At least 10 inches with more to come.

Well the third storm, second snowfall and first GOOD one arrived in splendor.

The notorious Mr. Fish and Chips used his best silly self to make it a fun day. So even though we had hours of shoveling, snowblowing, and he cleaned the chimney, since he was up on the roof anyway, it was a very good use of 10 inches of snow.

It's really just a formality at this point, we've lived together for three years, have a mortgage, share debt and a few other important things at this point, but he did make me laugh. I told him, I don't need a ring, but I would like a touch of romance. The whole idea of him jumping from letter to letter so as not to make any unnecessary tracks just kills me. He said the hardest jump was between words!

He is a funny man! Oh I almost forgot, I said yes.

84 hours off the grid.

Camping to some is one of the best things in the world. Add this particular individual to that list certainly. There is something so wonderful about waking up in the morning, hearing nothing but nature, crawling out of a tent or out from under a picnic table in eastern Colorado somewhere, yap yap yap. On this descriptive jargon goes with the love of camping.

Camping in ones own house can be just plain annoying after three days. Day one was tolerable, day two getting a bit old and now it's REALLY cold in the bathroom. Day three, the freaking radio batteries are out, the flashlight is getting down and there's work tomorrow? Anyway, it's over for many, still going for far too many both in my opinion as well as theirs I'm sure. The classic bit about the whole thing is that after finally biting the bullet and buying a generator, taking 2 hours to set it up and the various appliances appropriately, the power came back on! You know what, I'll take it - who cares about the cost!

Here I am....

Stitches East, in Baltimore was very good. Took a class on "The Seven Things That MAKE a Sweater" which explained quite a bit to me that I had been missing and we learned a great way to make buttonholes. They were perfectly symmetrical for the first time in my life. Margaret Fisher taught the class and it was well worth every penny!

Jen lives in Baltimore and is a weaver by craft, which means she loves fiber too. She's much more constrained then I about her stash and I could learn a thing or two from her. We shopped Saturday, she went home and checked her stash (some would just call it a small collection - she was mortified by it's size; I'll have to do some major cleaning before she comes here next then). Sunday she allowed two more purchases because her collection wasn't as big as she had thought. I had two more purchases because I have no restraint. We knew that already though. I have to admit that shopping with her was wonderful, a budget was kept and there was lots there but wasn't as much that was NEEDED. I do want enough Wensleydale to make a beautiful cable sweater. I'll have to save up some money and burn through some stash yarn first though.

In other strange news, I have finished my first sewn project since 3rd grade. Portsmouth Fabric Company has beginning sewing classes and I made a shirt. The material was not a good idea for a first project, but it's so comfortable I am over my frustration and even though it's not great it is so comfortable to wear I just love it. I want to make more, that says a lot because I thought I hated it during most of the project. Here the picture isn't great but I am proud of it for a first project - next come zippers!

Socktoberfest is upon us.

It's done, three pairs of socks off the needles with the sewing in of the ends being all that remains. The picture couldn't wait for the darning needle so here it is. A four hour car ride from Rhinebeck NY helped get the last pair completed.

Oh, the festival....... known to knitters as simply Rhinebeck. What fun we had and what money we spent. Even we decided it was a bit out of hand and we do this more frequently then we are willing to admit to perfect strangers. I don't even know where to start with the fun, there was The Fold, with STR, and Brooks Farm, Briar Rose, Decadent Fibers, Creatively Dyed, and so many more. Have I told you I love yarn? I think you knew that.

Oh look, the clapotis is finished, has been for a few weeks but I just got a picture in. I'm not completely happy with my attempts at the end, but I tried it two times and this version will have to do for now until I get annoyed with it and try again!

I just love leaves!

It's been a long time since my last post. Somehow, between work and life time just seems to pass without notice and very quickly. It's very cliche to make this comment - but yet again this year it's struck me with awe that it's "already" October, and the perpetual question has arisen as to where exactly does time go? I am still confused as to how it's possible that the two minute timer on the microwave takes soooooooooooo long to go off, but days seem to pass quicker than I am able to get the floor vacuumed.

We have been a bit busy though, Mr. Fish and Chips was good enough to take two weekend days off with me and ride our bikes again in VT and then last weekend we went for a hike. It's weekends like these that remind me of why I have stayed in New England for all these years and never made any real effort to leave it on a permanent basis. Everyone and their brother was out but as you look out on the horizon you can't blame any of them for wanting to soak it in.

The porch project is wonderful. The Mr. has done a great job on it, I'll post pictures soon. He's almost ready to put the siding back on. I think he's happy with the fruits of his labor as he should be! Next week is Rhinebeck, so the yarn pictures cometh!

It's finishing day at the .......................................

Another one off the needles, out of the basket and ready for wear. This is a good one too. It was fun to knit, an super easy pattern. The recipient is 3, and the pattern only goes to two years in size. I did some math and made it bigger. It fits her perfectly and she tried it on without a button and it fit her well. The yarn is yummy. I'd love to have a sweater in a big girl size; but alas with the price of gas being what it is that will have to wait. Pictures of K in it will be fun to post later. One day and three completed projects............... I'm on a roll - now to just get to work on that ribwarmer, AHHHHHHHHHHH.

The perfect day..................

Friends of ours across the pond are expecting a baby girl very soon. The sweater, bootee combo is finished before she has arrived! I made myself sit down today in the rain and sew on the buttons and the ends, my least favorite part of knitting. I'm pleased with how it came out, plus I was able to watch a bit of Sense and Sensibility while I was doing it. This also can make one very happy on a rainy day. Oh, the kettle of tea was beside me the whole time too! Some days are just great.

And it's already September

How did it happen? School is back in with a vengence - that tight knot in my stomach has returned with the thought of meeting new kids and having to be their entertainer/educator. For some reason starting the school year always makes me a bit nervous, I guess it's a good thing. Keeps me on my toes.

In other news, finally a trip to Long Island Maine with friends over Labor Day weekend which was just as wonderful and relaxing as you can imagine a long weekend on an island in Maine to be. This was what we had to look at we sat and read, knit and ate. It was such a wonderful weekend to spend with friends and Mr. Fish and Chips. He was excited to rest too, the comment made was turning the pages to his book was more energy then he felt like expending.

This past weekend another long overdue trip to the Kingdom Trails was completed. That too was relaxing in a completely different manner - the kind that exhausts you at the end of the day, covers you with mud and helps a mediocre meal taste fantastic!

sock blanks!

My friend Pam came over yesterday and we dyed sock blanks. We've recently been introduced to the world of podcasts and had both listened to one about dying these bits of fun. She was all the motivation I needed to try it out. It was very fun, super messy, and extremely interesting. They all came out great, even the ones we didn't like at first. It will be an adventure to see what they look like as socks.

We started at 11 and were finally finished at 3, but it was fun. It's a two person job that's for sure, if for no other reason then it's such as mess, you want someone else there to make it worth the newpaper! Today they are dry and ready to be knit......must go find a pattern.

30% - what's your interpretation?

I don't know if you remember, but way back in June I started the summer with great enthusiasm for commuting by bikng to work. Well, summer didn't - wasn't as cooperative as I had hoped, between my second job schedule, a bout of the flu and the weather, until yesterday I hadn't ridden to work at all. So, as yesterday was the last day of work before the school year officially restarts next week I jumped out of bed at 5am (note the sarcasm) got my gear together and took Mr. Fish and Chips advice and checked the weather report.

"30% chance of scattered showers starting between 1-3pm". Great, I can leave work at 2. But hey only 30% means there is a 70% chance it won't rain right? I've sat at home on days with a higher percent chance and it's been completely dry so I'm not going to let this stop me - plus, scattered showers. It's going to completely miss me, I know it. But somewhere in the back of my head was this little voice reminding me of the 100 mile ride we took a few summers ago with a 40% chance of rain - when it poured for 60% of the ride - that math didn't make sense at all.

So as I left work yesterday afternoon, I could see the big storm clouds up ahead and behind me. I just kept pedaling and thinking about the possible stops if it became torrential. I made it to the half way point, no rain. I pedaled past a possible safe haven shop, no rain. I watched the storm clouds move farther east and begin to clear, still no rain. I felt a drop......... then a few more, but still not a shower. I then found myself in completely soaking wet, puddle filled roads with rain dripping down my glasses and my shoes filling with water. I didn't have much of a choice given my location so I decided to keep going until it became worse. I took my usual route, passed a town line marker and the roads were dry. I made it home a bit soggy but given that the rest of the ride was completely dry and sunny the bike and I dried off before we opened the garage doors.

Yes a long story that doesn't lend excitement to most. The part I like about it is the math. I didn't realize that a 30% chance of rain seems to mean something different in biking terms. It seems the percentage change of rain - refers to that fact that it rained exactly 30% of my ride. I'll keep this in mind next time - but truly I would have ridden if it had been 50% as well - it's only 33 miles each direction after all :)

My brain is moving WAAAAAAAAAY faster than the rest of my body/life it seems

This picture is for my mother. She gave me new dishes for my birthday and doesn't think that I like them - main reason being that I neglected to call her when I opened them to tell her. Truth be told it was the first thing I did on my birthday, but the day was full of fun and I didn't get to a telephone when I should have. The bright colors do look wonderful in my cupboard, the dishwasher, the table in even on the couch in front of the tv which is where the three of us seem to be eating these days. Why did I spend all last fall finishing a table for the kitchen? To learn the process of course.

For the first time in my life, knitting is still going strong this summer - I usually give it up when the weather turns bicycle friendly. But this year with the gift of an ipod from Mr. Fish and Chips (previously known as Mr. Romance) I am addicted to knitting podcasts. This only seems to give my brain consent knitting information in the car, which is usually where I catch a break from the needles. Add to that the Twist Collective release, and my sudden desire to knit my entire Christmas gift list socks - hope they aren't reading this. I keep thinking about more things to cast on, more skeins to turn into center pull balls and even more gifts to make for people. Oh, limenviolet aren't helping with their yarnporn, and even listening to the knitpicks podcasts is making me check their website repeatedly. As if the closet can handle more fiber! The craziness continues because I'm going to visit a friend this weekend and I'm already wondering about knitting projects.

When do I get nervous?

Ok, the wheel was only purchased in May, so how has this happened? I simply have a wool obsession, it's not just yarn, and at the rate I'm buying roving this won't get spun into yarn for a very long time...... so it is indeed an obsession. I've already forgotten that I had a bunch of it. Between fiber and yarn, I believe that I have established my retirement stash. It's so sad that work gets in the way of my hobbies. I guess as long as the checkbook can sustain it, I'll be ok, which unfortunately means I have to keep working.

spin, spin, spin

I can't believe an entire month has gone by since my last post. The school year wrapped up, I spent an eventful weekend in Kansas City with my relatives, and I've had almost two weeks of vacation. I guess that sums up a month for me. I do have some lovely treats to show for my time however:
This is some top I picked up at the fiber fair for Web's annual tent sale. It was really fun to spin. I picked the orange/red one up at the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool festival, I spun some up before, but this little bit is better!


The orange/purple is from End of the World Farm also from the NHSWF! Mom helped pick this out.
The blue/purple is Romney from the Spunky Eclectic, thunderstorm color and below is some BFL in the Tie Dye color! I love how that came out.

When last we met our superhero...............

She was excited about having ridden her bicycle to work, well................................................. I knew it would change, and it did. After getting rained out and another failed attempt, which resulted in my being stranded in Raymond with a HUGE puncture in not only my tube, but my tire as well and Mr. Romance coming to my rescue at 6am, I rode to work again. It was HARD, and it's taken me two days to recover. I'm not sure what's going on, I will do it again, probably on Tuesday, but it was a struggle.

In other news, the back of house and the deck have been pulled apart and are slowly be put together again. It's a long process involving many generations of my family. My dad and grandfather came down from northern Maine last weekend in 90 plus heat to bake in the sun and give us help and much needed advice on what to do, especially about the rotten parts. My brother who's living with us for the summer was good enough to help after having worked in the sun all day himself. For the second time this spring we could almost walk from the backyard into the basement without using a door. Interesting.

There is good news to be had in less favorable news, my beautiful Julia spinning wheel is here! It showed up on Tuesday, and it's wonderful. So smooth, and quiet and I'm getting better at it. I just plied some beautiful orange/pink wool of some sort that I bought at the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival. I'm not sure exactly what wool combination it is, but it was fun to see how my skills had improved from the beginning of the spool to the end. It's encouraging, because it wasn't so great in the beginning. Practice and all is coming..........

pedal pedal pedal pedal

I did it, I actually pedaled my bike to work yesterday. To many people this is not impressive, but to me it is. It's 30+ miles to get there and I left at 5am to do it. Last summer when we moved I talked about it, but never really acted on it. So a bit ago during Bike to Work week, I contemplated it. The problem with that week was my afterschool (I'm a preschool speech therapist) schedule. After packing a backpack with work clothes and some "freshen up" supplies, I kept getting myself ready to do it. I am a strange bird sometimes, hummmmmm let's clarify my meaning here. I find that when I tell people about my plans they are more likely to not come true then when I keep it to myself to share with them afterward. A bit backwards I'm afraid, but at least I'm aware. Mr. Romance was a bit hesitant with my doing it. To give him his due, I did tell him the wrong mileage at 40+, which made him a bit nervous for me. During the ride I decided to take the shorter route and fight with traffic instead of more mileage. This decision was made while grinding up a hill and wondering how much energy I'd have for chasing my friend A. around the preschool all day. It ended up being a bit fun actually, I'm sure the novelty won't be there the next time, but think I smiled most of the way there because I was ACTUALLY riding my bike to work. You must understand that my dream job would allow me to do that everyday. Seeing as we've chosen to live outside of a large city, I know this is a pipe dream. But sometimes it's fun to dream.

In knitting news I've finished the pink gables. These ladies are great designers. I love this t-shirt. It knit up so easily and it looks great on (in my opinion anyway) I just feel great when I wear it. There aren't many of my projects that I can say that about truly. I'm actually thinking about making another one it's so comfortable. I'm taking an airplane trip next month and this would be great for traveling! I'm referring to actually taking it to work on, I'm not ambitious enough right now to get it done it time to wear it.

I wish I had duck feet!

After three different attempts with this pattern and various yarns, the broken cable socks are finished. I love the leg, and should have continued with it down the foot, but I followed the pattern. I do love the color and you have to admit that I look a little webbish in this picture, rather duck like. Did you ever read the book, "I wish I had duck feet?". I loved it as a kid, my parents were patient and read it over and over to me. Now I get to listen to it again as an adult when we read it at work. There are many benefits to working with kids, reading old favorites is just one of them.

Why did I sit down????????

It never fails, I do fine at work, I think of all the things to do after work, I get in the car and............. after a 50 minute drive I pull into the driveway and am exhausted. I can't think of doing anything and don't even pretend to want to. So here I sit, in front of the computer it's 6:30, I have not practiced yoga. My yoga mat isn't even calling my name - but I've checked email, ravelry, the weather and now I'm posting because the last one was in April and I've "done SO much" that requires discussion.

I am happy to announce that I have ridden my bike in the woods, first ride off road was Sunday and I had a better one yesterday - I didn't sit down when I got home so I was able to exercise! We are so excited - it's completely possible to ride directly out of our backyard straight to my favorite woods trails in seacoast NH without having to pack up or use the car! We can PEDAL, and there is only about an half a mile of road involved. It's a beautiful thing!

To update you on the spinning in my life, I had been using my spindle a bit. I have some small samplings and I'm pretty happy with the results. I rented a spinning wheel from The Yarn and Fiber Company for a week and I had a ball. The results need some work but I LOVE it. I am going to order a wheel and be lost forever to yarn. Mr. Romance is officially frightened and a bit annoyed that there is more to my obsession then just knitting and purling.

Oh, the real news of note is that I have finally been to Webs and I'm afraid I will never be able to go back. It crazy there and I now have enough yarn to last me into my mid-eighties if my hands can hold up that long. I have been staying up at night trying to finish projects so that I can start new ones with my new yarn. I have some ideas but nothing firm yet. I'll post the ideas as soon as I've settled.

I didn't really need another hobby, but -

I visited Spunky Eclectic and took a spinning lesson. She was WONDERFUL, and very patient with me. I learned the drop spindle and spent a bit of time on a Julia Louet wheel. The spinning wheel will take some practice, well a LOT of practice, the spindle come much easier. I think I liked the pace better. I'm going to look around and maybe try some wheels at an upcoming festival.

After three hours, I have some yarn to show for it. It's lump and thick and I love it. I bought some fiber, of course and I can't wait to get started. Maybe I will buy a spinning wheel with GW's money that he is giving to us - how's that for giving back to the economy? There are 3 more days of vacation with rain in the forecast so hopefully I'll have something to show for it. I've technically only been on vacation for two days, but my yarn stash seems to have grown disproportionate to the days off.

After how many years?

After many years of attempting to grow orchids and failing miserably, I'm proud to introduce to you the newest member of the houseplant family. Here is blossom number 2! Not only has it bloomed once but twice. I have actually raised two flowers from our orchid ( I have been corrected about joint ownership, oops, sorry).

Orchids and I don't always understand each other. We had about 4 buds on this plant in February and when we came back from Utah they were all shriveled up and dying. I have been given two different books on orchids and am constantly consulting Mr. Romance's mother, she is British and an excellent gardener, orchid grower. However, I have still lost one complete plant and was panicked about this one. Everyone tells me orchids are easy, but I think I over care for them and literally kill them with kindness. Thank goodness we don't have pets or kids then hum?

In truth I believe that the fruit bowl with bananas and oranges was too close to the plant on the counter (in case any of you are interested in the proper way to display your orchids) AND we turned the thermostat down when we were away and it was too cold for the flower buds, as well as a few other plants it seems, oops. I guess the houseplants will be happy to know that we are out of frequent flyer miles and free airline tickets, no winter vacations planned for a bit. Ahhh, free vacations.............

Sundays in the springtime.

Traveling cables now apply only to elevators in my life!

With neck nightmares behind me now, the traveling cable sweater is complete. Carole, thanks for your comment, I'm glad other people can relate to my knitting strife, it gives some comfort to know that we all go through it! I think I like the sweater, I'm wearing it right now. It was great to use up some stash yarn from over ten years ago. I bought the yarn hoping to turn it into my version of a popular J Crew sweater and lost interest so it's fun to see that it became a cable sweater after all.


It's a classic '90's pattern, boxy with blousey sleeves. The Bartlett yarn I used is stiff as well which in places accentuates the box, and as the picture is showing, not completely flattering. It is super warm and will be a great weekend sweater so for now I'm happy. I can always take the sleeves back and slim them down. I did modify the pattern a bit but knitting it to my measurements verses following the sizes listed. Hey '80's fashions came back, maybe the '90's will too? Who knows.

Getting closer and closer and closer and.................

I'm so close I can feel it. I have that twitchy anxious can't sit still feeling, all for a sweater. This project has not been hard, just full of mistakes on my part. I've made mismatched cuffs with the front and back and had to frog one of them completely back to start again. I've had to change the length and then question my decision. I've gotten tired of cables and had to take a break and now, there's difficulty lining up the collar. But I'm ALMOST FINISHED! I can feel the end in sight. It's even blocked and ready to sew up as soon as I can figure out this darned neck. I feel neck nightmares in the near future. No one likes neck nightmares, it's too close to the finish line.

In more happier news, today was the first outside ride of the season for Mr. Romance and myself. I wonder if the sight of me sucking wind and dragging my out of shape butt up a hill increases the romance factor or decreases it? I'll have to ask............I'm pretty sure my preoccupation with this sweater is a romance killer - he doesn't respond to my rantings about it anymore. Oops

Baby Surprise!

Here is my first baby surprise jacket. I've heard so much about it, being a knitting classic and favorite. Elizabeth Zimmerman was a true knitting genius. It was fun to knit it up, it's done in one piece, and then fold it accordingly to see it become a sweater. I've added fish buttons to it, here. They aren't overly practical but still a perfect match. I gave it to the expectant dad as a birthday present last night and he thought I'd lost my mind. Which I have. No doubt. Don't worry I have actually sewn it up, though the stripes added more loose ends than I cared for.

Let's go fly a kite!

I have known J for as long as I have had this bag in the works, and I'm happy to announce that the monk satchel, though not perfect is complete. My sewing skills need vast improvement, but I'll work at that slowly. I'm just thrilled to take it off the list of unfinished projects! I just love the liner fabric though. Purlsoho is just far to much fun. I get lost just looking through all the fabric and yarn.

It was another successful day of kiting! To follow many other "real" kiters, because I do not even pretend to be more than a complete rookie, the weather report was as follows, winds were light out of the west/northwest. The snow was gone, glare ice was the surface. J doesn't ski and wasn't up to testing his fate on the ice with his snowboard for the very first outing so he busted out the 5 meter and static flew. I was fortunate enough to use Molly's 7.5 meter again.

Snickets are completed!

They're here! My new beautiful socks! I'm so happy with them. Everything about them is wonderful. The color of the yarn, the details in the pattern, the way they fit! It's a March miracle. The pattern came from Magknits and I love them. I had to put them up!

Kiting!

I did it! I spent some quality time kiting. It's taken almost a month to get back out on the ice and under a kite but I must say it was worth the wait. I went up north with my dear friends, Chris and Molly, who make busy people seem like couch potatoes and decided that I'd take a weeks worth of Eleanor Roosevelt's quote, "Do something everyday that scares you." and apply it to one day out. It wasn't scary, I actually remembered all of Rachel's good teaching and had a wonderful time! Don't count the fact that I took this picture while I was suppose be holding the handle!

The best part of the day was that I broke out of my "hamster wheel" and was able to navigate the kite away from the anchor where we were storing our gear AND made it right back without having to walk. That was a very proud moment - then I collapsed from exhaustion.


Here's Mr Chris, the day was cloudy but worth it!

An added bonus to the weekend was that traveling allowed for more knitting! The socks are finished!

Process or Product?

Well today, while in a local yarn shop, a conversation began about my love and obsession with my basket of favorite yarn. I keep this basket in the sitting room, in full view for all to admire, but mostly for me. I just love the look of it, sometimes I rearrange the color combinations, change the way it's organized or even just pause in front of it before moving to the task at hand.


When I shared this with the ladies in the shop, one agreed with me that little bits like this were part of the fun, while the other stated it was taking away from my knitting time. So once again the division between "process" knitters and "project" knitters was defined. I, myself, am always happy to have a finished project that I love and can proudly proclaim I am the creator of; however, I can't count the hours I have spent happily involved in the whole process, and even when the project ends in disaster, I start it all over again!

Vacation is officially over.

We made it back! I don't think there is any place more worth a trip than Utah, I've been there in the summer and the winter. It would take hours of sole searching to determine when I liked it best. I'm happy to report that I completely enjoy winter again too - the one question I have is, have you ever seen such big goggles on a girl? They take up my entire helmet.

We made the trip without event, all connecting flights were met with luggage aboard. I'm thrilled to announce that my wonderful friend Jen is married. This too took place over our vacation and I actually was able to attend her ceremony. The fact that we made it to Baltimore is truly a miracle. She and Mr. S had a beautiful and short ceremony, I've been told by J that if we ever get married it too will be that short. Ahh, Mr. Romance lives in my house!

Progress on the knitting projects: the broken cables socks are officially "broken" to quote my favorite three year old. I completely ripped them out over the weekend. I've moved on to the snicket socks and those are about 40% underway. The sweater is about 50% completed AND I have a new pair of leg warmers!!!!

Miles Posting

In an effort to get back into shape I am going to publicly post the miles I pedal! Yikes, I need motivation and maybe staving off public humiliation will do that for me. Bare in mind that all next week I'll be far from any opportunity to get on a bike, so cut me a bit of slack for at least a week pleeeeeeez.

finished and unfinished business

Well, I'm happy to report that I have actually finished a project, or rather 6 projects! That is almost unheard of my world these days! I made romanesc insulated shades for our skylights. Granted, it wasn't a complicated job seeing as I haven't touched a sewing machine in about 20 years; however I did actually do it and they don't look bad. I'm not thrilled about the fabric, but I didn't think dumping a lot of money into them every time my love of a new print or color scheme resurfaced. This actually seems to happen on a 4-6 month cycle, so I went very neutral. I'll save color for the pillows! So my goal of completing them before spring has occurred. Hopefully this will help with the heat loss we are experiencing on the roof.

I made a larger one for a doorway to a mudroom. This one ran into problems, I'd love suggestions if there are any. I've hung it up and am letting it "stew" until I form a solution. J has made a good one, which makes sense that the engineer would be a better seamstress than myself!

I NEVER thought I would be the one to state this, but I'm a little bit tired of winter.............. My cure for this feeling is a trip to Utah and to have fun with winter again! Last weekend at Girlstorm definately helped so a week skiing should give me some enthusiasm too. Imagine not having to shovel for a week!!!!!!

But to prove just how pathetic I am, what project do I take?