A time for myself

As soon as I knew I was going to Otsego, I knew I wanted this to be a time to do the things that I love- to care for the Abigailia in the ways that are just Abigailia. So, my first order of business? Search for yarn stores!

I was delighted to find a yarn shop that opened just this past year called ImagiKnit. They're right in downtown Gaylord and I felt welcome and happy there from the minute I walked in. I wasn't sure what to expect. I love Otsego Lake (as you may have gathered) and I love the feeling of community and old-town connectedness. I love imagining my great-grandmother walking down these streets. Imagining my grandmother eating at this restaurant. Although I love those things, I was hoping that this wasn't my grandmother's yarn shop. I mean, they recently opened so obviously she didn't shop here, but I prefer more modern yarn shops. I found it.

The minute I walked in I was welcomed by the owner. She also welcomed my mother and tried to find a way for my mom to use wireless internet. This was a ploy on my part to make my mom happy so that I could shop longer guilt-free. I think the owner understood my mind. Unfortunately, Mom couldn't hook up, but my non-knitting mother felt very welcomed and the two of us spent lots of time talking to the owner and another woman there. The other woman may have been her business partner? I'm not sure. But, she obviously has a hand in the yarn shop. Deby Lake was her name, and it quickly became clear that she knew a lot about knitting. She runs the SWTC sock club and designs all sorts of things. I had her sign my copy of one of her sock designs (it came with the Tofutsies I bought). I had loads of fun talking to both of them.

They had all the best yarns, as well as some less expensive things that looked appealing as well.

David, if you are reading this, you may want to avert your eyes at this point. Think of this as happy Abigail stash, not more yarn to add to my overfilling bookcase stash. It's all about the way you think about it.



In the back we have 3 balls of Universal Yarn: Deluxe Worsted LP in "Midnight Blues". I'm planning to use this for a bag Lorena inspired me on, called the Bling Bag. They actually had one knit up at the shop from this yarn. I was going to use Malabrigo for the bag, but I can't bring myself to make a $150 bag from that stuff. This is much more reasonable in terms of money. Plus, it's pretty.

On the right you'll see the "Tidal Wave Socks" pattern by Deby Lake that I got with the pink Tofutsies. Deby says it's the most downloaded sock pattern on the net!

To the left of the Tofutsies is Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in "Misty Moor". After which are two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in "Jeans". The Lorna's Laces and CTH were my attempts to have more male-friendly colors in my stash. Now and then I want to knit for a guy and find I don't have the colors they would like. So, these are good companies and now I have some color options. I've never tried Lorna's before, but I know I love CTH.

On the left-most side of the pic you'll find a skein that I'm pretty excited about for some future pair of socks- probably for myself. I don't usually go for pinks, but these colors are so beautiful- a combination of lavender, pink, peach, blue, turquoise, clay, etc. It's by a company called "Perchance to Knit", and the tag says, "handpainted with lovingcare exclusively for ImagiKnit". So, I'm pretty excited to have a pair of socks that will be my "Otsego Lake" socks- reminding me of that place. The yarn feels wonderful- maybe even softer than the CTH. It's 100% Superwash Merino and is in the colorway: "Cosmos".

To end, I'll show off a sock I finished before leaving for vacation. At this point I'm 2/3 through the leg of the other sock as well. This is Lana Grossa Meilenweit 1001. I used KnitPicks Essential for the heel and toe. Now that I'm done I realize I would have had plenty of yarn for the whole sock, but I was concerned I'd run out since these socks for a very large foot. Turns out that I kind of like this look though anyway.



I did quite a bit of knitting at the lake- mostly on a sock for David. I won't show that yet though. I'll wait till I'm done with both of them.

Beautiful Otsego Lake

Alright, I couldn't stand to post about this beautiful place and not give you a visual.

My beautiful mother takes in the moment our first morning othe lake:


And, my last evening on the lake, after a storm:

I have returned

Well I sort of disappeared for awhile there, didn't I? I meant to post before I left on vacation, but well, that didn't happen. Thanks for all your comments on my last post- it's always nice to return home to find comments that inspire or make me smile.

Clementine, your comment really helped me- about making home wherever you are, and really planting yourself there, regardless of how short a time you will be there. It helped on my vacation, and I continue to consider it as I'm now home.

The Saturday before Memorial Day I said goodbye to David and flew off to Cleveland for an event-packed few days. I was there for my cousin Charming's (no, not his real name) wedding, which was wonderful. I met my mom, dad, and brother there and saw all manner of cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. It was a very good and also interesting experience. Somehow I began to see more clearly where my extended family and I connect and where I start to move off on my own. It was a positive thing, even if painful at times. There is a richness in seeing myself in my family- to be known, accepted, and welcomed regardless of other issues, simply because we are blood and have known (and will always know) one another. That is a powerful feeling, and one I have missed a great deal since living so far away from family. However, it was also empowering for me to be able to acknowledge where we are different. In the past I think I have taken those differences to mean I need to do something different to myself. This time, I just acknowledged them as differences and tried to have fun- as myself, not as someone else.

The wedding was a blast! I wish David could have been there too- that would have made a big difference for me, but still. The highlight for me was at the reception when my cousin Andrew was dancing with his wife. They had a live salsa band and it was very cool. I should add here that my cousin Charming is someone EVERYONE wants to know. He is charming, good-looking, smart, funny, happy, a good listener, considerate, etc. I'm sure everyone at the wedding was vying for some time with him. Well, I was standing to the side of the dance floor watching them dance and smiling, feeling the love flow between them, thinking of how happy they looked. Of course I was also wishing David were there so I could dance with him. Suddenly, Charming whispered something to his wife and she went to dance with a friend. My cousin came and asked me to dance! I was thrilled. I have never danced salsa before, so I was slightly embarrassed for a bit, but he showed me the moves slowly for a couple seconds and then I got it. It was lots of fun.

On Memorial Day my dad and brother flew home to CT, while my mother and I drove north to Michigan. That evening we arrived at a place that is very special for me- Otsego Lake.

I have been missing this place deeply, since it's been 4 years since I was last there. Getting married and starting a business does that, I guess.

My great-grandparents built a cottage there in the 30's. My grandmother spent lots of time there (She was in her 20s when they built it). My mother has been going there since birth. My brother and I have been going there since birth. I hope to bring my children there too. Friends in the area told me they remember my brother and me as kids- running naked through the long grass around the cottage. It is a place of freedom for me. It is a place built of the magic of generations of women.

Although I say women (since that's how the cottage has been passed down), there is also a very special man involved in that cottage. My Cousin Tom. He lives there on the weekends year-round, and welcomes us there any time we can make it. He's a wonderful guy and I had fun hanging out with him. Although I've always laughed with him (he's a very funny guy), I don't know that I've had many real conversations with him before. I think this may be because I was too young. But, not anymore. We had some very good conversations, and I really enjoyed that.

This trip did me good. It was wonderful to renew my sense of community and depth of spirit. Particularly at Otsego Lake, the feeling of community and family and trueness pulsed through everything. I didn't expect it, necessarily. Lately, as I've considered where I feel at home, I haven't been able to find a place. I never felt at home in CT, despite growing up there for over 10 years. Interesting- although I've only spent a week or so at Otsego every other summer, I feel more connected to that space than any other place I've been. I feel rooted.

I was going to post a pretty picture of the lake here, but it's on my other computer. Maybe soon. Btw, my efforts at making travel easier have been working I think. It's still taking me some time to recover and it was still very hard to be away from David, but things felt a bit easier. I'll continue to practice. This next weekend this traveling woman is on the road again. Off to Texas, to visit my best friend Amy.

Wish me luck!