Hawaii Watch (FO)

I've been slacking a bit on the blogging and knitting front.  Which is bizarre, because I have so much I'd like to share with you.  Well, on the life front... not so much on the knitting front, unfortunately.

I also feel a little bad, having kept these pictures to myself for so long, since somehow, many of my blog friends live in cold climes.  It seems unfair to have kept these pictures to myself when some of you could use a little sun therapy.

First on the knitting front.  I went to Hawaii with this: 
I may have been (as always) a little overly optimistic about what I would accomplish.  Seriously, I was seeing friends that I see once a year - why did I think I would knit and not drink mai tais?  Not that they are mutually exclusive (well, after two of the latter, it is), but it was a bit dark.  And then I found out that a guy I've known for about 10 years was retiring.  Anyway, that is my excuse for only having this to show after five days which included two flights:

That thing on the top is for a different post and the bright green was a failed attempt at a baby knit (not enough yarn).

But that dark green tube in the foreground became, since my return, a watch cap for Partner.  Last year, after I knit a watchcap for my brother in law, Partner said, "I'd love to have one of those."  Had I only known, I would have skipped all the 1/1 cables of Koolhaas!

Some FO shots from a spring-like day (Tinks - that train is heading your way!):

 

after all the ways I tried to save this, this is the only one that Typepad would accept, but it kind of looks cool
doesn't he look fierce?  Feast your eyes, Tyra!

But, you may not be here for the knitting this time.  I also have some lovely shots from around Hawaii.  I didn't have much time and, sadly, most of the places I wanted to visit weren't as I remembered them (some from just two years ago, some from more than a decade).  But I can't deny the sunny weather was nice:

I took some pictures near Diamond Head.  A guy passing by noticed my poor attempts to do a self-shot and kindly took a picture.  I like the picture but rather wished I'd arranged the bottom of my dress a bit more modestly (not for modesty's sake - I'm wearing a swimsuit - but for my self-esteem).

This is about my 10th attempt to catch some sailboats off Waikiki beach at sunset.  It looked better in person.

I went to the aquarium, where I saw this little guy - a frog fish.  It can stay stationary for days.  This guy moved while I was watching and he walked on those fins.  It's pretty wild.

It took two attempts, but I made it to Hanuama Bay.  Unfortunately, the snorkel shack was closed so I swam around for about 45 minutes with my swim goggles on.  Better than nothing, but not nearly as much fun as I've had when snorkeling and following the same fish around for 20 minutes.  My travel guide tip: after Hanuama Bay, there isn't much worth seeing on Oahu.  My Mom would suggest the Bishop Museum and we both liked the Polynesian Cultural Center.  But Oahu is either dirt poor or over-the-top-consumerism.  But really, spend no more than two days on Oahu and then head elsewhere. In my opinion.  I did find a neat little town on the North Shore this time, but after eight visits, I really hope next time to go to a different island.

I made two stops at Bubbles Ice Cream Shop.  I discovered this place about 5 years ago.  A locally owned place that makes their own mochis - yum!  I get six at a time (because mochis count for dinner when you're not at home!)  I recommend guava and chocolate mint.

why yes, I do believe those are stuffed animal nether regions in that picture.
Composition skillz, I haz them.

And, my favorite pictures of the trip.  Of course, I forgot my camera when I had the chance to take pictures at Diamond Head Lighthouse.  So, camera phone pictures: the lighthouse at Diamond Head

 
sunset at Diamond Head

Pattern: Classic World War II watch cap (rav)
Final measurements: medium
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted - just bought at Stitches West!
Modifications: none
Knitting yardage total 2011: 508

Comments

[Rue]

I thought that was malabrigo :) Fabulous colorway (you probably know I'm especially partial to Vaa).

And the Hawaii pics are lovely to look at during a 2am feeding, which is now done so I can go back to bed!

[heather]

awesome.

though i can't complain about not enough sunshine here... i can wish it were warmer...jealous of anyone who is lucky enough to be somewhere where it is warm enought o do that THIS time of year :)

[kate]

I, on the other hand (as opposed to Heather), can most definitely complain about a lack of sunshine!! Hawaii looks wonderful, although I understand that there are certainly different places to go for different things. Still, it looks both warm and sunny ....

Love the hat, and the accompanying pics.

[melissa]

love partner's new hat - that yarn is gorgeous!!

and speaking of gorgeous, ooooh your hawaii pictures are simply stunning. thank you for the virtual tropical getaway!
i especially like the third shot of the bay - so colorful and calming.

[twelvedaysold]

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

And you crack me up that you took your swift to Hawaii. I read it outloud to my husband. He just didn't get it at all.

[Rachel]

I don't really know if the pictures provided sun therapy not...they may have just made me more resentful that you got to spend time in Hawaii! ;)

Jokes aside, even if Oahu wasn't as pretty/fun as you imagined, it sounds like you had a good time and I'm glad. We went about a decade ago and went to Maui and Kauai...I'd recommend both those islands for certain.

I really like the cap and the color...but I have to say that Koolhaas is such a cool pattern, it's worth all those 1 by 1 cables!

[elizabeth]

Hawaii is so lovely! And I like that picture of your husband, too bad he's not drinking Fierce Roasted Coffee! ha!

[cmv]

wow that looks like an absolute dream vacation! thanks for taking us with you!