Happy Halloween!

It figures it's the very last day of October before I even get one pair of socks finished for Socktober!! I started three pairs but only finished one.

I do love them though! Sarah, Jolene and I each bought a skein of Socks that Rock at Rhinebeck. We all cast on and knit plain socks with our skeins.









And because it's Halloween, here's a creepy spooky spider for you!




I took this shot in Ellicot City where I had coffee this morning and a brief photo shoot. It may be one of the last last days with the Autumn leaves. They were really falling today and it was beautiful to be in the middle of of it all.





I got some great shots that I think will work up nicely in HDR. I took an amazing HDR photography class last weekend. I will post pictures soon of some of the things I learned.



Happy Halloween!

Historic Huguenot Street Photoessay

The Monday after Rhinebeck we visited Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz, New York. It was about 30 minutes north of Fishkill where we stayed.


Many of the original stone houses still remain from the 1700s. I love this house - it actually looks like a face to me. do you see how the chimney is the nose...



Jolene enjoyed peeping in all the windows:





There was this crazy contraption attached to a well... I wonder how it works:





I think the flowers were a bit confused!



Loved this fire hydrant...



Huguenot street was right on the Wallkill River:






I loved the old cemetary:






There were very old tombstones dating back to the 1700s






The leaves were amazing and we took full advantage of them for our pics :)





Here we are being silly...







After walking around the historical sections of New Paltz, we walked around the cute main street in town:

Rhinebeck Rocked!

Even though I'm not home yet - I had to post pics from Rhinebeck!

I saw lots of friends, bought some cool stuff and had a grand time! Jolene and I flew up to RI to drive to Rhinebeck from Sarah's house. We had tons 'o knitting time in the car and I manged to knit half a sweater and finish clue 3 of the mystery socks! Pics of these items coming soon.

We stayed in Fishkill NY about 45 minutes south of Rhinebeck but it worked out perfectly. We went both saturday and sunday. Saturday was BEAUTIFUL!! I was so worried it was going to rain and or snow but it didnt. Here are some pics of the friends we saw....



They had these cool pumpkin carvings on display there...



And Jolene fell in love with these spinning wheels - especially the yellow one...



Sunday was much less crowded and a but rainy but we had a great time anyway because we got to see the things we missed on Saturday! And we watched the end of the sheep to shawl competition. Here's the winning team (at least they finished first). I loved their rainbow warp!






We also were somewhat restrained in buying... I only got three skeins of yarn - 2 socks that rock mill ends, a skein of angora sock yarn and a bag of merino roving.

Here's all three of our loot combined...



And best of all - I ran into a gal in the artichoke line wearing my Merletto mitts!! I had to take a pic!



After Rhinebeck we went to New Paltz NY to historic Huguenot Street. Pics of that soon!

Mystery Sock clue #2

I finished the second clue in in the Through the Loop's Socktoberfest Mystery Sock '09.




I only did 4 repeats of the lace pattern instead of 5 since I'm a bit concerned that I will run out of yarn! The pattern calls for 400 yards and Socks that Rock typically have about 360 in their lightweight. So I'm trying to be frugal while I can :)

Guess where I am today! I'm at Sarah's house! We are road tripping to Rhinebeck later in the week. I'm so excited!!

Are you going? Let me know!!

Casting on!

I think there must be something about that first hint of Fall in the air. I have an indescribable urge to cast on for new knitting! My queue on Ravelry has grown this week as I gaze at hats, and cardigans that I just have to cast on RIGHT NOW!!!

I finally decided on the Garter Yoke Cardigan from knit 1 Fall 08.



It gives me a chance to use my handspun too!

The turquoise is Dragonfly Fibers Handspun and the brown I got at MD Sheep and Wool Festival two years ago from Serendipity Farms.





I only have two balls of the brown right now so I need to spin some more! I just love the brown and turquoise combo!

Can't wait to cast on!

Sotterley Plantation

Last week I helped my friends at another wine festival. This time it was at Sotterley Plantation in St Mary's County.
This is definitely one of the prettiest locations for a wine festival I've seen in a while! (And I've been to a few now!)

I must be getting good at my "shpeel" now too because several people told me that I gave the best presentation they'd heard all day!

The festival was on the grounds behind the plantation house. I didn't take a single picture of the festival because after a while you've seen one wine fest - you've seen the all! But the plantation house was beautiful...








There were some gorgeous gardens too....



With Cosmos in full bloom...



Can you tell what time it is? It's actually right!



Until next time!! Cheers!

Grafton Batt Spinning

I love Grafton batts! They are a joy to spin. I spun up my latest one last week:



I got this at MD Sheep and Wool from the Cloverhill booth.



It came out to be about 233 yards of worsted weight 2 ply. I'm not sure what it will become - maybe a hat?

This weekend was beautiful! I spent Sunday helping out at another wine festival for my friends. This one was in St Mary's county - so quite a haul. It was worth it though because my friend Kim came along to help and we went to her parents for dinner. They live down that way and it was nice to get a good home cooked meal.

The wine fest was held at Sotterley Plantation. I took some pics of the grounds that I haven't uploaded yet. Pics coming soon!

Mystery sock - clue #1

Happy October everyone!! October is not just a time for the leaves changing color, Halloween and Rhinebck... it's also time for Socktoberfest! This year I decided to take part in Through the Loop's Socktoberfest Mystery Sock '09.

I cast on and knit the first clue over the past two days.



I'm using Socks that Rock in Beryl.

I'm knitting both socks at once so I'm not left with the dreaded second sock syndrome!

I can't wait for the next clue!

New orleans

Happy Thursday everyone! I'm in New Orleans again this week for work. I've had a chance to eat some good food again this trip. Last night I went to a cute little restaurant called Dick and Jenny's.



I got the retaurant a bit before the people I was meeting and I was sitting at the bar looking around at the cool collection of plates on the walls. The walls are full of hand painted plates with people's names, drawings and everything in between.



I asked the bartender what the plates were for and the story was just wonderful. He said the owners, Dick and Jenny, were close to finishing the renovations of the restaurant, when a huge plumbing bill threatened to delay their opening night. The solution to their situation came in the form of "friendly investors." Dick & Jenny sold plates to their opening night dinner. For $100, people received a plate on the wall in their honor. The plumbing was fixed, the restaurant a hit, and the plates remain as a reminder of their beginning.

I also made sure to stop for some beignets at the world famous Cafe du Monde. Is there anything better than a sugary beignet? I don't think so....



The day before I left for New Orleans I finished knitting my Forestry sweater! I haven't blocked the collar and button band yet and they are a bit wonky so no modeled pics yet. But I just love the color and had to share. I hope it comes out good in the end!!








I look forward to wearing this baby in a few weeks in Rhinebeck.