A Smoky Mountain Start

I feel like this should be a big, impressive post, but every time I start I feel like I'm not quite up to the task. So I think I'll take some pressure off myself and just go with whatever comes to me.

This weekend Chris and I hiked to the top of a mountain, and he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. And I said yes! It was beautiful up there. The clouds would move out and give a great view, and then the clouds would settle back and envelope us, and it would feel like the rest of the world just didn't exist. It was an amazig proposal, and we're so excited about getting married. And I for one am still a little overwelmed! But in a good way :)

The cabin we stayed in was also a great backdrop for the weekend. It had a hot tub and grill on the deck, and the views were really amazing. There was definitely a sense of peace to the place. When we got back to the cabin after our hike, we took advantage of that fact that our cellphones' service was spotty at best and decided not to call anyone with the news just yet. Instead we talked about the marriage things. We didn't talk about the wedding things or setting a date. Just being married. The rest is all coming along in its time!

A funny sidenote: About ten or fifteen minutes after he proposed we started down the mountain and my cellphone buzzed, the alert that means I have a reminder on my calendar. Chris pulled it out of my backpack, and it read "Remember Chris Johnston." Chris's birthday was yesterday, and everyone's birthdays are set to remind me a few days ahead of time. So, yes indeed, I remembered Chris Johnston!

Here are a few photos of the trip.

Knitting Accomplished: Super-long ribbed scarf done; one sock done, one to go; almost nothing on the stole (it requires concentration--and I didn't have a whole lot of that going on!)

Whee!

I’m so excited to get away for a few days. Chris and I are leaving Friday morning for the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area to do some hiking and nature-ing and relaxing. I’ll take pictures!

Knitting for the trip: One ribbed scarf, one sock, one lacy stole

But before we go . . . laundry calls.

Learn Something New Every Day?

Well, I did some research on ideas for classes to take, and I found out something. If you don’t have at least some money that you’re willing to put into it, there aren’t a lot of options out there. I guess I expected that, and honestly that’s a good thing. People willing and able to teach should certainly be paid fairly. But since I’m not willing to make much of a monetary commitment at the moment, I decided to explore this learning impulse a little further to see if there are other alternatives.

Is it an intellectual boredom? Or a need to feel creative? Is it a process of learning that I want to be a part of? Or do I want some result, some finished product or demonstrable skill?

I’m not sure. If I want to learn for the sake of learning, what’s stopping me from going to the library and picking up a book on a new subject and just delving in? I think it’s the fact that when there’s a person instructing me and a group that I’m part of, there’s a certain commitment and group involvement that changes the way I learn and understand things. Or perhaps I’m just not all that motivated (nice way of saying I can be kinda lazy).

If it’s a need to create in a new way, I don’t necessarily have to have a class for that. I can explore new ideas of creative outlets all on my own—with maybe just a little help from ye olde internet or library for instruction/inspiration. But I really think it’s more of an intellectual desire as opposed to a more creative desire. Not that creativity doesn’t require intellect! But I think I want something more objective.

I don’t really have a conclusion here. I’m just thinking in type.

Baba Ganoush

Funniest-named food ever. Chris and I went to Tabouli's Greek and Italian Restaurant over the weekend and had some very tasty Greek food. We didn't have the baba ganoush--instead we tried the falafel, which I'd never had before. It reminded me a bit of a Greek version of hush puppies. Please don't tell any Greek people I said that.

Anyway, the new Knitty is up. Ivy, the wrap sweater, is lovely and would get lots of use in our unnaturally cold office. But it would require quite a yarn commitment, so I'm not sure I'll actually make it. And Twiggy Tweed makes me think perhaps one more little knitted purse is in order.

Also, here's a fun knit link my brother sent me. It's a knitted Princess Leia hat!