Random

Whenever we take trip photos there are always some that have to be sorted into the miscellaneous pile.  Here are a few...

Size matters here in Las Vegas.  This is just a bolt fixing a huge pillar which is probably load-bearing.

And this is the pillar.  That's a large waste bin next to it.

A lady made of chocolate...

 And one who isn't afraid to sit on a pigeon's lap.  Better than the other end...right?

I can't remember what this shop was selling.  Does it really matter?  I was astounded by the old sewing machines side by side and top to bottom.

Not just one window but several.  Sewing machines as window blinds.  Imagine collecting them all.  They are real and they are old.

Me - listening at the door of Graceland chapel.  I wanted to know what songs Elvis was singing for the next couple.  Some women are so nosy.

Ladybugs made of flowers.   For some reason these really amused me.

 
I was never a typist so I did not recognise this object.  Others were more nostalgic, remembering how you could brush away the eraser crumbs with the the blue bristles.  

And, as always, in Las Vegas, there are celebs.  These two are definitely A-list: my great-niece and her Daddy.  

Vegas, baby!

I've been away!  Since there was only the wired kind of internet - who carries cables anymore? - I had a few days away from my computer.  No emails; no blogging, no news.  Kind of a nice vacation from technology.

Las Vegas has always been about #110 on my bucket list of one hundred things to do.  However, when your little brother remarries after being a widower for a number of years AND he plans to get married here:

well, you just go, don't you?  Since I don't really gamble - I lost my entire stake of $5 - and shows are definitely not my thing, what would I ever find to do?

 
First off, we walked.  And we walked .  And walked.  The Strip may be only six miles long but a visit to each resort/hotel will mean an extra six miles of walking.  Maybe I exaggerate just a bit but that's how it felt.  I did enjoy the themes.  This is a hotel disguised as the New York skyline with the big roller coaster all around it.  This is all one big movie set, really, and I have now visited many parts of the world with a few hours of walking.  Some places I liked better than others.

This was my favorite part of the world:  Venice.  I'm pretty sure it's not completely like this in reality but the effects were superb.  The sky overhead is cleverly painted and lit so that it's always a warm summer evening.  And you can ride the gondolas through the Grand Canal with a gondolier at the helm.    Not something I did since I only endure boats the size of cruise ships.

I found a wildlife refuge at the Flamingo  with lots of water, trees and birds.  A quiet place to rest from the smoke and noise of the casinos.  You can't escape the casinos...let's be real: that's why the place exists at all.

I stood by the Monte Carlo and cared not a bit for the decor.  It's like all the rest of this world: huge.  Nothing is human scale.

Instead, I fixed my eye on a new-to-me bird: the great-tailed grackle which was splashing and chattering at a fountain.

I was charmed by this Victorian conservatory at the Bellagio.  But see how big it is?  There is also a butterfly habitat but we couldn't get into it.  You can watch them flying about the enclosure from a few feet away, though.  I'm sure they are as happy as captive creatures can be.  And us being inside their environment would not add to their happiness.

One of the features of this part of Las Vegas - they say that there are other parts of the city -  were the ever-present restrooms.  Everywhere.  And so clean and comfortable.  I was very impressed.  The decorating extended to these places, too.  Here is the prettiest entrance to one at the Palazzo - the photos start at my eye level and go up. 

But I was here for a wedding. And here are the happy bride and groom.  Congratulations, Geoff & Kathy! Elvis did good.

Two Trees; One Ring

 It's a white umbrella photo shoot today.  The almost summer-like sunshine of last week is just a memory.  Somehow, though, the rain seems gentler and while it's cooler than last Sunday, it's OK.  No winter coat, scarf and mitts.  Walking around in a sweater is quite comfortable - as long as I have umbrella.

The maple is just bustin' out of its shell.  Lots of leaf  curled up inside that bud.  Maybe next week?

And copper beech just plods along without visible change.  Aside from its gorgeous copper-y leaves, no one could ever accuse this tree of being dramatic.  Slow and steady creates the beauty.

This is not a forest of daffodils.  No, it's part of a rapidly colonizing group of Solomon's Seal.  We planted three or four that a woman running a garage sale gave us. a few years ago.   I admired them in her garden and she ran to get her shovel and dug us out some.  Considering their spreadability, I think I see why she was so keen.  I, however, have lots more room for them to expand into. 

Saturday Stash

It's going to be a quality not quantity stash offering today.  This is newsletter week and that is compounded by the need to create some annual reports, too. My life is not all knitting and picture-taking - as much fun as that would be.

So, I've finished a little cardi for the craft shelves.  It's the same pattern as the last one but with more weird color changes going on.  I thought I had enough yarn but halfway through the sleeves I had to quickly find something that would fit in with the overall color scheme.  Yes, I did have a plan when I started but it soon went wrong.  So, a green-ish gray was added after the elbows.  The button band and collar are also striped.  I kind of like it though.  It has a tough-guy attitude. 

I also love this sock pattern.  It is really quite fun once you get going on the 'fish-scale' pattern.  The charts take a bit of work, though.  There are several versions and five different charts for each sock with three size variations.  Then to add to that there are left and right versions.    I was rocking along quite nicely when I stopped short.  Where was the stitch key to the chart? The designer used some unconventional symbols and I couldn't find them anywhere.  I searched Knitty for help but in the end I just went with what I could see should happen.  I kept puzzling about it until I had an 'aha!' moment: I looked at the same chart in the first size.  Yes!  How dumb was I not to think of that before I pulled everything out of the internet drawers looking for the right answer.  The upside was that my intuition paid off.  It was all smooth clicking after that.  One down; one to go! 

Those who voted on the flecks vs re-dyeing the socks question will be pleased to know that there is a majority of three for keeping the flecks.  I always like it when the easy way is the best.  Thanks!   And thanks, too, to Deb who gave me my lovely wee circular.  I would not be having near as much fun with this pattern without it.