*NOT* Rhinebeck

I couldn't resist the title, because I'm sure in the next day or so, there will be many blog posts title Rhinebeck, aka NYS Sheep and Wool Festival, as many of my fellow knitters had gone to.

Instead, I went to leadership training on Saturday AM, and then right after, David and I drove to my cousin Tracy's in NJ for a Haunted Luau:

When the racer meets the pirate


The hosts - Tracy and Jason


Me, Tracy, and Paul - this one is for the fam

Of course, what else would I be doing while I'm sitting down in a party:

Knitting! Secret of the Stole!! And watching the Red Sox kicking the crap out of Indians!

And here is the progress of Secret of the Stole:

This stole has two points to start and the direction had asked to start them simultaneously using the same ball of yarn, however, I can just see the disaster. So inspired by Costumchick, I also cast on only the left point, and will be breaking the yarn and make the right side soon. Maybe during tonight's ALCS Game 7. GO RED SOX!!! Oh yeah... Check out the new addition of the house!!

Like I said, I couldn't leave the TV home when it was only $1099.99 for this 42" LG TV!!!

We left Tracy's after game 6 was over (which was about midnight) and got home around 2am. I took a nap, woke up at 6am, and picked up Karen at 7am and set out to Farmhouse Yarn Sale. If you've read my previous posts, you've known that I've been having a lot of trouble with the yarn I bought from Farmhouse awhile ago. And you would've also known that Carol had very promptly emailed me back and give me $50 credit towards new purchases of yarn. So there we were, walking into the front yard at 8:01 am (they open at 8am!!). We were the first one there and none of the bins were opened yet!!!

It was cold to start the day, but it warmed up with the beautiful sunshine:

Casey and Erica, the two very helpful ladies - Carol wasn't there today

Supposedly this is the last sale Carol is going to have, and everything else goes to the new yarn store, Connecticut Yarn and Wool, about 10 mins away from her house. So she has this deal about fill 1 bag for $159 and fill 2 bags for $189. Now, who in their right mind would just fill 1 bag when you can fill 2 bags for almost half of the price? (not me) We were there so early and didn't have to fight with others to look at the bins, I was done in record of 90 mins!!! (Karen was way done and waiting for me! I'm a slow shopper) And here is the loot:

The loot!!! And Mick trying to get into the picture on the right!!! :)

The loot: Andy's Merino (L to R, T to B) in Wine Rose (2 skeins), Turkey Red (3 skeins), Watermelon (2 skeins), Lavender (7 skeins), Cranberry 3-ply (9 skeins) and Sunflower (10 skeins). The top right is Silk Blend in Spiced Pumpkin (5 skeins), on the top step are 9 free doily patterns and 1 ball of cotton crochet thread for my future blocking use.

Yes, I filled the two bags with 38 skeins of yarn. I also had some leftover credits from testing knitting for Carol awhile ago, so the two bags really didn't cost me anything! AND they didn't take the giant sweater skein of yarn back, so I might just finish the HRB:

HRB in its the current stage

And I ordered some Denise long cords for this project as well and it came Saturday:

I'm thinking of keeping the pretty giant sweater skein for future center piece, maybe have some needles stick into it to make it a focal point in my future craft room.

I came home from Farmhouse and crashed on the couch, after all the photographs, of course! I have to say that was a lot of activity/traveling in very short amount of time! Well, now that I am re-energized, I'll be up knitting and cheering for the Red Sox.

GO RED SOX!!!

In No Particular Order...

Yesterday, Katy, one of the SnB member, had a garden potluck party. I was originally gonna make the Chocolate and Zucchini Cake, but Mick got sick so we ended up at the Vet instead. But I made it up by going to Julia's Bakery and bought a Peach Pie for the party. I met quite a few people there, and Archiknist and Soozies were there as well. Archiknist came with her new toy and I told David that I want one too!!! :)

Today was slow and relaxing. I went to SnB and got to talk with Costumechick. I haven't seen her for awhile so it was great seeing her again. And speaking of someone I haven't seen for awhile, Lilith came too! And she brought WIP Clessidra with her! I think I'm gonna either make that or Monkey next. And I get to cast on as early as now, if I want to, because I finally finished my first pair of socks for Summer of Sock 2007:

Pattern - Falling Leaves by Jessica Landers on Knitty.com
Yarn Called For - 2 Skeins Koigu Painters Palette Merino in #823
Yarn Used - 2 Balls Reynolds Soft Sea Wool in #0650
Needles - 2 Addi Turbo size 2 circular
Gauge - 7.5 sts per inch
Knit - July 05, 2007 to August 12, 2007
Modifications - Universal formula sizing, Magic cast-on, 2x2 Ribs

This pattern was an easy knit and a great introduction to lace. I love the way it came out and I really like the yarn I chose - I think solid yarn show case the pattern much better than the variegated version. I knitted both socks at once and I think it's a great choice and from now on, I might just do both at the same time! I actually didn't use 2 balls and I think I might actually have enough left to make a pair of ankle socks. We'll see what comes out of it.

Right before I went to SnB today, I found out a local Farmer's Market that happens on Sundays - I am so excited because usually they have it during Wednesday on mid-day and Saturday mornings, which both are bad for me. They had been expanding it and added Thursday late afternoon/early evening and Sunday during the day. I stopped by before going to SnB and bought some fresh peaches and a blueberry lemonade - yum!

Not much progress was made for MS3... only 20 rows into the Clue 4...

After SnB, I decided to use the giant zucchini my brother brought home:

I tried the recipe "Sweet Potato & Zucchini Frittata" from Moosewood Restaurant New Classic. Besides sweet potato and zucchini, it calls for onions, eggs, cream cheese, garlic, milk, smoke cheddar, marjoram, salt and pepper. I love Moosewood cookbooks - although it is vegetarian, I think anyone can find something in there that they like! My friend introduced me to Moosewood back when we were in college and now I have almost all of their cookbooks!

YUM!

Progress Report and Summer BBQ

Soooo it's time for some progress report!!! First up is the Pink Frosting:

Pink Frosting - almost finished!


Pink Frosting - bottom edging detail

Pink Frosting - shoulder strap detail

Those crocheting was killing me! I must frog it 10 times on each side for the shoulder straps! The bottom edges were a little easier and I only have 4 more rounds left and I will be completely done with it!!!

Next is my first pair of socks - well, more like my first sock. The pattern is called Thuja from knitty.com and the original socks were made for men, but I liked the simplicity so much I decided to make my first pair of socks in that pattern. I used the yarn I got from my fourth of July find (Minerva Sweater and Sock Yarn in grey). and a smaller needles (Size 3 Clover DPNs):

Thuja - top view

Thuja - side view

I made the cuff much shorter since I really like ankle socks more than crew socks. I am currently on the second one ready to make the heel flap.

Now on some new purchases that I talked about last week -

Ole Blue Eye

I purchased this from here. All of her stuff is just absolutly gorgeous. It is 100% Lace Weight Merino. It is very soft and the colorway is even more beautiful in person. I will have to find a pretty shawl pattern for it.

Royal Ball Winder

I wanted a winder for awhile now and I finally broke down and bought one. I got it from JoAnn.com with a 50% off coupon. I think I paid 33 dollars after taxes and shipping, which is well worth it. Now I just have to find a swift I like.

Swarovski Crystals in Crystal, Light Peach, Silk AB, Cobalt, Light Amethyst Satin
Missing: Sapphire Satin

The only reason the sapphire is missing is because on Thursday, I took a beading/jewelry making class and made this bracelet:

My first bracelet with Swarovski crystal in Sapphire, Czech glass beads in light blue, 11/0 Delica in Caribbean


Close up for the bracelet - click for a brighter and bigger image

I took the class at Manifest Beads and there were only three of us plus the instructor. The class cost me 30 dollars plus supplies (about 5 dollars worth) and I had this beautiful bracelet to wear the next day! I was very happy with it and I would love to take another jewelry making class when I have some more time!

On Wednesday, I took the afternoon off and went to do this:

My first spindle and some roving to make yarn

Yarn!!! Made by ME!

I was very excited when I actually see yarn on my spindle! I had a lot of fun and made some new friends! It was in a group called Just Around Korner and they always meet at Oronoque Farm. The porch was a nice place to meet and we had some nice weather and awesome time. The instructor was Pat from Dream Come True Farm. She was very nice and explained the different type of roving and introduced us to Spinner's Notebook - filled with all different type of fibers! She taught us how to use top whirl drop spindles and we all made progress before we left there. Joyce was our host and I really enjoyed meeting her. She is planning on a needle felting class on the porch some time in October. I can't wait for that to come! Oh, did I mention the price? The cost of instructor was 45 dollars but there were 10 of us, so it only cost each of us 4.5 dollars to learn how to spin, and Pat only charged us 3 dollars for the fleece, or if we bought a spindle (Babe Spindles) it was 10 dollars and the fleece was free of charge, and she even gave me more and different type to try at home! What a bargain! And did I mention there were PIES? We had Cherry Crumble Pie and Coconut Cream Pie from the Oronoque Farm and they were just to die for! The "Farm" itself is very cute - It's actually a little farm store that sells all the country home stuff. The place is really a treat to be in, although I didn't buy anything (spent it all in yarn and stuff!)

Today David and I had a Summer BBQ. Everyone RSVP showed and everyone that were "not sure" didn't come. We had burgers, sausages, lots of fruit, chips and dips, different cheese and crackers and much more! Mom (David's mom) made a cake that spelled COOL and I can't believe I forgot to take pictures! In the O's, they have blue frosting and they look like pools! Little teddy graham bears were swimming and tanning in or near the pool. There were mini umbrellas shading the bears so they won't get "sun burn"! It was the cutest thing! Kate and Vin brought brownies with peanut butter chips in them... mmm... and Jim and Margret brought pasta salad. Krista made the low fat seven layer dip which was compile of low fat refried beans, salsa, olives, sour cream, scallions, cheese, and taco meat.

Jim and Margret brought the "washer" game. It is very similar to horseshoe, but instead, you throw giant washers into a coffee can that's been secured onto a wooden frame. It was quite a fun game! Jim and Margret's son made it up and now it's a game they bring to every picnic and BBQ!

So after I write, and you read, the whole novel, I suppose I should give your eyes a break. I will try to update it more often they will be shorter posts...