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July 31, 2007
Leaving the Nest
I contemplated all weekend on what kind of photo I could use for today's post. You see, our kids left for Florida yesterday morning and I needed a photo that would convey our sadness but I wasn't about to post a crying photo because that's too personal. And also, I don't look pretty when I cry.
And then, Monday morning, Mother Nature provided me with just what I needed.
Puddles. To represent the many tears that Dale, Hannah and I have been shedding.
And heavy, gray clouds. To represent the sadness that is weighing on our hearts.
Brant, Heather and Ambrynn were actually planning on leaving Sunday morning after sleeping at our house Saturday night, but they were exhausted from all their packing and last minute errands so they decided to postpone their trip and leave on Monday morning instead. This actually gave us a wonderful day together on Sunday, complete with a Dale and the Duds concert to send them off in style. Except, of course, that Dale dedicated "On the Road Again" to the kids and the whole family started blubbering. It was all just so emotional and overwhelmingly sad and I was a big old mess. Ambrynn, sweet little thing that she is, lightened the mood right up, though as she yelled "Yay, Grampa" repeatedly when he finished singing.
So this little family has started a new chapter in their lives and I suppose we have, too, because we are now long distance parents. And it sucks. Despite the hurt we feel, we did what parents are supposed to do - we let them spread their wings and fly away.
This letting go is awfully hard but we sent them on their way with love and hugs, prayers and wishes for a safe journey, and a huge bag of junk food for the road trip. Along with whole bunch of sobbing after they drove away.
Posted by Carole at 6:41 AM | Comments (76)
July 30, 2007
Tour de Fleece - Results!
The Tour de Fleece was so much fun for me! I spun every day, sometimes a lot and sometimes only a little, but I spun every single day of the tour. Now granted, I spin most days anyway, even if it's for a few minutes, but thoughts of the Tour really motivated me to fit in more spinning time every day.
So, you're anxious to know how much I spun, right? Because today is the day we all find out who won the Tour de Fleece contest.
First up:
3.7 oz BFL Vesper Roving from Knitterly Things
Next:
2.1 oz merino/tussah from Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks
And then:
8 oz merino from someone at NHSW
After that:
5.7 oz good ole wool from Pippi Knee Socks
Next:
3.9 oz CVM from Spirit Trail Fiberworks
Finally:
1.0 oz BFL & Angelina Fiber from Foxfire Fiber
Did you do the math in your head? It comes to 24.4 oz and that means our winner is Kat because she guessed 24.2 oz and that was the closest guess without going over. Congratulations, Kat and let's hear it for all the losers, too!
Thanks to all of you for playing along with this. I spun my little heart out and had a great time doing it. And I made a serious dent in my fiber drawer which is a really good thing since the fall fiber season is right around the corner. And now, I have a lot of plying to do!
Posted by Carole at 7:01 AM | Comments (37)
July 27, 2007
Eye Candy Friday
Fresh strawberries. Mmmm. And pass the whipped cream, please.
Posted by Carole at 6:37 AM | Comments (29)
July 26, 2007
Cool? Or Not Cool?
Hannah failed her school eye exam this past spring so yesterday I took her to the eye doctor for her first check up. After filling out the typical first visit paperwork we sat down to wait for her name to be called. Naturally, I pulled out my sock and commenced knitting.
It wasn't more than a few moments before one of the technicians came over and said, "Hey, I like that sock you're knitting!" I was shocked because no one ever recognizes that I'm knitting socks - most people see something small-ish and assume it's a baby sweater. So I thanked her for the compliment and she said she was a knitter and she asked about the yarn and the magic loop method and it was cool.
Then the woman selling eye glass frames came over and asked to see the sock. And she asked about the yarn and the magic loop method and the pattern I was using and then she showed me her current sock in progress. I told her how to find the Charade pattern online and she told me how everyone in the doctor's office knits together during lunch and, again, it was cool.
I have to admit, I was feeling a little smug at this point. Clearly I was surrounded by knitters and they were appreciating my sock. So I turned to Hannah and said, "See, knitting can be cool."
And then her name was called and she got up and I got up to follow her into the exam room. And I was feeling very cool. Until I got to the exam room and I realized that I had dropped my sock in progress back in the waiting room. The ball of yarn, of course, was still in my purse, leaving a very long trail back down the hallway, past the reception desk, to the waiting room. Sigh. So much for being cool.
Speaking of cool - check out Hannah in her new glasses.
She's almost as cool as her mom, eh?
Posted by Carole at 7:18 AM | Comments (66)
July 25, 2007
Shetland Triangle Shawl
I have wanted to knit the Shetland Triangle by Evelyn Clark for ages, it seems. I think Cheryl's was the first one I saw and hers is gorgeous. So light, so delicate and in her own handspun, too. Kim has knit it and so has Susanhttp://knittingasfastasican.com/2007/to-the-moon-baay-bee/ with Margene's handspun, no less. Their shawls are also light and delicate.
Inspired by my friends and also Spun Stitches, I decided to knit this shawl with my handspun. I've got 9 repeats done and here it is so far:
Light and delicate? Not so much. The yarn is heavier than I'd like it to be and I probably should be using bigger needles. The variegated green/yellow is sort of hiding the lace and I'm not thinking this is a great yarn/pattern match. However, I'm too stubborn to rip it out and start over with different yarn so I will persevere. And I will finish.
But given what came in the mail on Monday, well, it's not going to be easy.
Posted by Carole at 7:15 AM | Comments (29)
July 24, 2007
Just Enough Fun
Sorry about being absent yesterday. I don't get these type of headaches very often but when I do it tends to flatten me a bit. But watch out now because I'm back. And I did have a fun weekend.
Friday night we went to a local baseball game. I've written about these before and there's not much new to say except that knitting, beer and baseball make for a great combination.
It's pretty rare for us to have a commitment-free Saturday but this was one of them and it was so nice to just let the day unfold. Dale was puttering around doing home improvement type stuff and I spent most of the day hanging around on the deck.
I did some spinning. With breaks for reading Harry Potter, of course.
Later in the day we had snacks and martinis.
Accompanied by a beautiful evening sky.
We ended the night with a fire in the chiminea and dinner alfresco.
Sunday brought more fun. I managed to keep the headache at bay, thank goodness, as we had Brant, Heather & Ambrynn over to celebrate Brant's birthday. This was also a farewell dinner of sorts as they are leaving for Florida this Sunday.
So we set up a fly and had steak and baked potatoes and corn. And blueberry cake. Mmm. Of course, Ambrynn is always the star of the day around here and she had a wonderful time playing a bean bag game with her Grandpa.
Too much fun? Perhaps. But then again, you can never have too much fun.
Posted by Carole at 6:50 AM | Comments (38)
July 23, 2007
Too Much Fun?
I have been felled by a migraine. Perhaps I had too much fun this weekend, eh? I could feel it around the edges yesterday but pushed through it as we had company coming. I went to bed last night at 9:00 and slept until just a few minutes ago. It feels as if the right side of my head is going to explode. Ugh.
I'll be back tomorrow with my fun weekend report. In the meantime, have a great Monday.
Posted by Carole at 7:24 AM
July 20, 2007
Eye Candy Friday
You all liked the vegetable photo yesterday so here's a close up of last week's haul. Great stuff, I tell you.
Do something FUN this weekend!
Posted by Carole at 6:20 AM | Comments (19)
July 19, 2007
Eating Local. Sort Of.
As I mentioned last week, I signed up for One Local Summer. I figured with the CSA this would be a snap. But you know what? Eating local isn't as easy as it sounds. I'm motivated and I'm trying but it's the middle of July and I haven't put a completely local meal on the table yet. Sigh.
This is the closest I've gotten. Swiss Chard Quiche, tossed salad and steamed kohlrabi. Everything is local except for the pie crust ingredients (although I did make the pie crust myself) and the cheddar cheese in the quiche. And it was delicious. The quiche was made with local organic eggs and milk and the dressing for the salad was made with herbs from my sister-in-law and the kohlrabi was a new vegetable for my family. We enjoyed it all.
The share we picked up yesterday including a huge amount of zucchini, both green and yellow, and cucumbers. Anyone got a good pickle recipe?
Posted by Carole at 7:29 AM | Comments (34)
July 18, 2007
Two Socks!
Anyone else remember the old Certs ad? The one where one person claimed, "it's a breath mint" and the other person claimed, "it's a candy mint?" And then they smiled happily and said, "It's two, two, two mints in one!" Of course you remember. And you probably remember the way they satirized this commercial on Saturday Night Live even more. Well, that ad is all I can think of because I'm presenting two, two, two pairs of socks.
These are my Whisper Lace[that's a pdf link] socks. The yarn is J. Knits Superwash Me that I got from the Loopy Ewe and the pattern is from the fabulous and talented Rachel of Have You Any Wool. And it's free. I love me a good free sock pattern. I'm quite pleased with the pairing of this yarn and this pattern and I declare these a success.
And these. These are my I Feel Good Socks. The yarn is Crown Mountain Farms Sock Hop Yarn and the pattern is just a basic 56 stitch sock with a picot edge on size 2 needles. This handspun yarn is wonderful and fun to knit. I know I won it but I honestly can't remember the circumstances. I love me a good free sock yarn even more than a good free sock pattern! I declare these a success, as well.
After finishing these two pairs of socks I headed over to Ravelry to look for a new sock pattern to knit. I immediately settled on Charade[that's a pdf link], another free pattern, this one designed by Sandra of I May Be Knitting a Ranch House. The yarn is Restless Handspun Jump Sheep, a bribe gift sent by Hillary when she asked me to co-host Sock Madness 2008 with her.
Between the free patterns and the gift yarns, I'd say my Summer of Socks is going along wonderfully.
Posted by Carole at 7:05 AM | Comments (48)
July 17, 2007
Alpacasrus
See that title up there? That's the text message that Blogless Sharon sent me on Friday night. It was meant to inform me that she is now the proud owner of two alpacas.
There they are. Neno is the brown one and he is 8 years old. Bandit is the black one is he is only one year old. Are they not the cutest things ever?
These alpacas just sort of fell into Sharon's lap. You see, their previous owners got divorced and since the man was the one caring for the animals and since he was leaving town and since the wife refused to care for the animals, well, through a series of emails and phone calls they became Sharon's.
I think they will be quite happy on the farm. They are surrounded by other animals including sheep, cows, pigs, chickens and a couple of dogs. Plus they have Sharon and Al to care for them.
And visitors like Dale to kiss.
Posted by Carole at 6:51 AM | Comments (50)
July 16, 2007
A Fabulous Sunday
Sunday was a very good day. It started out with a quiet morning at home, just Dale and I. And then we went to the Farmer's Market in Carver, the town where we both work.
There were loads of vendors selling all kinds of things: flowers and vegetables and soap and hand crafts. There was even a woman spinning and I talked to her for quite a while and I think she's going to come to the library spinning group.
We did have an ulterior motive for going to the Farmer's Market this week, though. There was special entertainment:
Yes, indeed. Dale and the Duds at the Carver Farmer's Market. They were wonderful and fun and even played "Book of Love" for the library staff. Way to go, guys!
After such a busy afternoon we were hungry so we headed to one of my other favorite places:
Plymouth.
We had an awesome meal of beer, lobster rolls, clam chowder and little necks:
With horseradish and cocktail sauce and lemon. Mmmm.
I hope your Sunday was equally fabulous!
Posted by Carole at 7:04 AM | Comments (42)
July 13, 2007
Eye Candy Friday
I just love zinnias. I think they are the most perfect summer flower. Enjoy your weekend!
Posted by Carole at 6:50 AM | Comments (33)
July 12, 2007
Things That Make Me Go Hmmm
~Somehow my friends Kathy, Cheryl and Manise convinced me to sign up for the 2007 Massachusetts Race for the Cure. Our team is called "Spun and Run" but you can be sure I'll be walking not running. It takes place on September 23rd and finding a cure for breast cancer, while not as near and dear to my heart as finding a cure for colon cancer, is still something that would be incredible for all women. If you'd like to support me by making a donation click here. Thanks so much!
~I signed up for One Local Summer and participating fully has been much harder than I thought it would be. The CSA has really helped with procuring local vegetables and eggs but pulling together an entirely local meal is truly difficult. We've had several mostly local meals over the last few weeks but I've yet to make a meal that is entirely local. Hopefully you'll see one here soon.
~Anyone need anything from Pampered Chef? I had a party last night and am trying to get up to the next level with an outside order or two. If you'd like to order anything please email me at cjuliusATcarverplDOTorg and I'll take care of it for you.
~I don't want to give you too much information on my Tour de Fleece participation since the contest is open until the tour ends but I will tell you that I've spun about what I thought I would have by this point. Can I just say, though? Some of you are really optimistic about my spinning capabilities!
~Ten copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows arrived yesterday and will be sitting in my office unopened until July 21, 2007. Now that's willpower, my friends.
Posted by Carole at 6:41 AM | Comments (52)
July 11, 2007
Dream, Grrl
I knit myself a Dream Swatch Head Scarf from one skein of Lana Grossa New Cotton. I think I kind of like it and it must be cool because Hannah wants one.
Dale says Mod Squad. I say Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves. What do you say?
Posted by Carole at 6:42 PM | Comments (57)
July 10, 2007
Look Who's Two!
Before the Great Back Crisis of '07 and Fourth of July and the Tour de Fleece, there was a Birthday Party. Yes, that's a Birthday Party with a capital "B" and a capital "P" because it was the Birthday Party of our very special granddaughter, Ambrynn. It's hard to believe it, but she's TWO. And there's nothing, absolutely nothing, terrible about this two year old.
Look at that face! Nothing but sweetness there, I'll tell you.
And boy does she love her Grandpa. So does Patrick, as you can see. And the love is written all over Grandpa's face, isn't it? When Dale walked into the backyard and Ambrynn saw him she rose up on her little toes and said, "My grandpa's here! My grandpa's here!" And then she ran across the yard right into his arms. Made my heart soar, I'll tell ya.
Being a birthday party, there were presents. Lots and lots of presents. There was a guitar that she loved and a silly ball that she tossed around and lots of Wiggles themed things because Ambrynn just loves her some Wiggles.
We gave her a few silly gifts and a doll, along with the hat I knit for her - that she put right on her head. It's a bit small but I think I can block it bigger and she'll at least get the summer out of it. We also gave her (and her parents, truly) a Web Cam. The move to Florida is only a few weeks away and we're hoping this will help her to remember who we are.
Once the presents were opened it was time for cake. Ambrynn listened sweetly while we sang and then, as soon as the singing ended and the candle was blown out, she announced loudly, "Ambrynn needs a fork!"
And a fork you shall have, sweetheart. Enjoy your cake and Happy Birthday, with all the love in the world from Nana and Grandpa.
Posted by Carole at 7:40 AM | Comments (54)
July 9, 2007
Tour de Fleece
The Tour de Fleece started Saturday and like any good athlete, I did some training in preparation. Spinning training sure is more fun than other types of training. Just saying.
This is Nightshade, the Spunky Eclectic Fiber Club selection for the month of May.
And this is Tulips, the Spunky Eclectic Fiber Club selection for the month of June.
Finally, remember the vacation spinning I did? Well, I finished spinning the roving from Spinner's Hill and plyed it up and got about 600+ yards. That's enough for a Shetland Triangle, which is going to be my Spun Stitches knitting.
I started off Saturday morning with empty bobbins and a plan to spin every day until July 29th. I'm hoping to make a significant dent in my fiber stash. Anyone want to play a game and guess how many ounces I will spin by the time the Tour de Fleece is over? There will be a fibery prize for the one who comes closest without going over.
Here is some information to aid you in your guessing:
~I'm not a particularly fast spinner. It usually takes me 2-3 sessions to spin up 4 oz.
~Anything I spin will count towards the total. In other words, it doesn't have to be plyed and finished yarn.
~I'm working the next two weeks and my weekends will be moderately busy
That's about all I can think of to give you for hints. To enter the contest just leave a comment on this post anytime until July 29th. Hopefully you'll have fun playing while I have fun spinning.
Posted by Carole at 7:19 AM | Comments (65)
July 6, 2007
Eye Candy Friday
This is a portion of last week's CSA share. We pick up another share today. Can' t wait to see what we get!
Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (30)
July 5, 2007
Pass the Prune Juice
I don't know how I did it but last weekend I hurt my back. I was drying myself off after my shower Saturday morning and I turned to the left and felt a twinge. I didn't think much about it and went about my day, including going to Edward's party. I took a couple of Tylenol Saturday night when I went to bed and that was that.
Sunday morning it was achy but not terribly painful. I took a couple more Tylenol and again went about my day, including Ambrynn's birthday party (watch for that post next week) and dinner with friends. I was a bit uncomfortable but it was sort of like an earache - don't think about it and it won't hurt.
Until I went to bed. Then the pain was awful. I couldn't get comfortable and I couldn't get to sleep. It hurt to move my legs but it hurt not to move, too. Monday morning was awful and I called in sick to work. Every step I took was agony and there wasn't a position I could find that didn't hurt in one way or another. I finally broke down and called the doctor and got some drugs. Nothing fancy, just some muscle relaxants. And they helped a bit. I got a full night's sleep on Monday and figured I'd be better on Tuesday.
Wrong. I got up Tuesday morning and it was Monday all over again. I took my drugs (and some more Tylenol) and called in sick to work again. That's two sick days before a mid-week holiday. Oy.
The good news is that by Tuesday around 4:00 my back was mostly feeling better. I suddenly realized I was leaning over to put something away and it didn't hurt. Isn't it funny how pain is all you can think about when you have it but when it goes away you barely even notice?
It's gotten better each day although the mornings are still rough. I just wish I knew what I did to make this happen so I wouldn't do it again. And don't you dare tell me it's old age.
The rest of the good news is that this didn't affect my knitting too much. Lace and muscle relaxants are not a great idea but simple sock knitting was just fine. Behold:
A finished Whisper Lace Sock
Posted by Carole at 8:09 AM | Comments (57)
July 4, 2007
July the 4th
Maryse took this photo last time she visited. I love it but you can see that our garage sure does need a paint job. How about if I tell you that we're going for that shabby chic look? Heh.
Anyway, whether you're off to a parade, a cook out, a concert, a fireworks show, or just hanging out at home, have a wonderful Independence Day.
Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (22)
July 3, 2007
I Went To a Garden Party
I went to a Garden Party
To reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories
and play our songs again.
My Special Swap partner was Beth and she sent me a fabulous box of goodies so that I could throw my own garden party. It was a really clever idea and a great way of interpreting the "In the Garden" theme that Lynn selected for this round of Special Swap.
All the things I'd need for my party were provided. Notecards for inviting guests, gardening tools and seed packets, special hand soap for cleaning up, and a magazine with great herbal recipes. Like any great party, there was food - including cheese straws which were fabulous and are gone, gone, gone - and Paula Deen's Chipotel Raspberry Sauce and salsa, too. There was also a very nice hostess gift - yarn! It's a skein of Woolen Rabbit superwash merino in the colorway "Rosemary & Thyme." It's so soft and the colors are subtle and gorgeous and I love it so much!
When I got to the Garden Party
They all knew my name
But no one recognized me
I didn’t look the same.
Like any good swap partner, Beth has been reading my blog and she learned a thing or two about my love for martinis. Ahem. So she also included wonderful blue cheese stuffed olives and a fabulous martini hand towel along with two matching dish cloths and - get this - my very own martini cross stitch pattern designed by Beth's daughter! Truly unique and I just love it.
But it’s all right now.
I learned my lesson well.
You see you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself.
Beth, you did a great job pleasing me with my Garden Party. Thanks so much!
Posted by Carole at 7:25 AM | Comments (32)
July 2, 2007
A Wish and a Prayer
On Saturday Dale and I had the privilege of attending a going-away party for Blogless Sharon's son Edward. Ed is in the National Guard and he's being deployed to Iraq at the end of the week. Well, technically, he's got training and things for a while and then he's being sent to Iraq. But still, off he goes. He used to be regular army and he's been in situations like this before, including both Afghanistan and Iraq. You can hear the excitement in his voice and there's a light in his eyes at the thought of a new adventure.
And that's great. I'm glad he enjoys his work. But I look at his wife and daughters and I feel sad. Ed's girls are so young and he will miss a whole year of their lives. His marriage will basically be put on hold for a year and things at home will be so different without him there. His wife will care for their home and their daughters. She will look out for the dog and take the girls to school and clean the house. She will cook and socialize and spend time with her friends. But she won't be with her husband while she does those things.
I'll tell you, I could never make it as an army wife. The loneliness would ruin me.
There was no loneliness Saturday, though. The party was a lot of fun for kids, dogs, grown ups and even bunnies.
This is Ed and his dog, Maximus. And Maximus came from Dave Paul. Sharon went to buy a spinning wheel and came home with a puppy.
The food was awesome and everything really looked pretty.
Look at the grin on Blogless Sharon's face. She's surrounded by kids and her bunny. No wonder she's smiling!
One of Ed's friends found several 4 leaf clovers. I'm taking that as a good omen.
We had a great time at the party and were glad for the chance to give Ed and some of the other guys in his unit our wishes for a safe journey. I don't believe in this war but I do believe in American families so I ask you to keep Ed and his family and all the other soldiers, including Sharon and Al's youngest son Evan who is already serving in Iraq, and their families in your thoughts. Let's get them all home safe.
Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (49)
