New Hope, PA

Today Mr. G and I went to New Hope, PA. Behold, a gathering of my day's booty and the reading material I took with me. Not wanting to tote Eclipse around I raided Mr. G's comic collection to find the next volumes of Fables.

The white bag contains FUDGE! I can't recall the small shop's name.
The bag is from a New Hope LYS called Twist Knitting & Spinning. The store has a nice variety of yarns and the people are very cordial and helpful.

I dug up some Ellyn Cooper's Yarns while there. It's not available where I live and I was really pleased - this was the only colorway in the boucle, but I love it. Her colors are so vibrant! she needs a web site!!:)

I was almost ready to ring out when I came across these...

I first saw the Zauberball on Jenny Leggings blog. She described is as slowly transitioning b/w one color & the next. I had a hard time finding them.

All this while I needed BSJ yarn and wasn't finding anything I liked. I had to stop at Michael's & get the Cotton Tots yarn that I love!

That handsome man in the picture on the left is my late Tio (Spanish for uncle, yes, I am latin). I did not intend for him to be in the pick...but this one was the only shot with the yarn in focus, and why would anyone mind that adorable smile. He was an amazing guy, an absolute perfect example of a good human being. I love you, Tio!

...It's a Wonderful Town

Mr. G & I went into NY to see the Extreme Mammals exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. We've only been there together once before, but separately loads of times, and I never get tired of it. Life astounds me.

While there I always walk by three exhibits, one of which I did miss this time. I love the gemstones and minerals exhibit, but we did need to get back to do yard work and I have seen it a gabillion times, and I did want to make one lovely stop before lunch - get to that later - so I passed.

Another stop I make each time is the famous whale room. Not for the whale, though.

When I was young I'd always walk towards the back of this huge room right towards one particular display, followed by sister Pepper of course. The display was behind glass like the others and poorly lit. It would take a long time for your eyes to adjust to the deep darkness of the display...happening slowly. You'd likely be looking around the whole glass pain to spot something and I heard people many times insist that it must be under construction and walk away.

And then your eyes would finally get used to the inkiness and you'd see one grapefruit sized eye staring out at you - a sperm whale fighting a giant squid in the depths. It was terribly fun.

Last time I went the museum had removed the glass and put in some lighting. There was even a child...totally unafraid...crawling around on the floor of the display. I had no camera today so if you're pissed that I pilfered let me know and I'll remove it.

Shot by cerdsp on flickr

My third mandatory visit when I go to the museum completely befuddles and terrifies me. Yes, both, at the same time. If you go in to the North American Animals exhibit you'll see gigantic creatures like moose, the grizzly, towering, tremor inducing sights. Around the left side though, just beyond the jackrabbits is a display that glows with blue light. That one is the only thing left in the museum that scares me. Not the whale, not the squid, this...

Shot by peterjr1961 on flickr

See, looking at them like this...they're just cute. Not scary at all. Besides, I love dogs. It's the blue light that makes them creepy. Every time I go I say to myself, 'this is going to be the time that I'm going to walk right past them, look inside and see them, and walk away at a reasonable pace.' I pooped out again today :(

Shot by wallyg on flickr

Mr. G walked ahead, having seemingly forgot that last time we went he had to gently guide me past, with his arms protectively wrapped around me. I was going to try, but then couldn't. I had to wait for his eyes to meet mine across the crowd and he must have easily read the embarrassment and terror on my face.

He came to get me and instead of the protective embrace I expected he pulled me in front of the display, my eyes bolted shut, and urged me teasingly to open them. How a few years of marriage changes things:) I feel stupid saying, or rather typing this, but I couldn't control how afraid I was. I even yelped, 'NO,' so loudly I feared others around may have heard.

Laughing at myself brought me to tears...yeah, it was hysterical, when I was finally away from the blue light:)

The Extreme animals exhibit was great. All about special, specific adaptations that made certain species throughout history particularly unique. The one below was suited for the tropical climates...of the North Pole millions of years ago.

Shot by edenpictures on flickr; a family of 3 that have great pics of NYC

Now lets get to the important stuff...the short stop after the museum. Before eating lunch we walked to Knitty City, a yarn shop quite close to the museum.

I needed a few DPs...

...and I'd been wanting some solid or semi solid sock yarn (none on sale:( I'm so cheap...

...and I got three needle or small project bags, one for Lupie, one for Pepper, and one for myself, their pick...

...and Mr. G persuaded me to get this tank. It was on sale:)

If anyone commenting has any interesting stories about the American Museum of Natural History or any other museum trip they've made please share...

Twilight, Crafting, Clapotis, and Animals

Let me begin with Twilight. It doesn't matter to me that it's Young Adult. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a series so much!
I lied.
Yes I can.
Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles.

So I finished Twilight, read New Moon...

And now I'm on to Eclipse.

I love the characters. I feel like Bella's long lost aunt or something screaming in my head when she does something I know is unwise or cheering her on when good things happen. I don't fall for characters so easy either! Stephenie Meyer is a darn good storyteller. People may critisize her writing ability...eh! says I! I like a well told story; it doesn't have to be the linguistic parallel to Shakespeare.

On the crafty front, I've been planning some non-knitting projects and stopped at the Cozy Quilt Shop for the 1st time to buy supplies. It seems it's one of the only places in the area to go for lots of fabric variety since the closing of my beloved Rag Shops :( Here's the stuff I got...all fat quarters (a half of a half yard) except for the half yard of purple.

In knitting news, I made a wonderful, marvelous, too good, excellent mistake:)

I knew I had two skeins of Jitterbug in Mist to do the Clapotis.

Wherever I seemed to stop on Ravelry when searching, though, it seemed people needed about three. I searched the web and found an about 5 buck off sale on Jimmy Beans Wool.

I got some other stuff b/c it was 5 bucks off and ...

Starting at top: Noro Kureyon Sock in S149,

left to right: Colinette Jitterbug in lapis, popsicle, jay, alizerine, and ofcourse the mist not pictured above.

Stuff came, I was psyched.

I went to pull down the second skein of Jitterbug I had stored with my yarn and saw ...

that there was another one behind it! I already had 3:) So now I have a whole bunch of mist.

Good thing I really like the colorway -

and I'm happy I ordered b/c the hidden skein I'd forgotten about is slightly pinker than the two old ones and the new one (as you may or may not be able to see above) so I'll be using the new one for the clapotis.

I'm just starting to form some latters.

And now for something about animals.

On Sunday mom (aka Lupie) watched Sunday Moring on CBS and DVRed a story about how many parrots wide up getting given away b/c they are very difficult to live with.

Mr. G is pretty interested in adopting a parrot and I'm pretty much dead set against it. Why? Not b/c I don't like them, or rather, don't love them. I love birds. But I've learned a bit about parrots and I just don't think they're for us. As tempting as it is to adopt a pretty, smart, attentive pet, there are issues to be considered, as with any animal.

Here's the link to the video of the story.

And here's a link to the blog of a parrot mommy and a woman who has written a book on the subject of the reprocussions of adopting parrots rashly and not researching, Mira Tweti.

My issue with the parrots is their long lives and temperment. I don't want to sentence my future children to keep a pet they may not be able to manage (or may not want to) b/c mom and dad wanted a parrot. I wouldn't want to fall in love with a bird and then have to give him up when she bites my child's finger or when I'm too old to care for her.

This kind of cautiousness and need to research when adopting an animal should go with any animal. You need to consider your abilities, their abilities, your future, and their future. For instance...I love this little guy...

Look at the lashes, people! Fa-bu-lous

Smudge was most likely an Easter Bunny - (no, sadly not the kind that brings you chocolate eggs:( ). Every year in the months after Easter rabbits all over are turned in to rescues (like the now closed one where we got Smudge), shelters, or left to fend for themselves on the side of the road or in a park, etc.

Most pets are not capable of caring for themselves, especially after having lived in a home. Smudge was found one morning by a pet store owned outside the store in a soaking wet cardboard box that had at least been out there over night in the pooring rain. A faimly adopted him and almost immediately brough him back b/c he was biting their kids. After having lived with him for about three years I'm left to assume that the children were harassing him b/c even when Mr. G and I have had to force medicate him with antibiotics he gets upset, but never attacks.

So I love him, don't know what I'd do without him, but he has negatives (not for me, but would be for others). Usually I crop out the poop when I post a pick. I vacumed his hiding place beneath the coffee table yesterday. He was out for about an hour. I just wanted to do my part and say a little something about researching pets and post the links above. It is really important not to just run out and get any animal. It's like bringing a new family member into the fold. I love the Smudge, poop and all:)

Ann Hood rocked Stix-n-Stitches and Pepper, Zel, and Mom bake some yarn cakes

The Chalkdust knitters had a blast last night when Ann Hood visited Stix-n-Stitches. We ate out at a near by italian place - the name escapes me - but it's up the block from SnS and the food was fabulous! We talked shop as we chowed down, and had these freshly baked scrumptious deserts. I will check out the name next time I'm up there.

Once we were done we went back to the store and were knitting when a blond with a funky leopard print winter coat blew in to the shop. Ann was humble and down to earth, chatting with people in the store before finally taking her spot in the center of the room to speak to us. If anyone reading this has the opportunity to hear Ann speak, get your tush there and make sure you stuff four pounds of Kleenex in your pockets before leaving the house. She was just as moving as she was hysterical.

While there I picked up some more of the same Filatura Di Crosa Baby Zarella I made the Vibrant Tomten from -still not done, but almost- and started this blanket. The pattern's from Stick-Legged Girl. She made it out of Cotton Ease, but I'm trying it with what I've got.



Last night while at Stix-n-Stitches we bought some ball winding parafenalia and spent the morning winding cakes of yarn. Even Maggie joined in to leand a helping paw.


I've ripped out the Cable Tomten several times, but hopefully this will be the incarnation I'll stick with. My friend's baby is not due until the summer, at this rate maybe I'll be done by the time the kid's in high school:)



PS
A pic of Mom's Bobble Sweater

School Daze

Today Mom, Pepper, and myself went to Teaneck to The Skein Attraction on Cedar Lane. Mom was all excited to get some circular Turbos. Working on these Surprise Baby Sweaters, we've all been using circulars and she hates the constant coiling up even after they've been steamed. I really like circulars any old way.
We went in, stumbled around a bit, admired the lovely Schaefer I have no money to buy, and Mom bought some size 7 circulars. We hobbled back to the car (my ankle is still swollen) and drove away only to realize some blocks later that they were 24in circulars when Mom had wanted something longer. Pepper offered to drive back but Mom was not having it. We decided to go to Pat's Yarn Boutique in Fort Lee - we've driven by a thousand times but only been there once. We found the place closed.
Mom was bummed, and I had to pee. We then resolved to go on an adventure to find a yarn store we'd heard about in Hoboken - not our usual stomping grounds.

On the way we passed through the town where we all teach, and the fact that summer in draining away really hit me. I'm not ready to go back yet. I was looking around to see if I could see any of "my kids" on the street. Any of "my kids" is an ever increasing group that consists of any child that has been in the 5th grade while I was teaching at my school. I do miss them. They're people who I spend most of most every day with - how could I not miss them when we're not in school.

I guess most teachers will understand missing the kids, your co-workers, but not being ready to give up the stay-at-home-ness. Soon enough I'll be getting up at 5 am and getting home at 4:30 only to have 1 to 3 hours of planning, paperwork, or grading to do once I get home.

The mad dash to make dinner, release Smudge, take a shower, kinda put some laundry away a little bit maybe (forget about dusting!) and hope that I can fit in some knitting/crochetting/writing/reading before I go to bed at around 9 so I can start over the next day. Only two hours a day with the husband. How would I do this with a baby? People do it, so I guess it gets done, but thinking about it just then was a little overwhelminig, like anticipating the plunge in the Pirates of the Carribean ride at Disney when you were like, five. You know it's coming. You don't wanna do it, but that's the only way to go. I would never give up teaching, and I would never give up my plans to be a mom...somethings gonna have to give.

Anyway, we finally got to Hoboken - the ride was easy. The place was Patricia's Yarns. Cute place, very small, and Mom found her Turbos, 8s and 40 in. to boot!

I have to finish up the EZ Surprise Baby Sweater, and Pepper's going to start a reglan for herself (I'm very excited!!)...That is all:)

Back from Vacation

Hubbie and I went away for a few days. We went to Connecticut and hit some really nice sights. On the way to our hotel in Mystic we visited an old prison, Old New-Gate Prison. The prisoners had once mined copper in the caverns beneath the prison and visitors can still go there. Hubbie and I love Eastern State in Phili so much, we couldn't miss this. It was really cool in the caves in temperature as well as experience.

The 2nd day of our vacation we went to the Mystic Seaport and the Mystic Aquarium. I'd been to both places before, but it was nice to go back with Hubbie, and the whole trip lends itself to relaxation, which is what we were after.

On the 3rd day we visited Gillette Castle & Park. The drive there was wonderful, but long. On the way a deer crossed the street in front of us and checked us our as she went. The houses were beautiful rural, farm looking, just lovely! As we drove the forest was like a pair of flowing green ribbons on either side of us. Once we reached the castle we were pleased to see the long ride had been worth it.
Gillette was the 1st actor to portray the character of Sherlock Holmes on stage. He designed and partly built the home. It was awesome. The doors, the windows, had been hand made and were opened and closed with wooden cranks and knobs and doodads...brilliant! After we'd looked through the castle we made our way outside to a multitude of hiking trails on the grounds. The woods were breathtaking. We happened upon a pond complete with lilly pads and frogs (if it you don't already suspect, I love animals!!)

On the way back to Jersey we visited The Beardsley Zoo, and The Maritime Aquarium. The zoo was small, but lovely. Some of the enclosures were a bit small, but the zoo is certified so I supposed it's okay. The aquarium was more for small kids, but we had fun. We saw some seals, and a sea turtle, and some sharks..very cool.

I do have some pics of the trip and some of the little guys we met along the way.

I got very little of the surprise jacket done, and none of any of the other projects I'm dreaming up. I want to make a small sweater for myself out of some Schaefer Yarn. I love their yarn. And now i want to make an iPod case - got the idea from one of the ladies on Punk Rock Knitters.

I did get some yarn on my trip.
The Araucania Patagonia, (on top) is from The Knitting Niche in Greenwich, and the other skeins are from Mystic River Yarns and are by Ellyn Cooper.

The Ellyn Cooper yarns were so delicious no one could keep their hands (or noses) off them.


Smudge is just as nuts for yarn as I am...the perfect pair!

Current Projects 7/12/07

I should have been working on this stuff today, but I spent the day goofing off:)



This is a toddler sweater. The white, periwinkle, and green yarns are all Caron Simply Soft, just like the Bunny Sweater . Some people get weird when it comes to yarn and insist that more expensive yarns are better, or that items made from inexpensive yarn aren't as nice. Basically, I don't care what anyone else thinks and I use the yarn that feels or looks best for me.

The varigated yarn that looks greenish-blue is Araucania Pehuen. Proof that I do mix it up as far as pricing is concerned. I really loved this yarn and had very little of it in this color. Mom suggested I use it for something special so I chose to take a risk here. I don't know how all of this will wash together, but either way, the process was nice. The Caron is so nice to work with, as is the Pehuen, but in different ways.

The next piece is something I started during the last few days of school. I had no work to do in the evenings and didn't want to go back to this Fitted Knits piece I have sitting around quite yet (I've ripped it up three times). It's a from the top down raglan and I just decided to wing it. I had some Noro Silk Garden I got on sale and it seems to be coming out o-tay.