Spontaneous

Most people wouldn’t call Robert and me spontaneous – I really am a planner, and I enjoy doing it.  This morning, however, was different.  We took a spur of the moment trip to Lebanon (where Robert is from) and Lake of the Ozarks.
My husband is a small-town boy, and he shared one of his childhood memories with me today.  We played dime skee ball at Bagnell Dam – yes, it’s still a dime per game!
 
 My darling husband is also a saver – look what he had! 
 
These tickets are at least 15 years old.  He said he never cashed them in because he always thought he’d bring his wife or girlfriend up there to play, and then he’d cash them in on a big teddy bear to impress her.  He had 320 tickets, and we won another 80 this afternoon.  This is what 400 tickets will get you in 2007:

I love penguins, and have a small collection, but Chilly Willy here seems a little odd – don’tcha think?  But thank you, Robert, for an absolutely wonderfully fun day!
Lake of the Ozarks, Bagnell Dam, and Osage Beach are definitely tourist trap areas with their own sense of – well, shall we say charm?
We didn’t eat here:

Or here:

(Please keep your comments G-rated – I will edit/delete if necessary!)
On the way to Lebanon, I finished the scarf for RFL:

This is some miscellaneous alpaca with a pink cotton stripe.  Using size 11 Denise needles, CO 250, knit 5 rows MC, knit 3 rows CC, knit 12 rows MC, bind off and weave in ends.  I got really bored doing a scarf lengthways, but hopefully it will raise some funds at the silent auction.
I intended to work on the Irish Hiking Scarf, but it remained in my bag all day.  Here’s what it looks like now:

I love this color in this pattern!  And although a lot of knitters are cabling without a cable needle, I really enjoy using one so I’m sticking with it.  If you’re interested in instructions for without the cable needle, Kate’s got a really good video!
I also recently finished Lizard Ridge square #5.  I think this colorway is my favorite.  I love the muted hues.  My problem, and what I wish I’d done differently, is that I have not kept track of which Noro colors I used for which square.  It’s just going to be a mystery blanket!

Lastly, now that I’m feeling fairly comfortable that it’s going to work out, I will let you know I’m working on another pair of socks.  These are the Slip-stitch Rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks in KnitPicks Memories redwood forest.  This was Thursday night:

Gotta love the heel flap!  And, in homage to the Harlot, this is the sock at Andy’s Frozen Custard at the lake today:

The heel is turned and I’m heading down the foot!  Maybe more updates tomorrow. 
And, I can’t believe it’s been a week, and I failed to blog about our excursion to the other LYS in our area.  Check out Brianne’s and Zarah’s blogs for details – all I can add is that we had a great time, and I am so blessed to have found such a great group of knitting friends!
And tonight, I finally leave you with some eye candy from today – aren’t they adorable!