Saturday, October 31, 2015

Rhinebeck Goodies

Things are wrapping up at work.  The first big wave of people to depart due to the voluntary early retirement signed out yesterday.  Rumor has it 250 left.  I met with a group at a local establishment for a celebration.  I have 10 more working days before I'm no longer there.  Yesterday I started to feel a bit of sadness knowing that I will never see a lot of these people again.  But in all honesty, it was a small bit.  I have the contact information for those I want to maintain a relationship with.

One question that kept coming up was "What are your plans?"  My plans are to enjoy the holidays and look for a new job in January.  I have plenty of projects around the house to do.  My fear is that I won't want to go back to work.

Speaking of projects, I am making headway on Wandering Moon.  I am in Clue 3 with about 20 more rows to go.  Clue 4 looks fast compared to Clue 3.  I should have this done by the end of next weekend.


Last time I mentioned that I went to Rhinebeck with a couple of my sisters.  I didn't mention, however, the goodies I bought.  I actually restrained myself.  In fact, I think I held back a little too much. What I didn't buy, but am now wishing I had, was a skein of sock yarn in brilliant autumn colors.  The beautiful fall color we are enjoying this year has made me crave oranges, reds, yellows and browns.  Any, I digress.  Here are the treasures I came home with:

Two books, one newly released and the other not-so-newly released.


I couldn't pass up this skein of cashmere cobweb-weight yarn.  It is going to become a lovely shawl someday.  It is in a beautiful blush color.


A bag of washed Lincoln locks.  It is 0.6 pounds.  I need to figure out how to comb or card it.  I don't have either tools, so I need to get some.  I looked online and am now suffering a bit of sticker shock.  I didn't realize how expensive wool combs and hand-carders were.  And I wasn't ready to see how expensive drum carder are!!


Although this doesn't qualify as a purchase, I did come home from Rhinebeck with a little more progress on my Custom Fit cardi.  I decided to work the sleeves together to increase the chances of getting this project done.  Once Wandering Moon is off the needles, I'll get back to this.  The goal is to wear it at Christmas.



Monday, October 19, 2015

Adventures

My car and I have spent far too much time together lately.  In the past couple weeks I think I've put over 2000 miles on it.  It's probably tired.  I know I am.

Kristin had an interview at Marquette University back on October 12.  Ed and I drove her to Milwaukee on Sunday.  After we checked into our hotel we drove into town.  Milwaukee has a nice waterfront district with shops and restaurants.  We strolled around and ate dinner by the river.


While Kristin was at her interview, Ed and I explored.  We walked around campus and then headed toward Lake Michigan.  We found a park with a lighthouse.   Unfortunately, the lighthouse was closed.  


We then drove through the Whitefish Bay area.  After eating lunch and killing time at a shopping mall, we picked up Kristin and then made the long journey back to Ohio.  We rolled into home about 2:00 am Tuesday morning.

A little over 48 hours later I was on the road again.  This time I journeyed east to New Jersey.

Back in the spring two of my sisters and I decided we wanted to experience the New York Sheep and Wool Festival.  My oldest sister lives in New Jersey.   Her house became the meeting point for me and my sister from Virginia.

On Friday the three of us ventured up to the Hudson River valley.  Our first stop was Poughkeepsie, New York, to stroll the Walkway Across the Hudson.  The Walkway is a retired railroad bridge that spans the Hudson River.  It is over one mile from end to end.  The view was spectacular from the bridge.


On the east side of the bridge we found a cute place for lunch called Lola's.  We couldn't decide if we liked our sandwiches or the side salads better.  All the food was yummy!!


After lunch we walked back across the bridge to the car.  It was absolutely beautiful in every direction.


Once back in the car we crossed the Mid-Hudson Bridge and drove north to Hyde Park.  We walked around the grounds of FDR's home.  We came across this sculpture and wandered what was the significance of it.  A passing Park employee told us that FDR had commissioned an artist to make a sculpture.  Instead of making it out of bronze as FDR had asked, the artist made it out of concrete.  FDR declared it as the ugliest naked woman he had ever seen and never did anything further with it.  It now sits along the treeline, away from the paths that connect the Visitors' Center, Presidential Library and former FDR home.


From FDR's home we drove into Rhinebeck.  We walked around town and then headed to Bard College.  My sister wanted to show my other sister and I where her son had gone to college.  Bard is a small liberal arts college along the eastern shore of the Hudson River.  The main section of the campus includes a formal garden that overlooks the river valley.


On Saturday we spent the day at the festival.


The festival was much larger than I expected.  We got there at 9:00 when the gates opened and left shortly before 5:00, when the show was supposed to end for the day.  There were so many vendors and breeders!!  At the end of the day our feet hurt from all the walking.   I restrained myself from buying too much.  I left with two books, a bag of Lincoln roving and a spool of cobweb-weight cashmere yarn.


After checking out of the hotel on Sunday, we drove back to the Bard College area to visit a park called Poet's Walk.  A trail lead down the hill toward the Hudson.  Again, the scenery did not disappoint.



On the walk back up the hill to the car, it started snowing.  That was where our adventure ended.  We got back in the car and headed south to New Jersey. 



Sunday, October 4, 2015

Autumn Projects


 This time of year always inspires me to make things.  Last weekend I made a batch of apple butter.


Six pounds of apples cooking away in apple cider.


Then run through the food mill after the apples are soft.


Back in the pot to reduce after adding sugar and spices.


Finally, canning in half-pint jars.  All I can say is "Yum!!"


Apples aren't the only autumn favorite.  There is also pumpkin.  This morning Blake and I made pumpkin pancakes.  We drizzled a little glaze on them.   The recipe made enough for us to have through the week for breakfast.


I finished Ed's socks and gave them to him for our anniversary.  After I finished them, Blake tried them on for size.  Other than the pointy toe, he loved them and asked for a pair.  I'll have to try to get them done for Christmas for him.


The Custom Fit cardi is moving along.  The back and right front are done.  The left front is nearly finished.  To make sure I do the sleeves the same I am going to knit them at the same time.  I had hoped to get this finished by my trip to Rhinebeck, but it won't happen.  I'll just have to go to Rhinebeck next year.


As you may have noticed, I have trouble being project-monogamous. Yesterday I cast on for the Wandering Moon Knit-Along by Michelle Hunter (aka Knit Purl Hunter).  I love the yarn.  HiKoo is so soft!  This looks to be a fun project. Stay tuned for updates.