A few weeks ago Rob and I had the distinct pleasure of spending a weekend with Kellee, Rick and Baby B. It was Baby B’s official first road trip and his first time in New York State. To say that he kicked ass would be an understatement. To say that Kellee and Rick kicked 70 kinds of ass would be even more of a drastic understatement. They drove in to ROC on a Friday evening and left Sunday afternoon. They stayed at my parent’s house. “Hey guys wanna come over my parent’s house? It’ll be super cool nerdy fun.” All to see little ol’ us and to head to the first fiber festival of the season - The Fingerlakes Fiber Festival in Hemlock, New York.

Kellee celebrated a birthday the day before they arrived. So, we got to eat cake. And really, can it ever be a bad weekend if you get to eat cake? I didn’t think so.

Here is Baby B contemplating his trip to our home.

The festival, it was great, the weather was shit.ty.it.ty.bang bang. We’re not talking New Hampshire Sheep and Wool 2006 here…but it was a close second. Mostly because it’s just not the kind of weather you want your 7 month old in and a newborn in. However, rest assured. We discovered the cause of the whole weather problem and the solution is easy. Rob. Rob is the cause.

His first festival was New Hampshire Sheep and Wool 2006. Weather: Shitty (Officially dubbed it the Wet Wool Festival)

He stayed home for New Hampshire Sheep and Wool 2007. Weather: Perfection

His second festival was the Fingerlakes Fiber Festival (Saturday only). Weather: Shitty

He stayed home for the second day of the festival (Sunday). Weather: Perfection

Don’t worry, Kellee grounded him. He will be in town for Rhinebeck…but he’s not allowed to step foot on the fairgrounds. The weather should be fine.

I walked out of the festival with some roving to play with and a stomach filled with the absolute best fried dough I have ever had. Luckily this dough was of such quality that it virtually erased my experience with the “Taco and Dessert-o” trailer on the festival grounds. Note to self - “dessert-o” translates into “pick up the clue phone and don’t buy food from these people”.

I missed the class I had registered for on Saturday. We tried really really hard to get out of the door with both infants and two slow hubbers…but it took hours. Sophia was hungry then Baby B was hungry. Then Sophia was hungry then Baby B was hungry. Sophia pooped her pants. Baby B pooped his pants. Oh lord help us all.

However, missing the class ended up being a blessing. I was able to make it up on Sunday (Kellee and I went sans husbands and babies) and had a PRIVATE SPINNING LESSON. It was so. fun. And no, the bug really hasn’t bitten but I must say it was a blast….I learned all kinds of cool things…and the teacher put the Spinnerati to shame with her hard sell on the Genesee Valley Handspinners Guild. “You don’t even need to spin! We would love to have you at the meetings.” (Those of you familiar with the Spinnerati’s tactics will know that this really means, “You don’t even have to DRINK the Kool-Aid. You can just watch it being poured into your mouth.”)

Hmmm, I think that’s all I have to report on that front.

Pictures!
World’s Largest Sock? Or A Sock on the Way to Becoming the World’s Largest Sock?

Baby B sleeps with his eyes open. It. is. so. cool.

Rob = Not Thrilled to Be There

Mom, I am so happy to be leaving this really cold and rainy place. (S wearing her Kai Sweater that I knit for her!)

Kellee at the Bosworth Booth. She didn’t buy a spindle. Well, she didn’t buy a spindle…..there.

Wow. I never intended to take a month break!  I suppose life has been a bit hectic and generally getting in the way of all things blog worthy.  A numbered list to explain what I’ve been up to:

Reason Number 1 reason why I haven’t blogged:   Bloggy existential crisis.

We all have them.  Why do I write?  Do I still want to write?  Ya-da-Ya-da.  Mine was spurred by some comments left on an old post of mine (I will not link in an effort to let sleeping dogs lie).  I do not really want to go in to it, I only mention it to highlight how much it took me by surprise.  I have had very little negative feedback here and have always waved the flags of honesty and candor.  I always appreciate the same in my commenters.   It, frankly, kicked my ass to think that people would target me in a personal way for an opinion that I posted.   This has all been summarized by others better than me so I’ll just refer you to my girls Cara and Stephanie, and add, “Yah, what she said you big meanies.”

After this they’re in no particular order:

Reason Number 2 why I haven’t been blogging - I have moved to a new city.

My sister, Sophia, and I exploring a part of our fair city

If this isn’t a big duh, than I don’t know what is.  I am working here full time (telecommuting for the old job, major suckers) and still trying to get out and see stuff! and do things! and not be stuck in the freaking house all the time!  I tried a new knit group and may have found a new book club.  We’ll see how it all pans out.  Meeting people sucks and I am a big woosey about it all.  I miss my Boston Girls who are having a baby (Kellee), getting cool jobs (Jackie), moving across country (Elisa), buying houses (Melanie), sewing cute things for my kid (Debbie “given new meaning to the name Stitchy” McYarnpants), taking kick ass vacation (Maryse).  I miss our Boston Friends and babies and I miss our house and I miss the city.  All of this makes me sad and who wants to read a downer blog post?
Blogging time decrease - about 75%

Reason Number 3 why I haven’t touched ye old blog:

Ravelry.

I know it’s the same old sad story, that you are all likely tired of.  Mine is a bit different in that I haven’t actually entered any stash (well hardly any) or any projects (just a few).   I was one of the first beta-testers and have signed up to be a Sooper Editor.  What little time I have to spend on Ravelry I like to spend cleaning up the pattern database.  Call me an obsessive organizing freak.  It’s what I am and I like it.

Reason Number 4 why I can’t write:

H. P.

Sigh, I just finished last night.

Double-sigh.

So. Good.

Reason Number 5 why the blog has gathered dust:

I am in love.

She’ll be 6 months next week.

Enough said.
In Summary

All of these reason are still going to be here.  But, I think I need to make some time for this.  I read and read all of you everyday (No time to comment!) and I write in my head.  It is my goal to sit and write more frequently.

Yo.

When I was younger than I am now one of my favorite snacks was Ice Tea Mix stuck to a Melty Ice Cube. I would take the cube and dip it into the mix (usually right out of the container) and suck off the mix. Yum. For some reason I have the taste of it in my mouth. It’s been years and years since I have even thought about such a thing.

On to other random thoughts -

I have found some super cool links in the past few days, and months, and years. I thought I might share.

• Here is a link to a site that outlines the methods and numbers for a variety of sock heels. So. Cool. (via Big Sister by way of Ravelry’s discussion boards.
• Sock sizing Tips
• DIY BabyLegs. BabyLegs are just about the cutest things since sliced bread. Leg warmers for your wee one. Now you can make them yourself. By the way - Old Navy has knee-highs. (via Pumpkin Mama)
• Gnooks. You can put in the name of an author and it will return a word map with authors who are similar
• This Next. Yet another cool site to catalog your material wishes and get ideas from others. This is incredibly easy to use and is highly functional. I love it. I have not gotten around to making recommendations yet but I have started a wee bit of a wish list.
• Cook’s Thesaurus. There is an ingredient of the month! Kind of like a playmate of the month for the foodie. Ohhh, braised red cabbage you are so fine, you make my heart race.
• One Look Reverse Dictionary. You know how you can think of every other word to describe something but you can’t actually think of the name of that something? This is for you. I have not used it enough to figure out if it actually works
• The National Archives website directory of America’s Historical Documents. Wanna see Elvis’s letter to President Nixon? This is the place. One of my all time favorite posters (below) is part of the Powers of Persuasion Exhibit. So Interesting.
  

Today is the first day since Sophia’s birth and the subsequent hormonal breakdowns that I have felt challenged by this new role as a mother. When I look at all of the circumstances around me I see that today is no different than yesterday. The only difference is my ability to cope with those circumstances.

By all accounts I have it easy. I have a loving partner, a strong support network and the ability to reach out when I need help (although admittedly I am not so good at actually utilizing that ability.) There are many who have it infinitely worse. My baby is pretty easy going. However, she is a baby who’s only form of communication is a cry, scream, or grunt. I don’t care how compassionate you are…after nights and weeks of sleep deprivation the cry, the scream, and the grunt will start to fray your nerves. The home-bound lifestyle with little interaction with the outside world (save the Internet…ah, the love of a blog) will fray your nerves. We are not talking crisis here. Just a bit worn out and giving it a voice. Perhaps this will help it fall away quicker.

You know, I think it is the responsibility of caring for someone else that is more stressful than the actual caring itself. Even when she sleeps I feel the weight of responsibility. I suppose that will not go away for many, many years - if not decades. I suppose I will get used to that feeling and the weight will not be as great. I suppose when the kid can eat and poop without some sort of action on my part my days will feel a bit easier. He He.

Fortunately nursing has been a bit easier this past week (after a few weeks of the use of a nipple shield. Thank God for silicone). I have healed a bit and can now knit while feeding. At least during those times Ms. “I like to get mad at the boob and scream at it between drinks” is cooperating. So, with that I give you yet another picture of the hat. This one is for posterity sake and also because it makes me feel like I accomplished something - started and finished - that is a good feeling!

I am a visual learner. I CAN learn from a book, but it’s hit or miss and largely dependent on the kind of book (or website). I do best with diagrams unless I have a firm grasp of the language of the craft. Many of you learned to knit from a book. There is absolutely no frigging way I could have done this. I admire those who can, because there are fewer hurdles in your quest for knowledge. I learned from a teacher (a great teacher) in a formal classroom atmosphere. It was one of the best things that I have done for myself.

I have been craving knitting knowledge lately and thinking that a workshop or a class might do me some good. I really want to develop my skills, learn new techniques and tricks, and be challenged but also be given the tools to tackle that challenge. Because without the tools I’d just get frustrated.

Take, for example, cabling without a cable needle. I have read multiple tutorials on how to do it as well as watched videos and peaked at detailed illustrations on the web. I just didn’t like it or wasn’t doing it right or just found it frustrating. So, I kept on keeping on with my cable needle. Not a bad way to do things, for sure.

You may know by now that the television show Knitty Gritty has moved to HGTV, a channel that we get. Knitty Gritty and DVR combine to make a powerful knitting force. I can fast forward through the fun fur, teenie boppers, fake laughing, and other irritating aspects of the show and distill it down to bits of incredibly useful information. Ms. Annie Modesitt was on a few weeks/months ago (episode 210, first aired Spring 2005) and during her time on the camera she showed how to cable without a cable needle and - I got it! Instantly. Soon after I found myself in the car on our way to my parent’s house in Upstate NY for Christmas. I was making mittens for my mom and wanted to set a cable down the middle of the back of the mitten. Alas, I was unarmed with the traditional cable needle but I found I didn’t need it. I had instant recall of Annie’s technique and I was able to flawlessly execute it to a successful mitten finish. No hurdle, no frustration.

As a result I am on a quest for knitting knowledge. A google search didn’t really yield any opportunities. My LYS has a few but none that I am really interested in taking. I am in the process of searching through the archives of a few local listservs. In the meantime - how have you all found workshops, classes, or other non-traditional learning opportunities? I know wool festivals are great places for these types of things….but spring is a long way off and with the new babe I am not sure when or where I’ll be able to travel!

Maybe I should just take this class at my local community center - I sure don’t know how to pearl!