Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

It’s Friday.  I’m tired.  So, I’m just going to flash the new additions to my stash.

More glass needles from the Ernsts.

Socks that Rock

Sock yarn from The March Hare.

I can’t really remember where I got this sock yarn from, but it is in a lovely Rhinebeck colorway.

Gorgeous stuff from Jennie the Potter.

Stop off at WEBS before heading home.

Clearance Cascade 220 – sweaters worth

Sock yarn for over-the-knee socks.

Valley Yarns from left to right: Amherst (balsam), Lenox (grape jelly), Deerfield (chocolate) – a sweaters worth of each

Mrs S and I trying to get all my yarn packed away for the trip home.

Part 1

Part 2

Sunday was soooo much better than Saturday! I’m not sure if it was the weather or the normal course of things, but there was hardly anyone there!

After we were finished, we went to eat downtown.

We walked around and found this cool paper store.

We also found the Beekman Arms, where we will probably be staying next year.  The Quality Inn was B.A.D.  Take a look:

Those are the keys to all the rooms we were shuffled into during our 3 night stay.   We checked into room 219 Friday night.  After we had unpacked our clothes and gotten ready for bed, Mrs S discovered there was no hot water in the sink.  After several minutes of running, it still felt like ice.  Deciding this was not too terrible a problem, we decided to use the tub instead.  It was then we discovered the tub did not drain – at all.  There was 2″ of standing water.  Needless to say, we had to move.  The front desk quickly brought us the keys to room 210. 

We stayed in room 210 Friday night and Saturday night.  Though, the shower was a little on the chilly side.  Sunday morning, Mom was in the shower and the water completely shut off!  I called the front desk and asked that they check our room.  When we returned from the festival Sunday evening, we got a call from the front desk.  They said our toilet was leaking into the room below us.  They said we needed to move to another room.  Now, this was not such a big deal; however, they did not offer to compensate us for all the trouble.  We had to ask.  They acted like it was no big deal.

Once again, we moved.  Now in room 212, we began unpacking, again.  The room felt very chilly and a little loud.  After a few minutes, I asked if the window was open.  Mom & Mrs S thought  not, but I asked them to check anyway.  Sure enough, not only was the window open, the latch was broken and would not close.  Now, the temp was dipping into the 30s, and we were only on the 2nd story. 

We finally ended up in room 213 late Sunday night.  Yes, they finally did compensate us; however, I think next year a B&B is in our itinerary.  There is no way I will risk another experience like this one again.

Tomorrow: WEBS and stash addition

Part 1

So, we all went to bed Friday night and woke up early to go to the festival.  Luckily, we got lost and ended up coming in the back way, missing out on the long line to get in the gate, and grabbing an absurdly close parking space. 

Having read experiences on Ravelry, we made our way quickly to The Fold’s booth. 

Yes, there was already a line at 9:15 am! (The gates opened at 9:00 am) However, we didn’t let this stop us!

We got Socks that Rock!

I can’t wait to work with it!  If it knits up half as good as it looks, I think this is my new addiction!

We saw all kinds of cuties.

We watched as a little baby sheep was sold for $975!

After several hours of shopping, we got stamped and went to the car for lunch and to drop off bags.

It was at that point that we really saw how big this event really is.  I’m not sure I ever saw the end of the cars!

Once back in the gates, I ran into all the people who came in those cars.  It is well documented my issues with personal space.  I thought the wool fumes would help me out, but sadly, they didn’t.  There were people everywhere!  Several times I had to put myself in “time-out” so I did not hurt anybody.  Mom & Mrs. S continued to shop and all was good. 

For some reason, fall leaves are very soothing to me.  So, needless to say, I made it most of the day with my temper still intact.  However, excitement had me sleeping poorly for 2 days, and I hit the wall hard around 3:30 Saturday afternoon.  We went back to the hotel, and I crashed (face down on the bed) for about 3 hours. 

Once I joined the land of the living, we ordered pizza and hung out in our room.  I taught Mom Magic Loop, and she started on her very own Podster Gloves with some yarn & needles she picked up at the festival.

Tomorrow: Day 2 at the festival & the city of Rhinebeck

Way back in January, I invited Mrs. S to go to Rhinebeck.  When she accepted, I began planning and waiting.  The planning was so much easier than the waiting, let me tell you!  We decided to fly out of Huntsville instead of Birmingham early Friday morning.  That ended up being a good choice. 

When we got to the airport, we discovered that our plane had been delayed so long that we were going to miss our connecting flight in Atlanta.  The wonderful guy who was working the Delta counter quickly got us on another fight through Cincinnati and had us arriving in Albany only 50 minutes later than our original flight.

Once we arrived in Cincinnati, we were again treated to  a delayed flight. 

No worries, though.  We had knitting and coffee.

Once we were on our way, we arrived in Albany and picked up our car.  Mom had missed her connection in Atlanta, though. We had a couple of hours before her flight arrived, so we checked out a nearby yarn shop and had a late lunch.  We picked up Mom and headed down to Rhinebeck. 

Mom had made reservations at Le Petit Bistro Friday night.  It was definitely a night of new food experiences.

Escargot and fresh picked wild mushrooms for appetizers.

Puffer Fish Tails over spinach and rice for dinner.

I was also able to finally, after 2 1/2 years, find and eat a good Creme Brule.  They also had homemade ice cream.  I forced Mom to get the pumpkin flavor.  Oh. My.Goodness! That was the best ice cream I have ever eaten! Yummy!  I can not say enough about this restaurant.  The food was superb.  The service was impeccable.  I would highly recommend going there anytime you are in Rhinebeck.  I know I will.

Tomorrow: the festival!

I am so sorry!  I know I have been super quiet for awhile now.  I’m having difficulties at work and have been a grumpy grouch lately.  I’m working hard to correct it, but I don’t  want to expose you guys to complaints and general grumpiness.  I have lots to tell you, though.  As soon as I can, I’ll tell you all about my first trip to Rhinebeck, all my new yarn, and what I’m working on right now.

Until then, I’ll leave you with a funny pic of Boy Child.

I finally have a finished project to show!

When I started, I named this one the Autumn Leaves Cardigan because the beautiful copper color reminded me of the leaves that magically appear in the fall.  Little did I know that it would fulfill its name.  You see, I dearly love autumn.  Here in the South, autumn often brings sweet relief from oppressive heat.  It also brings the aforementioned leaves.  I look forward to this time of year constantly.  It always, always seems to take forever to get here.  Like kids long for summer vacation, I long for fall.  I longed for this one to be done.

I even got to use my cute little fabric buttons!

I used Wendy Bernard’s Pink pattern (Ravelry link).  I wanted a v-neck cardigan, so I worked until the pattern said to join for working in the round, only I didn’t join.  I also did not work the decreases for the arms.  I always wish I had more room in the arms.  Now that I’m done, I find it is a little too much room.  I also worked turn hems instead of ribbing.  In hindsight, I should have done the same with the button bands.  I think it may be a little short, but I’m sure it will be okay with jeans.

I was worried a little about this yarn.  Most of the comments I’ve read say that Swish Worsted is not truly a superwash wool.  Based on this, I threw it in the sink, rolled it in my blocking towels and threw it on the blocking boards.  I noticed that it was stretching under the weight of the water.  Since I wanted it to be form fitting, I decided to take a chance and threw it in the dryer on low.  It worked like a charm!  It did fuzz up a little, but it became so much softer.

I planned on this being the only sweater I was going to take with me to Rhinebeck, but now I’m not sure I like it enough to take with me.  I’ve started a new sweater, Lucy in the Sky.  I’m hoping I can finish it before we leave.  Keep your fingers crossed!

Why, yes, I do remember watching reruns of Laugh In.

I have been working on so many super secret projects, I’ve had to be a little quiet on the blogging front.  I started a new project that I can share.  I wanted to knit knee-high socks for my trip, but it looks like I’m not going to have enough time to finish any using fingering weight yarn.  So, I got to thinking.  I have 5 random skeins of worsted weight (Knit Picks Wool of the Andes) that has been sitting in my stash for about five years.  I love toe up socks.  The two thoughts collided and I decided to work up a basic pattern for worsted weight boot socks. 

Now I know they look a little boring, but sometimes you need a basic knit that goes with everything.  Like my plans for a basic knee-high pattern for fingering weight yarn, I hope the worsted pattern works out.

Friday Fill-in

1.   I have a history of making decisions very quickly.

2.   What the weather is going to be like in Rhinebeck is something I wish I knew.
 
3.   I’m eating (or recently ate) Fuji Apple Chicken Salad from Panara Bread.

4.   I can’t wait to get on the road, again.

5.   So that’s it, that’s all the time I have left to knit for our trip?

6.   A little knitting is better than nothing!

7.   And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to finishing one sock, tomorrow my plans include trying to finish sewing a lap blanket and Sunday, I want to go to church!

This is my superhero belt!  When I wear it, it will only give up the moola I’ve budgeted for our trip to Rhinebeck.  It will draw me to only the most delicious and scrumptious yarns.  It will block the lust for player yarn*.  It will send out signals to fun interesting knitters to come visit.  It will clear out the lines and rudeness.  It is my superhero belt.  Now, all I need is an outfit to match.

* Player yarn is yarn that talks a sweet talk until you succumb to its charms and bring it home.  In the cruel light of morning, you wonder what in the world you saw in it.

A Divine Appointment

Wendy Blight

“He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27 (NIV)

Every Memorial Day weekend my friend Karen and I travel with our families to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, for five days of rest and relaxation. We just cannot wait to dig our toes in the sand, take long walks on the beach, and enjoy the island’s incredible sunsets. Every trip is special, but this most recent trip stood above all others.

Karen and I ran to the local grocery. Feeding nine people for five days resulted in two carts overflowing with food and supplies. We approached the checkout lines looking for the shortest line. We chose a line with an older wo man without a cart. Apparently waiting on someone else, she motioned for us to go ahead of her. Moments later, a young woman scurried up pushing a crying child in a half-full cart. It was clear the older woman was frustrated that they now had to wait behind us, so we offered to give her back her place in line.

As the young woman and her child passed by me, my heart began to pound. I physically began to tremble. I felt God impressing upon my heart that Karen and I were to buy her groceries. I hesitated, but past experience caused me to obey. I tapped the young woman on the shoulder and spoke these exact words, “I know it sounds strange, but God told me that we are to buy your groceries.”

She graciously accepted with tears in her eyes, and then she and the older woman left. A few minutes later, the older woman returned to share an incredible story. The young woman was her daughter. Her name was Micah.

Micah’s husband had walked out on her and her young son a fe w months before. He had abused her for years before leaving. She could barely make ends meet and felt completely abandoned by everyone, especially God.

Days before this God-ordained meeting in the grocery story, Micah and her mother had prayed. Her mother prayed that God would draw Micah back into relationship with Him. Micah prayed, “God, if you are real, if you love me, show Yourself to me!” As her mother shared these words, it was a powerful moment. Micah, in the midst of her deepest sorrow and pain cried out to God for His Presence. Karen and I simply walked in the store that day to complete an ordinary task. And God crossed our paths at one point in time to show each of us He is active, involved, and OH SO REAL!

Yes, it was a great day for Micah. But what a day it was for Karen and me as well! Our obedience to the Lord’s prompting touched this woman’s life in such a powerful way that she KNEW He was real and had not abandoned her, and that He answers prayer. A divin e appointment … a day I will treasure forever.

Heavenly Father, Sovereign Lord, the Great I Am. Thank You that You have planned every day of our lives before we have lived a single day. Thank You that You speak into our lives today. Thank You that You invite us to join You in Your work. Father, give us opportunities to be Your hands and feet. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see the broken and hurting people all around us. Give us a heart of obedience. Give us boldness to speak. May all glory and honor and praise go to You. In Jesus’ Name Amen.

My life is speeding by, and I don’t like it one bit!  Just keep that in mind as I write a very disjointed post today.  Maybe if I go list style it won’t seem so thrown together. (It totally is, but I don’t want it to look like it is.)  So, here we go.

1.   I’ve been doing a little charity knitting:

Scrappy Cowl

Scrappy Cap

Super Secret Project #1

2.  By default I accomplished #49.  The cable has been out since Friday.  I know my boys have hated it, but I’m loving it.  There is definitely more talking going on.

3.  I love, love, love sales at Old Navy!  I swung by on my lunch hour.  I picked up two knit dresses for under $5 each.  I picked up another two dresses for under $8 each and a shirt for $4.  Sale shopping rocks!

4.  I love Ravelry just as much!  I ran out of my copper yarn half way down the sleeves.  I just zipped over to Ravelry and found someone with the same color and dye lot.  This was pretty neat because the yarn is about 3 years old.  She got it in the mail the same day.  As I type, it is winging its way over to me. Yea!

5.  My little brother turned 28 years old this past Friday.  He lost his phone, so I couldn’t call him.  So, Happy Birthday little bro! I love you!

That is a little taste of the good things.  There is many more dull or stressful or mundane or aggravating things going on, but I want to be a glass is half full kind of gal.  I’m usually not, but I want to be.  That is all.

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