It was 48 degrees at 6 am on Saturday morning when we left Colorado (although it was going to be in the 70’s that day). It’s going to be in the upper 90’s here in St. Louis today. What is wrong with this picture? Yes indeed, we need to move to Colorado. (We had serious discussions about this. Probably when the kids are out of college. Yay!) I’ve been vacationing in the mountains for 30+ years and I must be a mountain girl at heart. I just love it out there. But I missed all of you! The online capabilities where we were were spotty at best, so I was disconnected. I know – it was probably a good thing. You all kept Susan and the girls extremely busy here while I was gone. They did a great job in filling all of those orders! (I’m thinking that Susan probably needs a vacation now.)
So what did I do while I was gone? I had 3 days in MN, and then flew out to Colorado (Keystone) to vacation with family and friends for a week and a half. I did much knitting. I have 5 new pairs (PAIRS) of socks! Four of them are previous “single socks” that now have partners – whoot! And one pair I knit all at once because I was so in love with the yarn. (Anyone want to hazard a guess as to which yarn I was knitting up?) Pictures of socks on Wednesday’s blog. I need to wash and block them all. It was so fun to get so much knitting done. 🙂
We had fun doing other things as well. We went horseback riding in the mountains. Here, Knitting Daughter, Iowa Girl, and College Guy await their assigned horses. 
It was a 90 minute ride up and down the mountain and that seemed to be just about right. I was near the end of the line, so this was my view most of the time. (I was sore after horseback riding, for pete’s sake. How can that be? I don’t ever remember being sore after riding horses as a kid. Jeesh.) I’m thinking if I was sore, it must be good exercise, right? Maybe when we move to Colorado, we’ll have to buy horses. For exercise, you know. Here’s something I learned – if the horse is going to the bathroom, you need to stand up in the stirrups. It takes the pressure off of their kidneys. That’s probably information that you did not need to know. Me, either.
There was shopping, of course. I had to take Loopy to two of my favorite stores in Breckenridge. The first – Joy of Sox – is almost as fun as knitting your own. Almost. I didn’t buy regular socks there, but I did find some fun footies that have aloe in them and felt like silk. Great to wear to bed. 
My other favorite place is Milagros. They have wonderful loaves of all kinds of soaps and I think I went back there on three different occasions this time. 🙂 My favorite scents there are Glacier and Rain, but my favorite loaf for the design has to be the coffee one. Do you see Loopy perched there in the middle of a few loaves? He liked it there. This is just the entrance to the store. There are tables and tables of these wonderful soap loaves! You can see all of the soaps and order them online here. 
They make great gifts. I also caught this sign on one of the shops in Breck. I can’t remember which store it was, but it cracked me up. (There are several great pizza places there. No doubt there are a lot of pizza leftovers being carried about.)
We took the ski lift to the top of the mountain one day. It’s so beautiful up there. Here is a photo of College Guy and Iowa Girl on the rocks. What a view behind them! These rocks are stuck into the side of the mountain and perfect for climbing. My friend Janice and I did a bit of knitting at the top of the mountain, because there were chairs there that were clearly meant for knitters. We knew as soon as we saw them that they were marked for us. While we were knitting, the kids were sliding down snow hills, so we soon had to abandon the knitting and get the cameras out.
All of the flowers in Colorado look wonderful. I might even be into gardening if I could do it in cool weather and have such wonderful results. 
Here, my flowers just seem to …. die. Maybe I ought to water them more often. Yet another reason to move to Colorado asap. We’re going to have to investigate locations more completely.
Ok – now I’m off to get all of your weekend orders out and then answer the eleventy-billion emails that are sitting in my in-box. It’s a good thing Susan and Knitting Daughter are helping again today. Knitting photos on Wednesday, next week’s Sneak Up info on Friday. (Remember – no Sneak Up this week – WH has a LOT of photos to take. Boxes and boxes of stuff came in while we were gone. I’m hoping by Friday we will have a better idea of what will be up next week. For sure, the Wollmeise, because THAT is the yarn that kept me so captivated that I made the second sock immediately after the first. The colors and yarn are amazing.)
Sheri sowhatalldidyoudowhileIwasgonefortwoweeks??
Dang! You were in MN? It would have been fun to meet you!
Welcome back Sheri! I was hoping the blogging would resume for you today 🙂 I’m glad to hear you got so much progress made on those dreaded second socks. I’ve just been knitting and working away. Next week is the exciting road trip to Vancouver.
We are so glad you are back, Sheri. I know what you mean about the mountains getting into your soul. There is no place like it on earth. So glad you had a good time and got lots of knitting done. You deserved a break from running that ever so successful business that keeps us all broke and drooling for more. Cheers, and welcome back.
Yay! I didn’t know what to do with myself for two weeks while you were gone! I just kept hitting refresh, but nothing…
Welcome back, Sheri! And yes, I did know that little tidbit about getting off a horse’s back when they pee. I can’t wait to see the socks and sock yarn! We spent last week in Watertown, NY with family, knitting and swimming, and of course shopping. Good vacations are always too short!
Yay, you’re back!!!! I’m so glad you had such a wonderful time! Wollmeise!! Yay!!
That soap place would be heaven for me…but it would kill Travis. I drag him into places like that all the time, and he’s nasally sensitive, I guess; after I cram about 15 bars of soap under his nose, he finally washes his hands of me (pardon the pun) and waits outside! Last time we went to Lush, I forced about two dozen bath bombs on him and he took it, but sneezed for hours! (He’s a giver.)
I’m a mountain girl too – this is completely the wrong place for me, and I can’t wait to have a little altitude (and cool air!) surrounding me.
Welcome home, and hugs to you and WH (poor guy’s got a big week ahead of him, huh?)
Yay Sheri is back!! Welcome home Sheri!
Welcome home Sheri, so glad you had a wonderful vacation and a good rest. So much time to knit, thats great. Congratulations on all of your completed socks.
I think I passed you in Colorado! We were in Denver & Grand Junction and many points in between. And talked a LOT about moving there when I finish my master’s. As my uncle pointed out, it’s a great thing to live where you like to vacation…..
Welcome back! It sounds as if you had a wonderful time, relaxing time.
Glad you’re back! Those photos are beautiful – the flowers in particular – how gorgeous! I received two (!) Loopy orders while you were gone – but have yet to start those projects – soon I hope :).
Glad to have you back. We also love the Breckenridge area and talk seriously of retiring there. They say that people come for the winters and stay because of the summers. Hope you got to try Downstairs at Eric’s. My kids have to eat there five or six times every time we’re out there.
Spent last week in New Orleans visiting my college guy, on his co-op assignment. Talk about humidity! So eager to see what’s going to be new at Loopy Ewe. Let’s get going here!!
Absolutely delightful flowers!
woohooo! i’m back to work today after a mini-break of my own… in the last two weeks, though, i whipped up two pairs of mitts that are in the mail to you for Q2, they should be there by tomorrow, hope that’s not pushing it too much!
glad you had a nice trip and how fun to think forward to a future that sounds so enjoyable! 😉 and i can’t WAIT to see socks!! 😀
I’ve been knitting while you were gone – lace! Who would have thought… So, no socks and sock yarns were taken care of. However, I think I need more sock yarn. It would be celebratory – you’re back, I have to celebrate!
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed your vacation and delighted to hear completed pairs of socks happened!!
I knew it was the Wollmeise that had you so captivated! While you were gone, I um, uhhhh, slipped and fell and ordered some from Claudia. It is DELICIOUS. Can’t wait to see your socks. Looks like you had a wonderful vacation. The man and I often talk about moving to Colorado, it’s a key part of our 5 year plan to get the heck out of where we are now.
Welcome home Sheri, I sounds like a good time was had by all. Looking forward to seeing the socks on Wednesday.
That looks like such a fun trip. I can’t wait to see all of those finished socks. We had quite a 4th of July week too. We were visiting a different set of mountains. 😉 We went camping and got to see 5 different waterfalls! Pictures of the waterfalls are over on my blog. We also visited my IL’s and my 6 year old daughter ran in a 5k race. I only finished two pairs of socks during that trip. I did take Loopy with me to the waterfalls, but no socks made those trips. The hikes were a bit challenging and I tried to take as little as possible.
I hope you got the hats and mitts that I sent. I forgot to get a picture of them before boxing them up.
Glad your vacation was so wonderful-that’s what vacations are for. Hope you rested but if you are like the rest of us it never happened.
I thought while you were gone I would use up more of my stash than I did. Plus some new animals on the farm have taken up more of my time. But can’t wait to see the next sneak-up. I kept checking the Blog while you were gone. It was such a drag not being in contact for so long. Boy are we all spoiled. Now life can go back to “normal” again.
Looking forward to Wednesday’s blog.
Good to have you back.
Haha!! “Excess”ories. Love it.
Colorado looks beautiful…I can see why you want to move there!
In the two weeks since you’ve been gone, I worked…and then I quit my job. =P I’m currently looking for a new one.
I’d be willing to bet that you fell in love with Wollmeise while you were gone. I’ve been dying to get my hands on some and can’t wait for it to show up in the store!!
Welcome back! Your vacation sounds wonderful! I love the mountains – my favorite place by far! Yuu can see a very lovely mountain range from my kitchen window…..but alas, the nearest grocery store is 25 minutes away…..what you need to do for the view is worth it.
I’ve almost finished a worsted weight sweater for the youngest daughter (I know – can you believe knitting worsted in this weather), and working on a Sweet Loretta Hat in Glacier from Cider Moon, and a pair of socks in STR……
I personally can’t wait to start something with the Fiesta Boomerang (which I love), or the Dream in Color…….lots of stuff to start!
I confess that I did miss your blog a lot! My credit card has been resting, thank heavens! 🙂
Welcome Back Sheri!!!!!!
You were missed, as you can tell. I took a break from knitting since you were gone. I have been re-reading all of the Harry Potter books getting ready for the 21st.
Can’t wait.
Boy it seems like you’ve been gone forever!!! Mom has been bugging me to come see you again. She started a pair of socks last week & is thrilled how they are turning out & can’t wait to get more yarn.
We’re heading for the Ozarks this weekend for a family vacation – 27 of us! I hope to get a lot of knitting done (who am I kidding, I’m in the condo with Sofia & my great niece, Madeline, 2 under the age of 2 yeah right!) maybe on the trip down while the girls are napping. One can always hope.
I’m just about finished with a pair of socks I making out of the peppermint mocha. I ordered an extra hank so I’ll have enough to make Sofia a pair & maybe Madeline too if I’m lucky.
Soooo glad you’re back – wish you’d brought some of that cool air with you – this heat is the pits!
Welcome home!
What did I do… um,not sleep, sadly and start Mystery Stole 3. Apparently this is my sum of Shawls(stoles) and Socks. Good times. 😀 I leave for my own vacation on Sunday which is probably a good thing or I’d break my yarn diet for Wollmeise. 😉
I’m so glad you and your family had a wonderful, much deserved vacation!! Welcome back!! We all missed you very much!! I realized just how much I look forward to your blog updates…
I continued working on my Claudia chocolate sock (2nd) and finished one sock using Jitterbug (Velvet Olive, I think its called – but its a beautiful, deep forest green).
I’ve also been busy doing more cooking than usual, as my brother is staying with me for a while. Although he’s very good at assisting and cleaning up around my apartment!
Look forward to the Woollmeise… Stay cool! Its currently 94 degrees in the DC area – hot and humid… I’m trying to take my own advice…
Amy : )
Oh wow! It sounds like you had a wonderful vacation and all those twinless socks who have now found their mates…..Yippy!
Glad your back! I think Colorado is a good relocation choice. 🙂
Welcome back, Sheri! You were missed! It just wasn’t the same without your regular blog updates…not that that kept me from placing the odd order, just to keep in practice. Looks like a wonderful vacation. What gorgeous pictures! Will be looking forward to seeing your sock photos on Wednesday. Not to mention the sneak up info on Friday…!
Glad you’re back and glad the vacation was wonderful. I gotta say someone is very! thoughtful of knitters, up there in the mountains – and you knew! Well I survived the two weeks w/o a Loopy update (so far…)
Welcome Back Sheri and WH! I really missed you guys. It sounds like you (and Loopy) had a great time. I have been busily knitting in my spare moments, working through the stash so I can replenish!
So glad you had a wonderful vacation! you deserved it for sure!
Wow, I cannot believe you finisehd so many socks! what an accomplishment, that’s fantastic!
I’m so jealous! We usually go to Colorado every year, but we didn’t make it this year due to our kitchen remodel. Keystone is one of my favorite places. Can’t wait to see your socks!
Welcome back Sheri! I’m glad you had a great vacation. I can’t wait for the update. I actually caught myself thinking, “well, summer school gets out on Thursday and I could drive up to St. Louis to check out the Loopy Room this weekend…” Somehow sanity stepped back in. Anyway, I’m glad your back and can’t wait for the Woolmeise. I’ve heard some great things about that yarn for a while.
Wow looks like you had fun! I think I need a vacation too!
While you were gone I ordered yarn! Two loopy orders in like 3 weeks…I’m not just gonna be a groupie, I’m going to be an addict!
Great to have you back, Sheri! Definitely missed your regular blog entries. It sounds like you had a fabulous and exciting holiday. Colorado looks so beautiful. Thanks for all the photos.
It’s extremely hot in Toronto right now so I’m knitting my Summerfield socks and was just sipping the lemonade you sent. What I should be knitting is an alpaca sweater for my husband’s birthday which is in less than a month, but just looking at the alpaca is making me sweaty and itchy at the moment. Thank goodness for sock knitting.
While you were away we spent our spare time shopping for furniture and spent a slightly obscene amount of money on the most breathtakingly gorgeous Mission oak furniture at Harvest House, a local place where everything is handmade to order using only traditional Arts and Crafts techniques (sort of like making socks, I guess!).
Welcome back! Sounds like a great vacation. What is it about the mountains that just pulls us so?! I live in the middle of North Carolina and can easily get to either the beach or the mountains for a weekend, but when the choice is mine, I head west into the great Smoky Mountains or onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. Just thinking about it relaxes me! …Can’t wait to see photos of your socks!!
What did I do? Ummm, missed you of course! Sarah Lou and I took Loopy on a couple of field trips. 🙂
Besides that? I knitted a BSJ, and wished I was working on socks!
I’m glad you had a wonderful family vacation. Colorado is one of the states that I would dearly love to visit. Those flowers are breath-taking.
For the past 2 weeks…I worked, gardened, watered and re-watered (very dry), and I started on the Twisted Flower socks in J. Knits. I love the sheen in the yarn and the color is perfect, Indiana, of course!
Welcome back. I kept looking to see when the blogging would resume. Looks like you had a great time, and I am impressed with the # of PAIR of sock knit. I have SSS so bad, I am envious of that kind of determination and will power.
We were up to no good. Per usual.
Sheri we missed you. I was going thru loopy withdrawal. NO updates NO blogs. I’m glad you enjoyed your time off though.
I must get some Wollmeise. I’ve restrained myself from buying any yarn so far so I can stock up on that gorgeous stuff. I will be stalking the site all next week for it.
welcome home sheri. let’s see. what did i do for 2 weeks while you were gone?? i am knitting socks for a friend. but, i missed you here. i knew from your friends’ blog that you were having a wonderful time. your mountain and flower photos are beautiful. and yes, you know those kids are too! ( : looking forward to all your socks you were able to finish. so glad you had fun and time to knit with your friend. hugs, dynna
Well, I did order some AL while you were gone, it snuck back in stock LOL! Glad you had a good vacation! I’m quite sure you needed it! Looking forward to seeing your socks on Wednesday! 🙂 Good for you, some of those poor single socks have mates now! 🙂
We missed you, and welcome back! It felt funny without our Loopy News. Hope you are well rested. Must have been nice to go a while without packing boxes. Don’t know how you do it all.
Definitely not the same with you gone. Glad to hear the vacation was wonderful! We have 2 Milagros stores here in town. I can wander and smell the soaps for hours! Yeah Wollmeise got you out of the second sock syndrome! Told you that you would fall in love!
Welcome back! Really missed you and your blog – I admit I was checking for it while on vacation! I placed a little order, which is probably sitting in the Loopy Room waiting for me (I hope). I ran out of yarn for my Panda Cottons…need more to finish them up! Congrats on finishing pairs!!!
Well, Loopy and I and the family went to the beach on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. I did lots of knitting in the car on the way there and back, but I’m embarrassed to say I did little while I was there (although my bag was stocked with several skeins, needles, and patterns!). Somehow it didn’t seem like taking yarn to the beach while covered with sunscreen and sweat was the right thing to do. I did, however, take Loopy to the beach, and have photos to prove it! Our evenings were filled with activities…oh well, I’m back now and will resume knitting as soon as I unpack and do the laundry!
I have another hat to deliver to you…and plan to take a swing by the Loopy Room tomorrow to bring it to you, as well as my Loopy photos. Can I have a sneak peek at the Wollmeise???? Please….
5 PAIRS of sock?!?? 4 new singles plus a matched pair? That’s 6 actual socks in 2 weeks?!??? You are a machine, woman! Most inspiring.
I’m stuck in the final stages of a baby poncho with 1264 stitches in a round (it’s a ruffle) and I’m thinking it will never end. Will I ever return to socks?
(yes)
Glad you had a good time. I love to visit the mountains. I’m going to visit the VA version (Shenandoah) soon. We’ll see if Loopy likes those as well. 🙂
I missed you!! I’m glad you had a good time. It looks beautiful. I haven’t been to Colorado in about 30 years!! Maybe next summer. Can’t wait to see what all the new stuff is!
Welcome back–we really missed you! So glad that you had such a great vacation.
What have I been doing? Lots of reading, but no knitting! Hopefully my tendonitis will be completely gone soon.