More Coming!
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: The Fixx "Saved By Zero"
Topic: A bit of everything
I have some pictures to post! I'll post more tomorrow when I upgrade my Tripod service.

My favorite sheep at the Historic Cold Spring Village

See all those buildings in the distance, that appear like they are out at sea? That is Atlantic City, located 20 miles north and east of Sea Isle. We can easily see them on clear days.

And here is a picture I took yesterday at the flag rededication at the Amherst Big Y grocery store. This flag is 19' x 24'. It's one big, beautiful sight to see!

When your it, your IT
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Elton John "The One"
Topic: A bit of everything

Judith
tagged me. So here goes!:

10 years ago: I was still single, but wanting to get married to Dale. The engagement ring came in December of 1995, during a snowstorm on the beach down in RI.

5 years ago: I was married and had a two year old son by then. I was seriously getting into the fiber vending part of Bay Colony Farm, and planning where the business would go.

1 year ago: My two sons were 6 and 3. My husband had just received a promotion at work, and I was very sick with gallbladder problems, only the doctors said that was it acid reflux. Thankfully, they figured it out in November of '04, and I'm fine now. But I remember last summer as "The Summer I Was Sick".

Yesterday: I finished a paying job, which was two days late. But the customer was happy with the results and liked the professional looking format. :) I visited my dad at the hospital. He has pneumonia, and they are discussing a stomach feeding tube. I hope it doesn't have to go that way.

Today: I finished up a project (non-paying), but I'm greatly relieve that it is done. It has been hanging over my head way too long. The rabbits were fed and watered early today, by 11 a.m. I'm feeling positive about things, which is a good sign, having felt like a hermit for so long.

Tomorrow: I'm hoping to meet a friend and deliver a bunny to her from Mia's litter. Getting out and about will be nice, and this friend is always a pleasure to see.

5 snacks I enjoy: Ice cream, chocolate, watermelon and cantaloupe, fresh peas.

5 bands/singers that I know the lyrics of MOST of their songs: Jon Secada, Def Leppard, Elton John, The Flamin' Caucasians, Bryan Adams.

Things I would do with $100,000,000: Pay off all my debt and our mortgage. Buy a vacation house somewhere at the beach; one of those duplex units, or with a carriage house so that we could have the main unit, and friends/family could stay on the property but not with us. ;-)

5 locations I'd like to run away to: Nantucket, Cape Cod, Sea Isle City at the Jersey shore, Barbados, St. Thomas.

5 bad habits I have: No domestic skills what so ever (I can find anything else that is more interesting to be doing rather than housecleaning!), stress eating, not being charitable enough, and swearing (that housecleaning thing takes up 2 bad habits! LOL!)

5 things I like doing: Reading, Eating out at Restaurants, Spinning and Knitting, Going out with my friend Kristen to Rafters.

5 things I would never wear: Birkenstocks, A pocket protector, glasses with big dark frames, over sized jewelery, olive green anything.

5 TV shows I like: Law & Order; SVU, CSI, Spongebob Squarepants, Wings, Cops, the Sopranos, Six Feet Under

5 movies I like: Rebecca, What About Bob?, Field of Dreams, Pure Country, Baby Boom, The Long Kiss Goodnight.

5 famous people I'd like to meet: Jesus (not that I'm overly religious, since I consider myself more spiritual, but I would like to meet him to talk to him and see and feel the calmness I think he would have), John McCain, Elton John, Bryan Adams and Joe Elliot.

5 biggest joys at the moment: My Family, my friends, my work on the parade committee, my business and my animals.

5 favorite toys: My Joy spinning wheel, my cell phone, my computer, my car and my drum carder.

How much can you fit into three days or What I did on My Summer Vacation
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Bryan Adams "Run To You"
Topic: A bit of everything
First of all; kudos to Claudia for her Lazy Girl Margaritas. Since I'm out of tequila (and have been for months), I've learned how to substitute Grey Goose Vodka instead, and that was last night's refreshment after 2 hours of lawn mowing. Usually, if there is any left over, it is poured into a container, and put into the freezer for Lazy Girl Sorbet later on. That didn't happen tonight, as DH and I polished off a blender full of the LG Slushies. Yeah, we were feeling relaxed. ;-)

My brother and his family were up from NJ last week, and when you have small kids, you tend to try to do things that they like. But we squeezed some fun adult stuff into the week too.

We started off with a trip up to VT to the King Arthur Flour Store in Norwich, VT. While the mixes and baking equipment are expensive, you'll find stuff there that you can't find elsewhere. I picked up a mini-scone pan, several rye flours, and an Italian cookbook which showcases the Italian section of Boston (delicious recipes!). The cookbook offers such great recipes that my brother Greg and I each plan to make at least one of our meals for our family beach vacation from it!). After the KAF store, we headed south to Quechee Gorge for a picnic lunch and a short hike. After leaving there, we spotted a tourist area which offered train rides to kids, but wine tasting for adults. I picked out two lovely wines from Putney Wines, a sparkling apple wine, and a cherry/apple wine. Yummm! After leaving this store, we headed over to another store which advertised wine tastings. This one is the Quechee Winery, which is the sister winery for North River Winery, a wonderful place I discovered back in 1989, when my former boyfriend was living within 20 minutes of it. One of the wines at the Quechee winery, is named Barred Owl Blush, and they donate part of the proceeds to VINS, a raptor center in Quechee. Of course, being the conservationist that I like to think I am, I purchased a bottle of this wine, along with a Vermont Apple, Autumn Harvest and Midnight Gold (excellent dessert wine!). ;-)

Tuesday was spent taking care of my niece and nephew, while they played with my boys in our pool. The kids had a blast, and my brother and his wife had a nice day out alone.

Wednesday we drove back up to VT to take the Green Mountain Flyer from Bellows Falls up to Chester and back. The boys loved it! But I have to admit, so did I. The scenery is beautiful (we saw a blue heron fly over an inlet in the CT River!), and the train goes over a couple of high gorges and past a covered bridge. I did get pictures, but they are on a disposable digital camera, which I haven't had developed yet, but I will post pictures later.

Thursday was spent working, while the rest of the family went to the Lupa Zoo. The rest of my time has been spent working. Either my main job, or finishing up some of the work I do as a volunteer.

Right now, we are in the middle of another heat wave, with high humidity, but the rabbits are taking it well. And Mia's litter will be evaluated this weekend, and I'll know just how many rabbits are good breeding quality, and which ones will be pet quality. I don't sell rabbits before they are 4 months old, as it is impossible to tell before that what they are best suited for, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Ideally, waiting until they are 9 months would be better, because by that time, you know what their adult coat looks like, since you have already shorn their baby coat and junior coat. But at 4 months, you do have a good idea about their body condition, and that is really important.

I do have a nice doe for sale who is almost 1 year old. She has a nice silky coat, and good body on her. She would make a perfect breeding doe (and is she ready!). If you are interested in her, please let me know.

Early morning luck
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Michael Sembello "Maniac"
Topic: A bit of everything

On the mornings I sleep late (6 a.m. is late for me!), I wake up to my favorite radio station. This morning, I wake up to hear them talking about their "What Came First?" contest. They give two clues, and you have to guess which item came first (what year). Today's clues were "Little Jeannie" by Elton John and "My Life" by Billy Joel. For those that don't know this, I'm a huge music fan, especially 70's and 80's music. In fact, until I was a senior in high school, I had wanted to be a radio DJ (I changed my mind when I realized that I might actually have to live someplace other than Western MA). Anyway, they give the phone numbers to call, and I dial (I haven't even talked yet this morning, and I'm calling a radio station?!). Amazingly enough, they answer the phone, and ask the question, to which I answer correctly "My Life" (1978 to EJ's 1980 release of "Little Jeannie"). So now I find out that I've won tickets to see Two Pianos Four Hands. I'm thinking "Cool!". And after I give them my info, and hang up, it occures to me that I have a meeting that night, and DH will be out of town on business. Damn! This isn't the first time I've won tickets to an event, and had a conflict of interest. So I've offered the tickets to my brother and SIL, and hopefully they will be able to attend (I can't miss my meeting!).

Still, it is fun to be lucky like that once in a while and win free stuff from the radio stations. :)

What a weekend!
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: Bobby Darin "Beyond the Sea"
Topic: A bit of everything

It's been incredibly hot and humid here the past few days. So much so that all I really want to do is sit down and read books while the kids play in the pool. I have finished up several books, including my all time favorite, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I've read this book well over 20 times since the first time I read it when I was about 11. I have the movie on tape too. It's been over 15 years since I last read it, yet I pick up something new each time I read it. One thing that is interesting about this book is that you *never* know the narrator's first name. I figured that out the first time I read it. Anyway, if you are looking for some good summer reading, this book is it.

Saturday was our district meeting for IAGARB down at Charlene's house in CT. Charlene is a marvelous hostess (and Ken, her husband, was super sweet watching my boys when my babysitter bailed on me at the last moment). Lynda, Winnie, Christine, Charlene and myself made up the meeting, and we had a blast! Lynda brought down her mittens that she's been making. I have several pictures, but I won't post them here as they will be going into the IAGARB newsletter which is for members only (and I only have her permission to print them there). They are angora/wool, using the pattern from Leslie's book. Lynda is showing such a talent for her mittens; the designs are fantastic! I've never seen such artwork from someone that is so new at designing! She has found a boutique in NH to sell her mittens, and I know she'll be doing quite well. :)

Christine talked to us about insurance and the need for it when you are in business due to the liabilities. She was giving a demo on carding when I left, so unfortunately, I couldn't stay and watch, but it was looking interesting.

Charlene showed us her bunny cam. I guess that made all of us Bunny Voyeurs, as the camera is fixed on Mozel, the doe that Charlene got from me. Mozel is due to have babies on Friday, and started building her nest this past Friday. It was fun watching her get up, check the nest out, and then go back to resting. She's a first time Mom, so it's nice to see such a great nesting instinct.

Yesterday was spent washing a beautiful white Border Leicester fleece I purchased from a friend in RI who raises them. It's looking lovely, and has such great curl! I can't wait to card this with some angora!

Today will be bunny shearing day for me, after I go to the gym. Yes, that's right. I've been going to the gym several times a week to walk on the treadmill. Even though I despise exercising, I do feel a sense of accomplishment after I've finished.

I have a lot of carding to do for this weekend, as I'm attending a friend's party, and she's invited me to bring stuff to sell if people want to buy. So I'll be doing dyeing and carding this week. That is the only good thing about humidity; it keeps the fur from flying too much when carding on the Duncan. :)

None of the below
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Bryan Adams "Summer of '69"
Topic: A bit of everything

After having ALL those choices of things to do below, we did none of them. Saturday was spent here, doing laundry, and then shearing down a few rabbits. With temps almost 100 degrees, I had to get the coats off of Gewurztraminer and Cosmos. By the time I finished that, I was ready to melt, but they looked a lot happier! Saturday night was spent at my mom's house, visiting with my brother and his family. For someone who isn't a night owl (me!) driving home at 11 p.m. was interesting. ;-)

Yesterday DH and I spent time inside and outside, working around the house and yard and doing various things. We did get our new hutch up in the family room, only now we have to remove the three bookcases DH built less than a year ago. In other words, the room is a mess.

And all my plans to spin yesterday were shot to hell too. Once DH gets going on a plan, there is no rest. At least not until he thinks we are finished, which wasn't until around 8 p.m., when he and the boys went swimming, and I alphabetized the CD's in the new hutch (yes, I know that sounds weird, but believe me, it is much easier trying to find a specific CD when it's alphabetized, rather than looking everywhere and NOT finding it). Woe be to the person who doesn't put the CD's back in the correct place. ;-)

My mission today is to work this morning. After that, I'm going to start going through boxes looking for the Creatures of the Reef pattern. If I don't find it today, I'm ordering a new one.

What to do? So many choices!
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: Hall and Oates "Kiss On My List"
Topic: A bit of everything
And no fiber content what so ever.

With my brother and fam being up here for the weekend, there are lots of choices to pick for things to do.

DH wants to go up to Greenfield to the Western MA Highland Games, which we keep talking about seeing but never manage to see.

Mom wants me to take SIL over to the Old Deerfield Craft Fair, which would be my choice. I love this fair, even though it costs $6 per person to get in (not including the $5 we pay for parking in the front yard of my kindergarten/first/second grade teacher (how cool is that??).

And tomorrow, DH is making noises about going up to Portsmouth, NH to this:

Portsmouth NH - Thunderama "2005" Thunderbird show at the Strawberry Banke Museum. Show Sponsored New England's Vintage Thunderbird Club. clubs.hemmings.com/nevt/

Now, I'll bet you didn't know that we own an antique Thunderbird. DH used to own a Pontiac Lemans, but sold it shortly after DS#1 was born, because he hadn't worked on it in about 6 years and figured he'd never have the time. After attending a few car shows, he got the itch again to restore a car. So while surfing eBay, he found us a 1969 Thunderbird. It looked exactly like the Thunderbird my Uncle Al had (he was my favorite uncle and died way too young at the age of 54, when I was only 7 years old; I miss him still). The only difference is that this car has a black interior (instead of red) and has a vinyl top. DH bid on it, and we won the auction. He flew out to Lincoln, NE., and drove it home. This was in 2002. The car sits in our garage, waiting until we can find a place that will do proper restoration work on it But we've got the fever, and I'm looking forward to the day when I can drive this land ship around town, which is exactly what I plan to do. I love driving that car!

We'll see what happens. And I'm still looking for my Creatures of the Reef pattern. I may just have to break down and buy another.

So much to talk about!
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: The Beach Boys "All Summer Long"
Topic: A bit of everything
I had a great birthday yesterday! My friend Carolyn of Pink Peppercorns biked all the way over here and we had lunch together. She brought me some of her wonderful soap (which I'll have to hide from DH as he loves her handmade soap!), as a present, but her presence here was present enough. :)

My mom also took us out to dinner at Applebee's last night. It wasn't the marinated flank steaks I had planned to grill, but the steaks looked really pathetic at Stop & Shop, so I didn't buy them. Mom's idea of dinner out was a better idea than anything I could think of to cook, so we got steaks there instead. And the boys were happy because they got to pick their food out from the kids menu, and not suffer through something at home that they didn't like to eat. *grin*

Thank you to everyone that sent birthday wishes. They really made me smile! :)

The Contest

Dharia posted her entries into the contest yesterday. You can see her ideas on the comments section of yesterday's blog post.

Keep them coming! We have a lot to choose from! :)

And now for knitting

Knitting? Yes, I'm trying to locate my Creatures of the Reef shawl pattern that I purchased several years ago.

Lord knows where it is, but I'm determined to find it. I've seen completed shawls on other people's blogs. I desperately wanted to knit this a while ago, but picked a yarn which was hell to knit with and I ripped it out. So this time, I'll head over to Webs and pick up something more suitable.
I am resisting Birch. If I decide to make it, I'll use the Kiri pattern instead. It's the price of the yarn that is hindering this for me. And I'm not completely sure I want to knit with mohair in the heat of the summer, especially since I don't have A/C in my house.

And on a completely different front, my cousin Angela called me yesterday. She's been able to get me two passes to the "Meet and Greet" for Def Leppard when they are preforming in Brockton on July 6th. How cool is that? I've been a fan of their music since 1983, and Ang knows people in high places in the music world. I'm completely psyched about this! They have teamed up with Bryan Adams to play a "Double Header" at 26 minor league baseball parks across America. I'm a huge Bryan Adams fan too, so this will be incredible! I can't wait!

It's the first day of summer vacation for my boys but...
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Bobby Darin "Beyond the Sea"
Topic: A bit of everything

It's also my BIRTHDAY!!!! :)

I love celebrating my birthday. I've long ago given up unrealistic ideas of what the day will turn out to be like, but instead, use the philosophy of taking it easy and just enjoying what comes. However, there will be steaks and drinks here later tonight, just the family and my mom (since I'm the one that will be cooking). And my mom and brother were nice enough to take me out to dinner at Chez Albert on Saturday night, a new French restaurant that opened up about a month ago. The food was fantastic and I'm hoping to go back there soon!

The Contest

Marie sent her in ideas for several colorways, which is posted in the comments section of yesterday's blog entry. Please check them out! :)

I have some work to do this morning, but plan on taking the rest of the day off and just relaxing. The pool has been up for almost a month, and I've yet to get in. I think it's about time!

What a weekend!!!
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: When in Rome "The Promise"
Topic: A bit of everything
No pictures, but lots to tell. :)

I didn't get to the fabric store on Saturday. After working until 4 in a large building with NO AC, and the fact that I was covered in dirt, the last place I wanted to head to was the mall. Instead, I came home and crashed.

BUT ON SUNDAY (da, da da!), it was the Alden & Stephenie class. Wow! Was that awesome! I learned that I had been underplying my yarn for years, and why it was coming out underplied. It seems that there are two stopping places; both between the time you actually put the ply into the yarn and when it winds on to the bobbin. Who knew? That was like an epiphany for me. I also learned some great techniques for spinning yarn faster. Once I get my Merlin Tree wheel set back up, I'll try those out (that wheel just BEGS for production spinning!).

For those that are interested, the following people attended: Caroline, Jenny, Judy, Cindy, Kim, Elaine with her fabulous cherry Canadian wheel that Alden built, Al, Dharia, Cate, Lisa, Rosemary, Claudia, Marcy, Charlene, Jarrett, Heidi, Kate, Shelia, Marianne, Suzanne, and Deanna. I spun in the back, so that I could run for Alden and Stephenie if they should need anything.

I have no pictures of the event. I was aware that Alden does not like pictures to be taken during the classes, so I didn't bring my camera in with me. However, there have been lots of pictures on some of the blogs listed above, and Stephenie took a great class picture which I'm anxious to see.

After class, I invited Alden, Stephenie and Marcy out to dinner. Marcy has know them for a long time, and it was fun to hear the various stories they shared with me. Dinner at Judie's in downtown Amherst was really very good. I had my first chocolate martini (which was delicious!!!), and an incredible pasta dish with scallops. Listening to Stephenie talk about their travels was very interesting. I found out that Stephenie and I share a love of old glass. We talked about the glass factory in Sandwich, MA and the Corning Glass museum in Corning, NY (which I hadn't been to, but enjoyed hearing about!).

We also talked about our love of old textiles and colonial history.

I was sorry to see that they had to leave the next day, but understood that after three days of intensive travel (NJ on Friday, Maine on Saturday and Amherst, MA on Sunday), anyone would need a break!).

I was able to put in my order for my very own Canadian Wheel from Alden. Spinning on Elaine's was a religious experience and one I'm anxious to have again. ;-)

I also wanted to thank Stephenie for her lovely gift. It is a basket made from beautifully colored string. It is very beautiful and I plan to hang it in a place of honor. I also wanted to thank Debra, aka Torchie for her thoughtful and very cool gift of a dragon orifice hook for one of my wheels. Naturally, when I get my Alden wheel (which will be a while, as these are built to fit the spinner!), my dragon will live on that wheel as they will go so well together. :)

Unfortunately, due to some problems on my computer, I'm unable to post pictures right now, but hope to have them up soon.

I did get some fabric for sewing yesterday. I picked out a really cool purple/turquoise blue batik fabric for a dress and a top, and two different blue fabrics for skirts. Once I get a few other things taken care of, I can start sewing!