Daryl’s Excellent Mississippi Adventure…

The sun is shinning and the jackets came out fabulous, I don’t have photos because, well, I don’t know why I don’t have photos.  Everyone finished up at different times, so there was no opportunity for a class photo, but I got lots of hugs and saw lots of gorgeous jackets.  One of the highlights for me was an opportunity to sit in one of the Biplanes in the hanger underneath the studio, and pretend for a brief moment like I could fly…

I spent one more night in the Super 8 Motel, I had leftover pizza and I picked up a bottle of wine.  I called a couple of girlfriends, and caught up on Facebook and had myself a little party.  And then I finished knitting the neck of the beaded sweater that has been giving me so much grief over the last six years.  All that was left was the beaded edge around the armholes.

This morning, one of the guild participants Sharon, picked me up and we headed south on the interstate towards Jackson, MS, for the next round of lectures and a workshop.  Sharon was a great traveling partner, and we chatted about all kinds of things, while I finished knitting the beaded edge on the sweater.  Once I finished, I sat back really contented with the fact that one of my UFO’s was finally finished, and I could empty out that tote, and then to my horror, I realized I had no more knitting projects to carry around with me and I was kind of enjoying getting back into knitting.

Sharon got on the phone to her guild buddy in Jackson, Marcy Petrini, who I would be eventually staying with to inquire where we should go to solve this problem, and we made a detour into Yazoo City of recent tornado fame, in search of a famous knitting shop.  A fiber person can’t be without a project….

We pulled off the interstate and headed into Yazoo City.  I have to say I’ve never actually seen first hand the destruction of a tornado, only the photos of damage on the television, and it was frightening.  The selective destruction, one house in rubble, and the next one as if nothing unusual happened that day.  Whole paths completely flattened, and the next block over completely spared.  Twisted wreckage, missing roofs, trees broken like match sticks.  Very very humbling…

We went into the downtown historic district area, and there, sharing space with a former hardware store turned antique/furniture, crafts and decorative treasures store called Grace Hardware, was a place called the Knutty Knitters.

I just smiled as I walked in, on the left, were balls and balls and skeins and more skeins of wonderful colorful yarns, and the woman who actually owned the hardware store half, her name was Susan, now an avid knitter, came over to ask if she could help.  In true southern hospitality, she didn’t laugh hysterically when I said, I’m in desperate need of a project.

She patiently asked if I had any idea of what kind of project, and I said it had to be small, so it could fit in my computer tote on an airplane.  The needles would have to be small, so I didn’t poke the passenger next to me, and so she graciously directed me right to the sock wall.  I did say, that one of my bucket list of things to do before I die, was to turn a heel.  I was miffed that one of the 20 something students I taught this weekend seemed to talk like she has been turning heels her whole life.  I’m 55 and a professional fiber person and I’ve never knitted a pair of socks.  Sort of goes along with never having woven a dishtowel.  Well, it’s time…

I wanted a simple pattern, and I didn’t want to fuss too much.  She pointed out some of her little kits, and I squealed in delight when she showed me the end cap display of Little Cans of Paint, very appropriate for a knitting shop within a hardware store, and these little Cans of Paint contained two skeins of super wash Merino sock yarn, and the directions for a simple pair of socks.  I picked out a teal combination, my favorite colors, and she found two sets of double pointed bamboo needles, because I’m not getting stuck like I did with this sweater, I’m knitting both socks at the same time!

I paid for my purchase, we all hugged and thanked each other for a wonderful shopping experience, and Sharon and I asked about places for lunch.  Sadly most of the good eateries were still closed because of tornado damage.  But Ubon’s barbeque was still open, world famous, and off we went.

I had a great southern meal.  A pulled pork sandwich with slaw, and some sweet potato fries, the dipping sauce was to die for, and I got to meet the owner of this wonderful southern experience, who told me he was heading to Manhattan in June to bring his award winning barbecue to a street fair there.  As an out of towner, he handed me a huge Sharpie marker and let me write on his wall.

Sharon and I got back in the Yukon and headed on to Jackson.  Tonight there was a reception at the Mississippi Crafts Center held in my honor, I put on my best handwoven dress, and met some of the most wonderful interesting people.  I’ll be lecturing there for the next couple of days.  All of my boxes had arrived, and I was able to relax and look forward to the next few days of teaching.  The Craft Center, which housed HGA’s Small Expressions last summer and two of my works, is a spectacular facility, and I felt privileged to be invited to speak there.

That’s me on the right hand side, in the long hand painted handwoven dress.