Scrappin and Knittin and Life - Oh, MY

A Year in Review, in a Page or Less

2010-12-31T11:43:00.000-05:00

Wow. It has been almost a year since I last updated this blog. I think it's mostly because I can blurt out my thoughts in 140 characters or less, or perhaps a bit more, in Facebook and Twitter - and be done with it. But today, as the last day of 2010, seems to be a good time to look and forward. Just a little bit of sentimentality will pervade, I promise - and it's only the Bailey's Caramel talking.

Looking Back at 2010

It was a scary, sad year for so many, but in the end, since this is my blog, I can only look at it through my eyes and recognize that I have been so lucky. Still have a job, a home, two great kitties and a husband. Making decent $$, enough to give to others when needed. And it feels so good to be needed, doesn't it?

It's hard to see the struggles of so many others - strangers and friends alike - and not be able to do more. And since I am not of the religious sort, I can't even offer to send a prayer their way. Is trying to make them laugh a decent substitute? Hopefully. I'll always play the clown when called upon. And in small ways, I hope I helped to make life a little more pleasant for at least a few folks this year.

Lost a few people - my dad and my mother-in-law died within days of each other. They had both been dealing with health issues for a long time, and it was simply time for them to go. To be brutally honest with myself, I can't say I miss my dad - and I am more sad about that fact than the fact that he is gone. I wonder if he has been given the opportunity, wherever he is, to look back at his life and realize how much he just pissed away with all that beer. He left three very scarred children who are old enough to move on already and get over it, but I don't really think we have, yet. Maybe now that he is gone physically as well as emotionally....

A good friend has been struggling with a serious illness this year as well, and it hurts my heart to think of it. She's fighting so hard, and her family has been so strong too - she can't help but beat it. But I'm thinking there are still lots of lonely hours in hospital beds and anxious waitings for test results to get thru until she sees the end of it.

Had my own medical issues, but without going into vivid detail, my "lady bits" are behaving quite well now, and my knee is back to about 85% - I am satisfied with that! Have had to admit that if I didn't have the problems with the knee, I would have never begun to get back to the gym and try to get rid of the excess tonnage. My doctor put me on meds for HBP and for diabetes, both of which I intend to stop by the end of 2011. Watch me melt away, nag me if I don't. Seriously.

Work has been challenging but rewarding - most of what I do is behind the scenes but I think it's appreciated. Sometimes...

Louie is thriving - what a pain in the arse he can be, but most of the time he cures what ails me. The little brat is the most lovable cat I have ever had - and since that includes Abby, that's saying something.

So what's ahead in 2011? Dunno. I can predict a lot of gym sweat, a lot of protein shakes, and hopefully, a mini-reunion with some of my college peeps in DC this October. SPA 2011 is coming up in February, of course - looking forward to several days with the fibah lovahs in Freeport, ME. Will have much to report then.

For now, peace out. Be safe tonight - if you are drinking in the New Year, don't get behind the wheel, k?

-L

Sir Louis the Handsome, at 4 months.

2010-02-11T09:34:00.000-05:00

It's time for a fresh dose of kitty.

he thinks he's a very special boy, as you can tell from his precious little pose.

he's even a little bigger than this, now.

send him happy thoughts - he is scheduled for a certain "procedure" on Monday!

SPA 2010 is Almost Here

2010-01-07T22:49:00.000-05:00

Just added some new entries to the NETA blog (http://netafiberforum.blogspot.com/), including one about the upcoming SPA weekend in Freeport, ME. I am SO there.

Sleepin Around...

2009-10-14T11:36:00.000-04:00

When he isn't doing windsprints like his arse is on fire, Louie is quite a lazy boy. And the transition from one state to the other (frenetics to coma) can be a matter of seconds.

Meet Louie, a.k.a. The Demon in Kitty Pants

2009-10-12T11:14:00.000-04:00

If you are a FaceBook friend, you can totally ignore this post. You are probably quite sick and tired of hearing about my boy, anyway.

So for the uninitiated. Two weeks ago, Mark was going to a friend's house to get some firewood. It was a cold, rainy, raw Sunday morning. He noticed what looked like a rat on the side of the road, and then realized it was actually a kitten. A very wet, shivering, sad little kitten. He called me to ask if he should try to pick it up - dumbest question EVER! So he got out of the truck, expecting the poor thing to bolt, but it actually started walking towards him.

Got him home, through a warm bath with some flea shampoo, and after many snuggles and some food, he settled on neck and just crashed with exhaustion.

Didn't know for sure that he was a boy until his first trip to the vet the next morning. The vet gave him a clean bill of health, although we were all concerned about his weight - you could feel every bone in his body. His first weigh in - .8 lbs.

So, Louie has joined Abby and Puddy, much to their initial dismay and annoyance. He is eating like a horse, and plays constantly. The girls are beginning to want to play with him and check him out. With Abby, who I have had since she was his age, it's going a little slower. But Puddy has had five litters of her own, so one more little cretin hasn't bothered her much.

He had his second vet visit today - up to 1.6lbs, and he had his first shot. Luckily it was busy, so the technician didn't have a chance to grab my little guy and run out back with him like last time. Apparently she falls in wuv with all the kitties. Can't blame her much.

It's a (Re)Start

2009-08-23T13:03:00.006-04:00

Last year at Revival, my first attempt to spindle spin failed miserably. Couldn't do it, and I hate to fail. Having Donna nearby spinning like a veteran after just starting out too didn't do my fragile ego any favors either. So my spindle and stuff to spin just sat in a tub, alone and lonely. Bought more top, of course - Sereknity's colors are just too freaking enticing. But there it ended.

This year at Revival, took a class from Barbara Clorite-Ventura. It wasn't called Spinning for Totally Uncoordinated Boobs, but it may as well have been, at least in my case. But, got out of class with a handmade spindle and a little clot of spun and plied mess. It had the right to be a mess - three different kinds of wool went into it, as we tried them out during class. Pencil roving was easy, rolag not much harder, then some top.

So en-bravened (not a word, but should be), emboldened and empowered, I attacked a bat of Monkey Farts, purchased from Spunky Eclectic with a beautiful spindle a few SPAs ago.

Filled that sucker. Now, I am trying to ply it. That isn't going well - I have to figure out how not to fight with a snangled tarl of twisty full-of-spinny-energy single ply. I will whip it into submission.

Plans are to whip up a Monkey Farts hat for the DH - trust me, it is maddeningly appropriate.

That's my Girl....

2009-05-30T14:43:00.003-04:00

This is Miss Jessica daSilva, with her new squeeze (on the left, playing the gee-tar) singing at a Festival in Vermont a few weekends ago.

Last time I heard her sing, I was really glad for her that she was such a talented artist...

But things change!

The Easter Bunny HATES You.

2009-04-12T11:15:00.001-04:00

This just makes me giggle.

2009-04-01T20:58:00.001-04:00

Rich Kirkland, the traffic guy on my radio station (wxrv, 92.5 - the river) made this video for a colleague's going away party. He is now my hero.

Spa 2009 - OK, I spoke too soon.

2009-02-27T14:41:00.005-05:00

So how do you like my Amanda hat? Nice, huh? Almost done, looking good, right?

But now what do you think of it?

Apparently, I had a little too much Johnny Walker last night. And in the cold, bright, unfeeling and downright cruel light of day, I saw the results.

Before you scream - YOU JUST WANTED TO FROG SOMETHING - ADMIT IT!!!

I really did try to save it. The damage was just too extensive. Apparently, JWB allows me to knit really quickly, but really stupidly.

SPA 2009 - So Good, So Far

2009-02-27T11:47:00.010-05:00

I have to keep telling myself I deserve this. Because it's getting better to be me every minute. The beds here at the Hilton are the most comfortable I have ever slept in - and I have trouble sleeping so it's definitely an issue.

Got up early, and took myself out for breakfast. The hotel does an OK brekkie, but it is, after all, hotel food, and I prefer to give my money to someone other than Paris Hilton once in a while. And girlfriends, if you haven't found Sticky Buns yet, FIND IT. It's right on School Street, a block away. They have awesome breakfasts and lunch, and pastries to die for - including of course, sticky buns.

I sat there forever - no work to get to, no laundry to fold, no nothing to do - drank my cappucino (may never sleep again - that stuff has a STICK in it) and read some brain candy (Swan Song, by Robert McCammon). The eggs bennie was faboo, and they use sweet potatoes in their homefries - a nice touch. And, got a few nummies to take back to the room. Breakfast is all set for tomorrow.

And for the next hour or so, went to my favorite little shops in a loop back to the hotel. Crabtree and Evelyn was having an awesome sale, so I am set for shower gels for a while. Stopped and the British goods store and got some soaps, digestives, some oatmeal for Mark to try, preserves, and other little snackies. And finished the excursion at the wine and cheese store - some amazing Brie and some cracked pepper coated salami are in the fridge now, waiting for snack time!

The weather is gorgeous - warm, for winter in Maine. All the shops have their doors thrown open to get some fresh air, and everything is melting. Great day to get the shopping yayas out of my system!

Back in the room now, checking email and blogging, but downstairs soon to hang out with the fiber babes. Bunny slippers, here I come!

SPA 2009 - Thursday Night

2009-02-26T21:58:00.003-05:00

It's finally here. Left work at 1:00, was checking into my room by 3:30.

And look what I found in the bathroom. It's a conspiracy. I know it.

My DH brings his soaps home from business trips. Yes, the clean, dry wrapped ones - I have no issue with that. What drives me nuts and makes me question his sanity is that he always brings home the USED ones too. He brings Ziplocs for that very purpose.

And I bust his cookies about it at every opportunity.

And now, lookit. Turns out Mr. Save-Everything-Cuz-The-Great-Depression-Might-Just-Come-Back was really just ahead of the curve.

Done and Done. What's Next.

2009-02-24T12:34:00.001-05:00

Finshed the scarfy thingie for Cris. Can't prove it, because I forgot to get a picture of him in it. Asked him for one, won't hold my breath....

He said the colors were great, but he wanted the hairy things on the ends. Translation (Brazil-Man to plain English) is that he wants tassels.

He ain't getting tassels. Tassels are not for manly men. Suck it up, Cris!

It's Almost Done, I Promise!

2009-01-25T11:22:00.002-05:00

Dear Cris,

You know that scarf I promised you for Christmas, and how I teased you with a two-foot-long piece of it? I know you are getting on in years, so the sense of urgency is not lost on me. This scarf has come with me

to work
to knitting group
to wait for Chinese food takeout
in traffic
to Christmas dinner with the in-laws (which is why it might smell a little like prime rib - not a bad thing...)

and it is almost done. I am well into the last of four skeins (of Noro Silk Garden, for the knittahs reading this). It has been satisfying to watch the colors change from one to the next, and to see this scarf get longer and longer. But yeah, it's been long enough.

It's almost yours - I promise!

So Many Net Things to Do, So Little Time

2009-01-25T11:13:00.003-05:00

Is anyone else feeling overwhelmed by all the ways we can communicate on the web? How do we stay current? Which ways are becoming obsolete, and are there better ways to do it?

If I add up all the things I do here on the web, it's a wonder I still have time to go to work:

Ravelry: my ID there is lmardennh (go figure)
Facebook AND MySpace
my website at www.laurinmarden.com (which is hopelessly out of date and in so much need of a facelift)
this blog
the NETA blog at http://netafiberforum.blogspot.com/
AND, if that weren't enough, a secret website I am building, about a long-held passion of mine, that will be announced soon - maybe.

Oy vay!

Truer Words....

2008-11-11T15:09:00.002-05:00

I smell CHANGE!

2008-11-04T17:46:00.002-05:00

And it smells goooooooood.....

End of an Era

2008-11-01T15:04:00.005-04:00

I FINALLY have purged the living room of all furniture that was in place when I first moved in, about TEN years ago. Mark had the crap for at least that long before even meeting me, so we're talking 70's era. You know I am NOT exaggerating if you have ever tried to plunk your butt in the living room.

I finally told him that if all the people who say they are coming to Arts and Craps Day (the day after Thanksgiving) actually do show up, they can't shoehorn themselves into two cruddy chairs. And, if he didn't want to buy them, I would. And he would have no say in the matter.

That's the secret to living with a control freak. Take notes here - - threaten to take away their control of a situation!

Anyway, enuff kvetching.... here they are! Might just go take a NAP!!!!

I love the Fonz All Over Again.

2008-10-25T10:02:00.002-04:00

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/cc65ed650d

I SAID, I'll Have the PENNE. Damn. The Tray is Wet.

2008-10-09T21:24:00.001-04:00

I'll Have the Penne

2008-10-09T21:08:00.001-04:00

Jess' New Etsy Store - Name Change

2008-10-09T12:28:00.002-04:00

Ah, the young. They can (and do) change their minds like a leaf stealing levitation from a puff of air.

Jess pondered and pondered and pondered, and renamed her Etsy store after much debate and argument with her favorite advisor.

It is no longer MachineMaker, or MakingMachine, or whatever the hell it was.
It is not LeftyScissors. (no comment, besides a big sigh of relief)
Or Natureza (my favorite).

Her store is now called Samba Street, and you can find it here.

Enjoy.

The End is in Sight.

2008-10-09T12:27:00.000-04:00

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/executive/president/2008-10-09-bush-next-president_N.htm?csp=34

Heather Commands

2008-10-08T17:44:00.003-04:00

Heather wants a punkin recipe. Here goes. This soup can be made with any orange squash that is taking over your garden / kitchen. I make it with butternut squash most times, but once in a while, will sneak in some pumpkin, acorn squash, or even sweet potatoes. Whatever is on hand.

Curried Squash/Pumpkin/Sweet Tater Soup

In a large soup pot, saute a large sweet onion in some type of fat. You can use butter, or olive oil, or even bacon fat if you keep it after browning a particularly large and delectable batch of thick-cut maple bacon on an autumn Sunday morning. Just sayin. You don't need to caramelize the onion if you don't want to, but the longer it cooks, the more flavor comes out to play.

The next step is to add the squashes or whatever you plan to put in there. If your veggies are raw, cube them up. If it is from a can or frozen, just dump it on in there. The raw squash cubes should cook with the onion for awhile, to make friends. The purees are going to be agreeable right from the start. Don't add liquid just yet.

After the veggies are hanging out for a while, say 15 minutes, add in the following spices:

1/2 - 1 t. kosher salt, or to taste
1/2 - 1 t. WHITE pepper, or to taste (don't use black - the soup will not look as nice with black specks in it)
1 t. yellow curry powder (fresh curry - not the stuff that has been gathering dust in the back of your spice rack since that last time you got ambitious in the kitchen...) or more to taste
1/2 t. ground cumin (don't go much heavier in this unless you really dig cumin. A little dab will do ya.)
1/4 - 1/2 t. fresh ground nutmeg (FRESH - buy nuts and grate them yourself in one of those cute little nutmeg graters with the little house on top for the current nut in use - only don't store the nut there - put it back in the jar. The grater is still cute, though.)

Stir in the spices, let them get all hot and bothered with the veggies for about five minutes or so. The squash should be almost fork tender at this point, depending on how small you cubed it.

Pour in enough chicken broth (sodium free, please!) JUST to cover the squash. You can always add more later, so don't go nuts. Bring to a slow boil, and keep it there until everything is very very soft.

Here's the fun part. I use a wand blender - you can use a standard blender if you don't have a wand. Shut off the heat, and puree the crap out of the soup. Be really careful - the stuff is like lava. Get every last lump and clump. It will turn a really beautiful and shiny orange as you do this. And the smell will make you want to slap your mama.

You can serve it just like this, after you test for seasoning and add more of whatever you wish. If it is too thick for your taste, add some more broth.

But, here are some variations I slap on it:

add about a cup of half and half, or light cream
grate some good Parmesan cheese and sprinkle
grill and slice some garlicky chicken sausage, slice thin on the bias, and float a few slices on top of the soup
a few sliced scallions or chopped chives

A warning - and my DH can attest to this - squash and pumpkin and sweet potatoes are REALLY good for you, no doubt, so you will be tempted to finish the pot. BUT - these same veggies are very high in fiber. Really high.

I won't go into vivid detail.

Enjoy!

Punkins Everywhere - Want One??

2008-10-08T12:53:00.003-04:00

Last April or May or so, I had a small sugar pumpkin in my kitchen that had started to get soft on the bottom. I had bought it with the grandiose notion of baking it, pureeing it, and making a pie. I laugh at me. Ha.

Instead, I chucked it out into the side yard for the deer. The deer didn't eat it.
Now, like a bad joke from the Powers That Be, there are NINE punkins in my living room.
And I did bake off / puree two of them last weekend. Because there are at least another half dozen out there.

Want a punkin?

The Stinking Rose

2008-10-07T23:36:00.004-04:00

No, I didn't poop on a flower. Yeah, Chris, I know that's what you were thinking. Thut up.

But my house did challenge the average nozzicle for a weekend recently, as I put up a huge batch of roasted gahlick for my BFF (well, she got most of it). It's a good way to clear the DH out of the house - he can't stand the smell (irony too good to elaborate on, by the way...).

You probably won't ever be inspired to do this yourself, especially if you know me and have figured out that all you have to do is ask for some, but here's the recipe and steps anyway.

Cut enough off the tops of whole garlic heads to expose most cloves in their skins. Do not separate the head, or cut so much off that you waste the garlic. As a matter of fact, if you have an extra hour, you can get a good yield in raw garlic from the tips you cut off.

Arrange the heads in a foil lined baking dish. Pack them tightly - won't hurt.

Drizzle good olive oil liberally over the heads, make sure each one gets a dose.

Grind fresh black pepper and sea salt over the heads to taste. I go heavy on the pepper, not so heavy on the salt.

Cover the heads with a layer of parchment paper before bringing the tin foil up and over. No real reason for this, except that I don't like the idea of aluminum in direct contact. Seal the foil tightly but not crunched down on the garlic - leave some room there.

Bake at 350 for a half hour, then at 300 until the smell is so amazing that you are going to pass out if you don't take them out of the oven. But don't - wait another 15 minutes. Should take about 2 hours. It depends.

Using a very small spoon, carefully pull each garlic clove out of the skins.

Yes, this is a labor of love. You'll get olive oil and garlic smoosh all the way up to your hairline. Tough. Suck it up. The cloves will be really soft, but should still hold their shape. Don't panic though if some are mushed up. I DO NOT recommend just smashing the whole head to make all the garlic squirt out. It is not a zit. Treat this stuff with respect. If you go the smooshing route, you'll spend almost as much time picking the skins out anyway.

After all cloves are extracted, fill jars and bottles about 3/4 full with cloves, and top off with more olive oil. Refrigerate.

I can't make enough of this stuff - Miss Janet eats them like they are candy, right out of the jar.

It's worth the effort though - throw a big spoonful into hot mashed potatoes, and OMG.

Oh yeah - if you have any small jars with screw top lids you would just recycle anyway, save them for me, would you? I think there'll be another batch soon!!!

It's a Work of Aht...

2008-10-07T08:42:00.011-04:00

The pictures here are paintings by my favorite roller derby chick, daSilva Bullet. She isn't just hip checks and elbows to the neck - she is also a recent RISD graduate, and a starving artist / grad student in Art Education at UMass.

I bought the first one - you can't have it.

But, if you are interested, she now has an Etsy Shop - her seller name is MakingMachine (yeah, I know...). If the rest of these (and a few more) aren't in there now, they soon will be.

What I Did on My Labor Day Vacation

2008-09-04T18:59:00.004-04:00

Mark and I went to the Poconos for a few days over Labor Day weekend. Could have stayed for a month. It's not hard to get used to someone else making the beds, cooking for you, entertaining you... and the plunge pool IN the room wasn't hard to take. Or the heart-shaped jacuzzi. Or the champagne and numnums my BFF had delivered to the room.

Worked on a voodoo doll while there - hard to knit bad vibes into anything while in such a tranquil place, though. But since the subject that the doll is modeled after is such a disagreeable wench, I managed to work up a few sparks of righteous outrage while stockinetting away. (Is that a verb? WhatEv.)

As soon as I find my camera cable, will get some pictures of what's OTN.

More Revival Pics - The Vendahs

2008-08-17T20:41:00.009-04:00

All the vendors have links on the Revival website, so I won't bother. But they were all wonderful.

Guess which picture shows what I bought?

More Revival Pics - Getting Your Charkhas in Line

2008-08-17T20:34:00.005-04:00

I think if I ever take the leap to spinning, beyond a spindle, that I might try a Charkha. It is compact, and fascinating to watch.

Donna was too cute trying it out. She makes me giggle anyway but I caught a great facial expression here, huh? (She's gonna KILL me!!!)

I Didn't Know Fiber was Dead....

2008-08-16T18:27:00.008-04:00

Just got back from Fiber Revival 2008 in Newbury, MA. If Fiber was ever dead, I didn't get the memo, so the name confuses me. But the day was near fantastical, despite the thunder storms that rolled in around 3:30, cutting the day short.

Met some ManchVegas Knitting buds at the Spencer Peirce Little Farm, where there were vendors and a turkey and alpacas and horses and squirrels that looked like bunnies from behind and kitties and goats.

My favorite fiber wench had a booth there, so I loaded up on Sereknity.

I tried my first drop spindle with some Monkey Farts BFL (which I picked up at Spa back in February - I never want to rush into anything) from Spunky. Let's just say that this yet another one of those things I do not excel at!! But this is going to be a test of wills - me vs. the spindle. And I am going to win.

Since we had to scoot to avoid the thunder and lightning, some of us headed over to Michael's Harborside for drinkies and num nums. Good mussels, awesome cosmo.

All in all, it was a really good day.

Chiquititas and Cosmos and Streep - Oh, My!!!

2008-08-10T21:48:00.003-04:00

If you know me, you are probably going to be a little surprised to hear that I went to see Mamma Mia!, and that I liked it. A LOT.

First, I don't do movie theatres. Why bother trying to shoehorn my fat arse into a sticky movie seat when I have a 55" TV at home. I could watch movies from my front lawn. So I buy the DVDs or wait till they come on cable.

B, I fall asleep sitting up in the dark. And then I snore sitting up in the dark. Alone, no big. In a crowd, that's a lot of living down to do.

and third, on the surface, I am not a really girlie type girl. Mamma is a really fluffy movie.

But peel back the layers (like a cake or a parfait, not an onion, TYVM), and I am a sucker for good musicals. I can watch Hairspray, Dreamgirls, Little Shop of Horrors, Hair, and more anytime they hit HBO.

Went to see MM at Chunky's in Nashua, so the seats are these comfy Lincoln Continental seats that are arranged around tables. Cuz you eat dinner while the movie is on. And order drink specials - I had a yummy Cosmo, so that doesn't hurt my overall rating of the evening.

But the best part - went to see the movie with ManchVegas Knitters. And brought knitting.

And sat next to Lushus Lisha - who swears she behaved like a perfect lady for the entire evening. I won't publicly dissent with this opinion!!!

For the first 20 minutes or so, I was worried - the movie was more than a little over the top.
But it grew on me, and the rest of the audience (doesn't hurt that Wednesdays are Ladies' Night, with 2$ off tickets...the place was 98.5% women) - by the end, we were singing along.

I was so impressed by the great Streep. She looked like she had a blast making this movie. Some of the actors could have used some singing lessons, sure, but it wasn't that bad.

The scenery was gorgeous. If flying didn't suck I would consider a trip to Greece. Hmmm - maybe a cruise....

If you like ABBA, go.
If you don't like ABBA, get over it and go anyway.
And if you like Pierce Brosnan, bring a bib. He was LICKABLE in this movie, even if he is showing his age a bit.

Roller Derby Comes to NH

2008-08-04T21:41:00.004-04:00

It had to happen. There are tough chicks in NH too, after all.

When: Saturday, August 2, 2008
Where: JFK Memorial Coliseum in Manchester, NH
What: Double Dose of Derby, sponsored by NH Roller Derby

daSilva Bullet of the Mob Squad of Providence, RI was a guest skater. It just so happens that Mama Bullet is my BFF, so I get to watch this compact little powerhouse blow away the competition at all her matches.

She has it all:

the booty for some SERIOUS and FREQUENT booty checks

the ability to get REAL SMALL and flit past the other team's blockers like a feather in a hurricane

a keen fashion sense - she got that from her mama!!!

Yet Another Brush with Fame

2008-07-31T19:04:00.002-04:00

This YouTube Video is my niece-in-law, Ellen. If you look carefully, you can see pics of her kids around her neck and on the booklets she creates.

This company she started is taking off like crazy.

Izzard on Shatner - Well, Not Literally...

2008-07-22T22:20:00.000-04:00

An Embarassment of Riches

2008-07-19T22:47:00.009-04:00

By riches, I mean friends, fun, and fiber on Friday nights.

In our new clubhouse.

Congratulations to Jerry and Cyn on a fantastic transformation.

I still say you need a Yarn Mobile, though.

Stitchy McYarnPants, Guard Dog.

2008-07-17T23:34:00.005-04:00

Moving is hard work.

I so tie-uhd.

Somebody Should Tell Him

2008-07-17T23:33:00.002-04:00

You have to pick up the vacuum cleaner, and push it around a little.

Jeez.

Moving On Down the Highway...

2008-07-17T23:02:00.005-04:00

Phase Two: Got to the Derry location at 9:00, thinking I would grab a coffee and get to work helping to set up the new place. A single soul was waiting when I got there, and she had had the same brilliant idea. Coffee. Coffee good.

So G. and I gabbed till the crew started to arrive, and lookee what we did!!!

We unpacked, unpacked, and oh yeah, unpacked till lunch - which was at the bagel shop next door.

Did I tell you I was old? I petered out around 4:00 - left the gang to head home and soak in the pool for awhile. I can't wait to see the shop Friday night, at knitting group - should be spectacular. It was looking fantastic already when I staggered out of there.

Best wishes to C&J - this is a ballsy move (get it? balls? yarn comes in balls? so you have a LOT of balls? bwahahahahaha) but I know you will kick some serious booty in this new location!

The End.

Well, We're Moving on Up!

2008-07-17T22:24:00.003-04:00

Cyndi and Jerry have been making noises about moving to a new place for a while. After all, yarn and stuff was jammed in every available space in the Windham location. Of course, if they had taken my advice and tricked out a big YarnMobile, some of the massive overcrowding would have been reduced, but who listens to me? Anyone? Buehler?

So we listened to their planning, and heard how they were checking out sites here and there, and at least I figured they would never move - there was just too much stuff!

But then a few weeks ago, out of the blue, the announcement. They were moving the store to Derry, in a little plaza on Route 28, where the state liquor store used to be. And the fun began...

The Big Day, Phase One: Last weekend, first step was to pull all that yarn down, put it into boxes, and pack everything else - looms, notions, books, patterns, office, sales supplies, computers, furniture - JTFC!!!!!

C&J expected the packup would take a few days - we all got it done in a few HOURS. You heard me. I got there at 2:00, there were a handful of other folks there already, but the real push started at about 3:00 - and we were done by 5:30. All had been packed, one U-Haul load was already in Derry, and another truck load was ready to go.

Most everyone else headed over to Derry to keep on truckin' - but I am old. So got home around 6:15 ish, was sound asleep by 7:00. Groan.... muscles I don't even have were pissed off at me.

You Move Me...

2008-07-17T22:12:00.003-04:00

Yarn and Fiber Company of Windham, NH is no more.

It is now Yarn and Fiber Company of Derry, NH.

How do I know? Well first, I can read their blog - even the big words.

But an even bigger clue is that I and more than a dozen other knit-nuts (ManchVegas Knitters were well represented) helped with the move this past weekend.

Enough babble. I'm boring. The pictures tell the tale.

In relatively chronological order, so first - clearing out of Windham.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

2008-06-22T21:07:00.002-04:00

Smoke Ring Pattern
+
Andrea Schaefer Yarn (Betty Friedan colorway)
+
size 3mm needles
+
old eyes
= Ididn'tuse-ta-needglassesbutnowIreallyreallydo.

300 stitches in beautiful purples and blues. And kntting 2tog into the back of the stitches. Crikee. Yeah, the pattern is fairly easy, but damn.

Gonna finish this sucker if it kills me. My knitting buds basically implied that they believed I would frog it and give up. I'm feeling the love.

Not that there hasn't been precedent.

Ten! Ten Widdle Bebe Hats! Bwahahahahaha!!!

2008-06-18T19:53:00.001-04:00

Purple Toes

2008-06-15T10:03:00.004-04:00

Yeah, finally finished something. It's been tough to work up the ambition lately, but I am sort of trying to maybe possibly reduce the WIPs hanging around the house. Gina's socks took months to do, but they are done. Gave them to her for her berfday, and she was able to catch a great picture of them on her cute little feet...

They are made with Sereknity yarn in Violas, I think. The pattern is the Harlot's plain vanilla recipe for socks.

Check out Sereknity - amazing colorways, although she is resistant to my suggestions for naming them. Hopefully she'll come around....

Get your hats here!

2008-06-15T09:57:00.003-04:00

I love Debbie Bliss Rialto superwash wool.

It is really easy to work with, great colors, and is really soft. And relatively inexpensive. So, I bought way too many skeins.

But that's not a bad thing. I have been making hats for the bebe's - big hats, wee little hats, some with fringy things, some without, some of one color, some of more than one color. Whose bebe's? I dunno. Might just drop them off at the maternity ward at a hospital somewhere. If you have any better ideas, feel free to point me in the right direction.

This is a tease, no? Where are the flipping pictures, you say? They're coming.

Fine - I'll Blog Already. Jeez.

2008-06-15T09:41:00.002-04:00

Gina, tagged me with a meme, so it's below. She tagged me cuz apparently her world falls apart if I don't blog. So here ya go. A freaking blog. Enjoy.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago? I was working at Newpoint Technologies with Gina's husband.

2. What are 5 things on my TO-DO list for today? Go to Sam's Club, shopping for the week. Take a shower (well, that should be first...). Take a nap (it is Sunday, after all). Work in my craproom (you can actually see the top of a desk and most of the floor). And cook a dinner that will result in some leftovers for the week.

3. Snacks I enjoy: Damn - not enough time to list them all. Chips, Chex Mix, chocolate dipped pretzels, crackers and cheese and pepperoni. And trust me - that isn't the whole list by far.

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Pay off debt. Buy a house I actually would like to live in, preferably on or near Lake Winnee-pee-sock-ee. Yeah, charitable contributions but I don't know where. Give half to my husband if he promises to shut the f**k up about what I do with my half. I would really like to live in a house / compound big enough to have groups of friends over for chick weekends.

5. Places I have lived: Chelmsford, MA, Easton / Mars Hill, ME, Westford, MA, Washington, DC, Alexandria, VA, Shirley, MA, West Townsend, MA and Kingston, NH.

6. Jobs I have had: babysitter, summer employment at my high school (cleaned overhead projectors all summer), cook and waitress at Friendly's, waitress and barista at a French cafe, pizza slinger, office staff, project accountant, bookkeeper, financial aid loan processor, Assistant to the General Manager at an NPR station, inbound telemarketing at NEBS (took orders for business forms - WORST JOB EVER), software support, software training, software documentation, manager of a software support group.

7. Bloggers I am tagging for this MEME: Sorry, all my knit-buds are tagged, and I don't tag bloggers who don't know me. So this tendril of info-tainment stops here. But if you read this and haven't already been tagged, feel free to post your own meme.

So Gina, happy now???

Has it Really Been More Than a Month?

2008-04-27T20:16:00.002-04:00

wow. It really has. I guess I am in a bit of a funk lately. Not hitting any creative high notes worth blogging.

Plus, I sit at my pooter at work all day long, and it seems lately that the last thing I want to do when I get home at night is strap on another pooter for more than checking email and paying bills.

Haven't even had a chance to visit all my favorite people's blogs for a long time. But, my DH is going away from Wednesday through late Saturday, so I will have some blissful alone time to surf and catch up.

For now, back to my chair by the wood stove. I am crocheting some simple little baby hats for whatever hospital will take them, I guess. Using up the odds and ends of stuff that is always left from projects. I have three done so far - two from just Friday night knitting. Will post a few pics when there are more to show.

For now, have a great week.

(One more week till vacation at the beach. Might be a good chance to do an overhaul on my long neglected website...)

Pay it Forward

2008-03-15T23:33:00.002-04:00

I know that my blog doesn't have the highest traffic - but hopefully this idea will appear to someone among the few folks who visit. Lately I have been feeling very lucky - still have a job in this crappy DubYa economy, still have a husband who puts up with me, and still have a roof over my head. Not to mention two of the most perfectest kitties in the whole world.

Time to give back.
Lora had a great idea. Here are the details, from the lervely Lora's blog:

Pay It Forward.

Yes, I'm doing it.
I'm Paying it Forward.

Random Act of Kindness (you just have to be one of the first three to comment!)The first three people who comment on my blog will receive something handmade from me, if they in turn will do the same thing...See the rules below:

Pay It Forward rules

I will send a handmade gift to the first three people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange (and email me their mailing address), and who make the same pledge on their own blogs.
I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise!
The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward meaning you will do the same for three people who comment on your blog. Chances are very good you will receive the gift within a few weeks :)

Ah, SPA 2008

2008-03-15T22:33:00.005-04:00

You know how you build up the idea of something that you are really looking forward to in your head, and it gets bigger and better and more funner and you just can't wait to go and you are counting down the minutes and it just won't get here and is it time to go yet and you really want to be there?

And then you get there and it was all you expected it to be and more?

That was NETA Spa this year, in Freeport, ME.

I guess the secret to making Spa a success is your expectations. Is Spa the place for wild drunken hedonistic experiences that rock your world and empty your wallet? Well, maybe for some. Is it a time to just FREAKING RELAX and allow events to unfold, to meet new people only if you feel like it, and maybe, just maybe, to get some knitting done?

That's what I expected.

That's what I wanted.

That's what I got.

Lisa and I make this a three night trip, so we headed up to Freeport on Thursday, getting there before dinner. The Hilton could not have been more welcoming, comfortable, and perfect for this event. I wanted to stuff my bed in my luggage - but it wouldn't have fit in the elevator. And OHMYGOSH - there was a refrigerator AND a microwave in our room! How freaking brilliant is THAT?!?!

We settled in, started right in on projects - Lisa finally gave in to the idea that she could knit something else besides a Booga bag or a scarf. She actually FINISHED a hat in pretty Rowan Big Wool, burgundy. To do this, she had to use - GASP - DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES!!!! Argh!!!

(Of course, she worked that circular until she couldn't do any more with the decreased stitches - that sucker was stretched TAUT!!!)

It snowed - more than expected - on Friday. But who cares? We didn't have to be anywhere, to drive anywhere - the hotel has a very good restaurant, and even Dominos delivers! Let it snow. Heck, we wished a real blizzard would keep us there longer!

I worked on Izzer's Einstein Coat, and Gina's socks, and read a lot. And believe it or not, I got my fat arse down to the workout room to sweat a little. Great machines. I could really go for a home gym. Especially if there were a heated pool right through the next door, like at the Hilton!

My wallet didn't take much of a hit, considering we were in Freeport, an outlet paradise. On Saturday, we hiked over to LL Bean, and other shops on Route 1.

Hung out with Heather and Mary and Gina and Chris-n'-Ericka and Julie and Patty and lots of (hundreds of) other women I didn't know. Didn't do all the activities, because that would have been too much like work. And had no intention of doing anything I didn't want to do!

Again, set reasonable expectations, meet expectations. It's that easy.

Bought some goodies at SPA from Amy at Spunky Eclectic - as soon as I retrieve them from my knitting bag in the other room, will post the details, but here they are:

Some More Toes...

2008-03-15T22:10:00.003-04:00

These just make me giggle...

Don't Want to Rush into Anything...

2008-03-15T22:05:00.003-04:00

Socks for Gina. Started them last September, when I got this gorgeous yarn from Heather for my birthday. One is done. The other is almost done - I am on the decreases at the toe.

Better Late Than NEVER!!!

Dun dun dun dun dun.... OMG OMG OMG!!!

2008-03-15T21:15:00.010-04:00

Keith's Berfday - a Peep Show

2008-03-15T21:15:00.008-04:00

My brother-in-law Keith has his 40-somethingth berfday in February. I won't say exactly how old he is because he is still trying to get cute young things to ride on his Harley (and yes, I do mean a real motorcycle...). So anyway, last Saturday, Mark and I had a pizza party for him, with Chet and Anita.

A really cute picture has been floating around in email lately of a stripper show made from Peep bunnies and chicks. Keith LOVES Peeps - especially when they are left out to get all hard and crunchy. Ew. But what better subject for his berfday cake, huh?

Mark was very creative. I spent most of the day making pizza dough from scratch and prepping all the toppings. We had:

Polish Pizza (the pizza of their people): mashed potatoes, sauteed cabbage, and kielbasa, with cheddar cheese

Baked Stuffed Tater Pizza: mashed potatoes, cheddar, crumbled bacon, and scallions

BBQ Chicken Pizza: grilled chicken, carmelized onions, BBQ sauce, and cheddar

Pizza Marguerita: sauce, fresh soft mozzarella, and basil leaves

Veggie: peppers, onions, mushrooms

As you can tell from the pictures, a great time and a full belly was had by all!

Did you HEAR that putz?

2008-03-01T21:27:00.003-05:00

I don't normally blurt out my politics. Not unless provoked. And DAMN, I am provoked.
Did you hear the press conference in which a reported asked Sparky what he thought of gas going to over 4$ a gallon?

Did you hear his response?

"uh.... I hadn't heard dat."

If it weren't his total ignorance of what is happening in this country it would be his less than complete grasp of English that really cheeses my shorts.

OK, off my soap box.

Damn, I Love Jack!!!

2008-03-01T21:22:00.002-05:00

Cake or Death....Lego-Style

2008-02-09T13:34:00.000-05:00

Eddie Izzard slays me. Have a few hours to waste? Check him out on YouTube. Come back, after you waste much time over there.

Warning: do not drink anything while you listen. You will snort liquid out of your nose. I promise.

My New Toy!!

2008-02-09T13:21:00.000-05:00

The Crop-o-Dile II! (I'm thinking of calling it Audrey II, but that's too obvious...)

Although not often enough, I do scrapbook, and make cards. So when this was sold on HSN a few weekends ago, I decided to take the leap into eyelets, grommets and snaps (oh my!).

It's addictive to use. And it now sits on the table, instead of holding it like a hole punch (and like the previous Crop-o-Dile). You can get right into the middle of a 12" page, too. Lisa and I used it at Melissa's crop last weekend, and loved it. There was none of that incredibly annoying banging to set eyelets (which is why I never used them till now). Now, everything that sits still long enough is going to get Crop-o-Dile'd!!!!

It's Like They KNOW Me!!!!

2008-02-09T12:54:00.000-05:00

The Recipe For Laurin

3 parts Delight
2 parts Charm
1 part Wisdom

Splash of Compassion

Serve over ice

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

Another Abby Blog

2008-02-07T20:03:00.000-05:00

The Cutest Kitty.

Ever.

Discuss.

OTNs - Febbawerry 2008

2008-02-07T19:49:00.000-05:00

On and Off the Needles this month...

DONE: A funky scarf for Jess that was supposed to have been a Christmas present. Only two months late, huh? It matches her rollerderby costume - she is one of the BEST of the Providence Roller Derby team. I forget the name - it just changed. Will add a link to their website when I get the info!

DONE: A cute chunky cap for Anita - again, a late Christmas present.

The Einstein coat is progressing nicely, although the garter stitch is going on FOREVER. Finished a third skein, on to the fourth, of Wool Of the Andes Bulky from KnitPicks.

And, one last ribbed cap till next winter - this one is for Cris for snowblowing.

Getting Ready for Febba-werry

2008-01-27T13:58:00.000-05:00

There are some righteous events next month. February is an awesome month for getways because everyone is looking for something fun to break up the monotony of wintah. Have you had enough of this white crap too? Can you say hal-ay-loo-yeah?

But no complaints. Next Friday night and all day Saturday, I am going to a scrapbooking event held by my buddy Melissa, and Lisa d. will be joining me.

And SPA 2008 is coming soon - Thursday to Sunday, the last weekend of the month, with HUNDREDs of knittahs, spinnahs, crochetahs - all working their magic in every open space in all the hotels and bed and breakfest-s' in Freeport, Maine. I'm staying at the Hilton, and right now, not entirely sure who (if anyone) will be joining me. Have to admit that the idea of three nights to myself is making me quiver.

February is awesome.

The only thing is, my scrapping stuff and my knitting stuff is STILL in wild disarray. It's getting better, as I chip away at the chaos in my craft room. But can I find my camera? No. Can I find the rest of the yarn I got for my sister's Einstein coat? Nuh-uh.

Gotta go pack.

Happy Ewe Near!!!!

2007-12-31T21:39:00.001-05:00

Finally shrugging off the worst of this miserable head cold I got from my brother-in-law. So this weekend has been mostly spent in a drug-induced coma. Even missed the annual ManchVegas Christmas party at Gina's house, which was also a birthday party for the ever-cool Lisha, mother of the Rust-man.

But, when not sleeping the sleep of the NyQuil, I knit a little on my sister's Einstein coat. I am using KnitPick's Wool of the Andes Bulky, in navy. Will be knitting at midnight!

Happy New Year to one and all!

Christmas with the daSilvas

2007-12-31T21:03:00.000-05:00

Went to West Townsend Christmas day for breakfast and to spend part of the day with my BFF and the family. Laughed a lot, drank mimosas, ate a lot, made a mess opening presents.

Lisa always does a great tree, but this year, only the top half of the tree is faboo - Bella decided she was going to sample all the ornaments she could reach. And whatever she didn't destroy, no doubt Dexter's baseball bat tail did the rest. (He damaged his tail very badly several months ago, and the only way it has been healing is to wrap in in bandages then duct tape he can't chew off. It's a look. And getting whacked with that tail makes a LASTING impression.

Jess was in from Providence, and Jeremy came home from school (he goes to WyoTech in Blairsville, PA) so I got to (try to) spoil them rotten. And they returned the favor. Jess made me a beautiful watercolor of a knitter - I assume it's me, in a frame, and Jeremy found a gnome statue that looks like Mark mooning. The picture is going on the wall in the living room, and I have to find a suitable place of honor for this gnome. It is freaking adorable!

No Evil Times Three

2007-12-27T20:14:00.000-05:00

I made very simple (or at least you would think they should be) ribbed caps for my DH and his DBs. So we squished them all together on a love seat and, and this is what you get...

See No Evil
Hear No Evil
Speak No Evil

Welcome to my world.

Sorry Gina - More Puppy Pics

2007-12-27T20:01:00.001-05:00

Spent Christmas Eve up at Chet and Anita's house in York. There were five of the eleven puppies left to play with and snorgle and cuddle....

Winter Wonderland. Yeah.

2007-12-20T15:04:00.000-05:00

Home from work today - tried to get into work but gave up. Good thing - it's been snowing all day. Mark and I are going to go pick up a rental to use while my baby car is in the shop, so we do have to break out the driveway and face the white-osity.

Car-Nage.

2007-12-20T15:00:00.001-05:00

Very sad. My poor baby car.

I Was Having Too Good a Day.

2007-12-18T20:20:00.000-05:00

My baby car got munched.
Here's the story.

I was at the front of a line of cars at an intersection on East Hollis (Rte.111) in Nashua. I had a fighting chance of slogging through bumper to bumper traffic all the way to the bridge that goes into Hudson, and then all the way over to Curves in Windham to get a workout in when

BAM.

A big something (van? pickup? Boeing 747? still up for debate) slammed into my baby car. Pushed me a few feet into the intersection.

It gets better.

The old fart who hit me got out of his mega-truckalaurus, came up to my window and told me to pull off the road so traffic could get through.

I was already on the phone dialing 911 AND I AM AN IDIOT, so I did what he said.

Then he got back in his TrucKasaurus Wrecks and drove off - which I didn't realize until I got out of my car to see - nobody.

I know what he looks like, but can't describe the piece of mountain he was driving. And no one called 911 for me either.

So, the trunk won't shut, the bumper is TOAST, but was able to drive the car over to my brother-in-law Keith (species Mechanicus Optimus), who gave me an initial damage estimate of $1200 to $1500.

Grrrr.......

Pictures coming - I am not standing out in the cold to do them tonight. Plus, all the aches and pains are settling in from being rammed from behind (stop that - I KNOW what it sounds like, and I am leaving it).

My back hurts, but my pride is killing me.

Guess What I Did?

2007-12-16T16:51:00.000-05:00

For the first year in like FOREVER, I made my own GingerBread House!!!

Ain't it CUTE?

I did realize that it is much easier to have two people working on a house than trying to do it alone. My roof tiles kept wanting to slide down - had to create pretzel buttresses to stop that action! Before that architectural design addition, I kept losing candies down into the house as they fell through the widening crack.

There's enough frosting on this sucker to help it survive a tornado. Can't pick candy off of it without a chisel. But it's DONE.

Eleven Pups a Pupping

2007-12-11T13:58:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, y'all!

Woof, woof!!!

DonchaWannaPuppy???

2007-12-06T20:27:00.000-05:00

Come on - you know U do!!!

Sticky Fingers

2007-12-06T19:40:00.001-05:00

Gingerbread House Party 2007

Guests:

Wanda, with Meghan, Sara and Matthew
Lora with Nathan
Chris and Ericka
Donna
Gina with Tim

I'm just going to let the pictures speak for themselves! Everyone did a great job. And the cleanup wasn't all that bad - although just this morning Abby was batting a jelly bean around in the kitchen!

Swimming in PUPPIES!

2007-11-21T21:37:00.000-05:00

Chet and Anita's yellow Lab Bella recently had 11 (no, that is NOT a typo - ELEVEN!!!) puppies! We went up to York to meet them this past weekend. They were stunning.

Mostly they slept, and ate. But they smelled so good - I LERVES me some puppy head!

Found it!

2007-11-20T21:20:00.001-05:00

Finally found my camera cable. I won't tell you where it was because you would be setting up home care for me. Let's say it was the last place I looked and leave it at that!

Anyway, first thing. Pics from Grandview.

Pantsless Amanda, formerly blogless Amanda. Black bar-d to protect the "innocent."

You know how sometime people just fit together like peas and carrots? Both Sonya and SarahD just blended right in like they were there all the time!

Sonya came all the way from Kentucky (or was it Indiana - never got that completely straight) to join us in the mountains. Her laugh is inFECTious, y'all. It's really more like a guffaw. And it is nice to know that there is another member of the GOTTAPEERIGHTNOW club in the knitting group. I felt so alone until I met Sonya....!!

Lora found this hat on a display and had to try it on, it was so fugly. And she soon realized that it was so tight on her head that she had a dent in her forehead for another half hour!

Lisa and Jess braved my snoring for two nights. Somehow Jess managed to crank out 1.5 hats over the weekend. She is incredible.

What About Bob????

2007-11-05T19:15:00.000-05:00

UPDATE: I CAN'T FIND MY CAMERA UPLOAD CABLE!!! Or I would post some truly hysterical pictures. As soon as the cable floats to the surface, I'll add pictures. Sorry!!

The trip started out so well. Lisa and Jess arrived at my office right on time, we picked up Ericka in Manchester without getting lost even once, and set out on a beautifully sunny Friday afternoon, before rush hour. We arrived at the Grandview first, and saw right away that the weekend would not be drama free.

Thanks to Bob.

Who is Bob, you say? I dunno. But he made his presence known, even though we never saw his face. His name was on one of the rooms we expected to populate with ManchVegasKnitters this weekend. And as a result, two other rooms, which are small even for two people, had three names on them instead of two. Uh-oh.

Lisa, Ericka, Jess and I popped out to get drinkies and munchies and dinner, and came back, only a few more had arrived, but soon after we settled in, the rest of the gang showed up. They were not happy to see the unexpected triple occupancy. Who would be - they paid for a bed, and two people would have to use a cot instead. But, despite this problem and the basic inattention to amenities** that just became too much this time, we did indeed manage to have a lot of laughs and get a lot of knitting done. Much trash was talked, much jello was shot, much likker was drunk, and we all survived.

But we are looking for a new place for next time.

**What amenities? Let's see:

Little to no hot water or even water pressure for showers
Beds that creaked, and beds that collapsed, and beds that were cots
Breakfast that really wasn't filling, or took any effort. Would you pay for two slices of wheat toast done up as french toast and call that breakfast?
Toilets that broke, or took forever to refill, or to flush. yeah, that was fun.
DUST everywhere. Everyone was honking into Kleenex, sneezing and wheezing all weekend. And the snoring - wow.

A Faire Sunday in the Kingdom

2007-10-29T19:54:00.000-04:00

Mark dragged my less than thrilled butt to a Renaissance Faire in Kingston, NH on Sunday. (He softened me up by taking us to Lamie's Tavern up in Hampton first for their incredible Sunday brunch. THAT's a do-over. The selection was giganimuss and everything was yummy.)

But yes, the Faire. About a dozen vendors selling ersatsz medieval garb, weapons, instruments, jewelry, incense. And of course, the smoked turkey legs, chili in a bread bowl, and cheese fries that had their roots in medieval cookery.

But it was a beautiful day, despite the maids and merry men making much of their most merry merriment. Pumpkin throwing contests. Belly dancers (had to wipe the drool off Mark's chin).

A few high points - I did find a weaver and a spinner! The spinner has a business - she turns dog hair into yarn. I think someone in the ManchVegas group was looking for someone who did that, so SCORE. And the loom lady was very nice.

Also had yummy chocolate ice cream in a handmade sugar cone. It was still warm off the griddle.

But don't make me go back again - please? It was a little too much like a Star Trek convention for me. Not that I am knocking Star Trek. But there is very little I would immerse myself in as deep as these folks do.

Did You See It???

2007-10-28T14:15:00.000-04:00

Copied it from Ericka's blog, cuz she told me to, so blame her!

SUPPOSEDLY if you’ve seen over 85 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you’ve seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste this as a note. Then, put x’s next to the films you’ve seen, add them up.

Have fun! (yeah, sounds like a HOOT.)

(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean
( )Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
( ) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
(X) Neverending Story
( X) Blazing Saddles
( X) Airplane

Total= 6

(X) The Princess Bride
(x) AnchorMan
( )Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
( ) Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates
( ) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Total so far: 9

(x) Scream
( ) Scream 2
( ) Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
(x) American Pie 2
(X) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp

Total so far: 14

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(X) The Wedding Singer
(X ) Little Black Book
( ) The Village
( ) Lilo & Stitch

Total so far: 20

(X) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
( ) Signs
(x) The Grinch
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
(X) White Chicks
(X) Butterfly Effect
(X) 13 Going on 30
(x) I, Robot
( ) Robots

Total so far: 26

(x) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(x) Along Came Polly
(X ) Deep Impact
(X) KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
(X) Meet The Parents
(X) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
( ) Joe Dirt
(X) KING KONG

Total so far: 34

( ) A Cinderella Story
(X) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
( ) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( )Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
( ) Flubber

Total so far: 35

( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
( ) Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
(X) Hellboy
(X)Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards

Total so far: 38

(X) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child’s Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chuck
( ) Ten Things I Hate About You
(X) Just Married
( ) Gothika
(X) Nightmare on Elm Street
(X) Sixteen Candles
( ) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
(x) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask

Total so far: 44

( ) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Sleven
(X) Ocean’s Eleven
(X ) Ocean’s Twelve
(X) Bourne Identity
( ) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
(x) Bedazzled
(X ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
() The Fog
(X) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George

Total so far: 51

(X) Independence Day
(X) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
(X) Christine
() ET
(X) Children of the Corn
() My Bosses Daughter
(X) Maid in Manhattan
( ) War of the Worlds
( ) Rush Hour
( ) Rush Hour 2

Total so far: 56

( ) Best Bet
( ) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
( ) She’s All That
(X) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
( ) Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
(X) The Terminator
(X) The Terminator 2
(X) The Terminator 3

Total so far: 63

(X) X-Men
(X ) X-2
(X) X-3
(X) Spider-Man
(X) Spider-Man 2
(X) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
(X) Catch Me If You Can
( ) The Little Mermaid
(X) Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
(X) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
(X) Shrek 2

Total so far: 74

( ) Swimfan
( ) Miracle on 34th street
( ) Old School
( ) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf’s Tribe
( ) A Walk to Remember
(X) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
(X) The 40-year-old Virgin

Total so far: 76

( ) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
( ) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
( ) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Total so far: 79

( ) Baseketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
(X) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X

Total so Far: 81

( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(x) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
( ) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard

Total so far: 83

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
(X ) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
(X) Waterworld

Total so far: 87

(x) Kill Bill vol 1
(x) Kill Bill vol 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) the Hills Have Eyes
(X) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness

Total so far: 90

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(X) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(X) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor

Total so far: 96

(x) The Matrix
( ) The Matrix Reloaded
( ) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
(x) Team America: World Police
( ) Red Dragon
(X) Silence of the Lambs
(X) Hannibal

Total: 100

Step Four: A Fearless Inventory

2007-10-28T14:03:00.000-04:00

This step requires that I make a searching and fearless inventory. Too bad I don't keep my receipts. But, my Ravelry stash is a decent compromise.

Step Three: OK, let's skip it...

2007-10-28T14:01:00.000-04:00

Step three of the typical 12 step program doesn't really apply. So we'll move on....

(I am using this link, by the way, for the steps. Plus some artistic license and interpretation.)

Nope, not a Step - just CroptoberFest 2007

2007-10-23T20:35:00.000-04:00

Every year, I devote at least one whole day to scrapbooking. It doesn't sound like much, and it isn't. But you've seen my craproom - who can scrap in there? And my husband, rightfully, has a problem with me using the entire dining room table to scrapbook when I have a craproom. Sort of a Catch-22.

Anyway, my Creative Memories consultant Melissa holds CroptoberFest in a big church function hall in Kingston, from 10:00 am to 8:00, more or less. We bring pot luck nummies, she provides dinner and more nummies, and we get big tables to work at. Plus, we can shop. What's not to love?

As usual, my buddy ole' pal Lisa joined me there - she has the same problem finding the time to scrapbook, so this event is SET IN STONE every year!

Step Two: Concede to a Higher Power

2007-10-22T18:28:00.001-04:00

Step Two: I believe that a Power greater than me can help me return to sanity.

What power?

Organization, in the guise of Ravelry.

I have begun to post my stash, while inventorying and finishing the stash-to-tubs-effort.

Check it out, my Ravelry name is lmardennh.

Update: And I am in the service of another deity of organization - EBay. I am auctioning items on EBay, starting with my cookbooks. EBay ID is lkin, if you are curious.

Denial - It's not just a river in Egypt

2007-10-21T22:18:00.000-04:00

I have to get this off my chest.

Hello - my name is Laurin - and I am a crapoholic.

I don't know how it got this bad, but the first step to recovery is to admit there is a problem.

Step One: I admit I am powerless over crafting and all the accoutrements that go with it - that my creative life has become unmanageable.

Need to see the scope of my depravity? The shame? Read on, and judge not, lest ye be judged.

Before you even walk into my crap-room, and I will be calling it that until I can actually use it, you can tell there is a problem. And your worst fears are confirmed...

My sewing machine is somewhere under the desk. The desk is my sewing station. Yeah, I know.

I have attempted some organization - the tubs on the shelves are some of my stash, organized by fiber. I gave up before it was all done.

The cardboard box? That's my Kromski rigid heddle 32" loom. Isn't it purty?

It didn't happen overnight. But ten years of scrapbooking and now knitting, and soon to be weaving - I have accumulated a lot of stuff. I would blame the enablers who have detected my weaknesses, but that would be cowardly - so Gina, you are off the hook.

Next posting, Step Two.

The Happy Couple

2007-10-11T21:21:00.000-04:00

Are they twitterpated, or what?

Go - in' to the Chap - el......

2007-10-10T12:12:00.000-04:00

Early Saturday, Mark and I headed up to Harpswell, ME for Ericka and Chris' wedding. The weather was cold and rainy - didn't bode well for the ceremony, but by the time we got there, the sun was coming out, and it had warmed up a bit.

The church was small, simple, no pretense - perfect. Chris and Ericka were so twitterpatedly cute I couldn't catch my breath - she looked stunning in her red and white gown. And Chris cleaned up right nice! Donna was BEE-yootiful in her beige beaded gown. Hell, everyone was gorgeous.

The reception was at a community center in Cundy's Harbor. Yummy food, good tunes, great WHOOPIE PIE CAKE!!! Cute favors - the rubber duckies were adorable, and offered much amusement during the reception. I think Lora drowned hers. Others were caught on film performing lascivious acts.

We took Monday off, so we could take our time getting home after staying overnight at the Fairfield (Marriott) in Brunswick. Sunday night, we had dinner at the Sea Dog Brewery. Nice place, excellent crabcakes.

Before heading south, I made Mark take me to Halcyon Yarn in Bath. SO GLAD we went. We finally got there after depending far too much on the GPS - we call her Sally, and she is demented. But we got there just as they opened Monday morning. They still have lots of stash bags left from their Open House sale, so I picked up two, plus a cone of cotton for the warp for my loom. No, it's not out of the box yet, but the time is coming. SOON.

Gotta go back there when there is more time. Bath seems like a cool place to wander.

Playing Catch Up, as Usual.

2007-10-06T20:43:00.000-04:00

Going to a wedding tomorrow, two knitting buddies are getting hitched in Maine. Looking forward to an overnight - staying at a Marriott in Brunswick / Freeport.

Found an awesome gift to add to the gift I already had for them. Can't wait to see them all purtied up!

Doesn't She Have a Lervely Pair?

2007-09-27T20:34:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, Gina - your beloved didn't like the joke, but that's all it was, Mark didn't mean anything by it, and your husband needs to understand that he has a beautiful, sexy wife who is appreciated by everyone she knows. So there. I am posting this. He can deal.

My husband is very proud of his wordplay. Not always fun when I am trying to have a conversation with him and he is searching for the next pun. But sometimes he can be very sweet and silly. We were knitting at Yarn and Fiber two Fridays back, and he stopped in on the way home. Gina and I were sitting at the table, and he marched right up and said to Gina, "You have a lovely pair." And handed her a pear he picked up from the farm stand on the way over. The guy must have been cooking this up for five miles. It's amazing how easily he entertains himself! But it was cute and funny - Gina got a good giggle, and a delicious pear!

Berfday Goodies, Part II

2007-09-27T20:17:00.000-04:00

And I quote:

How much id dis?
Fwee!!
Whut?
Fwee!!
Noooo, how MUCH id dis?
Fwee!!!
WHY????
Berfday!
No, not berfday! How MUCH id dis?
FWEE!!

And so it continued until I gave up. Heather is stu-uh-born.

But LOOKEE - if you haven't checked out Heather's goodies (heh heh heh...), stop reading my lame arse blog, and click HERE. You might be lucky enough to find something just like this! I don't know what it's called, I don't know what the fiber is, but all I know is that it is beautiful, my favorite colors, soft, and has an awesome twist to it. I really don't like fuzzy narns much - this stuff is perfectly ME. Not fuzzy, just twisted!!!

ooooooooooooohhhhhhh

Berfday Goodies, Part I

2007-09-27T20:04:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I'm a little late. Shaddup. I lost my camera cable for awhile.

Anyway, yes, my birthday was last week. Yippee. Despite my pleas not to make a big deal of it, the babes in my knitting group showered me with narn-y wuvliness. I am truly blessed. And Lora actually made me a bag! I find it hard to believe sometimes, the generosity of spirit that is in this group. Can't believe she found the time to make something for me while juggling kids, a husband (wait - is that redundant?), dogs, a household.

But lookee what I got!!

Socks that Rock, Noro, and narn from Spunky! And a BOOBIE BAG!! And check out the googly eyes on the gift box. Abby demo'd the box, but I saved the eyes - they might come in handy someday! Gina found these gift boxes at Hallmark - go and get yours before she buys them all!!

And I must add, just so that you can have a giggle at my expense, that my AARP card came in the mail. No, I am NOT 50, but my husband just turned 50 and he joined. Now I can get the 5% discount for the 4:00 dinner seating at the Cracker Barrel so I can get to bed by 6:00. Life is a chair of bowlies!

Another Internet Quiz

2007-09-23T14:32:00.001-04:00

You're Babar the King!

by Jean de Brunhoff

Though your life has been filled with struggle and sadness of late,
you're personally doing quite well for yourself. All this success brings responsibility,
though, and should not be taken lightly. Life has turned from war to peace, from damage
to reconstruction, and this brings a bright new hope for everyone you know. These hopeful
people look to you for guidance, and your best advice to them is to watch out for snakes.
You're quite fond of the name "Celeste".

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Weird...

2007-09-23T13:56:00.001-04:00

Laurin --

[adjective]:

Full of bees

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

I'm allergic to bees. Don't they know that?

I Was Gina's First!!!

2007-09-04T13:15:00.001-04:00

Miss Gina started a new job at Yarn and Fiber, and a bunch of us (Donna, Heather, Jackie, and Sarah) joined her Friday night to keep her company.

Guess who was her VERY first customer!

Doesn't she look proud?

Here's some of what I picked out...the yarn and pattern are for a Christmas present for my favorite izzer...

a pattern from Cherry Tree Hill - the Making Tracks shawl. Looks easy, maybe I can't screw it up. But then again, I frogged it completely three times before I understood the freaking directions. Sigh.

a bar of Mow the Lawn!! soap from Down to Hearth Soaps - it smells so good - cleavage worthy!!!

an Addi Turbo circular 10 / 32" needle for the shawl

two skeins of Mountain Colors Mountain Goat Alpine, 55% Mohair and 45% Wool. Really nice to work with.

a bag of pink needle protectors

Gina's worried (and rightfully so) about how much of her paycheck she will actually bring home. After last night, I am more worried about mine! Being able to wander the store every Friday night is going to test my willpower. Damn!

It was such a nice evening. Sometimes knitting at Barnes can be tough - the group grows to as many as 20 people, you can barely hear yourself think. But Y&F is comfy, quiet, the walls are soundproofed with yarn. What more could you want?

On This Day, Seven Years Ago...

2007-09-02T16:18:00.000-04:00

Made it - our 7th anniversary. Both Heather and Lora also celebrated anniversaries recently, and posted some wedding pics to celebrate, so who am I to break with tradition, huh? Are you ready?

Date: September 2, 2000
Location: Back Yard, Kingston, NH
Guests: Oh yeah, 200+ of them.

Caterer: Muddy River Smokehouse

We wanted a very informal wedding, just a few of our bestest friends, so we rented a tent and a dance floor, brought in Muddy River, and planned a day full of music, good food, and a very brief ceremony. Really - it was ten minutes tops.

Bridesmaids were my two sisters Lisa (matron of honor) and Kristin, my best friend-might-as-well-be-sister Lisa, and her bodacious daughter Jesse, who in a few more years would become a slamming roller derby goddess - more about her in another posting.

Mark asked his buddies Paul and Terry and his brothers Chet and Keith to stand up for him. He has already done the penguin tuxedo thing for his first wedding, so we had the guys buy new gray suites, and the girls all found dress / sweater sets in a catalog that were the perfect color. Done. Simple. Comfortable.

But not as comfie as bare feet!! It had rained until just about a half hour before the ceremony - people were walking into the backyard under umbrellas. It was clearing a bit, and we could mop up the dancefloor, but I didn't want to risk slipping in my dress shoes, so it was a perfect excuse to ditch them. It was worth the look on my mother's face when she realized I was going to go barefoot. And the guests seemed to be amused as well. After the ceremony, all the girls ditched their sandals too. Had to get a piggies picture.

And, the blissful couple. Awwwwwww.

Honeymoon: Paradise Stream, Caesars Pocono Resorts. Plunge pool in our room, jacuzzi, fireplace, perfection.

Scattergories

2007-08-31T19:43:00.000-04:00

SCATTERGORIES ... and it's harder than it looks!

Here are the rules:

* Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the questions.
* They MUST be real places, names, things ... NOTHING made up!
* If you can't think of anything, skip it.
* You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.
* If your name happens to start with the same letter as mine, sorry, but you can't use my answers!

My name: Laurin
1. Famous Singer/Band: Lisa Loeb
2. Four letter word: Lust
3. Street: Lonely Street
4. Color: Lilac
5. Gifts/Presents: Lipstick
6. Vehicle: Lincoln Continental
7. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Lighters
8. Boy Name: Lance
9. Girl Name: Lisa
10. Movie Title: Lost in Space
11. Drink: LaLa's Dirty Martini (all ya have to do is ask....)
12. Occupation: Lawyer
13. Celebrity: Lauren Tewes (oh, I am OLD...)
14. Magazine: Lowrider Magazine
15. U.S. City: Lowell
16. Pro Sports Teams: LA Lakers
17. Fruit: Ligonberry
18. Reason for Being Late for Work: Lazy Ass
19. Something You Throw Away: Lint
20. Things You Shout: Later, Dude!!
21. Cartoon Character: Lisa Simpson

If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged to add this to your blog. Let me know you did!

First Pair of Socks - DONE

2007-08-18T22:28:00.001-04:00

Finally.

Harlot Simple Socks, in Trekking XXL.

Frogged at least 8 times, but finally finished.

Was going to give them to Gina, but oranges reds and blacks just don't seem Gina-ish, ya know? So I started another pair.

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, in Hawaii colorway. Beautiful colors, although I am not thrilled with how it pools. But Gina likes the way they are knitting up, so on they go. Jaywalkers, this time.

Ravelry - the great and mighty time-suck

2007-08-18T22:21:00.000-04:00

I got into Ravelry a few weeks ago, and have mostly been lurking, checking out other Manch-Vegas knitters project queues and stuff. I have a feeling that the very minute I start to use this thing in earnest, I'll have to quit my job. It is a fantastic site, with the compelling lure of organizing your knitting life and joining a community of folks all trying to do the same thing.

But man - I spent two hours on it today. Without a whole hell of a lot to show for it. But it is soooooo cool.

I'm in trouble.

The Next Day at the daSilva Spa and Resort

2007-08-18T21:30:00.000-04:00

The story starts the night before. After all the ManchVegas chicks (and Chris) left, Mark thought the pool has lost some water, and decided to bring the level up. So, he put a hose in the pool, came in, and made his first mistake.

Rule #1: Don't ask your tired wife to remind you to shut off the water, and then expect she will stay awake longer than you do.

I fell asleep sitting up in the living room by 8:30 - and he went to bed. No, I did not remind him. Can you see where this is going? Hmmm?

He got up to pee about 3:00, and he was confused to hear what sounded like rain outside - but it wasn't raining. Except pool water through the skimmer opening, of course. Eroding the stone fill around the base of the pool. So he went out in the dark with a flashlight, probably blaming me - still comfortably snoring in my chair - to shut off the water.

Rule #2: If you are going to backflush the pool to drain off some water, make sure you rehouse the pump valve back to normal when you are done.

He didn't. When he checked the pool the next morning, it had continued to drain off water until the level was below the skimmer. Bad.

The hose went back in. Ice cold water from the well. So now he is convinced that we are never going to be able to swim in the pool again - we might as well drag out the ice skates. And man was he UGLY about it.

So here is where the daSilva Spa and Resort came in. I was telling Lisa this story and she invited me over. Done deal. She has a pool. And a spare bedroom. What's not to love?

Went over for a day of relaxing drinkies, knitting, swimming. Lisa runs a three star establishment complete with crazy puppies and an even nuttier husband. He thought Mark's pool mishaps were so funny that he called him and said "at least MY woman doesn't have to go to another man's pool to go swimming.." This would have really cheesed my husband's shorts except that Chris is Brazilian, and was so excited about his little joke that his accent got in the way and Mark didn't understand a word. I had to translate for him the next day.

Lisa and I thought it was hysterical, though!

Poolin', Knittin', Drinkin' and Foldin' - OH YEAH

2007-08-18T21:10:00.001-04:00

August 4th - OK, so only a few weeks behind here. Invited the Manch-Vegas gang to my house for a very long day - at least for some of us. From about 9:30 to noon, whoever showed up put their heads down to the task of folding as many origami cranes as we possibly could, to decorate Gina's house for Ericka's shower. She loves bright red, so most of the cranes were red, but we also used white, gold, and a few very pretty printed papers.

I have to admit this is not a strength - I find it really hard to follow origami instructions. So I devoted myself to the first few folds - the others grabbed my starters and finished them up. Luckily Gina's husband Ian was there - he was a whiz at it. He helped the others get going, then took Ben out to the pool so we could get to work. Sarah, Heather, Caroline, Marion, Gina, Lora, Melissa - they all kicked butt cranking out the cranes.

Then, at about 1:00ish, we broke out the drinkies, started getting lunch out, and drifted to the pool. The whole day was a blast - perfect weather, perfectly crazy and funny guests. And perfect frozen margaritas. What else could you possibly ask for? Except for my frog back, maybe. But he is in a good place. His wife misses him, though. Maybe she will meet a nice newt and forget all about him.

Ericka and Chris finally dragged their asses over about 3:00 - I remember the good old days when I could lounge around in bed till noon with no one to nag me about it - days long gone when married to a morning person. (Should have run when I had a chance.) They brought chicken wings that would grow hair on a rock. The minute they lifted the lid on those suckers, it went right to my throat - like gargling on hot, vinegary razors. But damn were they good!

Catching Up, PART THREE

2007-08-18T21:00:00.000-04:00

July 1st Update: Forgot to mention that we also celebrated Rob's 21st birthday - Lisa brought all kinds of Hostess cakes and stuck a candle in them. Kiddie crack - gotta love it!

He did.

Dude - happy birthday.

Catching Up, PART TWO

2007-07-04T15:53:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I am cheating a bit, and skipping several weeks.

So, instead of having 4th of July on the 4th, we had it on the 1st. Invited Cris and Lisa, and my sister Lisa, and brother in law Keith over for drinkies, charred animal flesh, and assorted nummies. Pretty much like the Knitting Pool Party coming up on August 4th. So if you are coming, here is a little of what you are in for....

I put a dozen turkey legs in the smoker at 5:30 that morning. They were almost done by 2:00ish - had to put them in the oven for a hour or so to finish them off. Low and slow, but come on!!! But they were faboo.

I just wish that it had been warmer. I was the only one brave enough to go in the pool, and that was because the half pitcher of Caipirinhas that I had managed to kill off. Oooof - that's an awesome little drink.

More from NH Sheep and Wool 2007

2007-07-04T15:35:00.001-04:00

Some more sights from the Sheep and Wool.

So what else did I pick up? Well, I got a kit to make some winter boot socks for Mark - as usual, I find that if I buy something for him, he is much more agreeable about anything else I buy. Men.

Also picked up Jackie Fee's Sweater Workshop. Meant to get it at SPA, but wasn't able to get back to her table. Luckily, she was at Sheep and Wool. Very nice lady. Have I looked at it yet? Nope. I need to clone myself to send one of us to work, and then the other one can do what is really important.