Road Trip!

There is nothing like a road trip with good friends sans kids and significant others, lively conversation, a destination that promises lots of fiber, lots of laughs and a beautiful sunny day.

Yesterday I played hooky with some friends (Lucia, Jena, and Jennifer) and we of course started the adventure with a brief stint of knitting in the sun on my back deck.  Once we were all assembled we were off and heading west.

 

We arrived in Northampton around 3:00- 3:30pm. I think we weren’t really paying much attention to the time at this point.

We found a great parking spot and headed off to explore Northampton since we had plenty of time before the doors of the Calvin Theater opened at 5:00pm. 

I think we got about 100 yards when we found ourselves standing in front of  Northampton Wools  and lovely yarn shop and of course I did find some really funky fun yarn that jumped into my arms and I think is destined to become a bag.

 

I don’t have photos of the additions to my stash – later I promise!

We then found a neat paper store to check out and since we had a little time left before 5pm we decided to find a cool place to hang out, knit and perhaps imbibe in some refreshments.

The Toasted Owl seemed to fit the bill nicely.  My margarita was awesome.

 

We them meandered over to the Calvin, a bit more relaxed and ready to see The Yarn Harlot  sponsored by Webs.  The line wrapped around and into the ally but it moved quickly.

Upon arrival they handed out bags with donated yarn and knitting needles for us to knit squares for Warm Up America.  I actually got one done while listening to the Harlot!  The yarn was really nice Debbie Bliss Cashmerino no less!  These are going to make some nice blankets!  Check out the crowd.

 

 

Stephanie was hilarious as usual.  And Webs and the crowd of several hundred made her feel right at home.  Webs even brought her out a beer on stage in case she got thirsty.  And not just any old beer but a good local microbrew no less!  We all know how Stephanie likes her beer!

 

During Q&A both Lucia and Jena got up to ask questions and make observations (I’ll let them blog about that).  But it was very funny.  You must go read Jena’s blog about flashing your knitting at ATM cameras Brillant!

After that, it was off to Webs to get books signed (we had a time slot of 7:45).  I think everyone had a time slot of 7:45… because we got in line right away and didn’t get to Stephanie until around 9:00pm!  But I have to say the Web people were awesome.  They kept bring out cups of cold water.  Even with the air conditioning cranked it was pretty hot as the line snaked through the warehouse.  Of course this also meant there was plenty of time to ‘shop’ along the way.

I snagged some Gedfira sock yarn (no pics yet) and Malabrigo LACE weight in this bright lovely yellow.  I think poor Jennifer was just so overwhelmed by all the yarn she couldn’t buy anything.

After we finally all got our purchases and books signed and of course the obligatory group photo with the Harlot.  We went back to the Toasted Owl for some food and then it was back to the car and home.

What a great time.  I really could get used to not working.  I think I might need to win the lottery or find myself a sugar daddy.

A glorious weekend

Friday night was Pirates of the Caribbean night.  DD and I went with my sister and niece.  Sister just bought a new Prius – NICE!

We liked Pirates 3 better than 2, Keith Richards was hilarious and perfect at Capt. Jack’s father.  And for those of you who are willing to sit through 20 minutes of credits there is a surprise at the end.  Pirates 4?

After the movie we went out to eat at the Outback – yummy margaritas and a Bloomin’ Onion, who could ask for more!

Saturday I was up early – got the wings in the oven, and the potato salad made.  Then loaded up the car and headed over to Lynnie’s for some good eats and lots of laughing.  The boys were off fishing and when they were about a half hour from home Mikey called to say fire up “all the grills”.    This is what they brought home!

This is a Cod – it was 44+ inches long and looked to weigh about 50 lbs!  They caught a few others but this was the monster!  There is nothing better in this world than fresh fish and it doesn’t get any fresher than this.  Yummo!

Of course we also had burgers, dogs, sausage, wings, salads, strawberry shortcake.  Talk about stuffed!

Here’s my sister-friend Patty.  Wheeeee!  It was a blast!

I finally got to bed around 1:30 – both DD and I fell into bed and dropped right off to sleep.

Sunday we woke to a little drizzle, that quickly cleared up and the sun came out.  I did a little gardening.

My rhodies are blooming!  I was worried that when I hacked them back last year that they wouldn’t bloom.

I even managed to make it up to Greeley Park for some knitting.  It was just beautiful out.

Monday was just as nice, I got my car washed, waxed and detailed the interior.  I hardly recognized  it.  You would not believe how much trash you can put under the front seat of a car – blech!

This coming Wednesday – a few of my favorite knitters and I are heading off to Webs! to see the Yarn Harlot! and of course to do a little shopping…  more to come on that.

Is it time to go home yet?

Man this week seems to be lasting forever.  I am really looking forward to the upcoming long weekend for sure.

Tonight is Spinning in Westford night.  I’ve been a spinning fool lately (sorry no pics yet) and after much swatching I’ve started knitting a lace shawl from the lovely alpaca (Madeline).  It’s just lovely.  So soft, nice halo.  I picked the freebie pattern Fir Cone Shawl by Fruitcake Knits and I think it’s going to be beautiful.

I’m also knitting on my second sock – plain stockinette, slip stitch heel, in CTH Dusk.  DD wound the skein for me and made a horrible tangled mess that I ended up cutting.  I did get most of it wound into a ball, now I’m just hoping I don’t have to try to untangle that mess to finish the toe of the second sock.

Friday is work from home day! Yahoo – 90ºF,  I’ll get the car cleaned and washed, the yard raked and then in the evening my sister and I are dragging the girls to see Pirates of the Caribbean – At Worlds End.  Yes, you may recall that I am a huge stalkerfan of Johnny Depp.  He just makes me swoon and my heart skip a beat no matter what character he is playing, but there is something very special about Capt. Jack Sparrow.  I cannot wait to see Keith Richard’s too – what a pair they make eh?  Anybody see this months Rolling Stone?!  I had to hide if from my daughter so I could swoon over read it first. 

Saturday is supposed to be gorgeous.  I got invited to my dear friend Lynnie’s to eat, drink, be merry, and ride lawn chairs on Saturday.  Since I have not seen my sisterfriends Lynnie, Patty, and Cathy in ages and ages, this is how I am going to spend my day.  I’ll probably be burnt to a crisp and perfectly toasted by Saturday night with any luck and my sides are sure to hurt from laughing.  I think I’ll bring my special chicken wings to munch on and a big old potato salad.  I think I will also grab that bottle of tequila for the margies too.  Yes, Saturday is going to be a good day.

Sunday is threatening scatter thunderboomers.  I may get to knitting group – if it’s nice and I’m not hung over, Greely Park would be fun.  If it’s raining I may just pull the covers over my head and stay in bed recovering all day.  Note to self – pick up Coke (the REAL thing) just in case.  I can only drink Coke when I am recovering, oh, and better pick up some Alka Seltzer and Gatorade too.  If you don’t know Alka Seltzer IN Gatorade makes the perfect hangover cure.  Just saying.

So to everyone who celebrates Memorial Day and gets a long weekend – have a blast and stay safe, and to those that don’t – have a blast in a shorter period of time and stay safe.

UPDATE:

 I figured I would share my special tangy wing recipe with you.

8 lbs. of fresh (not frozen) chicken wings

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1 cup apricot preserves

1 cup soy sauce

4 clove of garlic (at least)

2/3 cup sugar

red pepper flakes to taste (1 tbsp.)

Pre-heat oven to 425F and use two disposable roasting pans as this is very messy to clean up.

Cut the tips off the wings (toss or save for chicken stock), then cut in half to separate the drumlettes from the other part of the wing.  Put a single layer of wings in each pan.

Blend the rest of the ingredients into a blender and pour half over each pan of wings.

Roast for 50 mins. then switch racks and roast for another 45 mins to an hour or until the liquid is thick and sticky.

Serve warm or at room temp.  This recipe should can be doubled.

If you make these wings and invite Libbie you will have to fight her for them or make her a separate batch.

In Memory of Dena

This past Monday was the first anniversary of Dena’s lost fight with non Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  She fought a mighty fight, but in the end it was too much for her to over come.

I miss not having her there to call on the phone to rant and rave about the state of the world and where our country is headed and more importantly what we could do to change it.

I was struggling all week to think of a way to do something in in her memory, then I got a phone call last night.  Sure it was a solicitation, but it was one that I’ve supported often and suddenly I knew that this was the perfect thing.

It memorializes Dena’s passion for making the world a more compassionate place, that lifts people up.  It says thank you to the doctors that do something extraordinary each and every day in spite of the many obstacles.

But more importantly money is desperately needed to help the people of Darfur now.  So please join me and send in a contribution to Doctors without Borders, for the memory of Dena and for the people of Darfur.

Thank you Dena for being such wonderful person and a great friend.  I miss you terribly.

Spinning Bees

This weekend was cold, wet and just miserable weather wise.

Saturday my friend Mary graduated from North Essex Community College.  At least they had a tent covering the marshy lawn.

The woman behind me kept bitching about her ruined suede 5 inch spiked heel shoes.   Who would wear shoes like that to an outdoor event when it had been raining for three days straight?

I fortunately brought my sock knitting with me so I was not totally bored.

Afterwards we went back to her home and toasted the occasion with Margaritas.  It’s been a long haul.

Sunday morning didn’t look any better, but around noon the sun actually came out and I headed off to the Garrison House Spinning Bee.

 

For some reason I can’t get the other photos to load. (sorry)

It was a lot of fun and I actually got a lot of spinning done.

Random meme

I’ve been tagged by Jennifer ! Hey, Jennifer, I’ll be sending out an email regarding our Webs/Harlot field trip soon.

(I have to post this first:)
Here’s how to play…
1. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names.

1. I spent a year living in Worthing, UK after high school.  I lived with my parents, as my Dad had been transferred there for his job, and I got to travel all over England and Europe, before starting college (see number 8).

2. I drink my soda/tonic/pop warm most of the time, I don’t like it with ice.

3. I have to have a bagel for breakfast everyday or I am starving by the time lunch rolls around.  And it has to be a garlic or onion bagel.

4. I traveled through Australia for two weeks alone after my divorce.

5. I got my ears pierced when I was 13 in James A. Mitchener’s kitchen by my Aunties Lynn and Joan.

6. I’ve been afraid to swim in the ocean since watching Jaws and cannot stand in the surf with my back to the open ocean.

7. I detest lima beans.

8. My first major in college was Dental Hygiene, which I loathed after my first round of clinic.  I dropped out shortly afterward.

Now I am supposed to tag, so Lucia, Ruth, Nicole, Jena, and Amanda  Tag you’re it and others consider yourself tagged if you haven’t already been.

On another note…

Last night was the HS spring concert and DD had a solo in Bridge Over Troubled Waters.  She sang the Sail on Silver Girl refrain.  She just lights up when she’s performing.  I know she’s nervous, because she’s such a beeotch the week before.  But damn that kid can sing.

I got to knit on a pair of socks (plain stockinette and boring) in CTH Supersock in Dusk colorway (definitely NOT boring).

I also finished plying up the baby camel silk I got from Firefox at the NHS&W.  Tonight I’ll wind it off and set the twist.

Other projects I am not prepared to comment on at this time.

Fiber Porn from NSWF

What a lovely day!  The weather was perfect, the company grand.  Ruth did all the driving (thank you!) as Lucia knit on Kay’s socks and I just hung out chatting in the back.  Unfortnately I cannot knit or read while riding in a car.  But it was a quick ride and the weather and scenery were just spectacular.

I really enjoyed watching the fleece judging.  It gave me a really appreciation of what to look for in a fleece.  I’m still a bit intimidated about buying an entire fleece, then having to wash it, drying and hand card it.  So I passed.  There were however some beautiful fleece for sale.  Maybe next year,  I take the leap.

I did make it to the blogger meet up.  It was good to see Crafty Jen again,  it’s been awhile.  I also got to meet Juno and Julia and quite a few others who’s names all escape me now.  Blame it on old age and menopause.  Hey, I am lucky to remember my pants in the morning.

With out futher ado,  let me share my fiber porn with you.

 

This was purchased at 
Carolina Homespun from Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks Merino Tussah 80/20 in Chantefleur colorway on the top and Indian Summer on the bottom.  I haven’t spun silk yet and liked the idea of trying to spin some silk blends.  Then I found the Foxfire booth….

Baby Camel and Tussah Silk Top – colorway Oak Grove

 

Cashmere and Tussah Silk Top – colorway Greylock

It’s like going from speed to heroin.  This is serious stuff.  I spun a little bit of the Baby Camel/Tussah Top and I have to say this stuff is sweet to spin, but very addictive.

On Mother’s Day (another beautiful day) I blew off mowing the lawn and instead DD and I did our annual Mother’s Day trek to Mahoney’s Garden Center in Winchester.  Here’s the plant porn

 

Now I just have to find some time to get it all planted.

I hope everyone had a lovely Mother’s Day!

Mr. Rocky’s Big Adventure

UPDATE:  There apparently will be a bloggers meetup Saturday at the NH Sheep and Wool Festival.

 From Carole’s blog

“ blogger meet up at NH Sheep & Wool at Noon on Saturday outside the Roby Building, in the area facing the Goat Barn. Be there or be square.” 

Rocky is our male Tuxedo kitty.  He’s probably around 5 or 6 now and he’s a sweet timid cat with a heart shaped black spot right on the end of his nose.  We rescued him from a local shelter after seeing his photo on petfinders.com.   I think he had been loved but also abused because he was so submissive and timid when we first brought him home.  But soon he became DD’s familiar and totally her cat.

Well apparently ’someone’ left a small window open behind the couch and left the screen open as well for who knows how long.  But yesterday afternoon when DD got home from school she realized that Mr. Rocky was missing.  We searched the entire house, attic to cellar, no Rocky.  I had not seen him all day, so we were not sure how long he had been gone.

Both of our cats (Spirit and Rocky) are declawed rescues and totally indoor cats.  Spirit is so old (not sure exactly but think maybe 15 years give or take) and you could leave an open door next to her and she wouldn’t even stick her nose out to check it out.  So this was scary and DD was hysterical.

She made up some quick posters, and we headed off to scan the neighborhood, and to leave flyers around.  We hit all the surrounding roads, and thankfully found no cat carcasses on the side of the roads.  But no Rocky.

It was getting dark, so we set out some food, and DD set up her sleeping bag in the backroom next to the screen sliders and finally fell asleep.  I was up on and off all night, trying to listen for Rocky’s little mewing noises and took an occasional stroll from window to window to see if he had returned.  I finally nodded off fitfully around 2:30AM.

At 5:30 AM DD comes running into my room with guess who!?  Apparently she was awakened to the sound of Spirit hissing at the back door and lo and behold there was Mr. Rocky.  We don’t know where he was or what he was doing, but we were very glad to have him home safe and sound.  He wolfed down some food and immediately went up on a pile of junk in DD’s room and promptly fell fast asleep.

I really wish I could see inside his head and know exactly what he had been up-to.  I’m sure, however, it was some big adventure.

I did go to Java Room knitting for a bit, but ended up ripping out the little bit I did while I was there, and had to leave early to calm down hysterical child.  I’m knitting a simple shawl from the lovely Alpaca Madeline, it should be lovely, but my mind just couldn’t stay focused last night.

I think DD has a bath planned for Mr. Rocky this afternoon when she gets home from school – hehehe serves him right, and I plan on going to bed immediately after dinner.

Oh I am going up to NH Sheep and Wool with Lovely Lucia and Ruth  on Saturday.  I hope to see you there.

Bringing home the gold and all the trophies…

Okay.  How many of you when you read that I had given DD an AMEX Cheque Card thought she would lose it before she got onto the bus?  Wrong!  So just for the record in case there were wagers occurring, she actually didn’t lose it until Saturday night.   Fortunately she was able to cancel it and they are shipping her a new one.  I’m so glad I didn’t get any of those other prepaid cards.  American Express Customer Service is just the best.

Now for the gold.  Yes, both the Chorus and the Band brought home the Gold and ALL the trophies.  Good news right?  Except they were the ONLY school that showed up for the competition.  I have no idea what the back story is but it should be interesting.   We’ll take gold anyway we can get it.   At least the kids had a great time.

I did almost nothing major all weekend – I did do some yard work.  My hydrangea are going to town as are the iris.  And I spent a good deal of time spinning.  I’ve almost finished plying a bunch of the grey Shetland that I am spinning up.  It looks like it will be lace or fingering weight by the time it’s plied.  I was surprised at how soft this is spinning up.  It is quite unexpected.  The fleece itself seems more coarse, but it’s spinning up much softer than I expected.  This will make something lovely for sure, and I need to spin some more of that alpaca soon too.  Now I know why people have more than one spinning wheel!

Another Cool Mother of the Year Award

Guess what I just got tickets to go see?

That is right, I just purchased awesome tickets for DD and myself to the True Colors Tour!  Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Amanda Palmer, Rufus Wainwright, Erasure… I am psyched.  So shhhh don’t tell her.