NETA Spa weekend

Every time I think I’ll get started on a new post, one about the NETA Spa weekend, and now since, something comes up, like Norton AntiVirus that restarts the computer, losing everything I had forgotten that I had waiting, unsaved, OR something where I leave the room , answer the phone, talk to an employee…. and it’s gone.  So there.  Whew!!!!  Try number 16783… 
We left Friday morning.  That’s a start.  The plan was simple: NO PLAN.  When we reached NH we decided that we would make a stop in Kittery to have lunch and shop, just a little, that’s what you do in Kittery, that’s what it’s about.  So, we went to the Coldwater Creek outlet,  got some great deals at the 70% off lowest price sale and found a place along the river for soup and salad.  Okay!  On to Portland, without mishap.. and sliding into the hotel just before the really heavy snow squalls began.  By the time other friends arrived, the roads had iced up enough that we waited into the evening before heading over to Spa central at the Doubletree.  The vendors had set up already and sales looked brisk.  Kudos to the people that chose the vendors.  The selection was not just the ‘usual’.  Old favorites were joined by new ones, and by the way shopper’s bags were filling, I’m not alone in appreciating this.  I really didn’t buy much, I am increasingly aware of the pile(s), gathering like storm clouds about to burst, behind me.  But, 20% off Lantern Moon needles was too good to pass up, I increased my collection by two pairs, and the buttons… that’s what I came home with, buttons, lots of beautiful buttons… between the deals at the spa vendors and then the WALL OF BUTTONS at Central Yarn, oh well.  I have absolutely no plans for them, they’ll enhance my button box, and I have something to plan a project around. 
We ate!  Saturday, we hit a terrific Thai place, quite small, near the Caravan Bead shop.  (Yep, I was very good there, didn’t buy, looked at everything, fun place.)   Back to the food.. Excellent soup!  Full of coconut milk and cilantro, I’d go back to Portland just to eat.  Sunday, Cindy and I went to Gilbert’s Chowder House.  That was off the charts for great seafood chowder.  I know, I should be raving about the Spa.  But the Spa is there to exist without structure, no particular plans and it was very very crowded.  Not once, were we able to find a chair, or space to put a chair, in the main room.  When we did sit down to knit, spin, we sat in the hallway, or in the middle of the vendor’s space.  It became clear rather early on, that it would be better to leave our wheels in the trunk and just carry spindles and our knitting bags.
With so many people,  it follows that there were SO many wonderful knitted items walking around.  Inspiration was everywhere!   I found sweaters, that are and have been on My list, walking around.  It’s a wonderful thing.. checking them out, getting hints on changes that should be made, and all that stuff.
And what did I knit??  Not much.  I realized the first night, something that I already knew.. that I just would not have enough of the gold beaded yarn to continue the shawl as I was.  Cindy and I looked at it, and my first purchase was a pair of #13’s ( the Lantern Moons).   That night I frogged what I had brought with me.  Saturday I started off fresh with fewer stitches and the bigger needles.  Starting a lace pattern, even a simple one, with all the chatting, visiting, and moving around didn’t work out very well for me.  I forgot WAY too many times, just where I was.  By the sixth row, I had six extra stitches.  That night I frogged again.  I do like the results.  I’m still hoping I have enough yarn.  I am using stitch markers; something that would have made all the difference on Saturday. 
Sunday, we met and met again, Spa goers that were staying in our (remote) hotel.  Instead of heading back over, we packed up and went to see the Portland lighthouse, the day was so beautiful.  Cindy has posted pics on her blog of us standing in front of the lighthouse.   My camera went dead as soon as I got to the lighthouse, hers shortly after, as well as another Spa-er’s that we ran into while wandering around. There must be a magnetic force there on the point.  Insert here the Twilight Zone tune, na na na na.. and repeat..  or if you were a spa attendee, insert the numa, numa song because it is certainly not out of your head yet).