As the seasons blur

Even though I've lived in New England all of my life, sometimes I am still taken by surprise by the weather. I follow it pretty closely, Todd Gross being my teacher. He predicts, I believe. When he told me that there would be snow showeres, but nothing substantial in my hometown, I did believe. So, when I saw this gentle snow falling down, I appreciated it. And quickly took a picture, thinking it would be my last chance for a while.

As I bundled up in my various wool attire to do my volunteerism as the Beverly High School Football game's concession stand (best burgers and dogs around, after all, it's Andy back there cooking them!) I never anticipated it turning into this:

Please do notice that home team is winning. Substantially, which, I'm told is a rare occurance, one that should be savored. I'm there for the band, I do not notice the fumbling around very much. True.
I knew that there would not be another band opportunity like this one, meaning of course, snow covered, so I sprung into action. Leaving my fellow volunteers to man the concession stand by themselves, I put my Photographer Hat on. (figurative, not literal. I wish I did have a hat, it would have kept me a bit warmer and drier!) I didn't feel too bad about the abandonment though, since there were approximately about 30 fans left in the whole stadium by that point.

The Fantastic Four! 3 of them posed happily for me, stating that they wanted to use the picture for Christmas cards from the Tuba bunch. One in particular had that "Oh, MOM" look on her face. You can pick her out, can't you? Third cold one from the left. That's my Bethany!
When the game was over, we all trudged home through the snow with our wet sneakers and band shoes, thoughts of warmth running through our heads. Luckily Bethany got a bit of a headstart on us because the band was dismissed earlier than the volunteers. All I could think of was a steaming bowl of fish chowder, freshly made earlier that day, warm, dry clothes and perhaps a steaming mug of tea. What I got was dry clothes and a cold house, no warm food or drink thanks to a power outage that lasted a good 3 hours.
3 hours and I was feeling a bit caged in. No communication with the outside world. No radio or tv. Hardly any knitting even. It was dark!
Never fear, though. When the power came back on, we all imbided in the hot food/beverage of our choice and got our fill of electonics.
Mitten Photo Op!
I debated and pondered what would be my first knitalong mitten. Here it is

Advika mitten from Mission Falls booklet Smitten. I am blindly following the instructions for the striping order. And see on the bottom? A bazillion and one ends to weave in? Yeah.
Warm Hands Knitalongers can email me at sanhurl{at}comcast.net. You know what to do. Or you can leave a comment.
One more. Flower in the snow:

goofy

*Be sure to check out the Warm hands update, click button on right side!
There is only so far a Branching Out Scarf will get you blog entry wise. I do think that I am wringing every last drop out of it, though. THAT is how much I love it!

Scarf up a Pumpkin!

Honestly, you'd think a scarf had never been knit before!
~I am really trying to distract you from the next picture.

Me. Wearing the beloved scarf. And buffalo brownski everyday cardigan! And freezing my beejeezus off. For you. Yes, for you, I am putting my goofy faced, double chinned, crowsfooted eyes here, which I've been told is a rare occurance.
Happy?
:)

Branching out scarf is finished!

Did you see it? The new Warm Hands Page? Look over there on the right. See the new Warm Hands button? Go ahead, click that. I'll wait here.
~whistling: or at least trying to~
Isn't it beautiful? Did you notice the banner and the new matching button? They are from my Liidia's mitten (one finished, Sept. 30th entry). I am beyond thrilled with this wonderful knitalong page! I will update the list there soon, I have not yet done it. Visit it, visit often. Go ahead and keep signing up there!
Thank you, Mary for such a blog of beauty!
~~
I finished the Branching Out Scarf! But today you only get to see edges!

Perfectly nice but I began to think that it lacked SOMETHING. I remembered the edging from the Adika mittens from the Smitten Mitten booklet and knew I was on to something!

What do you think? Gives it a bit of a funky feel!
How about a closeup of the leaves?
~YARN CAM~

Brooks Farm yarn is heaven in a skein! I'm telling ya!

tune ( I know, this has nothing to do with nothing, but I misspelled the word TIME and I thought I'd leave it as the title!)

When I was newly married (21 years ago for those who are trying to peg my age bracket) I had visions of evenings full of love, conversation, dinner to rival gourmet restaurants, Me-time as well as exercise time. I specifically imagined myself jogging. Oh, my sides hurt with the mirth that brings me now. Me?? Jogging? I just didn't know myself well enough yet. I had high hopes. But the point is that I envisioned hour after hour of contented family time to fill in.
I wonder now where those hours go to. I have a certain amount of time in a day but it seems to rush by with only a fraction of my mental to-do list getting done. I think that if, by some miracle of time shift happened and I was given an extra hour every day, it would somehow get jam packed full in a split second.
So, I started a knitalong. And I do not regret it, but I should have had a plan in place to deal with the knitalong business. I still do not. Have a plan. And me being html challenged that I am, I have a desperate help call out to my guru. So, for now, I will list the participants here.
Without any further ado, here they are, in no particular order,
Warm Hands Participants!

Becky, who has a great blog name!
Adelle Lisa, who has a pretty cute pooch!
Dympna, who has started Norwegian mittens
Jessica, who has already finished a great pair of mittens! And they are handspun! Fastest Knitalonger right here!
Luvtocraft, who seems to be knitting a chicken wing! :)
Shara, who has yummy food on her blog!
Leena, who has some GORGEOUS mittens started, and a history lesson of them too! Check it out!
Ann who is already done one mitten!
Jen, who has finished socks galore! Warm feet!
Laurie, who sheepishly needed a kick in the mitten to get started!
Vicki Will she knit chicken mittens to match her hat? :)
BearKnits who has a family with cold hands!
Dena, who has a great list of free mitten patterns!
Donna, Miss Booshay, who counts mittens as one of her favorite things. A girl after my own heart!
Blogless Debbie who has started mittens from the book Mighty Mitts & Flap Caps, which is a great title, no?
Danielle, who needs mittens as a Christmas gift. No time like the present to start that! (she knitted some Red Sox!)
Wendy who dyes beautiful yarn!
Blogless Paula, who must be knitting something!
Blogless Leslie, who has never knit mittens. Imagine that.
Amanda who is getting the first SNOW that I know of. Cold hands!
Janice who has knit some beautiful lace!
Dawn who apparently is looking for another hole in her head. (another knitalong)
Eva who had to go to her LYS specially to buy mitten yarn. Poor thing! We can all sympathize! :)
Ina who has lots and lots of wound up yarn that would be perfect for mittens!
Lisa who is a fellow muppet lover.
Another Lisa who has some Steadfast Fibers yarn in "rainforest" coloway waiting to be a mitten.
Billie-Jean who has made oodles of thrummed mittens for everyone but herself! Cold hands!
Sarah who is cute as a button and made a great sweater!
Amanda who is also cute as that button and ALSO has a great new sweater! And a pug! One of our many double dippers, in both this and the Peaceful Palms knitalong! Proving of course, that there are never too many knitalongs!
Kim whose hands NEEDS mittens. She can SEE the snow near her!
Isela has only knit fingerless mitts. You know what that means? COLD HANDS!
Cathee who has some beautiful mittens in the dream stage!
Emmy Who is new to mitten making! Welcome!
Liz who is eyeing the new Knitpicks colorwork wool. Can't wait to see them!
Mary whose children has cold hands!
Jillz who is not feeling well, but will knit mittens anyway! :) Feel better, Jillz!
Kat, whose blog I cannot visit right now, for some reason, is knitting for a "gwfgwf" knitting list. Anyone know what this is? Hmmm?
Kristen who needs a reason to knit mittens. Consider me a good reason. I need company!
Nicola who has finished one FANTABULOUS looking Gotland Island mitten! Go see it!
the Knitting Kit who is knitting a pair of Dad mittens! Dads need warm hands too!
Melissa who has finished several pair as of late!
Aubrey, blogless and thrumless. Get Going, Aubrey! Your hands will thank you!
Gina the mitten knitting Auntie!
Margene my friend and inspirational knitter!
Katy has a 2 year old with Cold Hands!
Neglected blog Jackie, pseudo blogless, has an almost finished pair of Estonian mittens! YES! It counts! 5 more to go, Jackie!
Kathy who has nieces and nephews with Cold Hands!
Beth S. I lust after her Hermione mittens. And yes, Beth, it's time to do a stranded pair! :)
Kate (the mysterious) I almost met her. ALMOST! How's the thrums coming along?
Jackie, who is dying to try some Latvian mittens. You know what I say? Just do it! (Jackie, is the address you left really a DNA testing site? )
Ruth who has a severe case of Mitten on the Brain!
Carole who, thank goodness is a follower!
Ma Hatfield who was waiting for some kind of excuse to learn to knit mittens. Consider yourself "excuse-d"
Maureen who I know to be a mitten maniac like myself!
Cara who has some magical yarn that has MITTEN written all over it.
Norma who cannot resist a party. This is a Mitten Party! :)
Jo in Boston who knits great socks.
Gibs who I know will knit some unique, wonderful mittens! Welcome home, Kim!
Rob who has one gorgeous mitten finished and one on the way! She also has some beauties planned!
Susan who needs to lighten up on herself and give herself a little break! No Charlotte's Web is not the end of the world. However, Miss Susan, NO MITTENS IS the end of the world. Get knitting! :)
Linda her first knitalong EVER. How about that?
JSC who is itching to knit some mittens. She has come to the right place!
Laura who is almost done mitten number 1 ! Already!
Julie who knits AND bakes. Yum!
Kim When somebody mentions the word Latvian mitten pattern to me, I listen! Go Kim!
AmyDe who's kids hands will not be cold for long!
TeriP who is joining me to knit mittens AND show's me her sky! Thanks TeriP!
Jessica It's never too late to join MY knitalongs. Did you read the rules? (October 17th entry)
Kristen who suggests that she may be deranged for knitting fair isle mittens. Hm..She's in good company!
Cold hands Samantha She has more than Cold Hands. She has FREEZING Hands. We know how to remedy this, do we not, knitters?
Blogless Lisa, knitting thrummed mittens!
MaryBeth who has a lonely Malabrigo mitten waiting for a mate! :)
Kathy the Knitagator who is perfectly delightful and I'm sure will knit perfectly delightful mittens!
Beth, who mentioned my favorite word, "LATVIAN MITTENS". Technically 2 words, but my favorite nonetheless!
Wendy Author! Author! :)
~~~
Phew! 72 mitten knitters! Let me know if I missed you! Want to join the fun? Read the RULES on the October 17th entry and then let me know if you can adhere to the strict set of guidlines I have set up!
Have fun!

One more button to choose from!

And another, by Carole! Thanks, Carole!

Morning already?

I left my house on a Tuesday evening. It's odd , for sure, but it was wonderful. I attended the Knit Lit 3 kickoff reading at Willow Books last night and had an evening filled with fiber and friends. What more could a girl ask. I met so many bloggers that I had previously only knew in words and I came away perfectly high on friendship. I made new friends but kept the old.
As I lay my head on the pillow, pulling the crisp sheets around me, I ruminated on the people and conversations of the evening. I hoped that somehow, Stephanie could find this peace in a hotel room. Home is such a good feeling when the heart is warmed by frienship, is it not? As I closed my eyes, enjoying the exhausted, happy feeling, I then spent ALL night awake. Oh, I dozed, but the mind would not turn off. I thought and rethought of all the evening and frankly, now, I'm ready to sleep. But I cannot.
Fricking caffeine!
I only took one picture of the evening and it was before I got there in the car in traffic. A sky picture. I thought the sky looked so pretty through the trees, but of course the picture did not capture the beauty that my eyes were seeing.

The camera did not come out the whole rest of the night, which is unlike me. However, I do know that 2 group pictures were taken, so if you travel around, you'll see me. In fact, I was called to the carpet for not posting my smiling face on here more. Okay, I'll work on that a bit. Not today though.
~~~
Button Call!
One more button from Mary, my computer guru! Thanks Mary!

Get your buttons here!

Must do a quick post today. I am heading out SOON to here. How much fun will that be? Sure tops my usual Tuesday night of couch sitting!
:)
Here are some buttons that have been sent to me for the Warm Hands knitalong.
Pick at will:


These 2 are from Chrissy H. Thank you, Chrissy!
And these:


Thank you, Tiffany for making these 2 buttons!
Needless to say, save these to your own server by right clicking and click on SAVE AS, or some such. Link back here if you can and spread the word. No Cold Hands This Winter, is our motto!
~~~
LAST CALL FOR CHARLOTTE'S WEB KNITALONG! It will be expiring!
No time to post a list yet. Fun is awaiting me!

Warm Hands

There is a Peaceful Palms knitalong for gloves. It's time to start up a mitten one too. Join one. Join them all!
There are rules, of course:
1. Knit mittens
2. knit them now
3. or later
4. just knit them
5. You must finish them
6. Or not. Your call
7. Share your progress with me
8. I know that Tuesday is Knitalong day in some worlds, but here it will be MItten Monday. Sunday would be a good day to email me with updates.
9. Be happy and have warm hands!
What do you think? You wanna?
~~~
Need a Warm Hands button. Got one?

Sunday and the sun is shining

Sunday already? Yesterday was a watery blur. It rained more than I've ever seen it rain. It was a steady downpour all day long. Today, though, after about 5 days straight of clouds and rain, there is blue sky and a nip in the air. Perfect weather for a band competition, don't you think? That's where I'll be today. Sitting in the stands, wringing my hands waiting to hear if it's gold, silver or :gulp: bronze.
And look:

I'm still contemplating all of my options for a sock project. I feel close to a decision. Usually I do not agonize about my knitting. In fact, I'm not agonizing now. I'm enjoying the process. Like Someone tells me to do.
I thought it to be time to break out the bag. At it's one year anniversary. This is the bag of stuff that I bought at Rhinebeck, NY sheep and Wool last year. Well, not the WHOLE bag. Some of the stuff has been used or gifted.

On the left is 2 bags of copper moth roving in 2 shades of brazilwood. I had a vision of plying these 2 together to be one beautiful shade. One bag, in the back of 3 shades of icelandic wool from Frelsi Farm. I have to admit that I would have never ever remembered the name of the farm if it was not on the wonderful label. On the right side. a cute little change purse. Made in Guatemala by Mayan women trying to escape their poverty. Still in the bag of stuff. Not any more. I'm using it starting today. 2 skeins of Spirit Trail sockyarn. I love the colors and the feel of this. Perhaps this yarn will become the next sandysocks. And finally one small ball of handspun by me. From roving from Indigo Moon. That is about all the spinning I have done all year long. Not much to show, eh? I enjoy spinning! I do! But TIME. Where will I find the time to spin AND knit?
So, there you have it. My Rhinebeck goodies. I did not even have to leave the house. The joy of this bag has lasted over a year now.
Enjoy your day. Mine is indeed SUNday!

Socks.

Well. Here it is. October. And low and behold, I find out about this:

All I can think about is socks. I even was lucky enough to stumble across the Knitting Vintage Socks book yesterday. I was more excited than a squirrel finding a barrel of nuts. Or something. After reading through the book (yes, I spent a Friday night planted on the couch reading a knitting book. Big whoop! You would have too!) I have narrowed it down to EVERY pair. Perhaps I can get closer to a decision upon further reflection.
After having decided that, "Yes, indeed, I will knit socks" I got out the sock yarn. Lorna's laces, koigu, mountain colors, Junes handspun, opal, Jen's wonderful handspun. My head spins. Or should that be, My FEET spin. In any case, as I dream and scheme all I can think about is the Conwy socks. From knitting on the road. They are my hands down favorite. Feet down favorite, of course.
So, I pose you this question. Can a knitter really spend the rest of her life knitting the same sock?
Can she?
Hmm?
~~~
Stay tuned for the next Rhinebeck avoidance post where I take out a bag full of goodies from last years Rhinebeck festival and play with them like I just bought them.
~~~
What do you think the equivalent of Socktoberfest would be for the mitten?

Le chat

Time doesn't seem to be on my side lately. The days fly by and I don't have one iota of the things done that I planned at the beginning of the day.
So, today I post even though I have no knitting to show. Good light is at a premium around here to take pictures. Rain, rain and more rain has made for gloomy living.
So, what's a girl to do when there is no knitting to show?
CAT SHOT!

Dr. Seuss has a Cat in a Hat, I have a Cat in a Box. Seems fair!
And a hearty "Have a good time!" to all the Rhinebeck attendees. Don't forget to visit the Sandysknitting photo yarn at the Bay Colony Farm booth! I will be eagerly awaiting your stories. And the rest of you? I am begging you to post this weekend so those of us with sheep and wool envy won't even miss them. Alright, we'll miss them, but we'll be busy with a party of our own.

My heart

Before I go any further, please, all of you, wrap your arms around yourselves and squeeze. That's from me. Thank you so much for being there for me. I am amazed at your compassion and caring. I am thankful for your friendship.
Bethany is doing fine. She does not look so shell shocked today, finally. Her neck is sore, her knee is really bruised as well as her hip but she is fine. And, to look at the bright side of things, because that is what I do best, all 4 girls probably learned a great big lesson, one that is more valuable by far than all the mothers in the world nagging. Don't you think? However, I am the proud owner of a bunch more grey hair and I'm not happy about that. But I earned these. They are my motherhood badge.
I have been knitting on the Branching Out Scarf. I do love this pattern. I will enjoy this scarf this winter. So will my neck.

When I found out that Mission Falls was going out of business, I knew I had to get serious and purchase myself the smitten pattern booklet. After all, who is smitten with mittens if not me? Really.

All the yarn my little heart would desire to knit the mitten advika. Smitten, indeed!

"Hi Mom, everyone's all right. It's Okay, but I need you to come pick me up!"

When I heard all the sirens, I knew. I don't know how, but I knew it was Bethany. She was due to come home any minute from her long SAT exam for a short lunch break and then back to school for the rest of the day for band practice.
She called, her voice shaking. Thank god. She told me that Katie was driving Bethany and 2 other friends to get some lunch and the car hyrdroplaned. Katie lost control, started to steer into the skid like taught but another car was coming towards them. So as to not crash head on, she turned her wheels the other way, causing them to bump the curb and flip. All 4 girls had their seatbelts on. They are bruised, shaking, scared out of their tree but all of them are okay.
Thank God.
A policeman had closed the street to traffic. When we pulled up, we saw the car sitting on it's side. There is no scarier sight than that one. All 4 girls were standing there. Standing. So simple an activity, one that I have never been so glad to see. We all stood there, hugging our daughters, the rain soaking us, thankful. The car did not fair so well. It was a Volvo. It did it's job well, it protected our loved ones and gave up it's life for it.
Thank God.
Blessings. I have a few. It's not the American Thanksgiving yet, so I think I'll join my Canadian friends in reveling in my Thanks.

The scene of the accident, after the fact.
Hug your children as I will hug mine. Extra tight.

My evening in Pictures

Knitting? Are you serious? Do you know what month this is? It's incredibly busy band mom month! My last one ever. boohoo. I"m okay. Really. Although I keep getting these twinges of sentimentality. You know, "this is my last ________ ever!" And Andy so diplomatically informs me that even people that don't have a kid in the band can go to the __________. (fill in blanks of a current activity)
The Blank would be PARADE today.
This parade kicks off Salem's Haunted Happenings. Freak month to those who don't know.

Hey, do you think I make these things up?
We couldn't have asked for a better evening to stand out watching a parade. The temperature?

A warm and balmy 72 F. No, that's not 7.2.
I almost screeched out loud when I saw Percy!

Come on! It's Percy Weasley, you would have screeched too!
Where else can you see the Lawn Chair Drill Team in action?

What's a parade without some cool cars?

But really, the stars of the show were these kids:

My daughter, the tuba player!

She is standing next to the red shirted cowboy. She used to play the flute. And the Piccolo. Seems to me they were alot easier to lug around town. Perhaps not as much fun, though. She's dressed like a hippy, in case you were wondering.
See?

Peace, man!
~~
Knitting? Yeah, yeah, don't nag me. I'll get around to some. Someday soon.
It's almost Friday. Hope you have a freaky friday!

The Fog

I have never taken a picture of the fog. I love how it blankets the town with a hushed dampness that is comforting to me.

Once upon a time, there was a glass of milk..

Ever since the kids have grown to be advanced teenagers, we have eaten our dinners in front of the television. When they were growing up, I thought it was very important to sit around the table and share our food as well as important time together. Now? Well, it's pretty much a free for all. I don't know how it happened. Perhaps it was destined to happen as Andy and I as newlyweds dined in front of the set on TV trays.
But, it works for us, everyone is happy. And well fed.
Dinner was chicken stir fry. One of my favorite meals. I have a new found love of cooking dinner. The slicing, the dicing, the flavoring, the stirring. It is a good way to end the day. And I can put more nutrition into a meal than ever can be thought about in take out. Stir fry in hand, I head to my spot. We all have our "spots". I chose a glass of milk for the accompaniment. Often I will drink water (this is a key part of the story. USUALLY I drink water. Remember this fact) but I am reminded lately that I am of a "certain age" that calcium is important, so milk it was. If only I knew.
So, munch munch, fast forward about 6 minutes, I reach for the glass of milk. Full. Not one sip out of it yet. And the glass stumbles. I don't know why, but it starts to tip. I then overreact and my fingers hit the glass, laying it down on the table. The spilling happens and seems like it's in slow motion, but I am powerless to control it. The noise of the dripping onto the carpet is loud. I scream out in a comically high voice blaming Andy, who is still in the kitchen. It is my way of defusing the situation. Then I see it.
Soggy, milk laden brown roving. Roving that was being used to lovingly make thrums in the most recent thrummed mittens with the handspun? THIS is not funny anymore. I sop up the spill. Trying to keep my goofy manner, but there is a pit in my stomach as I glance over at the sodden roving. The carpet? Yeah, yeah. It will dry. I scrubbed it clean. Big whoop. MY ROVING. IS MILKY. ROVING IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE MILKY. Should I wash it?
Whoever said that one should not cry over spilled milk never, ever sopped their brown roving, that's for sure!
~~
Yesterday's picture of the extinct scarf:

See? Isn't the branching out scarf prettier?
~~
Santa Counted Cross Stitch Tree Skirt
For those that asked, the kit that my Mother did (see the tree skirt in the September 26th entry if you missed it. Go ahead, scroll down!) is called the St. Nick Tree Skirt a kit by the company Dimensions and most probably bought at The Stitchery which is where she buys most of her things. That or Keepsake Needle Arts. No affiliation, that is just her favorite haunts. Look at this link to see her new undertaking. Maybe you are now understanding where I get my love of Christmas! And while I'm showing you Mom Christmas links, look at what she will be putting on the tree which will be on the tree skirt. Yeah, I know, I have some good things to inherit someday.
Not soon. No. Way, way off in the non forseeable distance, please!
Ramble much?

My neck, it needs some warmth!

Brooks Farm Yarn. If you have ever had the good fortune to handle some of it, just the name alone will cause an "AHHHHH" to involuntarily escape your lips. Brooks Farm Yarn was my weekend.
The last we saw my own personal BFY, it looked a bit like this
~Imagine a scarf here. I cannot upload the picture right now for some reason. I will try again later. Hrmph. Imagine hard, you can do it! It's a scarf. It does not look as good as the one below. ~
Saturday afternoon I got an idea. I liked the scarf, but I didn't LIKE IT, LIKE IT, if you know what I mean. I needed something else. But what? The idea crept in , you know, like a cat trying to get some tuna. Branching Out Scarf From knitty.
So I did. Who am I to argue with the knitter within?

Susan has created a great pattern. If you are looking for a lace pattern that won't blow the top of your head off, this is it. If you are a thinking of doing your first lace project but get overwhelmed at the thought, this is the pattern for you. If you want something pretty, do it.
Saturday night found my family happily in front of the TV watching the movie Fever Pitch which I thought was an enjoyable movie for all. For me, a wonderful love story. For the hubby Andy, a trip down memory lane for the Red Sox winning the World Series. He even commented that he had seen Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore jumping around celebrating on the field when the Red Sox had won and he did not know why they were there. Now he knows! I don't want to spoil the ending for you, but the Red Sox Win.
The beginning of a new week. Let's make it a good one, shall we?