Traverse City

We spent a much needed vacation week in Traverse Cit y.We stay in a beautiful resort  on the East Bay every year that has rock bottom winter pricing . We go with another couple and we just hang out and have a lot of fun, rest and relaxation . The guys like to watch movies and we girls go down to the lobby and sit around the fireplace and knit and talk . Bliss!  We usually go in January or February, but this year waited until the last week of March . It paid off to wait! There was no ice or snow ;  the colors of the bay were breathtaking when the sun came out and the light played on the waters . We collected shells on the beach( yes, there are shells at Lake Michigan!) The weather was mild enough to open the door to the balcony and listen to the waves washing up on the shore.

Of course, there was shopping on Front Street. We had to get our annual Cherry Republic fix as well as the fudge. One of my favorite yarn shops is in Traverse City. Lost Art Needlecraft and Yarn is small, but well worth exploring each time we are in TC. This year I added 10 skeins of merino superwash to my stash in a nice warm beige/tan, enough to make a sweater. It was on clearance for 50% off. I found some very cool yarn for baby hats too.

It feels so good to take a break from the routine. To let everything be "paused" as it were for a week. It's all there when I come home to pick up where I left off.  I need to find "pause" time in my week. I have a wise aunt who calls her pauses mini vacations. Every Thursday she does only the necessary-meals and dishes-and spends the rest of the day relaxing. Catching up on reading, napping, whatever she wants to do to feel refreshed. I can learn from that. What wait an entire year to "pause?"    Something to ponder...I think all of us, especially women, need to learn that pausing to savor a moment ,  a hug from  child, the beauty of the blue sky, will refresh us in the middle of our very busy and hectic days. So, pause.....

Patience

Patience is a virtue I am learning to practice as I mature. There are days when my patience is sorely tested. Today for example. I just finished this post for the first time only to hit the wrong button and have the original disappear. Since I am writing about patience, it occurred to me how funny it would be if I lost it and let fly a few choice words. ( I didn't)  These are the days when it is necessary for me to take three deep breaths and reset the patience meter!

On February 28th I had knee surgery. I was hoping it was going to be the "clean it up quick and get on with life" variety. After all it was arthroscopic, and we all know that folks who have arthroscopic surgery are on their feet  in a week as if nothing happened. Not this lady! I am still off my feet except for excursions to get food, drinks, snacks, and showers. I do a few small tasks while waiting for the microwave; then I must get back to my chair lest my knee swell up like an over inflated balloon!I am exercising my patience. I say exercising, because patience comes easily to no one. It's more of a choice than an in born virtue.

Knitting has taught me to exercise patience, especially lace knitting. I have never met a pattern that loved me on first sight. Every lace I succeeded at knitting was a hard fought exercise in patience and endurance. For awhile, I gave in to the "I just must be one of those people who will never/can't knit lace" kind of thinking. I am perseverant by nature( my dear hubby would say "stubborn" --silly man) so I determined that I was going to conquer   accomplish lace knitting.  It is still not easy for me. I have to frog nearly every piece I knit up to three times before I get it. But I am getting better at the counting, repeats and other things necessary to knit a beautiful piece of lace. I have some beautiful things to show for my persistence and patience.

So, I am exercising patience through these healing and recovering days. I have taken time to look at patterns, get ideas, knit,knit,knit, find a more uniform way of sizing wee hats. I have had time to think of what other tiny treasures I want to offer.

Patience=Freedom.  I don't have to get all unhappy and bent out of shape over a slow cashier, a traffic jam, a late appointment, an infuriatingly complicated pattern. I can take a deep breath, choose my 'tude and practice patience.

Now, off to find something to knit. It's time for some lace, I think!

Happy Knitting!