Halloween preparedness

We designed and cut bags to light the driveway!

Who needs to pay lots of money for luminaries?
Though not professional and certainly not flameproof, they look cute!

Don't worry! We are on fire duty!
And we carved Jack-o-Lanterns!

Scary Face jack and Snoopy!
We roasted pumpkin seeds and tested all the candy offerings, just to be sure they are up to par.
Okay, little ghosts and goblins!
TRICK
OR
TREAT?

Little thrums all in a row

Okay, mittens. line up. It's time to take attendance. Please raise your hand if you are here.
~Blackberry Mitten!
~Here!

~Where is your thumb?
~Yeah, funny story. The chart for the thumb is no where to be found. Organization is not our strongest suit.
~Thrummed Mitten?

~president!
~There's always one in the crowd. Where is your thumb, thrum?
~I have it now. Just not at the photo time.
~Good. I guess there will have to be some thrum wrestling to neaten up those llama tufts.
~Whatever!
~ Homespun mitten?
~mfpshwofh..

~Not here anymore. Soon to be recreated. It's not good to be baggy mittens. That's not a good look for anyone.
-------------
I told you of this mitten obsession.
It's time to tell one of my dirty little secrets. Leigh knows it. She could have outed me. But she is a friend like this. She guarded the info closely.
I Don't Swatch.
Okay, sometimes I swatch. But most of the time, not.
Why?
Well, because of the positive reinforcement thing.
I don't swatch, it works, the natural conclusion is that I don't NEED to.
And mostly this theory works. Especially for the small stuff. The socks, the scarves, the shawl. Not the sweater. Never the sweater. Can't leave that to chance.
But how about the mitten? Nope. Didn't swatch. The result? One blackberry mitten that is too narrow. I can wear it. But my fingers have no room to move. Possibly it will stretch a bit. But probably not. I can live with it.
However, it's not my dream mitten.
Sigh.

Once in a blue moon

A red moon complete with Eclipse? What could it mean? It's all clear to me now. It was time for the Red Sox. I have in my presence one extremely happy hubby.

I see a bad moon arising!
And the handspun? I can't tell you what it's being made into. But it starts with an M and rhymes with ITTEN. I'm so predictable.

I cast on too many stitches, though, so it will be reworked. Perhaps when I have more spun to add to the fray.
I planned a picture show of my various knits du jour, but the camera is set to some kind of funky settings for the eclipse watching. I am a digital dunce. I like to push the button and have a fantastic picture result.
Tomorrow, then. It's only a day away.

It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood

Hey Ma! Lookit me spin!

A bit electric colored in this photo
It is not quite as bright in person. Taking Leigh's philosophy in hand, I plyed it and quickly cast on and knit with it. Instant gratification. It's a good thing. I'd show you the picture, but the morning darkness is preventing me from taking an acceptable photo. My spinning reputation is on the line here!
By the looks of the sky this morning, it looks to be a beautiful day! Hope yours is too!

Blogging late on a Monday! will you read it anyway?

I can't help it! I love magazines this time of year! The turkey! The stuffing! The pumpkin pie! It enables me to eat with my eyes! And a happier person I couldn't be!

A feast for the eyes
You can even spot my new additions to my salt and pepper collection. This one sports a squash and a pumpkin. I'll have to show you the others some day.
My favorite of these magazines happens to be this one:

Why? Come on! "24 SWELL side dishes for your holiday table". Doesn't everyone want swell side dishes, especially on Thanksgiving? I know that I do.
Yeah, Yeah, but what about the knitting?
I guess that's what you came around here for. I don't want to dissapoint.

Flower Basket Shawl
Pattern from the Fall 2004 issue of Interweave Knits, knit in Inca Alpaca, color number 1186. I can't find any evidence that this color yarn exists. And yet, here it is.
Problem:
I suspect that the problem is that Sandy should not knit shawls. I need a flower basket Uli chart. Leaving it up to me is just not cutting it. It leads me through the pattern and charts and then says, "repeat 10 times". Being a visual person, I guess that is too abstract for me. I have done as much unknitting on the last two rows as I have done knitting. Maybe more. I can't get the left side to match the right. This was intended to be a quick gift and it is becoming my stumper. Stumper Stinker. I can't hack it. So, I will gently set it aside and use plan B for the gift. What's plan b? What would yours be? Mine is fuzzy feet.
Thief
I bought a great fleece blanket from Kohl's recently, my newly favorite store. I couldn't wait to snuggle up under it on these nippy evenings.

At least someone is enjoying it!

Too lazy for a real entry

I'm tired. I'm a tad cranky. So, I am sparing you from the grouchy writing of me and I'm going to show you some randomly favorite pics from last weekend. Then I will stop talking about it as I'm sure the rest of you are wishing I'd get some sort of life. Point taken!

Mitten Mania!

Sometimes when I go to the grocery store, I come home with so many drinks it is obvious that I was super thirsty in the market. Juices, sodas, milk, bottled water. I think as I show you my purchases from Rhinebeck, it will be obvious to you that I must have had cold hands.
Mittens.
I love them. I apparently can't get enough. 2 hands. Lots of mittens. Seems fair to me!
First up:

Thrummed mittens in cascade 220 and alpaca roving bought somewhere on the Rhinebeck fairgrounds. Beats me where.
THRUM QUESTION:
My thrums seem a little loose. Are they secured in there good enough? (following the harlot thrum method) I hope you can answer this so I can continue with these lovely mitts.
2.

Mitten kit from MorehouseMerino I am trying to get up the courage to give this as a gift.
3.

Lovely hand dyed Greenspun yarn that rivals Mountain Colors!
Would make nice mittens, no?
4.

Let's not forget the blackberry mittens on the needles!
More?

The legendary Brooks Farm Yarn (website coming soon!) I was thinking this would make a great scarf. But...mittens would be nice too~!
Not mittens:

NO! This will become socks. Wonderful sock yarn from The Spirit Trail! Hi Jen!
You can get some too! Go to Spirit Trail Fiberworks!
Okay, I figure that there are 365 days in a year. Here in New England, with my cold fingers, about half of them are mitten appropriate. Plenty of room for more!

views from a weekend

Are you thinking all this Rhinebeck talk is a boar? Let's just see some views from the digital then.

Twin Quests

Out the door of a Bed and Breakfast

Carolyn says, "Here Horsey, horsey!"

spindling Class with Claudia! (look! Norma is concentrating!)

A Harlot sighting! I nod in her direction!

Katyknits wearing a gorgeous sweater!

GibMobile, East Coast style!

Literally a fork in the road

Why did the Chicken cross the road? For Mary, of course!

country roads take me home..

Rhinebeck Chronicles, the fluffy part

First Things First:
It seems blog lines does have it's quirks. Didn't you think to yourself that this seems too good to be true? There must be a catch? I think I found it. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, it doesn't pick up a person's rss feed. So, my loyals, you will have to read Sandysknitting the old fashioned way: Frenzied Refreshing. It worked before. And while you are at it, go refresh around Laurie's blog too. Bloglines is ignoring her too.
Something we said?

Repeat after me!
"Sandy is not a spinner!"
Repeat as necessary.

I went to buy yarn and I ended up buying a bunch of "do it yourself"! Next year, I hope I don't come home with a sheep or two!
Okay, more tomorrow for the two of you that are checking around bloglines.

Rhinebeck Chronicles

Home seems especially sweet after spending time away. But it's also bitter sweet because the Rhinebeck weekend was the best. Old friends, new friends, yarn, spindles, a robin wheel, beautiful foliage, one of the most beautiful B&B's I've seen with some of the crabbiest owners: What more could a girl ask for?
There were laughs, tears, girltalks, snoozes, knitting, spindling, spinning, blackouts (the literal "no lights in the building kind"), gourmet dining, not so gourmet dining. Heaven in a B&B, baby!
There's lots to tell, but let's start our story at home. I got the bright idea that I should give my everyday cardigan it's first bath. Yes, it's true. I hadn't washed it. So I did. That was an experience in itself. I rolled it in towels. 2 times. I stood on it to squeeze out the water, although my Rhinebeck buddies wouldn't believe it. It sat overnight. Friday morning arrived, packing time, and I find EC is "still damp". So, I talk myself into bringing it because it only needs a little more time to dry. I laid it out on my (fabric) suitcase and by the time we arrived in Rhinebeck, the bag was mysteriously wet. Hmm. This was my first clue that perhaps it was more than a "little damp". Well, that and all my knitting friends, new and old asking me if I were crazy, washing it Thursday and expecting it dry Friday. An optimist. And I'd do it again. Being the helpful new friends that they are, MaryBeth and Leigh were on a personal quest, a grail of sorts, to dry my EC. They tried many a thing. Here's a glimpse of the most creative.

Is it dry yet?
No, not yet, but it was dry by Sunday morning and I did get to wear it. That's some kind of friends. The dry sisters.
There are so many stories to tell, but the clock ticks on, my friend, so I leave you with some knitting pics for today. Stay tuned for Rhinebeck Chronicles, Part II.

Deb, "Yen-tah-lah", Carolyn,
and Norma.

Annie and Kim, who gets the furthest traveled award for flying in from Idaho. (There is no actual award, just adoration. That should be enough!)

Kerstin, the best darned driver I know and Cindy!
And More!

So many more knitters and bloggers. But time marches on and I must end this lovefest for today.
Tomorrow lets talk fiber, shall we?
My head is spinning and so are my hands!

Back on Monday!

One more sleep until I get to go to the NY Sheep and Wool Festival! I'm so excited I can barely stand myself!
Packing list:
~knitting (number one, of course)
~warm clothes: Jeans, sneakers and my everyday cardigan, thank you!
~BIG bag to stuff new items into
~Spindle: Leigh will be giving me private lessons!
~Jammies and comfy slippers: I can't go anywhere without my favorite clothes!
Have a great weekend everyone! And if you see Bob or the rest of the comment spammers that have been making me miserable (leaving me about 40 comments a day!) tell them to go knit something!
Scheez!

It's the little things that mean a lot!

Blackberry Mitten!
I am so excited to show you what I have been knitting since the finishing of the flip top mittens. This is so fun to knit and I think it's coming out so fun! Look at the little berries! Aren't they cute??
Rhinebeck trip
In 2 days, I will be sitting in the FRONT seat of a van, motoring down to the nice state of NY to meet up with some of the best kind of gals I know. The knit chicks. (Does that surprise ANYONE here?) I can't wait to meet Mary Beth and Norma! And Carolyn and KIM!! It's a funny business meeting the knitbloggers in person. You "know" this person, but you've never met them. I hope they all know that in everyday speech, I never utter a "hee hee, teehee, or a hrmph" at all. Never an LOL, or an LYS. I use real words. Not even abbreviated.
But I've always found that the in person blogger is much better than the words.
That's my story and I"m sticking to it.

Alpaca flip top gloves!

Alpaca Glove/Mittens for Bethany are done!

Fingers can be out for flute playing!

Or inside to keep warm!
Specifics:
Yarn: Prime Alpaca, some of the yummiest yarn I've laid my hands on. This stuff rivals cashmere, I kid you not. (kid, hehe)
Pattern: Loosely based on this pattern
Needle size: US 2
Warm, cuddly factor: Priceless!
This will conclude my glove affair.
Onto the mitten mania!!

Monday, ugh

I spent my weekend cooking, cleaning and sitting at band competitions. I'm not complaining. Really. What I AM complaining about is that the rest of my family has the day off (Columbus day holiday) and I will be toiling the day at work. I am grumpy as all get out that I have to drag myself out of bed, bleary eyed while they all snuggle in a bit further as to not awaken at my sounds of work preparation. Jealous? Damn straight! :)
Can you stand one more sky picture? If the answer is no, then close your eyes for a minute and scroll down.

I am a bit of a weather freak. Yah, little known fact about me. Now you know. Sky pictures have always fascinated me. Throw in a mountain view and I am esctatic. Doesn't take much, I know! Makes me easy to please.
The view from the field

BHS marching band, performing West Side story. It's a wonderful show and they are a pleasure to watch. Of course, I am prejudiced. As a bonus at these events, I get to get a glimpse of college boy in his band perform.

UMass Lowell Marching band
Can you spot Derek? No, I can't either. For some reason, my wonderful camera is taking crappy photos lately. I wonder why that is. Pictures used to be crystal clear and now they are blurry and garrish in color. Or perhaps it's my eyes. I'd prefer to think my super duper expensive camera is on the blink, thank you very much!
Knitting?
Well, my knitting is boring even me. I am still working on the alpaca glove/mittens. They will be finished tonight. WILL. Then I plan to start the blackberry mittens. Yum.
Boring? Grumpy? Blaise? Yup, it's Monday alright.
Ugh!

Still knitting Alpaca Glove/mittens!

Autumn Hydrangea
A good year for the hydrangeas!

Can we talk about glove?

It's time for that talk. Let's talk about glove. I'd like to say that I am IN glove. While I may love the glove. I am not IN love with the glove. There are a couple of things standing in the way of perfect glove love.
First. There is another. Yes, that's right. Mittens. My heart will always be with the mitten. What's not to love about the mitten?
glove: the fingers stand alone, feeling cold and unloved. No one to cuddle with. A lonely existence.
Mitten: Cuddle room. Fingers can spoon their way to happiness. It's all warm and wonderful in the mitten. Not one finger feels left out here. It's a love in. Sure! The thumb is alone, but in a flash it can join the others for a bit of warmth and then can retire back to it's quarters.
Glove: Fiddly knitting. Sure, it's a finishing party every evening, but all the decreasing and wrestling 3 1/2 stitches around DPN's is more work than it's worth. I have a fear of holes, so the picking up stitches between fingers practically leads to a nervous breakdown. That is 10 possible nervous breakdowns with each set of gloves. That is a lot of mental health issues. Lots of therapy.
Mittens: One thumb. Fiddle quotent = next to nothing.
Socks: Yes, that's right. SOCKS. Mittens are like socks, with the addition of a thumb. You remember, don't you, how much I love socks? Socks for the hands. Now, I am a happy woman indeed. My life is fullfilled.
Fullfilled? Well, almost. I have a need to thrum some mittens now. My fingers get cold.
Black Beauty: Hey Ellen! this is what I'm making

Update on Alpaca Glove/mittens: Both fingerless hands are done and I have started the finger flap on the first. What's all the flap? This particular flap is facing the wrong way. I shoulda looked at a pair we have here. This pair will have to flip over and inside out to cover the fingers. I have had the great debate and fidget flap wins. I will not rip because Bethany is putting the pressure on me to wear these on Saturday. So, I knit on.

Sky Views Or Donna Started it!
I have seen the sky in Vermont, Australia, Washington DC, Jamaica, North Carolina, , Northern Massachusetts, Utah, Virginia, Toronto, Connecticut, and they are all blue and beautiful! (any others that I missed?) Not a raincloud in the bunch! I'm hoping those blue skies stay over me next weekend when I will be making a trek down to Rhinbeck, NY for the Sheep and Wool festival. More excited I could not be!
Thanks to you all for giving me a peek into your world. Now, um... if I click my thumbs together 3 times and say, "There's no place like thrums", will I be thrumming along?

Got Sky?

Can you usually feel your latest obsession coming on?
It starts with a thought
"It would be great if I could knit myself some mittens"
Then you remember that in your stash is this kit

Blackberry mitten kit from Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill!
And then you buy yourself some kick ass yarn for your birthday specifically for this droolworthy pattern. (pattern named LOGAN)
Then, as if planted by Fate, a thrummed mitten along starts up and every tom, dick and harry are knitting up the most fabulous, warm, toasty mittens. My fingers sing just thinking that they could be so toasty!
Karma? Kismet? Serendipity? Who cares! I must knit mittens!
As I persevere through the alpaca glove/mittens, I dream of mittens.
Not So Random Sky View

The Moon did not want to go to bed today!
Donna showed her beautiful Aussie sky, here's the Massachusetts sky.
Show your sky!

monday musings

I had intended on posting a blue sky picture yesterday, in Donna's Random style! But just as I was ready to venture outside to take the picture, (we don't want to scare the neighbors with the lazy Sunday look, do we?) the camera wandered off with Bethany to the charity hockey game in Boston. She did come home with 135 pictures, of which I could show all to you now. But I won't.
Alright, just one. My favorite!

Michael J. Fox!
I was sitting home watching Back To The Future, while Bethany was watching MJF play hockey. And that he CAN play hockey is a wonderful thing! Bethany said he was a bit slow but he played!
Actual Knitting Content!

Alpaca Glove/mittens are coming along, although not as quicklly as I'd like. My thoughts kept wandering yesterday to mittens. I seem to be creating quite an infatuation for them. I can't wait to start a pair. But I must MUST get these done for this weekend.
MUST!
Thanks for your support!
Thanks for all your wonderful comments on my chickeny day on Friday. I need to embrace the chicken within. Be proud of my "turn tail and run" heritage!
Happy Monday!

What a day!

I have gotten off my blogging schedule and thought I'd pop in to say hello. I have the house to myself for a while and thought I'd spend it with you. Hubby is not home from work yet, Bethany took the train with a friend to Boston to buy some charity hockey tickets and of course, Derek is at college. I have no camera here to show you anything, so all you get is me. The camera is taking a trip to Boston too just in case any Bruins players are spotted! You never know!
Thank Goodness it's Friday!
I had a day that I am not so proud of today. Today was the last day at work for a woman who is not my favorite person. It is fair to say that the feeling is mutual. Our working relationship has deteriorated into a silent, barely civil working arrangement, with a lot of muttering under our breaths. It has been a process of awareness for me. I have never consciously decided to dislike someone before. It was well beyond time, don't you think?
So, today is her last day and so many options come into play. Do I swallow the attitude and fake a goodbye? Do I tell her off at long last? (Pent up anger. It's an ugly thing. And not to be unleashed willy nilly) Do I avoid her like the plague? Do I rush to the door and wave goodbye to her with only one finger?
As tempting as all these options were, I chose the chicken way. Avoidance. But as anyone will tell you, once you make a decision to skulk around and be sneaky, avoiding said person, you will....I repeat WILL 100%, money back guarantee run smack dab into the jerky person, uh....avoided person. Yes, after successfully avoiding for hours on end (it's stressful, I tell ya!) I turned the corner, and was face to face with her. "Uh, Oh...Um....Good luck".
This is how I chose to say goodbye to Ms. Pain in my Rump after fantasizing for months on how I would end our relationship.
See? You don't want to mess with me!
I always think of myself as someone who will stick up for myself, not taking crap, dealing with difficulties smoothly and effectively. Not so. Given the choice, apparently, I will turn heel and hide.
Some times self reflection hurts a bit, doesn't it?
I'm going to go knit something. And have a diet coke on the rocks. That will make me feel better.
And if I get one more spam comment from Bob, I may have to tell him off too.