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February 28, 2007

Return of the Spinning Mojo

I should have told you first thing on Monday that the spinning mojo is back but here it is Wednesday and I'm just letting you know. Sorry. I got caught up in Oscar fever, what can I say? Anyway, both Rosie and Lucy were back in business by Thursday night. Dale took Lucy to the hardware store and they fixed her up with a 16¢ washer that did the trick. Big spender that he is, Dale bought a spare in case this happens again. Meanwhile, I procured some cotton rope at a different hardware store and Dale helped me install Rosie's new drive band.

With both wheels fully functional again I was able to finish some yarn.

This incredibly soft merino/alpaca/silk blend is something that I bought from Indigo Moon at SPA 2006. I've got about 975 yards and I'd like to make a shawl from this. I'm currently debating Seraphim or Icarus, I just can't decide. I'd love to hear from those of you who have knit either of these shawls.

I also finished the Spunky Eclectic superwash. I've got 350 yards there and it's probably sport weight. Any suggestions for what to knit with this? Because, you know, making yarn is nice but knitting with it is even nicer. Right, Margene?

And speaking of Margene, tomorrow is March 1st and, while I've done plenty of spinning, it's time to get the knitting done for Twisted Knitters. It's a tough job. Sigh. But someone's got to do it.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (48)

February 27, 2007

Oscar Food

It wasn't all about the shrimp at the Carole Knits Oscar party on Sunday night. We also had something that I know my fellow Rhinebeck attendees will be interested in. We had Arthichoke French.

Shortly after returning from Rhinebeck I searched out a recipe for this delicious way of eating artichokes. I cobbled together a few different things from the internets and came up with this.

3 cans artichokes
flour
3 eggs, beaten
Garlic
3/4 stick Butter
White Wine
Parmesan Cheese
Lemon Juice

Drain the artichokes and cut them in half. Dredge them in flour and then dip in the beaten eggs. Heat up some olive oil and a couple of cloves of garlic in a fry pan (I use cast iron, of course) and then fry the artichokes until browned. Place artichokes in a baking dish.
In a small sauce pan melt the butter. When the butter is melted pour in some white wine and then add some lemon juice. Let this boil for a bit until it's reduced by about half and then pour it over the artichokes. Grate some Parmesan cheese over the whole thing and put it in the oven at 350 for about 30 minutes. Serve with French bread.

This is almost as good as the stuff we had at Rhinebeck and it makes a great appetizer or side dish. Enjoy!

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (46)

February 26, 2007

Oscar Night 2007

Last night was Oscar night, a regular holiday at my house. As I've said before, this is MY superbowl. By 6 PM we were ready.

We had filled out our ballots.

We had champagne and shrimp, candles and bling.

We had dressed for the occasion.

I think Ellen Degeneres did a fabulous job as hostess - the best since Billy Crystal, frankly. The dresses went from the sublime - Helen Mirren - to the ridiculous - Penelope Cruz, but that's what makes it so much fun to watch.

As for our predictions, I scored 9, Hannah scored 7, and Dale scored 5. I pride myself on being the real film buff of the family but Dale beat me on Best Picture. I guess he's been paying attention after all!

Posted by Carole at 7:30 AM | Comments (55)

February 23, 2007

Eye Candy Friday

Tulips from Dale for Valentine's Day. Pretty, eh?

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (23)

February 22, 2007

We're Experiencing Technical Difficulties

I think I'm under a mechanical black cloud. Right now, everything I touch breaks. Okay, not everything. Only spinning wheels. Sigh.

You remember how I mentioned that Rosie the Reeves needed a new drive band, right? Marcy thought she had some linen at home and she was going to bring that for us to use but she couldn't find it. I wasn't sure what was suitable for drive band material so I brought nothing. But then Marcy thought that the coopworth Laurie was spinning would work just fine if we triple plyed it. We tried that and I learned how to put on a new drive band. But it was stretchy and difficult and finally it broke. I searched high and low and asked every vendor in the fiber room at SPA if they had anything I could use for a drive band but no one did. Finally, though, another spinner came to my rescue with some mercerized cotton string. It was very very thin and we weren't sure it would work but it did and I was good to go. I finished spinning the singles I showed you yesterday and when I got home I finished spinning the Indigo Moon I bought at last year's SPA. Last night, while switching bobbins on Rosie, the drive band broke.

Snap.

The end.

There will be no spinning on Rosie until new drive band material is purchased.

Waaah.

This is when it's beneficial to have multiple wheels, though. And, since it was plying I was after, I was okay with Rosie being out of commission because I always ply on Lucy. She's got the Woolee Winder advantage, you know. So I sat down and started plying. Zipped right along and filled a whole bobbin. Switched bobbins and the tension string broke. I replaced that with some sugar 'n cream and started plying some more. It was then I noticed the wheel had a wobble. Hmmm. I wonder when that started, thinks me. Then I noticed the wheel wobble getting worse and finally the whole thing sort of, well, fell apart. Seems like somewhere along the line (no way of knowing when) the piece (washer? bolt? nut? anyone out there with a Lendrum even know what I'm talking about?) that holds the upright and the wheel together had fallen off.

Gone.

The end.

There will be no spinning on Lucy until a new piece has been purchased.

Waaah.

I've still got Hot Lips the Hitchhiker and Abigail the Canadian Production Wheel. But you know what? I'm sort of afraid to touch them.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (49)

February 21, 2007

SPA Fiber Enhancement

I'm so glad you all enjoyed the post about the Swingers. Let me just say to those of you who wish you had been there to see it in person: No. You don't. Let's move on, shall we? Let's talk about the normal aspects of spa weekend. You know, the spinning and the stash enhancing. For there was lots and lots of both.

I brought my Reeves wheel with me for a couple of reasons. One was purely sentimental. Since I had bought Rosie at SPA last year it just seemed right to bring her back. The other was purely practical. Rosie needed a new drive band and I wanted Marcy to help me put one on. I won't discuss the logistical difficulties of doing that without proper drive band material but I will say that I am very comfortable with replacing a drive band now because we did it about 3 times on Saturday. It was worth every moment, though, because I was able to spin this awesomely vibrant merino from Spunky Eclectic. Or, as Marcy called it, Funky Electric.

Four ounces of yummy singles, purchased on Friday night and spun on Saturday and Sunday. You gotta love instant gratification.

There was a bit of other fiber stash enhancing, too. I bought another hank of something gorgeous from Amy. What can I say except her color combinations are hard to resist.

You must remember the scarf I wore at Rhinebeck because I had it on in every photo taken of me that day. That scarf started out as an Indigo Moon brush stroke batt. And since I love that scarf so much, I decided another of those batts needed to come home with me.

Also irresistible was this orange merino/silk/alpaca blend. There's only 7 ounces but I grabbed it while I could because Indigo Moon is going out of business. Word on the street is that MaryLynn is going back to school. Good for her. Bad for spinners.

I also scooped up a bag of bunny crack fiber from Kim. This is some of the softest stuff I've ever touched. I may not even spin it, I may just fondle it forever.

I'm sure you're all sick of hearing about SPA by now so I'll stop. Except to say, once again, that it was a fabulous, relaxing and over-the-top-fun weekend. Bring it on for 2008!

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (38)

February 20, 2007

What the Hull?

Blank screen. Blinking Cursor.

That's what I'm looking at as I try to come up with appropriate words to describe the scene in the hotel lounge on Friday night. I'm trying to think of words that will convey my horror but I don't want to be mean. Because if I tell you what I really think about the situation, it may come across as mean. Or perhaps even judgmental. And while I may sound that way, the truth is, it was highly entertaining. And maybe even a little scary.

What am I talking about, you ask? I'm talking about swinging. I'll just let that sink in for a moment.

Yes, indeed. Apparently, the third Friday of the month is a "meet and greet" at the Doubletree for a local swinging group. I'm quite sure they were as surprised to find knitters and spinners in their midst as we were to find swingers in ours.

Just picture this: a bunch of us knit bloggers sitting at the bar, drinking beer, watching the people who were dancing. Just another Friday night at a club, right? Not really.

At first, we just thought they were sort of stuck in the 80s. Big hair, outdated clothing, tank tops and belly shirts and fishnet stockings. But the dancing was so over the top that we eventually realized there was more to it than a time warp. You've seen dirty dancing, so you have an idea of what I'm talking about but turn that up, say about twenty times, and you'll get a mental picture of what we were watching. Because we were watching, make no mistake about it. It was like a train wreck - you know you shouldn't look but you just can't help yourself. I'll just use two words: bumping and grinding. Take that to the nth degree and you'll get the picture. I'm pretty sure it was all done to illustrate just how "bendy" each person could be. Ugh.

So I suppose I do sound judgmental. And I'm trying not to sound like that because I believe that everyone has a right to live their life in the way that makes them happy. And, as I already said, it was very very entertaining. I can't remember the last time I've laughed so much. I don't understand it, that's true. But you know what? Whatever melts your butter, kids.

Just don't get your butter on my knitting, okay?

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (74)

February 19, 2007

SPA, The Second Time

Hello! I know I'm at little late posting today but I have a couple of good excuses. First of all, it's a holiday and I don't have to work so I slept a little later than I normally do. And second of all, I was away at SPA all weekend and I haven't prepared my post yet. So, I'm late.

But, I had a wonderful time at New England Textile Arts annual gathering that's affectionately known as SPA. I met up with old friends and made new ones, too. I spun a lot and bought some beautiful new fibers. I drank martinis and beer and ate Mexican food. Like any gathering of fibery friends, it was a fabulous experience and it sort of defies description. Most of you have done stuff like this, though, so you know what I'm saying.

I promise to regale you with stories as the week goes on but for now I'm going to have some coffee, catch up on some emails and blogs, and do a little more relaxing and spinning.

I'm just not ready to return to reality yet.

Posted by Carole at 7:27 AM | Comments (28)

February 16, 2007

Eye Candy Friday

The plants at the library really thrive. Some people think it's the fluorescent lights. But I think it's because I don't go near them.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (29)

February 15, 2007

Happy Cream Puff Day

In Dale's family, Valentine's Day is affectionately called "Cream Puff Day." I still remember our first Valentine's Day together, back in 1997. Dale and I used to meet at his house for lunch every day back then and he greeted me at the back door with a plate of cream puffs and the exclamation, "Happy Cream Puff Day, baby." I asked him why we had cream puffs on Valentine's Day and he said he didn't know why but his mother always made them and it was a tradition.

Me being a librarian, I had to know the whole story so I walked next door and asked Dale's mother, Ruthie, to explain the cream puff tradition. She told me that it dated back to Valentine's Day, 1948. She and Dale's father, Jack, who was in the Air Force, were stationed in Roswell, New Mexico (yes, that Roswell - but that's another story) and she was pregnant with her first baby. They had no money to buy Valentines for anyone and she really wanted to do something special for the guys in Jack's unit. So she turned to her cookbooks and looked for something she could bake to give as gifts to these men. She found a recipe for cream puffs and realized that she had all the ingredients on hand and they sounded pretty simple to make. And a tradition was born.

By the time I came along, Ruthie was making dozens of cream puffs every Valentine's Day. She complained about how much work it was and how much time it took to make so many but I'm pretty sure she secretly loved the task. She made them for her and Jack plus their kids and grandkids. I was horrified when I realized that none of Dale's kids even liked the cream puffs but Dale never told his mother because then she wouldn't have given him as many. Then I tasted one and realized that sometimes a little deception is a wonderful thing.

During the last few years of Ruthie's life, she was unable to make the cream puffs anymore. Jack, wanting to carry on the tradition, purchased them from a bakery instead but they just weren't as good as Ruthie's. So last year, on the first Valentine's Day without dear Ruth, I made the cream puffs. I was a little hesitant to do this. After all, I'm not Ruthie's daughter, I'm just her daughter-in-law and it seemed like I was maybe overstepping my bounds by taking on a family tradition as deep as this one. But Dale encouraged me to go for it and Jack said it would be okay - so I did it. I'll never forget the look on Jack's face when he tried one and said they were as good as Ruthie's. And Dale's sister Lisa's eyes filled with tears when she took a bite of hers, so I guess I did okay by Ruthie's cream puffs.

And now, somehow, this has become my tradition, too.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (90)

February 14, 2007

Valentine Socks

I don't knit for Christmas but this year I did knit for Valentine's Day. First, there were the Jaywalkers for Jessica. And second, there are these for Hannah.

I call them Conversation Heart Socks because the colors remind me of conversation heart candies, which makes them a perfect present for this holiday.

The yarn is Online Supersocke 100 in the colorway Summer. And I sure could use a little Summer today. However, since that doesn't appear likely, I'll settle for candy.

These will be gifted at dinner tonight, along with a box of candy for each of the girls.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (67)

February 13, 2007

Rockin' Rollin' Colon

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the good wishes, encouragement, support and prayers yesterday. You guys ROCK. I can honestly say that knowing you were all thinking about me made such a difference in my approach to the whole procedure.

Those of you who said it's no big deal were absolutely right. The IV went in quickly and nearly painlessly. I was able to knit the whole time while I waited for my turn and the staff at the Endoscopy Center got a real kick out of that. It really did keep me relaxed and comfortable. And I got quite a bit done on my sock since there were 2 people ahead of me! The procedure went quickly and I was sent home with a lovely souvenir photo of my colon. Isn't that special? And - get this - I don't have to do this again for 5 years. Woo and also Hoo, people.

I ate a big old baked potato (one of my favorite comfort foods) when I got home and then I spent the afternoon on the couch, napping a little, knitting a little, napping a little more. Blogless Sharon came by to check on me and tell me that they had already received my results (normal) at the office. Hannah came home from school and offered her own teenage version of tea and sympathy, which basically amounted to asking if I was going to live or not. I'm not sure if she got the answer she was hoping for. Heh. And when Dale got home he made dinner - grilled cheese and vegetable soup - and it was yummy and comforting. Mmmmm.

He also stopped and got me tulips on his way home. Aren't they beautiful?

And, while Dale is a wonderful guy and husband, he never brings me flowers for no reason so this was really very sweet.

But if he thinks this gets him off the hook for Valentine's Day, well, he's got another thing coming.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (45)

February 12, 2007

Is Vodka A Clear Liquid?

Update: I'm home and everything went fine. The screening was completely normal - YAY. And the whole thing wasn't bad at all, even the IV, which was the scariest part for me. I think i helped that they let me keep knitting right up until I went into the examination room. Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement, it means the world to me!

I know what you're here for. You want to know the winner of the Blogversary contest. But you're going to have to hold on a minute while I tell you about what I have to look forward to today.

A colonoscopy. Blech.

You see, my mother died of colon cancer at the age of 66 so I need to start my screenings now. There's nothing wrong with me, I have no symptoms to be concerned about. And yet this is scary for me. The prep yesterday was scary. It was a day of clear liquids and 32 pills to, errr, clean out my system. Did you know we only have one bathroom? Good times. The stuff that will happen today is scary: the IV, the procedure in general sounds scary, and the thought that they will actually find something of concern is very very scary. So, scary is the word of the day. Any good thoughts, vibes and prayers you'd like to send my way will ease the scariness for me and I'd sure appreciate it.

So, the contest. I loved reading all your comments and thoughts about the blog. The poems and haiku were wonderful - funny and sweet and very, very thoughtful. And I had no idea that y'all love the Eye Candy Friday posts so much. I'm feeling much more pressured to get good photos now.

The winner was chosen in an extremely scientific manner. All names were put in a basket and those who wrote poems and haiku were entered twice, as promised. I pulled the winning name this morning and it was:

Laura of Sugar Bunny Boulevard!

Congratulations, Laura!

I'll be back tomorrow - hopefully with good news. And probably some knitting from while under the influence.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (91)

February 9, 2007

Eye Candy Friday

Rocks. Snow. Ice.
Winter in Massachusetts.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (24)

February 8, 2007

A Day In the Life

Woke up, got out of bed
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup
And looking up, I noticed I was late
Lennon and McCartney

Elisa wrote a great post the other day about her "typical" work day. Now she wants to know what my typical work day is like. And yours, too. So, Elisa dearie, this one's for you.

I'm up at 6 AM for coffee and blogging. I post, I read, I check my email. There's showering and readying and I aim to be out the door by 7:30 but it's usually more like 7:45.

It's nice to have a husband who leaves for work after I do. Not only does he warm up the Jeep for me but he's waiting at the door with my laptop and coffee. His head is cropped for your benefit. He showers after I leave. Need I say more?

It's 25 minutes door-to-door from my house to the library. I pass the time listening to Bill Press on Sirius Talk Left and enjoying the scenery. You see, my drive is very rural, taking me past cranberry bogs and wooded areas and big fields.

I see turkeys in this field at least once or twice a week. There were some there when I took this photo but you can't see them, you'll just have to trust me. Frankly, it's a wonderful commute.

Right before I get to the library I hit Dunkin' Donuts. Flo and Georgie are at the counter and they pour my medium black coffee when they see me pull into the parking lot. I get awesome service at my Dunkin' Donuts. And I tip them very well for it.

I have a really lovely office that I've been lucky enough to personalize with my own stuff. I spend the day at my desk processing bills, writing reports, tracking schedules and attending meetings. Occasionally I get to tackle really important situations that begin with my staff coming to my office and saying things like "this patron wants her money back for the photocopies she made because she doesn't think the quality is good enough" or "this patron wants you to waive her fines because she never took this book out." Thank goodness I have a Master's degree, eh?

Lunch is take out because I'm too lazy and disorganized to pack something to eat. The options in the area are pretty limited and I'm generally sick of everything but the company of my staff at lunch is great. We laugh and gossip and commiserate about the patrons who drive us all crazy. And I knit, of course.

The rest of the afternoon usually goes by quickly. I answer more questions, sort through my mail, catalog some magazines and read some blogs peruse the professional journals. At 4:00 I'm out the door and headed for home.

Another day, another 50 ¢.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (51)

February 7, 2007

Walk With Me Wednesday - Sort Of

First of all, let me just say how much I'm loving your comments on my anniversary post. The poems and haikus range from the hilarious to the thoughtful and back again. All the sentiments are much appreciated. Keep 'em coming!

Second, I have a pair of finished mittens I haven't shown you.

Why yes, I am all about the hand coverings these days. The yarn is Freedom Spirit by Twilletys of Stamford and I picked it up at Saftler's when they had that sale last month. Lois told me I'd need 2 or perhaps 3 skeins for a pair of mittens. I thought that was a bit much but I trusted her and bought 3 skeins. I made the pair with only 1 skein. Lucky for me, Saftler's will exchange yarn.

Finally, while I don't want to bore you with another post about my adventures at the Y, it is Walk With Me Wednesday. So, I will tell you that I'm still at it and averaging about 3 times/week and 3 miles/visit. To pick up the slack I've actually tuned into the Exercise TV feature of my cable television subscription and done the "1 mile work out" at home on the days when I haven't gone to the gym. It's a Leslie Sansone thing and she's annoying as hell but since I'm about 7 miles behind where I should be I figure it will help me to catch up. The ipod song of the week - the one that makes me want to throw my hands up in the air while on the treadmill - is Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls."

We make the world go 'round, you know.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (39)

February 6, 2007

The Blog Turns Turned Two!

Hey! Guess what I forgot? My blog's 2 year anniversary. It was back on January 29th. Way to go, eh? After all that talk about wanting to have 10,000 comments before the blogiversary, I totally forgot. Thanks, Kristi, for reminding me! But you know what? It's okay because I came up with a better way to celebrate than I would have had last week. So, really, my brain cramp is going to work to your advantage if you stick with me through this post.

I wrote last year about how CaroleKnits got started. This year, I just want to say how glad I am to still be blogging. How honored I am to have you all reading me. And how fortunate I am to have made some genuine friends through my blog. I'm not going to go all rose-colored-glasses on you and pretend that blogging doesn't have it's pitfalls because it certainly does. There is drama and there is angst. There are mean people and wonderful people. There are brilliant and talented writers and knitters and there are those who perhaps should study up on their grammar a bit. Of course we don't all agree and of course we aren't all friends. But what we are is a community of people with ideas and stories and skills to share. And that's why I believe there's a place at the table for everyone. You. And you. And you, too.

Still here? Good, because here's your reward. Remember how I mentioned I was test knitting a pattern for Kristi?

I finished them last week and Kristi has now released the pattern. It's fabulous! She designed an incredible way of knitting the thumb and hand all at once that's perfectly brilliant. Really, you need to knit these.

I knit mine from Socks that Rock medium weight. The color is "Rare Gem" which was a bonus skein from last year's Rockin' Sock Club. They go with everything and they fit perfectly so I can knit and type and do whatever I want without having to take them off. That's a real plus considering the weather we've been having.

So anyway, your reward. Leave me a comment wishing the blog a happy anniversary and telling me why you read CaroleKnits. I'll enter your name in a drawing for a copy of Kristi's Two Thumb's Up pattern along with a skein of Socks That Rock medium weight in the colorway Fire on the Mountain. If you want to double your chances of winning then leave your comment in the form of a poem, limerick or haiku and I'll enter your name twice.

You have until midnight on Sunday, February 11, 2007 to enter. I'll announce the winner on Monday, February 12th. I can't wait to read what you have to say!

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (129)

February 5, 2007

Soup's On!

I thought I would have a post today about a fabulous baby shower I was supposed to attend on Saturday. However, the Bookish Baby had other plans. Apparently, she wants to attend the shower in person rather than in utero. Hence, the shower has been postponed for a teeny bit. So, rather than seeing pictures of adorable baby gifts and knits, I've got soup for you.

I am a lover of soup. When the question "soup or salad" comes up, I almost always choose soup. And of course, when the weather turns cold, my meal planning thoughts turn towards soup. Last week I made "Roast Beef Soup" from an old Penzey's catalog. It was fabulous. Simple to make and not too time consuming. Rich and meaty, but not a stew, definitely a soup. I thought I'd share the recipe with you all since it's not on Penzey's website anywhere that I can find.

Roast Beef Soup

2 lbs cubed beef stew meat
4 good sized carrots
2 medium onions
1/3 bunch fresh parsley, chopped fine
2 T vegetable oil
2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp granulated garlic
8-12 cups water
6 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375°. Cut large pieces of stew meat into smaller piece if necessary. Peel and slice carrots and onions. Place the beef, carrots, onions and parsley in a roasting pan, sprinkle with pepper and garlic, drizzle with vegetable oil and toss to coat. Put pan in oven and cook for 1 1/2 hours, stirring once in a while. Bring the water to a simmer in a soup kettle, remove the beef and veggies from the pan and add to the soup pot. Drain off any fat that has accumulated in the pan, then use some of the water from the soup pot to deglaze the roasting pan, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any tasty browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour this back into the pot. Once everything is simmering, add the potatoes and salt, and simmer until the potatoes are cooked - about half an hour. Taste before serving and add more salt if desired.

Serve it up with some crusty bread and think of me while you nourish your body and soul with the goodness of soup.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (32)

February 2, 2007

Eye Candy Friday

Thank goodness we got a teeny bit of snow this week. I not only got to wear my boots but I got to take some pretty pictures, too.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (20)

February 1, 2007

Still Going Strong

I went to Wheaton College, a rather preppy place. Being a prep of the 80s myself, this was not a problem and I fit in pretty well. I didn't have the money to back up my style, but I had the obligatory Tretorn sneakers and patent leather flats.

What I did not have was a pair of L.L. Bean boots. Man alive, did I covet those boots. I can't remember how much they cost back in 1983 but it was more than I could afford on my meager wages as an assistant at the college library. And I wouldn't ask my parents for the money to buy a pair as they were broke just paying their portion of my tuition. In a truly uncharacteristic manner for me, I went without the boots. Four years of college and I never pulled the money together to justify buying a pair.

I got my first full time job in January of 1988 and technically I could have bought the boots then. But I was living at home and saving for a wedding. Plus, I wasn't surrounded by them anymore, the way I had been while at Wheaton. And then came the very snowy winter of 1989. My boss at the time, who was also a very good friend, suggested we order boots from Bean. I was married by then and, while money was tight, at least it was my own. So Diane and I each ordered a pair of L.L. Bean boots. We had them shipped to the library and I still remember the day they arrived. I was so excited to finally have them, after having wanted for them for such a long time, that I put them on and wore them around the library for the rest of the day. With a dress. I looked like a fool but I didn't care, I was just so happy to finally have these boots.

And you know what? They were worth every penny because 18 years later I still have them. They are in fabulous condition, practically like new despite the fact that I've worn them a lot. I wear them every time it snows but this year I haven't had the opportunity much. Paired up with hand knit socks they keep my feet warm and dry - I even wore them to New Hampshire Sheep and Wool last year in the pouring rain. The rest of me was soaked but my feet? Dry, dry, dry. Warm, warm, warm.

When I wear them to work I still leave them on all day. But at least now I wear them with jeans and not a dress.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (60)