The Round Up: April 2024

A bit of a belated round-up for April as I was on the road for a lot of the late month/early May, but I’m excited to look back and fill you in on what I’ve been up to!  April has never been my favorite month and to be perfectly honest I’m rather glad it’s over.  Early may has brought budding to all of the trees and flowers are popping up all over the place and I’m grateful for all of this evidence of new life.

Books: I’ve continued working my way through Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series with Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows.  Admittedly wasn’t a huge fan of the series in the beginning but they definitely keep getting better.  I also read and enjoyed Kate Quinn’s new book The Phoenix Crown (her Huntress and Rose Code are two of my favorite novels of all time).  My friend Brianna Madia also released her second memoir Never Leave the Dogs Behind and her writing never ceases to captivate me. 

Art: I cast on (another) sweater - this time the Doppio Sweater by Seunghee Hong.  It’s been a great scrap buster and while I’ve been playing some rather stressful yarn chicken and am at a risk of running out of some colors before I finish, I’m really pleased with this spontaneous knit.  I’m also working on The Sophie Scarf by Petite Knit and it’s a darling little knit kerchief that I’ll probably make a few more of once I’m finished.  It’s a perfect plane knit, and I have quite a few flights on my schedule.

I also got a chance to capture the total solar eclipse in Vermont and boy howdy that was an experience!  Next time I want to enjoy it without my camera, but I’m glad I was able to share what I saw with friends from all over who didn’t get a chance to see it. 

Food: I tried to become a regular at Captain and Stoker in Monterey and if you ever have a chance to visit I highly recommend their Lavender Honey Latte and Avocado toast with a soft boiled egg.  I made it there 2/3 mornings I was in California and can’t wait to get back there some day.

Physical: I entered my first time trial on a bike! Stage 1 of the Montana Gravel Challenge was in Missoula, MT at the end of April and while I was taking off for a work trip in Portland the following day, I thought to myself why not give it a try?  The equivalent of an interval start nordic race, you are on your own for about 8 miles of what turned out to be a VERY muddy gravel race.  

Work Things: Mid April I headed to Monterey, California for the Sea Otter Classic a bike extravaganza.  Competitions and races for all bike disciplines happen for four days straight at the Laguna Seca Raceway.  I was there to photograph the Fuego XL a 100km mountain bike race as well as a 50 mile gravel race.  I also got to work with some women’s bike organizations to film their women’s panel and happy hour to make a reel you can find HERE.