Quiet Japan

I started to write a post as we were leaving for the airport, but since we got here there has been no wifi (waifai). I can't even get on in the Starbucks. The web page is in Japanese and alas, me no speakee... The room has intaa netto with a cable for ¥1260 a day. That works out to about $16.00!
UPDATE: How the heck did that happen?!? My post was posted! I had set it to post later and it did. I guess it used my cell data to publish. How do ya like that?
My search for yarn has all but evaporated. Nothing comes up on the Knitmap for Mihama-Ku or Chiba which is where we are staying. I went for a walk today in the surrounding neighborhood and I stumbled upon a small store called Cuore but they were closed.

:(

The first thing that caputured my attention was a scarf in the window:

Then I noticed the fabric and the yarn! But they were closed. :(

I will try again tomorrow. I'd be really happy if I found some Noro. For a good price. Most everything is quite expensive here and it's so weird because things are expressed in 100s or 1,000 Yen. It really sounds funny. Lunch for 4 at McDonald's was ¥3,400. And when we got cash from the ATM two bills came out for ¥10,000 each! It felt like we pulled out $40.00. In reality it was about $250.00. There don't seem to be yarn stores like we have in the states. They are more like general craft stores with yarn. Knit Map lists the closest ones in Tokyo which is about an hour away by train. I'm a little leery of going alone for the first time. I'm hoping that we can get Friday to do that or Saturday before we leave. Or I can just get the Noro at my LYS. Not as much fun though. This area of Chiba is really quiet. I was struck by how few people are around. At night my view out of the hotel window shows only one or two cars at a time on the road. In Amsterdam there are lots of people walking around or in cafes all throughout the day and night. I guess they are mostly at work here. This is a business/residential district. I haven't even seen any Tai-Chi groups. I was hoping to run while here, but I haven't seen anyone running, even in the park next to the hotel. I'm not entirely comfortable running around in my workout clothes with no one else doing it. I found some routes on runkeeper.com that I might try tomorrow if I get brave enough. Well see... We've had some really good sushi and sashimi. Supa fresh! The guys that have been taking us out feed us way too much! I'm getting hungry now waiting for the trade show to be over.

Turning Japanese

We're our way to Japan this morning for a trade show at Makuhari Mese. It's a broadcasting show called Interbee. We've never been to Japan before, so we're looking forward to the adventure. My search for yarn stores near where we are staying in Mihama-Ku has proved fruitless so far. Knitmap shows some craft stores in Tokyo. Yey Knitmap! I didn't think to try it for Chiba, so I'll wait till I have wifi access.

Dancing Days

I had a good walk / run today. My running pace was Dancing Days. :) I almost didn't go because it was getting late. I should never try to figure out something with my knitting before I go out for a run.
Houndstooth BeginningI am working on the Houndstooth scarf and because my gauge is so different from the pattern, I needed to find out how many more repeats to do before I get to the center section. I determined that I need to do 65 pattern repeats on each end and 94 rows of ribbing in the center. Hope I have enough yarn! ~Update - I don't have enough yarn. I weighed what I have already knitted and found out that I need at least 2 more skeins of white and one more black.~ The funny thing about this pattern is that she doesn't say to finish the second side with so many pattern repeats. The way it reads, you do one repeat, knit two rows and bind off. Obviously this is not what was done if you look at the picture.
I finished my Maybe Mulberry scarf for the LYS. I kind of like these shots.I knit two rows of twisted drop stitch in the Luna and knit two rows in Stella. Needles = US 8. Two balls Stella and 1 ball Luna.

Warmth for a chilly evening.

New home at the store.

While I was at the store yesterday I made this necklace for the shop. I think it came out cute. I haven't crocheted in years. Ever since I picked up knitting again I haven't looked back. It went really quick, and I know it would be a lot quicker once my crochet skills come back. I think I'd prefer a metal needle too. I was using a bamboo one and it seemed too sticky for me.

It's an amazingly gloomy day here in So. Cal. It rained last night, and it looks like it may rain - Oops, it's raining again right now. My mood fits the gloom and I'm not sure why. Here's a picture to cheer me up:

Malaga Cove
I finished these last week. They were designed by Stephannie Tallent of Sunset Cat Designs. The yarn is Road to China Light by the Fibre Company. I love this yarn. I knew when I bought it that it wanted to be fingerless mitts. It has been staring at me for a few months now. I never put it in the stash; it has been sitting on top of my knitting bookshelf. All other projects took a back seat while I was knitting these. I just couldn't stop!   They worked up quickly. I knit them two at a time on 2 circular needles, just like my socks. I think I'll go put these on right now to warm my soul. ;)