The Weather Is Here, I Wish You Were Beautiful

The extended family just got back from a week of beaching at our favorite site of salt, sand and sun: Tybee Island.

Despite my moaning and groaning and general complaining about my little point and shoot camera, I toted it around with me everywhere and took pictures. Some of them are even decent and don’t involve my children, MUC or GLB or my niece, Gracie Girl.

I usually go on and on ad nauseum about Tybee’s quirky and laid back atmosphere, but Tybee does have the more traditional southern coastal isle charm and visages as well. From the sand and surf to the historic lighthouse and Fort Pulaski, it is possible to have a ‘normal’ beach vacation.

But, what’s the fun in that?

Life's A Beach

I love the beach. And, I love Tybee Island. It's weird, quirky, laid back persona fits me perfectly. You've got to love a place where fine dining and flip flops aren't on opposite ends of the spectrum. If I could, I'd be one of those people who sells painted shell art on the roadside to tourists during the season. Since I have children who require regular feedings, I don't think that will happen any time soon, but a girl's got to have a goal.




Early every June, my friends from college and I go to Tybee as part of a girls only R&R weekend. It's a LONG weekend, and we love it. There are generally 6 of us, but this year, life caught up with some of the others, and they weren't able to make it. Even though our numbers were cut in half, we had a great time.

One of my friends, 'Sarge', is a practially a professional sunbather. She's been doing this since before I knew her, and I learned quickly that to hang with her on the beach all day meant me and my fair-skinned Scotch-Irish skin would have to learn some major beach coping skills. As a result, I usually have a huge umbrella, floppy hat, and sunscreen with an SPF of about 75 while Sarge coats herself with spray Pam and flakes out all day. This isn't new...we're used to it. As a matter of fact, I jokingly asked Sarge where the baby oil with iodine was, as she now lives very close to the Redneck Riverea with her husband, The Colonel. I was quickly told that was 'cheating'. Dr. Lucy also attended, and surprised us by deciding to pre-tan this year. Smart chick. Of course, I give her all kinds of grief for not having a 'real' job. She only has to work a couple of days a week at a chi-chi private college, although that's probably going to change to a more normal schedule next year. We're talking college here though, so the schedule is still one of those variable things.


We spent most of our time retelling past stories, solving the world's problems and generally being lazy, rum-soaked (or beer-soaked) sun goddesses. I don't think any of us would have it any other way.

Tourin' Tybee's Turtles

At a recent girls' weekend at the beach, I took the time to shoot some pictures of the Tybee Turtles.

Like most of Tybee, these turtles are quirky and fun. And, as is usual when my friends and I get together, there were moments of peril and danger getting these photos. Here are bits and pieces of the over 150 pictures I took of about half the turtles. (Don't ask).

Ms. T, the official mascot of the tour. I absolutely love the colors on the shell and this photo doesn't do them justice. The chains around her neck are a real cool touch as well.

He Ain't Heavy

Mermaid Bareback Rider

And, some of my personal favorites....

Captain Jack, complete with compass and medallion. The back of his shell is also painted with the Black Pearl.

Terra Turtle, which has the phases of the moon, and a day and night side. Loved this one. She also has a solar powered light system that spotlights her at night. Very cool.

Obviously, I have many more, as this doesn't come close to 150 photos. There's more to come, and I'm waiting until I get the rest of them (about 10) before I put it all together. My absolute favorite? The Gullah inspired Ma Cootah, which is the first photo above. I'm saving the better photos of her for another day. The second photo is a close up of the turtle actually on the property where we stayed.

And, these are just the turtles. I haven't even begun to talk about all the other photos I took that weekend.

Knitting my life away!

I've got a couple of FO! Woo HOO! And, I've got a few in progress as well. And, I've been letterboxing a bit as well since my last post. So, what's in the mix:

The finished objects:

Tabi Socks.

I am really pleased at how these turned out. I first posted about these here. And, it took me a couple of months to finish them up. Now, they're ready to be washed and blocked. It's a basic toe up pattern, with a lot of liberty taken from a tabi style pattern from Knitty. (Yes, I know the picture shows one cuff turned up and one down, but that was more just to show the socks.) I'm totally excited to wear these during the school year, to which I don't generally wear closed shoes anyway, but it's sometimes too cold for even ME to wear flip flops. And, let's be honest here. That's the REAL reason I knitted the things. So that when the want or need arose, I could do this:

Another Finished object: my take on the Summertime Tunic in the Summer 2007 issue of Interweave Knits.

There were several things about the original pattern that I wanted to change, so I did some playing around while I knitted and came up with a bit different top. My yarn was a heavier as well, since I used Blue Sky Cotton in Thistle as well as an accent yarn that I can't remember at the moment. I pulled the ribbing up, shortened the body, changed the body shape to a more fitted one, and came up with my version. And, despite actually taking the time to do a gauge swatch (which I rarely do), the top is still too big. I may go back and do some sewing decreases, but for now, it will stay as is.

A current WIP is some Big Black Socks (BBS) for Socks for Soldiers. They are a really helpful and fun group of people from all over the world who are knitting objects for military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. So, here's my BBS, in progress. These take more time than you might think, given that it's a basic pattern with a 4x2 rib, as the black yarn is so difficult to see at times. As a result, they are my current pick up/put down project at the moment.

As for letterboxing, I haven't been missing out on that either. MUC and I have picked up the stray box here and there, as well as a couple of gatherings. The first was in Madison at the end of April. Small and cozy, but nicely done by the Smith Family Trekkers. Then was the big south east event at Stone Mountain. Somehow, I neglected to take my camera to both of these events, so I had to pilfer StarSAELS copy of the group photo from SM. Next on the list? More knitting (of course), more boxing (of course) and a lot of beaching! Hopefully, I'll remember to take the camera!