if you count the one on the plane). However, I thought later and it was the fact I got to reconnect with The Guy on a one-on-one basis. It was recognizing how lucky we are to have each other and to spend time together.

Mind you, looking through my pictures you would think the pelicans and cats were my favourite part. I took a lot of pictures of those for sure. The funniest part of that was I kept calling the pelicans "penguins" even though I knew it wasn't right. By the end of the week, The Guy was calling them penguins too. I like that even my bad grasp of words are contagious.

Hey! I'm WALKING HERE!

This might be my favourite picture of the whole trip.

You can see my entire group of pictures here at Flickr or here at Facebook you can see my favourite.

Have you been to Cuba? Want to come next time?

Spiral twist stitch beret

Sometimes I get to make things up. It's not often, but I love when I have an idea and it can come to fruition.  A few weeks ago, a friend was pinning red berets and talking about how much she'd like one. I offered to get right on that! And I did.

Here it is completed (from the back).

Here is a side view.  I love how it is slightly slouchy but not too much.

The top view is my favourite. This pic is the closest to the right colour of what I have.

Finally, a pattern!

Materials
I used KnitPicks CotLin yarn in DK Weight with the Pomegranate colour. (I fell in love with this colour.)
Needles: 4mm circular needle or DPNs 

Instructions

Cast on 8 stitches
You can do this in magic loop version for a circular needle or regularly for DPNs if you prefer - cast on options here 
Place marker at the beginning

Increases

Row 1 - k1 m1 all around (16)
Row 2 - knit all around
Row 3 - k2 m1 to end (24)
Row 4 (Introducing left twist) - leaving 1st stitch on left needle, ktbl of 2nd stitch, k 1st stitch and slip both stitches off the left needle, k1, repeat left twist and k1 to end
Row 5 - k2 m1 k1 - repeat to end (32)
Row 6 - left twist, k2 to end
Row 7 - k2 m1 k2 (40)
Row 8 - left twist, k3 to end
Row 9 - k2 m1 k3 (48)
Row 10 - left twist, k4 to end
Row 11 - k2 m1 k4 (56)
Row 12 - left twist, k5 to end

Continue in this manner until there are 20 stitches in each section (160) ending with an even row.
Once increases are complete, you can decide how slouchy you want your hat. For not very slouchy, go immediately to the decrease section. For slouchier repeat the last even row (left twist, k18) for another inch.

Decreases
Row 1 - k2tg k18 repeat to end (152)
Row 2 - left twist, k18 to end
Row 3 - k2tg k17 repeat to end (144)
Row 4 - left twist, k17 to end
Row 5 - k2tg k16 repeat to end (136)
Row 6 - left twist, k16 to end
Row 7 - k2tg k15 repeat to end (128)
Row 8 - left twist, k15 to end
Row 9 - k2tg k14 repeat to end (120)
Row 10 - left twist, k14 to end

Continue in this manner until you reach 88 stitches

Hat band
Rows 1-10 - k2 p2 repeat to end
Bind off in a stretchy stitch. I prefer the Zimmerman method of sewn bind off.

Voila, you have a hat.

Thankful Thursday: Cuba version

I'm not back yet, but I know what I am going to be thankful for, so I will write this now and schedule it for while I'm gone.  Try not to be jealous.

1. It is not snowing in Cuba.





My beach



2. There are free drinks and no one judges my 10 am Pina Colada. It has pineapple, so it is a breakfast drink.
3. Time alone with The Guy maxin' and relaxin' by the ocean.
4. The pelicans and the guy who feeds them every morning.





Every morning, they walk up the beach following the guy who feeds them.

5. Limited risk of being glutened. WOO for no wheat in Cuba!!

I'll be home soon. 

Traffic Responses: Guest post by Wynn Anne

I am enjoying myself in Cuba, but didn't want to leave you all alone. I know how it is. So, I invited my good friend Wynn Anne from Wynn Anne's Meanderings to come and do a guest post. I'm thrilled because she said yes. Enjoy and then pop over to her blog to read about her 11 month old 55lb puppy, Kane. He's gorgeous.  Without further ado, here is Wynn Anne.
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The lovely Wynn Anne

The other evening, I was stopped at an intersection because, although the light was green, there was not enough space behind the car ahead of me to ensure that I would clear the intersection before the light turned red.

I HATE blocking intersections. I've been known to honk at people who do so.

Well, today, while I was thus stopped, I got honked at by the car behind me. Just as he honked, the cars ahead of me started moving, so I moved.

But at the same time, I was all:

Seriously. Cool. Down.

And it struck me that, when I honk at other drivers, I intend for them to hear this:

And then, after recognizing the truth in that, I expect them to say this:

Thank you.

But, on reflection, they're probably thinking:

So I probably just need to:

I'm going to try to keep this in mind next time I encounter a stupid driver.

---

Wynn Anne posts regularly over at Wynn Anne's Meanderings. Sometimes, she's funny on purpose. You can also find her on Facebook.

Still taste the dolphin poop: Post from the past

I am in Cuba all week. Here is a story about my very first trip. Originally posted on Feb 5, 2008.
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I have never learned to swim. Never. Nothing more than a "from A to B" and only if I can touch the bottom at some time during the distance.

I am not afraid of water. I am afraid of drowning. But unlike many people, I can be in water and enjoy it. As long as it never goes above my chest. If I can touch the bottom and the water laps just above my breasts, I can contain myself and enjoy the crispness of the water, the way it slides and moves independantly. I can float and relax and let worries glide away from me as the water breathes.

It is when I cannot touch the bottom that the panic sets in. Instantaneously it grips me and causes me to see my life flashing before my eyes. My breath comes in shallow gasps because the water presses so heavily I cannot expand my lungs. The water, rising higher than my chest, acts like a vice and restricts my body from drawing breath of any sort. My heart rate increases to alarming rates and my heart beat fills my ears and drowns out all other noises. I flail and search for anything I can hold on to. My mouth fills with water and my sinuses burn. I choke and gasp and flail and fear I will not make it another second.

And then my foot connects with solid ground and I can slowly bring my breathing back to normal. I can focus and once again be alright with the water around me. But I never forget the panic.

So, imagine my surprise when I was in Cuba on excursion and was given the chance to swim with the dolphins. Normally, I am quite against it - fear of water or not. Dolphins are too intelligent a creature to cage and make perform. They are lovely and majestic and brilliant. But there I was. In the middle of the ocean. At a dolphin area built monsterously huge for the mammals to swim in. And I was given the chance to meet them.

The Guy knew I didn't swim, but I am not sure if he understood the extent of it. He agreed to hold on to me the entire time so I wouldn't be afraid. There were many others there with training and confidence, so it would all be good. And I agreed to go in.

I climbed down the metal rungs that led into the ocean. And after the last one, I knew I could not touch the ground. And panic set in. The Guy hurried into the water to assist me. I could hardly breathe, but I held on tightly to him and kicked with all my might to keep up afloat. I met the dolphins. I felt their cool, smooth and soft skin and patted their warm bellies. I was enamoured. Another traveller spelled The Guy off for a bit so he could rest up and resume his tight grip on my waist to keep both the panic and the drowning at bay.

In the end, I was as brave as I could be. And when I crawled out of the water, I cried.

Equal terror and joy

Thankful Thursday: Babies, friends, and bras

Today, we will go to celebrate the life of my friend, K.B.  It's a bittersweet week of tears and family and love.

1. Monty and Lil E are getting to be good friends. I finally got a picture of her enjoying his tail.

   

   Lil E and the magic tail

2. I bought two new super bras with my Christmas money. The one I am wearing now is named Olga. Isn't that the greatest name for a bra line? It just sounds like your boobs will not even consider being unruly.
3. I have gotten closer to K.B.'s high school friend Wynn Anne who has become a good friend for me. I am thankful for all the friends K.B. brought into my life.
4. My brother, his wife, and my sister are here for the funeral. It may be a sad reason, but I'm so glad to see them. 
5. The Guy has been a huge support for me this week. He makes all the sucky things better.

Puppies and babies: A walk in the snow

My two favourite creatures are my dog, Monty, and my cousin's little girl, Elizabug. Despite the fact they will be living in close quarters once our house is complete (E's family plan to live in our basement apartment), she and Monty haven't spent much time together.

This weekend we decided to introduce them and take them both on a walk to see how they do.

They started out inside. E was thrilled to see a puppy in her apartment. She was fascinated with his puffy tail that moved faster and faster in her presence. Monty was thrilled that E was holding cheese. I didn't get pictures of this - I was too concerned with making sure no one bit anyone (I'm looking at you, Lil E.)

Then we went outside.

A girl and her ice block

Lil E was all cozy in her snowsuit and strapped into her favourite mode of transportation.  Her dad gave her a block of ice as she likes to be able to touch the snow around her. I looked back a few times to see her shoving her face into the snow. She was happy as could be.

Monty bounced around the snow - running ahead to sniff things and running back to check and make sure E was still following.  At one point we tried to get him to chase a flock of grouse, but there was no shovelled path, so he was having none of that.

Grouse vs dog

We walked down along the river and across the crescents towards our new house. We figured it would be a perfect time to show them the place (even though the basement is still just rocks and plumbing supplies) while there were no workers on site.

bridge in the snow

All in all, it was a good day.

Monty enjoying himself