Eye Candy Friday - Hurricane Bill

This was taken at Jones Beach, Wantagh, NY. The waves washed up past the boardwalk, flooding the golf course. Made for no beach and good surfing!

Eye Candy Friday

Beach Clouds

Tobay Beach, Massapequa, NY

Playing Catch Up

Well hello there, remember me?


Sorry that I've been away so long but I've been watching the kids and spinning and spinning and spinning as well as working on my fledgling Etsy shop. Below are two new listings. Both are spun from Colonial Wool which I enjoyed spinning very much. I was not expecting it to be as soft as it was and I will definitely buy some again. It's lovely and the colors were scrumptious! These are all Navajo plied, my latest craze. I love round yarn. I am finally so pleased with my spinning that I can barely contain myself. Looks like the kind you buy in the store, doesn't it?


This week, I'm on vacation and have been doing things with the kids. The weather has been so-so here but we did get a nice stretch to hit the beach. Here's some cool clouds.

Awesome clouds, hah?

I have a nice ocean shot but my computer seems to have misplaced it....:( I'll find it and make it eye candy some Friday. Oh wait, tomorrow is Friday already! Sheesh! Time flies. One more day off and it's back to the rockpile!

They also built a spray park, a great idea. See that 'brick' wall? It's plastic. Patterned, molded to look like brick. Amazing what they can do with soda bottles these days. The spray park is a great idea because the kids can go there after the beach and get rid of all the sand. It's private so it's generally not overly crowded. I love Tobay Beach.

My babies are growing up. Missy is going to lose her second bottom tooth any day and my son has his four front ones in. He's entered the beaver stage but doesn't really look as bad as some kids do.

We also went to the see the movie Ice Age 3 in 3D. It was my first time seeing a 'real 3d' movie and it was AWESOME. The glasses weren't those stupid funky colored ones that you cut out off of the back of a cereal box. They were like cheap plastic sunglasses. I didn't get a headache and they fit over my regular glasses. Stuff popped right off the screen at us. It was so cool! I really only liked the effects, lame storyline. Like, beating a dead horse. It's the issue I have with most sequels, hard to top the original. My son was in heaven and leaned over and said to me, 'Mom, how do you like it so far? This is awesome!'. I was happy mostly because he was concerned about me, that's a good thing. If I ever let him get married, I'm sure he'll make a good husband.

On the knitting front, I decided I didn't like my toe up socks and ripped them out. I also have been working on a black pair for hubby for like, eons... I have been turning the bulk of my attention to spinning and haven't been knitting! I must've spun 30 miles of yarn this month.

I've also been playing with photoshop and I'm running low on disk space on my computer. This is not good considering that I just (FINALLY) bought a macro lens. I am very excited over the lens and can't wait to receive it. I bought it online, natch. It should be here in about a week. Hasn't shipped yet. Pooh.

Stay tuned for macro lens pictures. The bugs, raindrops and other things are waiting!

Amityville Historical Society Fair and Spinning

Today was the day that a few of us got together to spin at the Amityville Fair. It was a lovely day, low 70s, light breeze, dry, ah! Spinning al fresco was so nice and it was the first time that I did it! I brought my wheel and some beautiful soft and squishy Opalescence fiber that I picked up in Maryland. I am regretting not taking home more of this stuff. It's silky and soft and spins so nicely. I am spinning it relatively thin and plan on Navajo plying it. I have fallen in love with Navajo plying. It's beautiful, it's like crocheting and you get a smooth, round yarn. I thought that one would feel the bumps of the chain stitches but that isn't the case.

Many of the spinners brought wheels and spindles, some brought knitting and some had lunch of Burgers and Fries from Five Guys. I was good and actually passed on the food, saving up my calories for the evening meal so I could sleep on it and make quality fat.

The Bagpipes played songs that I never heard played on bagpipes before.

There was face painting, all proceeds being donated back to the Historical Society.

There were old cars. I'm glad they had these REALLY old cars. Last time I went to the street fair in Massapequa the cars were...well, from my pre-teen years and I was feeling really old. Some of these were nearly 100 years old.

There were old buildings. Actually, there are many old buildings in Amityville. Yes, yes, I know all about that "horror house" and it's really a very nice part of the town. That house looks different nowadays though - This isn't it. This is an old school building.

And there was this....

UGH!

See the chip on the small whorl? I'm kinda upset by that. I'll have to buy a new flyer. I have the piece that broke off and I will attempt to glue it back on but I'm not sure it's going to work all that well. That has to be totally smooth or one risks ruining their drive band. I don't know how this happened, being I transported my wheel in it's padded bag. I took it out and it was CHIPPED. Drat.

I am spinning the most deliciously smooth and soft fiber which you can almost see on the bobbin. It's purple and it's 70 Merino / 30 Tencel but it's the softest I 've fondled yet. The supplier was "Opalessence" and I picked it up at MDS&W and I'm in love. It was inexpensive and the BESTEST. No Etsy shop, not on Ravelry..nothing. I found her webpage so you can check it out. I'll be buying more of this, for sure! Very reasonably priced, too!

My DH was such a doll today, taking the kiddies all around the fair so that I could park myself and spin. It was a nice day all around. Later, when we were hanging in the backyard, I had to photograph this. Maybe summer is coming after all?

Eye Candy Friday - Spring Tease

It was "warm" on Thursday. Well, just a bit over 50 but at least the sun was shining. The spring nippy breeze was blowing. It's just a tease, I tell you. We'll be cold again. I was able to take a few shots of some flowers that survived the hard freeze the other night.

Being I saw my cardiologist (heart is still beating, thanks for asking...) and my heart is bleeding for spring, today's picture is appropriate!

Bleeding Hearts

Actually, I'm Low on Roving...

I cleared up my fiber mess!


My husband did some house cleaning the past few days and now we have useable space. It seems that the house is alot bigger and alot neater without so much clutter. However, I've been spinning alot and I'm actually a bit low on fiber. I do have that gorgeous Deep Sea green merino tencel to spin. Hmmn...Let me think about it. I also have dark green merino top, Evergreen Grove. Tomorrow is the Guild meeting and I need to bring something to work on and don't feel like it being knitting so it's going to be one of those. Decisions Decisions!


I'm knitting away on the Pinkaboo blanket. Still sick and still coughing. My son is better, nearly, but baby girl has a sinus infection. They had a lovely Easter. There was traditional egg coloring..


We bought this kit that makes 'marble' eggs. Kinda weird, the one on the right is shiny and marble like. The one on the left (green, I made that one!) didn't come out right. I didn't 'swirl it in the oil' first. Remind me not to use this for yarn ... ever..





Someone double dipped. She got an Easter Basket from the Bunny and some money from the Tooth Fairy in the same night. They saved on air fare, joining forces in these sad economic times. Or maybe the Bunny rode on the fairy's wings?

And no, we didn't start off with DD in a white shirt.

The little egg coloring project and excitement over Easter made them even smile and get close like they like each other. They'll love this picture in about 30 years. It's one of the first shots where I am starting to think that they look a bit alike.

Speaking of 'in 30 years'. DD announced that she is going to grow up and have a 'nice husband and 6 daughters' and live around the corner from her brother who will have a 'nice wife and 11 children'. She thinks it will be neat if they all could "get together". Yes, I thought. Counting their spouses, they have enough for two baseball teams and two coaches......

For "Easter Monday" we went to the preserve for a walk.... in the 46 degree "APRIL" weather. The kids were supposed to look for 'Signs of Spring' while I looked for 'Signs of a Blizzard'. Here's two that they saw.

There were actually three geese together here. I made it look by two, being this is a G-rated blog.

Things are actually growing near the edge of the lake. Amazing that the FREEZE we had the other night didn't kill all the vegetation.

As you can see, nothing is really growing yet and most of the trees don't even have their buds. It's like we are living in Alaska... no sun, gray sky, nothing growing. Still dark, still dismal.

When will it be spring?

Heeeeeeeeeere's Hanna!

What a difference a day makes! I couldn't resist hitting the beach today. I like being there all by myself and I can't resist weather and storms and giant waves.

My little family, having the entire beach to ourselves today. The seagull had to take the picture. We asked the little girl to take the picture but she's still learning how to use the camera.

See what I mean?

Knitting stuff tomorrow.

Goodbye, Summer 2008

I woke up this morning and it was only 69 degrees. In only two more days, school begins here in New York. The skies are lovely and absolutely clear but there is that feeling of fall in the air. In no time at all, we'll be picking pumpkins somewhere. Fleeces and long sleeves will make their appearance, chilly chilly mornings, very cool and very crisp. Gone is corn and tomato picking as we soon welcome the harvest time.

I thought I would post a few nice summer pictures today, just so we can remember what it was this year. Summer eye candy seems a nice way to say goodbye to the season. FO at the bottom of these for those of you keeping track of knitting things. First up, photography.

Jones Beach tower and Seagull.

Goodbye Summer......sun set at Jones beach, ugly light post in the way....

Not to spoil the mood, but I did finish one last pair of socks for the season...the seeded ribbing. If you want more pictures, Ravel them here.

Pattern: Seeded Ribbing, More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch Start Date: 8/24/08
End Date: 8/30/08
Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote, Blue Flannel
Needle: Knitpicks Options, Magic Loop Method, two at once, size 1, 2.25, 48 sts casted on.

I used about 1 skein of yarn for these little boy sized socks. He loves them so much, he wore them all day yesterday, even to the beach!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Saturday Sky

Early Sunset, Massapequa

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Well, I promised a picture of finished Froot Loops, Dream in Color Smooshy, Butter Peeps Colorway and here you have it. I made these in nine days, finishing them on the infamous August 5th.I also would like to share a picture of the newest member of Thursday night knit night, Lars.

He's knitting a beautiful sweater in Lobster Pot and it's cashmere and we all got to feel it. It's gorgeous! Odd how the stripes photographed kinda blurry, they're not like that in person.

This is knit in the round and he's been working on it as an Olympics project. He's inspiring me to knit another sweater, which I will be doing in the near future, the fall, when I want this thing keeping my legs toasty. I am thinking about a nice pullover, a la Elizabeth Zimmerman.

That's it for now, time for the beloved treadmill and then heels and gussets on my socks!

Next time, Waving Lace update!

Eye Candy Friday

Boxwood Against a Stormy Sky.

Socks on Vacation - The Final Chapter

Well, all good things must come to an end. Eventually, I knew it would stop raining. DH was exhausted and not feeling all that well, DD was coughing, it poured. We packed up our campsite inside of three hours and headed down the mountain to good old Long Island, land of flatness with beaches.

We stopped in Lake George for a nice breakfast and a chance to get out of the rain, plus to fill the gas tank. Miraculously, the sun came out. "May I suggest that we stop in Saratoga? Let the kids run around?" By the time we got there, it was after 1PM and the entire town would be at the races. What better time to stop for a snack at my most favorite, most delicious boulangerie?

Mrs. London's Bake Shoppe, Saratoga Springs, NY.

The most scrumptious, most delectable goodies. Coffee, breakfast, cake, it's almost like being in Paris.

Doesn't that look yummy? I had to shove the lady in front of my out of the way to take this picture. It was what I felt like eating but I was so stuffed that I couldn't squeeze it in so I elected to get a chocolate chip cookie for the road instead. YUM!!!

Next, we took a stroll down the block to another landmark...

They have tons of stuff in here, plus, they have pretty window decorations.

That's DH peaking into the doorway, far right. Even he can't tear himself away and he knows as much about yarn as I do about the NBA.

They have so much yarn there! Probably because they grow it on site..

Right in little clay pots! Very imaginative, don't you think?

Inside, DD was thrilled to see funky hats. She was also spending alot of time inhaling vinegar fumes from many a hank...a lady stopped me and said, "I can see she's already into it".

Yes, a musician and a knitter and a crocheter she will be. She is such a mini-me it's scary sometimes.
Naturally, I didn't really buy that basket of yarn in my previous post. I took some Colinette Jitterbug in Fruit Coulis colorway.

Here it is near the Tappan Zee Bridge. I also took some Reynolds Soft Seal Wool in red. I haven't photographed it yet. Other than this brief moment, it rained or looked like it almost the entire way home.

I drove from Lake George to the last rest area on the Thruway, just north of the Tappan Zee Bridge. I wanted DH to drive so I could snap some pictures. My supercool beloved camera can take pictures out of a moving car with ease. So, here I have for you, the little cloud who grew.

Look closely, that's the same cloud and it was rising rapidly. I watched it grow and grow, it darkened and turned into this.
and, finally, the little cloud grew and grew. And, others all around it grew and grew. It was able to take this shot from the Throgg's Neck Bridge. The thunderstorm was over Manhattan, see the Empire State Building there? That's the Whitestone Bridge.

Thunderstorm over the Whitestone Bridge, NYC, August 11, 2008...my birthday!

Stay tuned! Next up, a FO, a new project and a new friend!