As part of the BlogHer shenanigans in New York City last weekend, the kind folks at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia held a cocktail reception for a few hundred bloggers and Martha fans. I piled into a taxi with my new pals Unlikely Mama and Working Mom Fence and headed off to the MSLO building.

And heaven was in Port Ludlow, WA.

You know how Stephanie and Tina have been organizing those knitting retreats in Port Ludlow? Ok, maybe you didn’t know, so I’ll tell you now. They planned an entire weekend for 45 of us to learn about silk. Knitting, dyeing and spinning with silk. Three glorious days on the Olympic Peninsula. We had the entire hotel to ourselves. It was ah-may-zing.

As soon as I got back from Vegas, I had just enough time to finish all the laundry before I started packing again. This time off to Michigan. Middle of Nowhere, Michigan in fact. Well, technically we were in Grayling, but it’s mostly all farm and fishing country.

Remember how I went to Philly that time? And then the girls came to Boston? And then we went to DC? We did that, except we rented a giant fishing lodge for the Memorial Day weekend. Just three nights for 8 of us, …

It has been a busy month for travel around here. Last month I zipped out to Vegas for a couple days to loaf with The Husband after he finished up at a conference. In what is fast becoming tradition, we hit a few of our favourite spots.

Every year at SPA, there’s a fashion show. It’s low-key without a runway or anything, just normal folks showing off their finished knits from the year.  Everyone is incredibly supportive and appreciative and I love the vibe. For the second year in a row, we’ve proven ourselves to be the loud group in the corner, but I’m choosing to think that folks like the fun we bring. We’re that loud group of college buddies at an uptight wedding.

Some of the finished knits in the fashion show aren’t to my taste …

This weekend my girls and I all drove up to Freeport, Maine for our annual trip to SPA. (I love that SPA doesn’t stand for anything, it’s just capitalized for emphasis.) In what is quickly becoming tradition, we always drive a little farther and finish up our caravan at Purl Diva in Brunswick.

The owner, Ellen, is fabulous and is running a shop after my own heart. Great yarn selection, attention paid to lighting and most key, heaps of seating so you can sit and knit.

Loki, the shop dog is …

If you’ve watched Anthony Boudain’s No Reservations, you’ve seen him feature the Japadog hot dog cart in the Vancouver episode (around the minute 7:20 mark in this youtube clip)  The one thing I wanted to be sure to do while we were home was to hit that cart.

They feature a few different styles, but basically it’s super duper friendly smiley Japanese folks serving hot dogs, Japanese-style.

Turkey dogs, pork dogs, beef dogs or veggie dogs on a regular bun but topped with daikon radish and miso or teriyaki sauce and nori. …

Let the knitting olympics begin!

My mum has been volunteering for Vanoc (the Olympic organizing committee) for the last few years and when they offered volunteers tickets to the Olympic opening ceremonies dress rehearsal, she jumped on it. GUESS WHO ELSE GOT TO GO?
Me! Me! Me! Me! Me!

I can’t tell you anything about it (we were sworn to secrecy) but you’ll have to watch on Friday night. So freaking fantastic.
We’re off to watch my old boss carry the Olympic torch in the rain later this afternoon. I’m telling you, so much great stuff happening here. …

Olympics? In my hometown? OF COURSE I’m going to be there. Or here, really, because we flew out a couple days ago and are already in town soaking up the crazy excited vibe.  Vancouver is positively jumping.

It also happens to be The Husband’s birthday week, so expect to see many more photos of beers and friends and light shows. LOVE this city!