The pattern calls for the front to have three rows of eyelets, while the back only has two near the bottom. I'm not sure if this is going to bother me or not, but I am NOT re-knitting the back so I better get used to it.
A detail of the front lace part- I've just divided for the two sides. As you can see, it is in keeping with my goal of mastering lace and is just so pretty. It really sold me on this pattern in the first place.
We stayed with Eduardo and Anju and they showed us around town. We even got them out in a canoe at the local lake.
Mobi, not one to be left out, got in on the game of Frisbee.
She would grab the Frisbee and take off with it, not letting anyone have it.
I feel like such a more accomplished knitter now that I have completed my first pair of socks. Since I had a solid color, I wanted the socks to have a pattern. And since I have never been able to successfully complete lace, I was determined to master that this summer. So, I combined the two and chose the Monkey pattern from Knitty.com. It was easy to follow and fun to do. Everyone told me the heel was the worst part, but I had no problems with it, so I am assuming the well-written pattern helped a lot. I think the gauge was a little off, because these are much bigger and slouchier than the pattern picture, but I like them for lounging around the house or wearing on a chilly winter day. I like the custom-fit aspect of knitted socks, since my feet are so small, but I will have to remember to gauge first! I had purchased three skeins of this sock yarn and only used one and a half, so I see another pair of blue socks being knit in the fall (I can't find the label with the brand name- it was all in German anyway).
Gary and Janet, Amy's parents, always welcome me into their home, and this visit was no exception. Gary built their log home himself, and they have lots of fruit trees, berry bushes, grapes, and gardens around the house. He also built a sauna separate from the house, complete with shower and changing room. This was fired up and ready to receive us after two days of camping, canoeing, and long-distance driving. Janet had also planned a delicious dinner for us when we got out- I felt like we were in a spa! Good conversation, signature Graham margaritas, and close games of cribbage made us not want to leave. (Gary, I'm going to have a chance to redeem myself when you get to Maine next week!) 
The Mackinac Bridge (pronounced like Mackinaw) connecting the UP to southern MI.
And me doing mine:
And Mobi... well, being Mobi:
It was quite humbling to have these huge rocks overhead and look down and see all the way to the bottom of this deep, deep water. We felt very tiny and vulnerable as the waves and wind splashed the canoe here and there. It doesn't look like it here, but when we got close to the rocks, the water got rougher.
Ok, now Juan tells me that I felt tiny not him. He wanted to keep going. (Just to get the record straight)
We got right past the lighthouse and then turned around to explore the other shore.
But, oh wait, what's this? I am actually holding one?!?! And Jai's got one, too! Yes, she had twins. And doesn't she just look radiant and gorgeous and not at all like she is pretty much working non-stop around the clock with two little ones? 
Next stop was already in Maine. Amy's little guy arrived right on time and looks pretty fetching in a Vanessa original. (well, the pattern is from LMKG, but the color choice is all mine)
This week's mystery town, San Sebastian, is also known as Donostia-San Sebastian. It is located in the Basque country of Spain, on the coast of the Bay of Biscay. In addition to Spanish, they also speak Basque, or Euskera, there. Donostia is the Basque name for the town. [Spain actually has four official langauges: Castellano (Spanish), Gallego (Galician), Vasco (Basque or Euskera), and Catalan.]
In addition to its film and jazz festivals, San Sebastian is famous for its Playa Concha, a gorgeous semi-circular beach with an elegant walkway along its edge.
Our team was welcomed with succulent vitals and bountiful beverages and given a cot that doubled as a sitting device during the day and upon which we passed the night in slumbering comfort. 
Taking in the scenery, we unpacked the wagon to partake in a picnic lunch. Afterwards, the welcome party at the Duluth Welcome Center directed us to a well-used trail in the hills called Skyline Drive. Bumping along cracked pavement and weaving in and out of patches of trees, our team was treated to sweeping vistas of the river and town below.
Our faithful travel companion, Mobi Ramekins, particularly enjoyed this leg of the trip as the slow going allowed for lowered windows and therefore lots of wind in the face. Near the trail’s end, in a portion called Seven Bridges Road, we passed over EIGHT such structures before coming face-to-face with an animal that appears to be quite plentiful in these parts- the white-tailed deer.
Pushing further north, we encountered downpours that attempted to deter us from our next plan of action: finding the landmark known as Big Rock Lighthouse. We had been told that this region was welcoming to visitors and provided ample locations for making camp and exploring the area. Luckily, we found this to be so, and the weather seemed to want to cooperate. We set up camp in an isolated clearing quite close to the shore of the lake and within view of the sought marker that did indeed live up to its name in splendor and beauty.
There were carts available when we arrived to bring our supplies more easily into the camp. Although we were tired from our journey, we mustered the quickly dwindling energy to put everything in order for the evening.
Henceforth, Big Rock Lighthouse will be known as:
Yesterday Mobi and I drove out to my friend Margaret's farm for a visit. She and her husband Jim have about 25 llamas total. The males and females are separated because if they were not, there would be non-stop breeding going on, obviously resulting in more llamas than would be manageable. (Margaret was much more eloquent in her explanation than I appear to be in mine).
They are so funny because when they see something new that interests them, like Mobi, they all perk their ears up and run together towards the interesting specimen. They reminded me of a school of fish, with everyone turning simultaneously on cue.
Aaaawwwww....
They are so sweet, and like to give kisses. One actually came up to me and put its nose to mine. I took Caesar Millan's advice and tried to not make eye contact in order to not startle her (I know that's for dogs, but this was an instinctual not intellectual reaction). I had nothing to worry about, however, as they are just so gentle and friendly.
