A trip to the beach of course! I escaped black Friday madness by taking everyone to the beach and I think I’m going to make this my post-Thanksgiving tradition. The weather was awesome. You may remember that I visited Bodega Head back in May (was it really that long ago? I still haven’t finished those socks!) This time I actually scampered down to that little beach you see in the photo and almost got stuck down there! The rock face, although it looks solid, is surprisingly crumbly but I managed to climb out and Ali has the pictures to prove it (if you want to see an old lady like me rock-climbing and then being dragged over the ledge by two kindly gentlemen).

While we were at Bodega Head I threw the Traveling Woman shawl on Kelsi so I could show you all the little scarf I finished over a month ago.

I was a little disappointed with the outcome compared to the amount of work I devoted to this project – it’s so small! But that’s what I get for using Malabrigo sock (in Ravelry Red). It is however, a wonderfully warm yet lightweight little kerchief and probably the perfect accessory for someone like me who tends to run hot anyway.

I’ve been enjoying the time spent with these two and I’m going to miss them when they head back to Oregon tomorrow.

Although she didn’t model for me, Ali helped out as stylist for the photo shoot.

I think the best part of the day for them was at the In and Out.

Just before I quit my job at REI back in late August, I saw some of the winter hats start coming into the store for the ski season. One of those was a North Face hat that I thought I could very easily (haha) replicate. I loved the color, a pale ivory gray, but could not find it anywhere in the fiber I had in mind – Cascade Venezia. CV was recommended to my by Nancy Ricci, recently moved to NYC and this past weekend, fortunate enough to visit Rhinebeck (the lucky duck!).

Well needless to say that my love affair with red continues but this hat, which I started on September 21, hasn’t come very far. The ribbing, to be folded over, seems to be taking me forever and since I started this hat, I also started – and finished! – a baby hat for an as yet unborn baby.

The days here grow chilly so maybe it’s my incentive to get this TNF knock-off knocked out. Soon.

Today I received an amazing “stash enhancement” gift from my lovely, wonderful and awesome friend, Liz Plam (see previous post) – two giant skeins of Blue Moon Fiber Arts ST-2 created especially for Sock Summit. I have never used Socks That Rock before and I’m excited. This stuff is gorgeous.

So even though I didn’t attend SS’09, I feel like I now have a piece of the historic conference and I’m going to treasure this beautiful yarn. The color is even more glorious in person. They’re going to make a dynamite pair of knee socks. From the bottom of my heart I thank you Liz!

There are a couple of good Sock Summit “wrap-ups” that I can recommend – one written by the Yarn Harlot and the other penned by my dear friend, Elizabeth, over at Picture and Book. Go and check them out now.

red foliage times four, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

Lately I haven’t had much time for knitting or blogging. I’ve been too busy running around Portland, shooting night shots and tending to my new blog. The weather’s been great and I really must take advantage of these dry days before the rain settles in for the next six months.

I finished the foliage hat about a month ago. Really quick, really fun little knit. I know, I know I say that and people get annoyed with me. But try it anyway. You’ll see how fun it is. The pattern is free on knitty.

My friend Patsy was a good sport modeling the hat for me and I snapped the red leaves before they were all blown off during a windy storm last week. I don’t usually block hats so yes, it is a little lumpy. Nevertheless I’m very happy with it.

I’m still knitting gifts so I can’t show too many FOs at this point. Oh and I’m off to California next week so my next post will be from the sunny Bay Area.