A blog posting...

I think I neglected to mention to everyone that I've launched a new website for the dye business...

MooseManorHandPaints.com is now live! On the site you'll find not only information about colorways and where you can buy my products, but in the middle of all this is a Moose Manor blog! There you'll get to see what inspires me and my colorways, as well as information about shop updates, fiber festivals, and new yarn/fiber bases and other products.

Now, I'm not about to give us this little old blog, but I really wanted a place to focus on my dyeing. And this blog will still include dyeing, but it will still be the place for most of my personal stuff--and lots of pictures of the unbearably cute Miss Lily!

Oh pleeeeeezzzzeee, can I have whatever you got on the kitchen table???

So there's a new post over on the Moose Manor site today--complete with a little yarn p0rn. Why don't you check it out? Don't worry, we'll still be here when you're done... :-)

Yes, I'm still alive...

I know, I haven't blogged in a really long time, which makes me a very bad blogger. And there's all sorts of stuff that I've been wanting to blog about but haven't, which makes me a really suckie blogger. Especially since it's NaBloPoMo, which I was going to do again, but since I've missed the first nine days of the month I've blown that too. Sigh...

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I've got a lot going on at work right now. Like two huge projects that are full time jobs by themselves. And then there's my paralegal classes, and I'm already behind on work there because of problems getting the textbooks and, of course, the work stuff.

Don't even ask about the knitting. It's been replaced with studying (or dozing) on the train.

So, for the next few weeks there won't be much posting. I'll do what I can--maybe a picture or two--but it may be a while.

I'll leave you with a picture of the one thing that I've been able to do in really tiny doses--spinning!


This is some BFL roving I got at Rhinebeck. I'm using the Bosworth mini (Walnut) I got at the Franklin Fiber Twist last year. Little by little I'm getting the hang of it. And I'm really liking it...

Rhinebeck bound!

After having my plans cancelled at the last minute for what feels like an eternity the last 3 years, I am finally going to to Rhinebeck! Of course, this year's plans were not without a certain element of drama. I was supposed to be spending the whole weekend there with one of my paralegal classmates, but our wires got crossed and now I'm just going to be day tripping it on Saturday. But that's OK, because...

I'M STILL GOING TO RHINEBECK!!!

I will definitely be wearing my hand paint socks and maybe my 4-year-old green sweater if I can finish the turtleneck before Saturday morning. Sadly, there won't be enough time to block it, which would have brought out the true loveliness of the yarn. But that's OK, because...

I'M STILL GOING TO RHINEBECK!!!

I'm not sure what my plan of attack will be for the vendors. I'm planning to curtail my fiber spending this year due to that heating oil pre-buy, two vinyl replacement windows for the attic, and tuition for 2 classes that start Monday night but I've yet to register for (but tomorrow is payday). Can a get a group ka-ching?. But that's OK, because...

I'M STILL GOING TO RHINEBECK!!!

So leave me a comment if you're going to be at Rhinebeck on Saturday. I'll be hangin' with Punkin and my Sunday West Babylon Panera knitting/spinning group, and hopefully I'll see lots of my blog friends--and even meet some new ones. It's gonna be a great weekend, because...

WE'RE GOING TO RHINEBECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An interview

I've seen this on a few blogs, and thought it might be fun to interview Jim.

Yeah. Fun...

Me: What is your favorite thing about my knitting?

Jim: It doesn't involve me [laughs].

Me: Nice, dear.

Jim: [more laughter] I don't have to do anything for it. Oh no, I'm joking. Ask me the question again.

Me: What is your favorite thing about my knitting?

Jim: I get free warm stuff.

Me: [laugh] That's a good answer.

Jim: And Vermont is a very cold place.

Me: Yes, it's getting colder by the day

Jim: [laughs]

Me: OK, next question. What is your least favorite thing about my knitting?

Jim: My least favorite thing... um... having to hold up various articles your knitting so that you can take a picture of them in some ungodly place, so everyone can look at the poor man holding up half knitted item of some sort.

Me: That's not a good answer.

Jim: Maybe not, but it's truthful. That's the thing I hate the most about your knitting--"hold the sock next to the sheep"; "now hold the sock next to the cannon." I'm really quite shy.

Me: But you dress in britches and a waistcoat and perform in front of people. How can you be shy???

Jim: I'm really very shy.

Me: Alright. What is something I have knitted that you recall as being good?

Jim: Hmmm... my liberty cap! Unite or die!!! It's a feisty cap, and it works pretty well at these programs.

Me: You've used it?

Jim: A couple of times now.

Me: Really?

Jim: Yes, it gets a chuckle.

Me: Do you think knitters have an expensive hobby?

Jim: Yeah... yeah, i think it's just as expensive as any other hobby. I don't think it's more expensive, but I don't think it's frivolous either.

Me: That was a good answer. OK, I think you've already answered the next one: have I ever embarrassed you, knitting in public.

Jim: See above. [laughing] Your knitting doesn't bother me, but the holding stuff does.

Me: Do you have any hobbies?

Jim: No, I merely have avocations that cost far more than a hobby.

Me: Do you know my favorite kind of yarn is?

Jim: I think it's Malabrigo.

Me: Ooooooo! Yeah!!!

Jim: What did you think--that I was stupid.

Me: [groan] Well, that just killed a good answer.

Jim: I'm not totally yarn impaired.

Me: Can you name another blog?

Jim: Another blog? Uh, yeah, let's see... there was Captain Blog,

Me: No, that's not what I meant.

Jim: Or maybe Captain Bly. Mutineers all ended up on Pitcairn island,

Me: Oh, god... Next question--Do you mind my wanting to stop at yarn shops wherever we go?

Jim: Uh, only when it cuts into my going to a museum, [laughs] especially if there's not enough room in the car for me to comfortably nap.

Me: Next question--do you understand the importance of a swatch?

Jim: A swatch?

Me: Yeah.

Jim: I think if you like get one in your eye it could be a problem, but I really don't know what a swatch is, no.

Me: Do you read my blog?

Jim: I have read your blog, once in a great while.

Me: Like when I force you too?

Jim: But I haven't read it much 'cause I find it best to avoid personal embarrassment. Too many pictures of me holding up knitted items in embarrassing places.

Me: Yeah. I don't think you should read this blog entry. OK. Have you ever left a comment on my blog?

Jim: No, only with the blogger. I have no shortage of comments... but I have left comments on the blog, I think... yes... oops.

Me: Do you the house would be cleaner if I didn't knit?

Jim: No. Nope. I don't think that it has any effect on that.

Me: OK. I think that's enough.

Jim: Oh, is that it?

Me: Yeah.

Jim: Too bad. I think I was starting to get into it. Well, you're all knotted up in your hobby.

Me: Really. That's enough. Thanks, dear.

Yup, and he's allllllllll mine...

Random thoughts for a Wednesday

Yeah, I know, it's really been a while. I've been that busy. So instead of a big constructed post, let's go with a few bullet points.

• This past Saturday I finished my two weekend classes and this coming Saturday I start two more that will run through the end of May. I really do enjoy these classes, however, I've been doing this week-in-week-out since OCTOBER. With no real breaks. Boy, I could really use a break. Just a little one. Please???


• Work's been... well... work. There's been another reshuffling and my position has changed. It's going to take a while to figure out exactly what I'm going to be doing, but I'll get there.


• Jim and I have decided to try to refinance our mortgage. The figures that the Re-Fi guy gave us look good, but I'll believe it after it comes back from the bank. Re-Fi guy told us two weeks ago that we should hear something within about two weeks. Now he's saying maybe the end of this month--or sometime in April. Yeah...
  
• My Bloglines subscriptions are totally out of control. Here are just a few of the blogs that I'm behind in reading:
  
  Cabin Cove (68)
  CrazyAuntPurl (41)
  january one (161)
  A Paralegal's Blog (27)
  Wayne Schiess's legal-writing blog (34)
  Lolly Knitting Around (42)
  Mason-Dixon Knitting (162)
  Now Norma Knits (53)
  One Crazy Fiber Lady (200)
  Sandy's Knitting (192)
  Yarn Harlot (76)
  
  Scary. I don't know if I'm going to even attempt to read all this. It's just a little overwhelming.


• Last month I stopped at Webs on my way south and finally met Cirilia! We chatted as she range up my purchase. (Yes, I bought a little yarn. Just a little. Really.)


• There have been trips up to Moose Manor. Haven't done much around the house, though. Just not enough time. On my last trip we went up to the Brandon Inn to do some press photos for a Civil War event we're hosting there in early June.


That staircase was just made for hoop skirts.


• Here's something to look forward to--my sister scored some tickets to see Jimmy Buffett at Tweeter Center Great Woods up in Manfield, Massachusetts! A sure sign that summer's coming!

So that's it for now. I've still got lots of stuff to talk about, but that will have to wait for another day. I'll leave you with a picture from Vermont that was taken about two weeks ago.

It's not pretty anymore. Spring cannot get here soon enough!!!

Random bits for a Thursday

Wow! It's been a week already since I last blogged. There's been an awful lot going on but I don't have a lot of time to blog, so here's some of the high (and low) lights.

• At work we're dealing with an editorial "perfect storm" of sorts. The-book-that-shall-remain-nameless is back in full force for a revision. At the same time we got hit with another title, that we will call the-book-that-gets-no-respect. It's higher revenue, but doesn't have outside authors, which is much easier to manage. Anyway, these simultaneous revisions are wrecking havoc with everyone on the staff. One more week and we'll be done.
• I started two more paralegal classes this past Saturday. I'm still working on the final assignments for the research class and I haven't gotten very far with the reading assignments for the new classes. Not a good sign.
• My personal laptop died while I was up at Moose Manor over the holidays. Prognosis is not good. Doesn't look like my files got fried, but I'm gonna have to buy a new one. Really didn't plan on that. (Glad I had brought my work laptop with me up there.)
• DSL has finally come to my little Vermont village. Now I'm working on a transition plan for Jim so that we can abandon dial-up and hop onto the Internet super highway. (I'll be able to post higher quality pictures from there without tying up the phones for 5 hours!)
• I went to Knit Night at my LYS tonight. It was the first time that I knit since DECEMBER 20TH! Yeah. There's just been that much going on. Sucks, doesn't it?

So that's it for now. Still have to tell you about the fabulous Christmas gift from Jim and a little Vermont initiation rite of sorts that I experienced last week. Still not entirely comical, but it will be. Next time...

Hope everyone's new year is off to a great start!

Special delivery

Look at what Carole sent me for being her 20,000th commenter!

From left to right: Trekking sock yarn, Lana Grossa Soft Cotton in blue and white, and two skeins of KnitPicks Gossamer lace weight in Jeans, as well as the cutest note pad and CHOCOLATE!!!

What a fabulous assortment of goodies! And because it came from Carole, it's all the more special. Thank you, Carole!

Decisions, decisions

First off, a big hug goes out to Carole. Last week I was lucky enough to post the 20,000th comment on her blog! And she's going to be sending me a special package! Can I get a WOO and a HOO?!?

Well, after an excessive number many hours of online research, shop visits, and phone calls, I've finally picked my tires--the Goodyear Assurance TripleTreds! I haven't really had to make a tire purchase choice since the 80s, and amazes me how the Internet lets you bypass salespeople and let's you do your own research. Of course, this same power can turn you into a crazy purchase. I went from reading Consumer Reports to general Google searches to discussion boards and customer comments. Lots of good detailed info out there, but some of the negative comments on certain tires--they just scared the hell out of me. Here's just a few samples...

Not sure where to begin. I hydroplane go 40mph. Cant get any traction at a red light if has a little water on the ground. When its dry Im very confident with them. Cant wait to get rid of them.

After 14,000 miles, I actually had the tread of my rear-passenger wheel fly off. I was riding on the inner layer of rubber and belts along with the edges of the sidewalls.

When new these tires were excellent! However, after 20k-30k performance decreased significantly in wet and snow condition. I have also had two failures... the first at around 20k when one of th 4 tires developed a "bump" on the side wall (replaced free by the Mfg) and now at 50k one of the tires has a shifted steel belt.

Pretty unsettling, aren't they? Well, I think my Blue Bean will be just fine with these puppies.

And after lots of mathematical calculations, I've chosen a near the house to get this done. A big thanks to Elizabeth for recommending TireRack.com, but after doing all the math they weren't going to save me any money on these. However, in the future I'll probably be turning to them first. Especially when I'm living in Vermont and don't have a tire shop every mile or so down the road. Now to pick a morning to get them done...

my Blue Bean, with the old tires still on her

And then on to the next agonizing purchase--eyeglasses!

First snow

Today was our first snow of the season in the NY Metro area. We woke up to a fairly dusty powdery snow, although on the highways it created some wet and icy surfaces. And a 32-mile drive to school this morning on tires that really need to be replaced... well, it was a little nerve wracking, even with the AWD. Please cross your fingers that I'm able to get some grippy new tires on the Blue Bean within the next week or so. I have a feeling that this is going to be a snowy winter--both here and in Vermont.

I have to get to work on some flyers for Jim, but before I go just a few things...

• I'm coming down the homestretch for my Sunday classes. Next week is my last Legal Writing class and the week after that is the last Litigation class. The Sunday classes have been good, and I can't believe I'm almost done with them. Time to start thinking about registering for the winter semester.
• With two of my three classes coming to an end, I'll have some time to get back to a little knitting.
• The other night I succumb to temptation... and bought myself a Garmin GPS system that was dirt cheap on WalMart.com. For $178, if was an offer I couldn't refuse, and totally justifiable based on the New England driving that I frequently do.
• This is very important: Next Sunday you need to watch Extreme Home Makeover. They will be featuring a family from Vermont. These are people that Jim knows. Jim has worked with the father, Lou Vitale, at 7-Eleven. I've met Lou. He's a good, decent man, and this is a family that is so very deserving of their new home. So please watch next weekend. Click here for some more information.

Oh yeah, there's also this.

NaBloPoMo. I did it. Thirty consecutive posts. I even surprised myself!

Now there's Blog 365--post every day for a year.

I'm not that crazy.

Random Tuesday

Just some random items today...

• One of my editors left this past June, and now today another one gave notice. I'm not happy. It's a good opportunity for him, but it sucks for me because he was one of the really good ones. I just hope they let me replace him.
• I had a gift project that I started on this morning. I thought I had until the end of December to finish it. I've only got until the 7th. And I've also got a final writing project to finish. And a final exam on the 16th. Kind of a lot on my plate.
• Since I started the whole NaBloPoMo thing (two days late, since I wasn't aware of it until November 4th), I've managed to post every single day. Every. Single. Day. That's from me, the writing challenged. But while readership on this blog appears to be up, commenting has been surprisingly sparse. Lots of lurkers out there. Like Jessalu says, "de-lurking is delightful." Come on out, y'all!
• I still haven't figured out how to download the pictures off my phone. I usually grasp the technology stuff very quickly. Not so much here.
• Need to get new glasses soon. My distance vision hasn't changed. My reading vision has gotten worse. Getting old is a bitch. I've been playing around wih Pearle Vision's website tool that let's you try frames on but uploading a mugshot picture of yourself. Very cool--the website, not my mug shot.
• Need sleep. Generally, and like, now. Good night all!

Not totally frozen...

...but I am totally exhausted. I'm not used to that much frozen fresh air. Must get some sleep. Too exhausted to blog tonight, but I'm not about to blow my NaBloPoMo consecutive posting streak. (I haven't missed a day since November 3rd (which was my official start date)!) I'll figure out how to download the parade pictures from my new cell phone tomorrow--once I can see straight. Nighty-night!

Another unlikely post

I bet you thought I wouldn't last a day taking part in NaBloMoPo, did you. HA! I've posted for eight consecutive days! And today makes nine! Double HA!!!

I had a couple of things to post about today, but I heard about this contest over on Norma's blog. So here's what I was working on a year ago today: the THIRD red sock.

Hoping that it would match one of the other two.

Fat chance. You know, I still haven't picked a definitive pair from the trio. The whole thing still makes me crazy.


I've got two more colorways of this yarn in my stash. What are the odds of all of them being a mismatch?

Lemming or Loony?

I saw this on Norma's blog and I just couldn't resist the challenge of posting every day for a month. It's not quite as crazy as thinking I could knit a gigunda sweater in 12 days, but then again it might be. Only time will tell, huh?

I'm baaaaack

Of course, I didn't return directly to New York from the final hotel. It was more like Baltimore to New York by way of... Boston!

I'm home now. Have been for a little over a week. Started classes last Sunday, and I've been plodding through my reading assignments for my Litigation class. (Not light stuff!) Managed to stop at knit night for a bit Thursday night and then Saturday afternoon (to use my coupon), but that's about it. It's been all about work and school. No knitting, no blogging, not even reading blogs. Certainly no Rhinebeck this weekend. Once I get a better handle on the class workload, I'll be able to get back to a little knitting and blogging.

This coming week is going to be really hectic. We've got a meeting in Deerfield, Mass. On Saturday, which just so happens to be around the corner from the marketplace for the Franklin County Fiber Twist! And--even better--our meeting will be over by 2pm, so I can go play!!! Unfortunately I have to head back to L.I. right after that because I've got class the next morning, but still--I get to go to my first fiber festival!

Time for me to make nappys, so I'll leave you with some random photos from the tail end of my 12-day Elderhostel trip.

Here's Jim in front of my favorite ice cream shop in North America!

They even have penguins!

And finally, here's proof of my vacation knitting--a whole ball of Valley Yarns Northampton knitted up!

I really do love this yarn. A worthy substitute for Cascade 220 in any project!

I finished up the last few stitches as we arrived back at the original hotel. How's that for timing?

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

Last year I totally missed it, but this year I was determined celebrate. It's my Blogiversay! Two years! Woo-hoo!!! Despite some rather spotty postings at times, I'm still blogging.

I originally started this blog with two goals: first, to document my knitting and stash accumulation accomplishments, and second, to improve my writing skills by writing regularly. I've been able to do that. However, it's also brought me so much more. I've met some wonderful people--both in person and virtually. I've found some cool blogs. I've been able to share happy times and sad times, and even some crazy times. I've even had the thrill of a rock star moment--when Stephanie left a comment on my blog! Little ol' me! Who'd a thunk it???

So, to celebrate my blogiversary with you, my faithful readers, we're having a contest! It's simple--leave a comment and you'll be entered to win a skein of sock yarn. Wanna see what you'll win?


A beautiful skein of Seacoast Handpainted Superwash Sock Yarn! 560 yards of 100% superwash merino in Surf. Yummy!

So, tell your friends and family to come on over and take a look. Never left a comment before--what better time to de-lurk! If I get lots of comments, I'll toss another skein or two of sock yarn into the prize mix. There more the merrier!

Deadline for comments will be 9 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, September 18th. Drawing will be held on Thursday, September 20th.

Just on note on comments--I don't know what it is about Blogger.com, but I don't always get e-mail addresses with comments. If the winner's e-mail address doesn't come through with their comment, I'll post to them here on the blog.

Thanks for sharing today with me!

Rock on!

A while back I posted about how far behind I was reading my bloglines. I've caught up on some, am still behind on others, and got caught up and am now lagging behind. Sigh...

However, there are some that I do manage to read regularly, and today I was pleasantly surprised when Joan from Knitting & Other Nonsense in Edith's House picked me as one of her five Rockin' Girl Bloggers.


Woo-Hoo!!! Thank you, Joan! You rock!!!

So, it's only fair that I post my choices for Rockin' Girl Bloggers. I could go on and on about so many rockin' bloggers, but here are my five:

1. Jenny of Spinning Spider Jenny, who made me feel so welcome at Adam's Farm way back when they had their knitting circle on Sunday, and who also introduced me to spinning with a hooky stick.
2. Alyson of The YoYo Knits, who just cracks me up (go read this now--I'll wait for you).
3. Kate of Minestrone Soup, who's Fun Fur hat collection for kids undergoing chemo took on a furry mind of its own.
4. Cirilia of Skrilla Knits, who works in Yarn Mecca, and is just so cool and cute.
5. Joanne of Punkin's World, who has embraced sock knitting--with those fancy schmancy premium sock yarns--faster than I ever would have imagined.

Go grab the button, girls! Y'all rock!!!

Little purls...

I didn't realize how long it had been since I last posted until Punkin pointed it out to me. Yikes! So much for my mid-year's resolution.

Of course, work has been hectic--as usual. The end of last month one of my editors, Blogless Elsie, left the company (good opportunity for her, very sad for me), so I had a couple of weeks of finishing up her projects. An now we're smack dab in the middle of the-book-that-shall-remain-nameless. (The authors want us to process 3,000 pages by the end of the week. Yeah, right...) So instead of a long drawn out entry, here's just a few bullet points for you.

• Been working on just two knitting projects: the baby sweater and my handpainted sock. Here's the sock just after the heel turn.

I'm working on the gusset decreases now. I'll have new pictures soon.

• There's been some sock yarn purchases. I don't have pictures right now, but there will be.


• Jim finished the wall on the other side of the front lawn. Didn't tell me he was working on it. Sneaky guy. That wall is still the talk of the Mount Snow Valley. Who'd a thunk it?

• I think I'm going to be able to attend my friend (and Vermont neighbor and handyman) George's mountain dulcimer festival next month. It's been a long time since I've been able to do that. (Oh, yeah, I can play the mountain dulcimer a little bit.) I'm keeping my finger's crossed!
• This weekend I’m hoping to be up at Hildene for my unit’s Civil War event. We still don’t have possession of the cannon.* However, the event will go on and if I don’t get trapped in NYC by the-book-that-shall-remain-nameless, I’ll be there. I’ll post my plans right here by Friday afternoon. If you’re in the area, stop by and say hi!

*By the way, Historic Preservation is in absolutely no hurry to arrange for the inspection required by legislation. In the meantime, Jim managed to arrange (at great expense) for an independent inspection by a leading artillery expert earlier this month. We're still waiting for his final report, but basically he said that "the tube is in as good a condition today as it was in 1863 when it was first inspected."

Blogline overload

You know what the flip side of blogger's block is? It's Bloglines block. Look at this list of blog postings that I need to get caught up on:

Claudia's Blog (25)
CrazyAuntPurl (30)
Dave Daniels Cabin Cove (32)
january one (34)
knit and tonic (22)
Lolly Knitting Around (27)
Mason-Dixon Knitting (34)
Now Norma Knits (10)
purlingswine (33)
Sandy's Knitting (29)
Too Much Wool (22)
The Tsarina Tsays... (21)
Yarn Harlot (28)

Yikes! That's a whole lot of postings to go through, especially when you realize that some of these posts tend to be on the long side. I feel bad, because these are blogs that I enjoy reading. But it's amazing how things tend to pile up when you don't attend to them regularly.


Anyway, my next step--to whittle away at the list. Catch up with these people that I love to visit online and have missed from my daily life.


No knitting pictures today. I've picked a pattern for my hand painted yarn and have started the cuff. I'm sure I have something in a few days.


For now, I'll leave you with a couple of garden pictures from the yard on Long Island.

Coming back

I'm coming back to blogland. I'm now done with the other class, although it didn't end well for me. Long story, I'll explain in a few weeks, but I'm OK with it right now. Work has been really crazy busy the last few weeks and we've started working on son-of-the-book-that-shall-remain-nameless. (It's a quarter of the size of the other book, but only half the angst.) It seems like my nasty sinus infection has cleared up, but in it's place I've got a middle ear infection--and 10 more days of antibiotics. Geesh...

Anyway, as a mid-year's resolution (a New Year's Resolution that's six months late) I'm going to start blogging more frequently. I haven't set the goal yet, but I'm thinking at least a minimum of twice a week. Carole is so good about blogging during the work week, and if I could be just half as good as her I'd be thrilled. So there may be some lame posts, but I need to develop the discipline--and to write. And maybe a redesign. (I really need a different look for my blog.) So humor me, please, while I get my sh*t together here.

And now I present... blog pictures!

Here's the Yarn Harlot representing at the Calvin in Northampton. Seriously. She's inside there. I took this picture at 6:39 on May 20th. She was inside there. I was driving by. (Yeah, I know, I was heading south and had to be back on Long Island at a reasonable hour.)

I got the summer plantings taken care of over Memorial Day weekend...

Such a lovely stone wall, isn't it? Props to my beloved. His stone wall is the talk of the Mount Snow region. Seriously. I was with him at his doctor's office last week and somebody who works there came over to us to tell us how much they liked the wall. (What can I say--it's a small town!)

And last but not least, here's some knitting content. Presenting a swatch of my first handpaint!

I'm thrilled with it! I can't wait to bring it over to Punkin's so we can figure out what sock pattern I should use. Of course, I'm open to suggestions from everyone. Please?

And now on to something that's not law related...

Well, that's it for now. I have got to get some sleep. And maybe tomorrow there will be a little more blogging?