The road less taken....

(there is a reason for this, but I am getting ahead of myself) This is my photo essay on the joys of sheep and wool - Ode to Rhinebeck.

I noticed that since it HAD FINALLY STOPPED RAINING I could see some autumn color on the pretty tree across the street from my at. I snapped this as I headed out to The Yarn Tree to meet the bus at 5:45 Saturday morning

I actually find a parking spot on S 4th Street & Driggs so I had time to have coffee and a chocolate donut before getting on the bus. We made one stop in Manhattan to pick up the rest of our group at HABU Textiles. Then we were on our way.

Do you wanna know why certain roads are less traveled? ( See the title does have relevance to my tale) Because a big ass bus can't get go down it without getting stuck! That's why - See:

This is our BAB that has gouged a big whole in the road and is now stuck and can not move.

And these are my follow travelers standing in the most dangerous intersection in Bedford NY (The Police and Fireman both told us this) trying to make the bus lighter and easier to move - it didn't work.

Here are the Police and the FD and more police

How many Men does it take to move a stuck bus? More than you see here 'cause we had to get more from the next town and they came with a BIGGER tow truck:
got down under the bus attached the chain and we were back on our way!

Sunshine in Rhinebeck:

Angora bunnies:

Much walking and shopping the ensued. I was a good girl - I stuck to my budget and did not go crazy. I looked at every vendor, stroked all the lovely yarns, petted angora bunnies, ogled all the decadent fibers and generally had an awesome time. Unfortunately my P!M!S!(thanks mamacate) had progressed to M!S! - back ache, aching legs & breasts, narcolepsy - the usual unpleasant side effects - so I was very tired and achy and ready to go back to the bus by 4:00pm. The bus was leaving at 5 so I spent the remander of time petting my new yarns and sharing oohs and ahhs with everyone else showing off thier finds as they came back to the bus.

As we were leaving these appeared in the sky not 1 but 2 rainbows - how cool is that? On the ride home Linda - the owner of the Yarn Tree - had a raffle with prizes for everyone on the trip - I won a bag of handspun natural wool that will be great for hats or felting. Last picture the night sky as we drove home - I tried to get a picture of the full moon but it is hidden behind a cloud. All in all it was a grand experience. I didn't meet up with any bloggers I knew, although I did see Norma and Nathania as I was heading out trying to find size 7 bamboo circulars, from what I overheard of their conversation - they were as hot tired and "crowded" out as I was, so I didn't stop and say hello - I just wanted to go sit and veg on the bus by then myself.

I will post pictures of the cool goodie bag from the Yarn Tree and the yarns I picked up from Brooks Farm, A Twist of Alpaca, Moorehouse Farms, my other purchases and the yarn I won later - its time to make more coffee and rest. David is home sick and I think he has passed his evil germs my way - I am cold and achy and stuffed up myself today.

The sun will come out tomorrow.......

Or at least on Saturday (sorta). Rhinebeck might not be a total wash out after all. Sunday doesn't look much better. Sigh - I will just have to make sure my wool stays dry. Now where did I put my duck boots?

water water everywhere

It has been raining steadily here since late last night - the parkway was flooded on my way to work this morning and coming home ( I was smart this time though - I avoided the parkway all together and took Hillside Ave all the way home - lots of lights but no floods) I have been cold and wet all day, so by the time I got home tonight I wanted something warm and comforting for dinner. After checking the pantry I came up with something yummy -

Curried Pumpkin Soup

1 can pumpkin
1 can coconut milk
1 can chicken broth
1 tsp - 1 tbls curry powder (depends on what kind you have and how strong you like the flavor.
Salt & pepper to taste

Mix everything in a sauce pan till hot - adjust seasonings to your taste.

This was really good - warm, spicy & creamy - it really hit the spot. Since I didn't have any naan or chutney, I ate mine with a slice of apple pie mixed with some tikka masala powder. Yum Yum.

Guess what? My knitpicks order arrived LOOK:



Aren't they pretty? Those are definitely my favorite colors - all I need is to add some greens and purples and it would be perfect.

I have been jealously looking at so many hand knit socks on peoples blogs - I know I would love hand knit socks - I just can't seem to get myself to knit any.

Well I am going to go play with my yarn and work on my FBS..................

FBS Redux

Yes I decided to cast on the FBS in the angora/alpaca handspun from MS&W- I bought this yarn specifically to make this shawl, so last night while watching NCIS and Supernatural I wound the skein and started knitting. I love this pattern - once I figured out what I was doing on the first one I made, the pattern became clear and the knitting easy. I like the way it looks - see:



The yarn is soo light and bunny soft - it is a pleasure to handle. Since I only have 4 oz, I think I will end up with a scarf rather then a shawl but it will be a lovely accent over a blouse or jacket.

I'll admit I was a little lazy in choosing this pattern - all the other skeins of yarn I have are in over 1000 yard range and I didn't feel like winding that much yarn last night.

I am still waiting for my knitpicks order to show up - it only shipped on Friday so I know I have at least a week more to wait, but I am anxiously awaiting this in Redwood forest. I am in love with this sweater and want it now

Feeling better now

So I stopped cursing and ordered another skein of yarn - I think I may even add a pattern repeat since the stole seems a little shorter than I would like - I will have to see.

My dilemma now is what to cast on next? I have the lovely buttercream yarn from Red Bird - or the fabulous lace wt from Mystical creations the peach not the creamy one. I also have this gorgeous alpaca/angora I picked up at MS&W you can't really tell the color in that picture - it is sort of a brown/black/charcoal heathery color. I am thinking of making another Flower Basket Shawl out of it since I only have 4 oz.

Now that the weather has gotten colder I am wearing more of my hand knits to work. One of my account managers said to me today that he wouldn't recognize me without one of my scarf/shawls on. Today I am wearing this one:


Can I tell you how much I love this yarn? Mountain Colors Weavers Wool - it is no soft and warm and the colors are amazing - I am definitely going to look for some more of this at Rhinebeck this weekend - that is if we don't get washed away getting there.

I also have the 3 skeins of Shepherds Socks I bought in Utah - that would make a lovely shawl too.

Decisions, decisions...........................

too upset for a title

I ran out of cascade 220 color 9429 with just 7 rows left - that includes the 6 rows of garterstich that edge it - can you say F&*k?

Think Pink

Your Hair Should Be Pink

Hyper, insane, and a boatload of fun.You're a traveling party that everyone loves to follow.

What's" Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

This is really funny, cause once a long time ago my hair was pink - bright fushia pink - I loved it!!

Flotsom & Jetsom

I hadn't realized how long it had been since last I blogged. A few times I tried to get in but blogger kept giving me an attitude, so I just stopped trying.

Let's see - what is going on? Work is busy right now - We are getting a complete computer system upgrade and all the Field Assistants are being trained as power users - sort on local system support - and we are being trained first. I am leaving the 30 for a week in Chicago - if anyone can recommend a good LYS in the Chicago/Lake Forest/Niles area - I would appreciate it. Especially if they are open late - training is supposed to run from 8 - 5 every day. I am flying out on Sunday evening so I doubt I will be able to do any shopping that night.

There is nothing on TV tonight - Friday is my Sci Fi Channel night but Stargate and Atlantis are in reruns and I don't like any of the new shows that are on. So far I am not overly impressed with this new season. There are only a few shows I am hooked on:

Bones - David Boreanez is still hot -- even without fangs and a leather coat.
Supernatural - great show! delicious chills and good story writing love this show
Invasion - boy am I hooked on this one - really clever and well done and the story keeps you guessing about what is going to happen next and what is up with the different characters.
The Night Stalker - I like this one - guess you can tell I like spooky TV - I am watching this I/o CSI cause I figure it probably won't last and I can catch CSI in reruns.

Thank goodness Hockey is back!!!!! I love to sit and knit and scream at the TV while watching a game. I have been a Ranger fan since I was 10 years old and my girlfriend Kathy and her dad got me hooked on the sport and the Rangers. I was really disappointed with the loss last night - but if you take that many stupid penalties you are going to lose more often than not - they were lucky Wednesday night against Boston. Tonight I am watching the Devils/Flyers - can you hope both teams lose?

I frogged the elann shrug - I totally misread a section of the pattern and screwed up royally - I am not too upset though the new pattern on their site is a much better fit for my more ample endowments. I am going to start over after I finish my green stole.

I think I am going to use the tencel/cotton yarn I bought for the Mediterranean
Lace shawl from AGOL - I really like the shaping on this shawl and think this yarn would work beautifully for this.

One more week till Rhinebeck!!!! I am really glad it was not this weekend - this weather sucks! I hope everything is dry and cool next weekend. I would love to meet up with any bloggers who are going to be there on Saturday. Mind you I do not need anymore yarn - I am being pushed out of my apt by the ever increasing stash! AND I just ordered a bunch of yarn from Knitpicks - I had one skein each of autumn alpaca cloud and maple leaf shimmer and wanted more to make a larger shawl out of each and since I needed a few more things to get to $30 and free shipping, I also ordered 4 redwood forest shadow and the Sweet Mary Jane cardigan pattern.

I plan to stay in all weekend and knit - the boys are in Fla this week, so it is just David and I and since we are mostly broke ( and I am saving what money I do have for next week) this will be a stay at home weekend. Hopefully the weather will finally cool off and I can enjoy the knits I have made or received from my SP's this past year.

Don't have any pictures to liven up this post - nothing really worth taking - I will post the stole when it is done and the yarn when it arrives.

Later..........

another type of MEME

another type of MEME

1) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, liposuction and air conditioning.
2) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.
3) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.
4) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.
5) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Brittany Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.
6) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.
7) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.
8) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.
9) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.
10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans...

---Re-post this if you believe in legalizing gay marriage

I never could get the hang of Thursdays

ugh - I am sick, tired and achey today. I have had a migraine and migraine hangover since Saturday - this has progressed into a head cold/sinus mess and I am feeling miserable. My boss is on vacation this week so calling in sick is not an option.

The only thing left to do is post some eye candy. Looky what came in the mail yesterday:


lace wt tencel/cotton from Mystical Creations the color is vanilla & this


fingering wt merino also from Mystical Creations in peach harvest.

I feel much better just looking at them! Anyone have any suggestions for the tencel? I have never used anything this fine before or in this fiber. The wool is gorgeous - soft and warm and the colors - beautiful! I am definitely going to order from them again.

I have been reading many blogs and have seen beautiful pictures of peoples gardens (especially Norma's) so I thought I would post a picture of mine - it is hard work, but the rewards of gardening are so worth it:

Isn't it great - the only thing I have not killed!

I also cast on for another project (surprise, surprise knitting ADD strikes again) - I am knitting this in this - here is a pic of the first few rows - I am hoping to finish this in time to wear to Rhinebeck.

It is a simple pattern and an easily remembered stitch, minimal shaping and small pieces - if I knit every day - I am pretty sure I will have it done in time. I finished about 5 inches last night so I am almost up to the armhole shaping.

Well my head is pounding and my nose is running and my lunch is almost over - so it is back to work for me.

Later....................