A few years ago, I participated in Carole’s Thankful Thursday posts. Since I have so much to be thankful for, I thought I’d do it again this year.
This week, I’m feeling particularly thankful for:
1. Electricity. After last year’s storm, Sandy had me pretty anxious. I’m grateful for lights, flushing toilets, hot food, hot showers. My heart goes out to those without power.
2. Local food. I cooked the last of my CSA root veggies earlier in the week. I was sad about having to return to the grocery store for veggies, but I am stocked up on local butternut squash and garlic–staples in Chez Golightly–and a neighbor has been sharing his fall turnip crop with me.
3. Neal. His calm and determination are good influences on me. I’m thankful to have a partner who is also my rock. And my own personal stand up comic!
I hope you have loads to be thankful for today, too.
We made it through the storm without losing power for more than a few minutes. After last October’s fiasco, I am so relieved. Neal and I agreed our preparation was much better this year–last year it never occurred to us that we’d lose power for more than a day or two. There was a lot of nervous energy at Chez Golightly yesterday. I had grading to do, but after every second or third paper, I jumped up to vacuum or chop veggies. It was hard to sit still!
Once I finished my grading goal for the day, I cast on for a new project: Andrea Goutier’s Hurricane Hat. I kicked it old school, writing out the pattern in the little notebook I’ve been using for the last eight years, just in case I lost wifi. Sure was soothing to knit 2×2 rib while the wind made the trees sway.
We were so fortunate. My thoughts are with those without power, those who sustained damage. I hope you’ve got something to provide a little soothing to you, too.
Stores are mobbed with folks rushing to prepare for Sandy, who may or may not pay an (unwelcome) visit to the east coast early next week. Surviving last year’s week + snow-tober power outage taught me a few lessons about how to be prepared:
Fill water jugs. Buy water if necessary, but be sure to have potable drinking water.
Fill the tub. We’re on a well, not town water, and we need to supply our own eau de toilet.
Stock up on non-perishable food. I have lots of Amy’s soup, granola bars, fruit, pretzels, etc. to keep us going.
Check the batteries. Oh, we have flashlights. Man, do we have flashlights. I even have a tiny battery-powered Ott light that allows me to read and knit after the sun sets.
Get all the laundry done. We were lucky to wash our clothes on power outage day 7 at a friend’s house, and because I’d ensured I was caught up on laundry, that was fine.
Clean the house but good. It will get messy if power is out for more than a few days, but a good scrubbing helps keep it livable.
Gas up the car. If escape is necessary, be able to hit the road.
Tuck away some cash. A few local stores were open last year, but they couldn’t accept my debit card. Luckily, I had cash on me.
Neal has procured a generator, which should alleviate worries about the sump pump not working and the basement flooding. We’ll go out for a few more supplies throughout the weekend. The biggest challenge right now, and I know many of my fellow 2011 power outage survivors feel this way, is to not get panicked or anxious.
Good thing I have some knitting to soothe my mind!
Carole wants a peek into my dream Hallowe’en trick or treat bag. Here goes:
1. Peppermint Patty. I’ll pop ’em in the freezer to make them extra good.
2. Three Musketeers. Also good in the freezer.
3. Tootsie Pops. If I were the owl, my answer would be “two licks to get to the center”. I just love crunching down on a Tootsie Pop.
4. Tootsie Rolls. C’mon, what would a Tootsie Pop be without a Tootsie Roll center?
5. Caramel corn. I’m not sure if that’s what she calls it, but Dana makes the yummiest popcorn. She used to leave little baggies of it in my UNM mailbox to surprise me. I’d sure be happy if she’d come on over and drop me a bag in person!
6. Apple cider donuts. Okay, no one is REALLY going to put donuts into my trick or treat bag, but they’re perfect for a Hallowe’en party.
7. 100,000 dollar bar. Yeah, it has a new name, but it’s always 100,000 dollar bar to me.
8. Butterfinger. A taste of one will last me all year long.
9. Heath bar. Those were my favorite in high school.
We had an old neighbor who would offer trick or treaters a pop or a roll of nickels. I loved getting that roll of nickels so, so much! Pretty generous of him, no?
The PoMoGolightly Express left Connecticut at about 8:20. Destination: NY Sheep and Wool Festival. Rhinebeck. Bright colors on the trees, fog lifting to reveal sunshine and puffy clouds, and no traffic made for a pleasant drive. Once there, Rae and I visited Gale’s Rhinebeck Shoot and enjoyed the critters and vendors.
I didn’t purchase much, but I love what I brought home. Nancy from Long Ridge Farm is one of my favorite vendors and a delightful woman, and she now carries awesome leather bags from Maiwa. The prices are affordable, and the craftsmanship is excellent.
Spring Tide Farm Cashmere
I’ve wanted to knit a pair of dressier fingerless mitts, and I found the perfect match up of pattern and yarn at the Springtide Farm booth. That’s 1 oz. of 2-ply cashmere. I can’t begin to describe how soft it is!
At the Cooperative Press booth, I got to meet M.K. Carroll, the editor for the forthcoming Fresh Design Crochet series (I have two patterns in the series!), pet a fleece (Shannon doesn’t know how it got in her booth), take a peek at Knit Companion (a must-have, iPad knitters!), and acquire a copy of Anna Dalvi’s Ancient Egypt in Lace and Color. My interest in knitting lace has been renewed. Every pattern in the book is one I want to knit and wear!
There were a few other acquisitions for far-flung friends, but I don’t want to spoil any surprises.
Rae and I left a little early to meet up with one of my besties from my New York days. She lives across the river from Rhinebeck and schlepped over to have dinner with us. We had a fabulous meal at Market St, then wended our way home, dodging deer and mice. Only one thing could have made it a better day: a magic transporter that enabled Sara to take a quick day-trip with us!
The best parts of the day? Visiting with friends old and new…seeing people I only get to see at Rhinebeck, meeting people who feel like old chums because of Twitter chats, remembering yet again what an amazing community we have. At the risk of sounding sappy, I can’t imagine life without you, my knitblog/Rav/Twitter pals!
Even though I started in July, I’m not confident I’ll have my Lightweight Pullover done for Rhinebeck. I know, I know. There are plenty of knitters who whip out a sweater in a week, but I’m not one of them. No amount of peer pressure can make me knit faster! Still, I’m pleased with the sweater. The Noro Ayatori’s colors whisper spring, which will make this a welcome garment as the world turns gray. My only complaint: Ayatori is underspun in places. Read: it breaks now and again.
I had the pleasure of hanging out with Shannon and Kate a little at Stitches East over the weekend. Dragonfly Fibers’s tag line is “The color of happiness,” and I’m here to say: this is a true thing. I think Kate’s got magic eyes that lets her make such pretty yarn for the rest of us.
***
Here’s some random Monday goodies:
Taproot Magazine. I haven’t subscribed yet, but I’ve been enjoying the website. It makes me feel peaceful.
Signature Needles. Picked up a set of dpns for the not-quite-Rhinebeck sweater sleeves. The sharp points rock!
Abbi by Elizabeth Smith. Maybe Kate sent me home with enough Super Traveller in Peach Melba to make my own. Guess she didn’t want me nicking the cozy sample that we were all wearing throughout the weekend.
World Enough and Time by Christian McEwan. She spoke at my university recently. I had to miss it, but I’ve been enjoying her book every morning while I eat breakfast. It, too, makes me feel peaceful, helping me to remember what is important to my creative life.
I woke up knowing that I’d dreamed of Rhinebeck. This year, my dear Sara won’t be with me. We’re both experiencing some sadness over this. Six years ago, we held a tag sale to get ourselves spending money for the festival everyone chatted up, and we’ve gone together each year since. It won’t be the same without her, but it is a long commute from the banks of l’Oise to the banks of the Hudson! Luckily, Rae agreed to keep me company, and I’m looking forward to seeing all my on-line peeps.
Be sure to stop me and say hi, will you? And don’t judge me if the only new knit I have is my red FLS!
It’s a long weekend! Columbus Day, no matter what one thinks of it, gives me a fall break, and I’m grateful for that. Carole asked what I did with my weekend, so here are ten highlights:
1. Picked up the second to last CSA share of the season. I plan to roast the watermelon radishes for a root veggie pie (I picked up carrots and turnips, too). I can’t eat fried food, so the classic use for the green tomatoes is out. I’m considering a green tomato salsa. Other ideas?
2. Made one of my fave soups and bread for Sunday’s supper. If I could just find local celery, I’d be able to make soup entirely out of local goodness.
3. Worked on my Rhinebeck sweater. I’m not optimistic about finishing it in time, but I’ll keep at it. I’m simply not a marathon or sprint knitter. I’m a tortoise knitter, not a hare.
6. Watched Grey’s Anatomy. I finished Season 8 and caught up on this season’s episodes. After a few years of the show being lame, I think it’s back. Anyway, it’s good entertainment while knitting and avoiding football!
7. Marveled at the speed of fall. It’s really here. Leaves are changing color and dropping. The lovely fall light makes everything glow.
8. Hugged Shannon. She’s helping me to build book furniture. Okay, not really. She’s stashing CP inventory for Stitches and Rhinebeck here, which means I got to hang out with her for a while. She’s having an epic October. Seriously, if you see her, buy her a drink.
He’s nothing short of fabu, this man who builds beautiful spaces for us to enjoy, makes me laugh at his Ron Swanson-Larry David-ishness, helps me achieve my physical goals, donates his special blood regularly, volunteers his service to his union brothers and sisters, fights like a superhero for the environment, dotes on our dogs, challenges my thinking, reads books just to discuss them with me, devours and synthesizes news, encourages rest, and just plain makes me happy.
And it is his birthday! Hope you’ll have a piece of (virtual) (carrot) cake with us to celebrate!
People, we need to do better watching out for each other on the highways and byways, and I mean motorists and bikers equally.
This summer, two of my friends were struck by cars while on their bikes. One biker sustained pretty serious injuries, and the other had insult added to injury: a dog bit him. A dog in the car that struck him.
It’s easy to zone out, for both drivers and bikers. I know that. But we’ve got to try harder.
Bikers, obey the rules of the road. Stop at lights and signs. Stay as far over to the right as you can. Use hand signals. Ride single file. Remember that you are extremely vulnerable on that bike.
Drivers, remember that even in the smallest of vehicles, you are very large and can kill a person on a bike. Communicate. Be nice. In CT, it is the law that you give a 3 foot berth to bikers. Expect the biker to not obey the stop signs (I know, it stinks, but it happens, and expecting it may save a life). Realize that the biker may be away from the road’s edge because there is debris that would flip her bike on the edge of the road. Understand that bikers riding abreast (while wrong), may have had the road to themselves for the last 20 minutes and are trying to get into single file.
I’ve been riding longer rides in my attempt to build up to 100 miles. On Sunday, at mile 22 of a 30 mile bike path ride, a group of bikers who were not obeying the rules of the bike path (stay right, ride single file) caused me to crash. I can’t believe that I have no broken bones. I’m bruised and scraped. Most of all, though, I’m sad. The person responsible for the accident didn’t even come back to make sure I was okay. That hurts far more than the three-inch-long gouge on my elbow.
So, please. Let’s all just try a little harder to watch out for each other.
*I know that my readers are considerate, rule-abiding, lovely humans. Thank you for that!
Carole asked for Ten Things I Love to do on the Weekend:
1. Sleep in. I get up at 5:37 on teaching days and 6:32 on non-teaching days. Sleeping without the alarm is a weekend luxury!
2. Read for pleasure. During the semester, most of my week-day reading relates to classes or research or other work-related projects. Nothing like a good novel on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
3. Enjoy a second cup of coffee. It is so nice to sip slowly and linger over a book or the paper.
4. Read the Sunday New York Times.
5. Knit in the morning. Seeing a theme here? I like laid back mornings!
6. Watch a movie. Week-day evenings I’m usually either too busy or too tired to sit through an entire movie. It’s a nice treat on a Saturday night, though.
7. Take a long bike ride. This past Sunday, Neal and I took advantage of the beautiful weather on a 30-mile ride. I’ll skip the crash, road rash, and general bruised body I suffered and focus on the pretty weather and fun challenge. (Really. It’s a miracle I have no broken bones.)
8. Nap. Half an hour in the afternoon does wonders for the rest of the day. Little kids who resist their naps have no idea. No. Idea.
9. Make hot breakfasts. My favorites are this pancake recipe (I add berries) or my secret French toast recipe.
10. Enjoy Neal’s cooking. He takes over the kitchen on Sunday afternoon, and that is fine by me!
