Sorry, I'm a Bad Blogger

Hello. I am writing this in my living room, looking at two rooms full of stuff that has engulfed my house, thanks to the arrival of a U-Haul truck bearing Tim and all his worldly possessions. It is a good thing that I have a very large house, as this is the second household I have acquired since moving here six years ago. When my parents moved in with me I also received all their stuff. Much of it is still in boxes in my basement, waiting for my siblings to gather here and go through the boxes. I'm seriously considering selling the things on e-bay, since it's been five years and we haven't managed to sort through things yet. But that's another story.

Not only did Tim arrive, but Travis and Alyssa, along with their dog Begonia, and Caitlin with her cat Sterling. Again, it's a good thing this is a really big house so we can keep Begonia and the cats apart. We've already had one casualty, some antique plates, and Seamus was hanging from a curtain rod earlier, but fortunately it's a sturdy rod and it did not break. Gerard has taken up residence on top of the refrigerator. He is grey and the refrigerator is black, so he blends in and looks amazingly like a cat statue sitting among the rooster statues that are up there. Sterling just pulled Tim's mattress over on top of herself. Fortunately it didn't break anything on it's way to the floor, and she escaped unscathed.

It is sort of like Christmas here, with Tim handing out tea kettles and blenders. Conor is getting a double bed, to replace the twin bed he has been complaining is too small for quite some time. I think by the time Tim is back, Conor will be in college, so Tim can reclaim his bed. And Tim brought the most comfortable chair I have sat in for a long time, which is going in my wool room, I believe. It's from Ikea, and doesn't really fit the decor, but comfort trumps decorating any time in my opinion.

In between getting ready for the arrival of everyone I have been dyeing yarn and fiber. I have a couple of custom orders, and I am also dyeing fiber for the October Spindies Paintbox-the color this month is deep plum/ burgundy. I had a good time creating a deep plum color and have dyed some Superwash Bluefaced Leicester in tonal variations of the color. I may make some batts from them, or perhaps leave it in roving form. I am still on the fence about that.

Travis is making roast pork with apples for dinner, along with roasted potatoes and squash. Yummmm! A great fall dinner.

On the Road Again

I'm going to Rhinebeck. I'm on my way upstairs to pack and will be leaving to meet Judy in a half hour or so. I'm very excited!!! I can't wait to start inhaling the yarn fumes. I am packing lots of extra woolens, because the forecast is for quite cold, but it will be invigorating, I'm sure.

I am bringing my computer, so perhaps there will be a post from there, but I'm not promising anything, especially since I don't know if there is Internet access at the motel. I'm thinking probably not.

TTFN.

It's Almost Time for Rhinebeck!!!

It's almost time to go to Rhinebeck and the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival. I am really excited to be going, although it looks like it may be a bit rainy, or even snowy on Friday. That's OK though. I have learned that when packing, layers are a good thing to remember. I am going to work really hard at not letting the wool fumes overtake me, and I am actually going to write myself a list of what I am looking for, rather than wandering aimlessly with no plan as to what I need to buy. That's my plan, we will see how it goes.

I thought I would share a few pictures from last year.

Beautiful fall foliage.

Sheep that look like cows.

Judy, my friend, checking out her loot on a little rest break.

This is what I plan to eat for lunch both days, chicken pot pie and a baked potato. Maybe a few too many carbs, but it's only once a year.

We definitely have to have a meal at the Eveready Diner. Last year our motel was right across the street, which was quite convenient.

I decided today that I needed a new scarf to wear at Rhinebeck, as well as a pair of fingerless mittens. I chose some merino/mohair worsted weight yarn that I had dyed in the colorway "Lichen".

I am knitting a Knitspot pattern, la Novia and am enjoying the knit, it's going quickly and I think that I may actually finish in time.

Time for Dancing With the Stars. I hope to see some of you on the fair grounds.

How can a week have passed since I last wrote? Time sure flies whether or not you are having fun.

Last weekend Conor and I went to visit Travis and Caitlin in Saranac Lake, hoping to take lots of fall foliage photos. Unfortunately, it rained and no foliage photos were taken. It is really beautiful this year. Brilliant reds, fluorescent oranges, pale yellows, all offset by the different shades of green still present in the forest. We had a lovely visit, went out to eat with friends and arrived safely home, not having hit any deer or moose driving through the mountains.

I'm working on my Phat Fiber samples for October. The theme is Masquerade Ball and I am sending in Merino Superwash yarn samples and two hand carded batts, one black with angelina, and one pinky, purple with lots of sparkles, bfl, alpaca, romney and jacob sheep. The black fiber is all from local farms, which I think is a fun thing.

Next weekend is Rhinebeck. I can't wait! There is a bus going from here, with many of my friends taking the bus, but I am driving with Judy. This is our third year of going together and we have a good routine in place for enjoying the festivities and avoiding a lot of the crowds. I am going to try to be good this year and not spend too much, but I'm not guaranteeing anything. I am also looking forward to a visit to the Eveready Diner-great, relatively inexpensive food. I think it would be fun to check out the Culinary Institute as well.

I'd better get back to my Phat Fiber samples. I need to mail them tomorrow morning. Just wanted to say hello, and let y'all know that I really am trying to get back into a routine of regular blog posting. Obviously, I'm not doing so well right now, but I am going to keep working at it.

Changes

Autumn has arrived on my doorstep. Conor wimped out and turned the heat on yesterday. He doesn't seem to understand the concept of putting a sweatshirt on when he is cold. It was 58 degrees inside, but I wouldn't have turned the heat on. That's why we have a pile of afghans and fleece blankets on the couch.

In other news, I was at knitting on Wednesday and my cell phone rang. It was my oldest son, sounding excited, wondering if I had a moment to talk. I said sure I had time, and he told me that instead of just going to Australia for a vacation in November, he plans to quit his job, give up his apartment in New York City, and stay in Australia for at least 6 months. I have known that he wasn't very happy with his job, and that he was tired of living in New York, but the thought that he might move halfway around the world, if only for a short time, had never crossed my mind.

Tim is a planner and does not do things that are illogical, so I knew that he had given the move serious thought, and I think it is an awesome opportunity for him. When I had more time to talk to him later, his plan made a lot of sense to me, and I think he is going to have a great adventure and I am proud of him for being so brave and adventurous. I did make him promise not to fall in love with an Australian, and that he wouldn't stay longer than 6 months. I know these are not binding promises, but I felt better having said them.

Now I would like to say that being a parent stinks. My full time job for the last 27 years has been being a mother and raising my children. I tried to teach them to be independent and think for themselves, and tried really hard not to put my many fears on them (my mother was a great worrier, and she taught me how to worry about everything) and wanting them to have the opportunity to explore the world that I had never allowed myself to explore. Look what a great job I have done! And I want him to go and have a wonderful time, to do this while he has the opportunity, but at the same time I want to tell him not to go, not to be so far from me. I would never, ever do that, and if you're reading this Tim, know that I am serious when I say that I want you to explore and have all the adventures that you can. So I guess what I am trying to say is that doing a good job as a parent is to make yourself obsolete and out of a job, and that stinks. In what other profession would you work toward a goal of not being needed anymore?

I do get a consolation prize though. Tim is going to bring his belongings here, and I get to use his HDTV while he is gone. He is also hoping to spend a week or so before he leaves, which, for me, is a much better consolation prize. And there are a lot of sheep in Australia, which means there must be a lot of wool in Australia, so maybe this whole adventure can work for me too. Maybe he can get a job on a sheep ranch or something. I'll have to suggest that to him.

When I have not been processing this whole Australian undertaking, I have been locked in my wool room putting things in my Etsy shop and the Spindies shop. I still have lots more to add, and much to label, but I'm slowly working through it all.

"Twilight Pumpkin Patch" in Merino Worsted Weight Yarn.

"Gothic", named after one of the Adirondack High Peaks in Merino/Tencel roving.

"Golden Days of Autumn" in Mulberry Silk.

Tomorrow I am going to be a participant in a Meet the Artist day at a local gift shop, Seasons. I will be spinning and will bring a bit of yarn and fiber to sell. I am hoping it will be a warmer day than it was today, as I believe that I am going to be outside on the porch. Let's also hope that it is not raining. I'd better go and get more yarn labeled.