It's That Time Again, Already?!

Holy crap! When did it become October? A few of my favorite people are currently off visiting another one of my favorite people in one of my favorite places. And while it just makes me ache with the desire to be there again, tomorrow we're packing everything up and heading to another of my favorite places, where I expect to see lots and lots and lots of my favorite people over the weekend.

Once again, we're going to be the headquarters for Rhinebeck Bingo, too, so if you've signed up, be sure to come by. We'll have coupons for participants, but more importantly, I love just getting to say, "O hai!" And since my brain sometimes has a hard time remembering people, it's often as exciting for me as the last 4 times I met you. So even if you're not doing the bingo thing, come by anyway. It'll be fun!

Eine Kleine Rhinebeck

I never seem to manage to get many photos of the actual event anymore, since we always get too busy. I did slip away for a bit on Sunday, though, and snapped a few "ambience" photos.







One of the odd ironies about Rhinebeck is that it's the one place I know I can count on seeing Clara Parkes. Even though we live in the same state, and even though she lives in the same neck of the woods as my grandmother, and even though our respective travels often bring us within proximity, our paths never seem to cross otherwise. Which is a shame, really, since I understand she makes some mad tasty caramels.



This year, for a change, we took an extra day after the festival to be tourists and see a little bit of the area, which included taking the Walkway Over the Hudson, a late lunch at the Culinary Instute of America (Apple Pie Bakery Café, to be precise), and a visit to the FDR Presidential Library. I took a few photos of the first and third on that list, too.






It appears that Sara Roosevelt is knitting a jumper in this photo, though it's a little too dark to tell. I'm fairly certain she's working with long dpn's. And how many of you noticed that gigantic dog sleeping between them?


Some of Eleanor's knitting needles

I now also have one post-Rhinebeck photo to share. Last night I finished up my latest Rhinebeck knitting project - the vest I started back in the spring from yarn I got last year. The neckband and armhole ribbing is from yarn I got this year, so technically it's a two-Rhinebeck project.



I decided that I would have liked the body about an inch shorter, so I'm adjusting it for the written pattern and the next iteration, but I didn't want to frog back this one, so I'm leaving it as is. On the whole I'm pleased with the way it turned out. The yarn colors complement each other very nicely, and it's going to be a nice warm vest to wear this winter.

The Truth About Sheep and Wool

First of all, Day One of Rhinebeck was absolutely phenomenal, from a business standpoint. The weather was perfect, so there were huge crowds already assembled at the gates when we arrived. Our booth was hopping from the get-go, and the pace really didn't let up all day. Since my parents came along to help out, I did manage to get away long enough to hit the fleece sale and to visit Nanney Kennedy and get some yarn to finish off my vest. I did not, however, have a chance to take any photos of the day, as has been the case the past few years. Visits with people I love to see were far too short, as they also tend to be.

Anyway, toward the end of the day, I was busy ringing up a customer when David says to me, "I've got a big sock purchase to ring up here." So I told him I was nearly done with the current customer and could help him shortly. He was working with a really tall blonde woman, but I was busy with the other customer and not paying much attention. At one point she called him by name, but I wasn't sure where she knew him from.

At any rate, I finished up with my customer and hurriedly started ringing up the HUGE pile of RedMaple socks he had in hand, as the woman said to her male companion, "I need to go get something from the cashmere place," and rushed off, leaving him with her credit card to pay. He asked us who had cashmere, clearly not remembering where it was he needed to follow her, so I told him it would pretty much have to be Springtide Farm, who are in the next barn over. Then I gave him the total and he handed over the credit card. I swiped it first, then looked at the name - UMA K THURMAN.

For real.

Calm Before the Storm

Rhinebeck: A (Very) Brief Synopsis

Gah! It's been a whole week since Rhinebeck and I haven't posted a thing. Truth be told, I still haven't recovered fully, partly because it was a pretty exhausting weekend physically and partly because I haven't had very much downtime since we got back. Aside from that, I just didn't have time to take many photos. So here is my super brief photo essay of the weekend.

We were the clearly the most fun booth there. I mean, who else had a disco ball?



And plenty of other folks have written about the cold all weekend and the rain on Sunday. David and I looked back through historical weather data, and it was the coldest by far for the past several years. After all the cold and grey and rain, though, and after all the crowds had gone away for another year, this is what the vendors got to see as we were packing up for another year:




Marriage Equality Raffle Update

I've been really bad about updating y'all on this, but the raffle has raised $840 to date. There's just over a week to go and this is really going to be a down-to-the-wire sort of fight. Latest polls show the two sides running about even, with the anti-equality camp getting over half their funding from the same out-of-state group that spearheaded Prop 8.

Anyway, there's still time to donate and sign up for the raffle. I'm also throwing in some of the Alpaca with a Twist Socrates sock yarn that we brought back from Rhinebeck for the winner to choose from. We have it in Dress Blues, Americana, Natural, and Laura's Purple. At some point, I will work on getting up photo(s) of all the sock yarn options.

The Funniest Thing I Heard at Rhinebeck

Me: Did you set me aside a copy of your book?
Franklin: My publisher sent like 150 copies, so I don't think you have to worry.

All I can say is, I'm glad I ran over and bought my copy while I still could.

And a Semi-FO

I did manage to finish the first of a pair of handwarmers, though a little late to serve as a display model for the Mojito yarn we were selling. We'd gotten to play around with some of the early prototypes for this yarn, but this was the first we'd had our hands on the final product. It's incredibly luscious stuff - 100% baby alpaca worsted weight - but didn't sell as well as we would have liked. This is in the colorway "Winter Blues".



David spent a good chunk of the drive home this afternoon wearing it, so I'm thinking I won't be getting much chance to use them for myself when I finish the second one.

Rhinebeck 2008

My camera has exactly 2 photos on it from the festival, neither of which turned out well. I know that Scout will have some pics, and Carol has one of the most "interesting" experience I had this year. Suffice to say it was busy, which is a very good thing for us as vendors, albeit a bit rough on the feets. As always, though, the best part about Rhinebeck is seeing wonderful, dear people who have become part of our world - most of whom we see far too infrequently. We were especially grateful to Stephen and Sean for all their help over the weekend, even if Stephen isn't going to be able to come visit Tuck.

The second best part was the gorgeous black Shetland fleece that I bought. That one's going to be blended with my Juliette fleece and made into luscious, dark chocolate yarn I can make into sweaters, because I'm so worth it. I'm taking it to a mill to be spun, though, 'cause as fun as it would be to do it myself, I really want to be able to wear it in my lifetime.

My only other purchase was a set of ram's horn buttons from Frelsi Farm, who are also the source of yarn (purchased last month) for Tuck's latest sweater-in-progress. So I guess that means a cardigan will be going on the to-knit list, likely one from the Japanese pattern books I just got last week. Beautiful stuff, all of it.

Now I'm off to go watch some cable TV with my sweetie, and tomorrow we actually get to sleep in, which is very truly a wonderful and marvelous thing.

Pre-Rhinebeck Rush

I'm running on three hours' sleep, haven't packed, have to drop the car off at the garage (which is, admittedly, only a two minute walk away) and we're supposed to be loaded up and on our way in a few hours. Since we got home from Peru a scant 107 hours ago, I've spent 45 hours or so working, 4 hours commuting, and most of the rest sleeping, doing homework and trying to spend what little time was left with David.

So it is in that spirit that I offer you this random photo from Peru:



If you will be looking for us at Rhinebeck this weekend, please note that we will be in a different spot from previous years. Up until now we've been in Barn 39, which is where Franklin will be signing copies of his book on Saturday. This year, however, we will be in Barn 31, which has a highly-coveted cement floor instead of sometimes-beetle-larvae-infested bark mulch.

In case a visual will help, here is the interactive ("I do not think it means what you think it means.") map lifted shamelessly from the festival website.



The weather is supposed to be perfect for warm woolies this weekend, so we hope to see you there!

Rhinebeck Recap

Let me just start by saying that I met way the hell too many bloggers this weekend to even begin to remember all of them, let alone remember everyone I ought to link to, so I'm going to stick to pictures, of which there are far too few. At least for the most part.

First of all, though, I thought I'd share our little adventure getting there. We were leaving Thursday afternoon, since they were allowing vendors onto the fairgrounds to do setup on both Thursday and Friday and David is very, very, very particular about booth layout. Seriously, he's a designer, a total detail geek. He did mock setup in his warehouse and plotted everything out on the computer weeks in advance.

So we had his truck all loaded up and just had to run a couple of errands and pick up a few more items from the warehouse and we were on our way. Except the truck wouldn't start. So AAA was called and the straight male neighbors were drawn to our driveway as if to some strange broken car pheromone, and after poking around and testing the battery and me trying to crank the thing to hear what it was doing (a single click and then nothing), I decided that a starter problem seemed the most plausible explanation. The AAA guy agreed, so he loaded the pickup onto his flatbed and towed it the 20o ft. to the service station, where they told us they wouldn't be able to get to it before the following day.

So with David on the verge of a nervous breakdown, we determined that the nearest U-Haul had cargo vans available. A quick trip later, we had secured one and transferred everything over from David's truck. Then we had to get to the warehouse and run the other errands that needed to get done and finally got on the road - 4½ hours later than planned. This got us to Rhinebeck around 10:30PM, so we continued on to Kingston and stopped at the diner across from the hotel for a late dinner before we checked in and collapsed into bed.

The night's rest (as well as David's thorough planning and a little help from our dear pal Stitchy McYarnpants) did us good, though, because on Friday we managed to set the booth up in record time, even with stifling humidity that had us both rather damp with sweat. And neighbors down the way who blasted their very whiny & grating contemporary Christian music for everyone's edification, and who had all their stuff out in the middle of the aisle so that we couldn't pull the van out when we finished (and then moved it back into the aisle on Sunday so that we couldn't get the van in to load up our things). Stitchy offered to go fish her Ministry CD out of her car, and had we had a boombox I might have taken her up on it.

The rest of the weekend, though rather draining, was just fantastic. Although being there as vendors does make for a good excuse never to miss Rhinebeck, it does make it hard to get out and socialize as much as I'd really like. Fortunately, though, between the Blogger Bingo and the Ravelry goings-on, we really got to see a ton of people.



Like Mar, who was our very first visitor on Saturday.



And Carol, who was visitor #2, and who has a pic of what's underneath the kilt (and one of me with David that I love, love, love) here.



And Joe, who was there with Thaddeus (who snapped this photo). Joe became David's hero instantly by buying a sweater's worth of David's herd yarn.



And Ted and Lee Ann, who was even sexier than usual in the gorgeous stole Ted recently sent her. "F*ing drop-dead gorgeous," indeed. Why else do you think I was showing off more leg?



And of course, the famous author and her enchanting bouncer. And no, my right hand is not doing anything rude, because a) Juno would probably hurt me and b) there's that whole gay thing.



Of course, I wasn't the only kilted one; Dave made a showing, as expected.



I also had the pleasure of meeting Rachael, and we had David snap this photo especially for Rabbitch (I'm not certain if David took this with us so off-center to try to avoid the woman who was wandering into the picture, or if he was just trying to get a better pic of his sock display).

Somehow I missed getting pics with Cheryl, or Norma (who managed to get a shot of my ass), or Lars, who took a (thankfully very) blurry pic up under the kilt. Or Ann & Kay, or Jess & Casey, or quite literally about a bajillion other people (including Stitchy herself! And The Mafia! And, and....). But it is, as others say, really and truly about the people. Rhinebeck wouldn't be even close to half as much fun if it weren't for the wonderful, funny, intelligent, and just plain decent people I get to see there. Even if I don't get to see nearly enough of them.

Oh, and there's also the small matter about the fiber. As I mentioned, I didn't bring home much of anything, but what I did get is very special. Lilith guessed correctly.



That's 2 oz., which would have totally blown my yarn budget if I'd really had one this year.

Also, the very nice folks from Philosopher's Wool were diagonally across the aisle from us this year, and when I decided to buy these, they offered to let me have them in exchange for a pair of socks.

.

They told me that the ram is actually a portrait of the very first one they owned, with the buttons having been cast exclusively for them. Their website lists these as "currently unavailable", which makes them very special, indeed.

Two More Things

FedEx delivered this today:



I ordered it from here about a month ago, but it was backordered. I kind of figured it'd show up about now.

And lastly, this is what happens to your blog stats when people like the Yarn Harlot and the Knitting Curmudgeon and QueerJoe mention you in a blog post (and, of course, when people like Carol post pics of your boxers in theirs):



So if you're new here, welcome and do come back. There's often something interesting to be found.

You Know the Old Saying,...

...when life gives you too many apples to eat before Rhinebeck, make applesauce.*



We took it along and ate it there, and it was perfect.

As was Rhinebeck. A more proper accounting shall occur once I've had a chance to rest. And upload photos. And take some pics of my haul (hint: small but very expensive). Suffice to say, the kilt was a hit.

*At least, I think that's how I learned it.

Well, That Was...Fun?

My Saturday night at work was quite a long one. Of course, you say, what else is new? And I must concede that you are quite correct; I do often blog about the long nights, don't I? This time it was a coworker dealing with a personal emergency who definitely didn't need to be trying to work. So I stayed on until reinforcements could be called in, which meant I ended up with enough to keep me working until 1PM. Afterwards, I collapsed in the overnight room there at the clinic and slept for 5 hours, because even though heavily-caffeinated, I was in no condition to be on the roads.

Once home, I turned the jug of leftover milk from Greg's visit into paneer, which shall be cooked up in the next few days, and David and I had dinner together and twisted up skeins of yarn while watching a video. For those who are going to Rhinebeck, he's had 6 years' worth of his best fleeces spun up into a multi-color, undyed, marled worsted weight yarn and we've reskeined it into approximately 90g skeins for sale.

Also, I've decided to take along my Ashford Traveller wheel to sell, as it doesn't get enough use and needs a home where it can be properly loved. It's a double treadle, and I'd be willing to let it go for $275. I figure the money can go towards my wedding kilt, which I'll have professionally made.

Speaking of Kilts...

... I did manage to get part of the lining sewn in the Rhinebeck kilt last night, before things got really busy. I need to get a move on to finish it up in time, though, because there aren't all that many nights before we leave and a lot of other things to do in the meantime.

Jean commented, "I was worried about your reduction in the amount of fabric -- it's that sense of power-in-reserve, I feared, which makes the kilt-beholder go all trembly. So -- a picture is needed." Fair enough, and pictures are certainly intended - when time and the state of doneness permit. In the meantime and on the matter of yardage, I would direct you here. Trust me, this thing has considerable heft (and warmth) to it yet. I thought, though, that it was the sight of manly knees and calves that made the beholder go all trembly. And, you know, "the question".

Along those lines Joe commented, "As for the boxers, couldn't you at least go with a jock strap?"

I told you I know what kind of people you are.

In Case You Live Under a Rock...

...and considering I really haven't flogged this properly this year (because, you know, I've had nothing else going on around here), today is the very lastest day to sign up for Rhinebeck Blogger Bingo 2007, at least if you would like to be a square. We shall once again be Bingo Headquarters, in Barn 39, booth D. There is a map of the fairgrounds right here.

I get to be Paul Lynde! So your center square is practically a freebie, which means you absolutely must join in the fun. And come get a look at my kilt, under which I shall be wearing boxers. I know what kind of people you all are.

Oh, And Another Thing



Guess who's getting a new home. David came by the clinic this morning to meet him. He (David)had four preconditions for this adoption:

• David gets to name him.
  
• No more cats are to be added to the household.
  
• No dog for "a while".
  
• I have to let my parents know.
  

These are all quite reasonable and very much in line with my thoughts on the matter. The last one is important because I have two girl kitties who currently live with my parents. My father, in particular, would be glad to see either or both of them come live with us, but the whole point of this adoption is to have a buddy for Tolo to take his (very unwanted) attention away from Sylvie, because this is Sylvie on one of her good days better moments. Bringing either one of my neurotic girls into the house with Little Miss Sybil Sylvie would not help the situation. As long as the news is accompanied by delivery of several large bags of cat food, though, I think it will be accepted without too much fuss.

It's Baaaaack!

Rhinebeck Blogger Bingo is on again this year, and we jumped at the chance to be headquarters again. So follow the link on over to Stitchy's place to get the 4-1-1 on signing up. I already asked if I could be center square like Paul Lynde.



The Outlaws

So a month after David e-mailed his mother and sister to inform them of our wedding plans, and two months after he informed his father, his parents finally got around to sending him individual letters in response. Along with a Bible tract, of course. You can imagine the content.

His mother's letter resorted to the old, discredited Freudian argument and blamed it on his father not being around enough (I told David he should write her and point out that she left out the domineering mother part). Then a lot of the same old bigoted and intentionally inaccurate "research" put out by Paul Cameron and his ilk. Or as she put it, "several in the scientific community," which I think means 3 or 4 whack jobs.

His father's letter proclaimed himself and David's mother as "God's representatives" to David, cited a few Bible verses, and then the tired "you can choose to change" argument. He finished it off with two questions - "Are you happy?" and "Do you want to change?" I think the answers are not what he's hoping to hear.

I know that in their minds they're doing the right and loving thing, but it's just so profoundly dysfunctional (David's sister's response last week was in a similar vein - "The kids are great. You're going to Hell. Love you."). It pisses me off, too, because they've been rehashing the same old crap for the last 16 years and just refuse to see that it's hurtful and accomplishes nothing.

The other issue is that I know that the main reason they're being as difficult as they are right now is that I'm an unavoidable part of the picture. As long as David wasn't cohabiting or in a serious relationship, it was easy for them to walk around with blinders on and pretend not to know anything. My presence spoils that for them, so they see me, naturally, as a threat. Which, of course, means that I can't engage them like I'm itching to do, since it would only justify their view of me as the meddling outsider.

At least I know where we won't be for the holidays this year.