Category: Don’t you just love Tiffany’s?

There is only one television program that I will clear my calender for, for which I will stay home from almost any event or festive occasion:  UCONN men’s basketball.  Last night we watched their first game.  The team is young–only freshmen and sophomores, and I’m excited to get to know the new players. 

You’ll notice that I changed the background color on my blog.  It’s as close as I can get to Husky Blue. 

Go Huskies!

I’m making Fetching mitts for a number of my Christmas gifts.  I’m adoring the cables more than I’ve ever adored cables before.  Want to know why?  Ok, I’ll tell you.  It’s on account of Grumperina’s lesson on how to cable sans cable needle.  It is an elegant solution to what has always been an awkward bit of knitting for me.  Try it! 

The weather couldn’t have been nicer.  It was cool enough for all of the lovely handknits that I saw throughout the day.  Everyone I met seemed so happy, with good reason.  What could be wrong when there are cool people to meet, adorable animals to visit, and.  Fiber.  Googobs of fiber.

First the people.

Here’s Beth who won best in show for her shawl (did I get that right, Beth?).  She won a big impressive prize.  And I met her.  And she was fun to meet.

Here I am, living it up with Ann, who was my Sockapaloooza knitter–and you know how I love the socks she made me.  She had on her Cards shirt, as promised.  She’s also volunteered to be one of the ksks angels.  Isn’t she awesome?

This is one of my best friends, Sara.  We met when we were 14.  The first conversation I remember having with her was at the start of gym class our freshman year of high school.  She had purple Candies, and I told her I liked them.  And we’ve been getting into trouble together ever since.  She liked the bunnies.  If it weren’t for dogs in both our homes, I think one of us may have taken a bunny home.  The blog love has her thinking that she may start one of her own.  She reads mine, so leave a comment encouraging her to join us, ok?

You know how you feel like you know some of your blog friends for reals?  Isn’t it a thrill when you actually get to meet them?  It was for me!  Meeting Mama-E made me so. very. happy.  She introduced me to Amy, who I talked to later in the day about spinning silk hankies (everyone should spin these, she declared).

I ran into some difficulties hooking up with Flat Scout.  Really, though, with all that fiber around, no wonder she took off by herself for a bit.  In the end, though we had some time together before I passed her back to Stephanie to give to Margene. 

Before the pass off, Flat Scout got some love from Sarah.  That’s Rogue on Sarah.  I saw a couple of them yesterday, and I have to admit to a little bit of longing for one of my own.

I failed to get pictures of other bloggers I met, but they include: Adrian, Christine, Martha, Jessica (who has the prettiest hair evah), Deborah, Jenny (we fondled spindles together), and Kate, whom I saw buying her very special birthday present.  I also had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with Michelle from The Sweet Sheep.  I’m just going to be honest.  She’s an enabler.  Really.

Now the loot.  Remember how I had that yard sale to get some disposable income?  Well, I went over budget by about $30, but I"m so pleased with what I got.  Next year, Sara and I agreed, we need to hold a bigger yard sale.

This is my new Bosworth spindle.  First, I have to say that the Bosworths are delightful folks.  Jonathan was sweet as could be to me and Sara.  There’s nothing like meeting the craftsman who has made something you just know you’re going to treasure.  After spinning on my cd spindle, this Midi is a dream.  She’s made from Mexican Cocobolo with a Bloodwood shaft.  There were a few others that caught my eye, but this one practically leapt into my hands.  Love at first sight.

That cloud of fiber that she’s nestled into?  That’s one pound of a merino, wool, and angora blend in Honeydew colorway from Twin Ponds Fiber Farm.  Their stuff was just fabu.  I tried to resist, but the enablers were with me, and it was the perfect color for a ver special secret project.  My photography skills are not good enough to let you see the color, but once it’s spun, I’ll try to make a better picture of the yarn.

From Shadey Side Farm, I got some Firestar, as well as a few ounces of chocolate alpaca/Tussah top (feels so very soft).  Aren’t the colors fantastic? I enjoyed myself yesterday.  Between meeting great people and seeing (and acquiring) truly beautiful fiber and tools, I can’t think of anything that would have made the day better.

Next year, I’m staying over!

You might remember the beautiful socks I was gifted for Sockapaloooza.  G’on, go refresh your memory.

I’ve been waiting for a perfect, cool day to wear these special socks from Ann for the first time.  That day was Friday.

It rained here, and there was a definite chill in the air.  And I had eight hours of student conferences ahead of me.

I felt pretty special all day long, my feet toasty warm, my spirits raised throughout the seemingly endless conferences.  All because of a beautiful pair of handknit socks.

Do you think if everyone in the world had a pair there might be peace?

It’s Neal’s big day.  I’m not much for PDA’s, but on his birthday, I want to say how fortunate I feel to be his girl.  This man drove me back and forth between the east coast and New Mexico; he’s installed closets for me; he baby sat my dog for almost a year so I could tackle school with an insane east coast girl kind of schedule; he quit smoking for me; he dotes on the dogs; he lets me sleep when he gets up at 5:30 a.m. to walk the dogs; he cooks me meals he doesn’t even really like just because I do; he listens when I’m upset and changes his actions if that is the next reasonable step; he’s not afraid to tell me if my behavior is "unbecoming;" he cracks me up; he’s the most loyal person I’ve ever met; he builds me things; he reminds me that my focus right now is school, not my job; he’s got an amazing vocabulary; he’s agreed to learn how to dance so I’m not always longing for my cowboys; he adores me. 

Aren’t I lucky he was born?

Why the songs belted out to the sky?

I just looked on the website of the closer LYS.  Go on, take a look.

I missed the Yarn Harlot in TN.  I missed the Yarn Harlot in NM. 

I will not miss her in CT.  Alright, Scissorinas, you all gonna join me?  By the way, Granby High is walking distance from my house.  Ok, a little bit of a walk, but not that far! 

Sheila saved me an autographed copy of Knitting Rules, so I’ve read the book, but I cannot wait to hear Stephanie speak. 

ETA: Marji just e-mailed me that tickets will go on sale September 15.  I’ll keep you posted!

Who else is going?

I can check everything except registering for my dissertation hours off the list from this morning.  With only a few interruptions, I revised two stories (which still need more work, don’t get me wrong), finished grading my students’ work, submitted grades, and did some work for the Taos Summer Writers’ Conference.

In other words, my semester is officially over.  Time to focus on my move!

When Scout’s Supergirl told me they owned Don’t Break the Ice, I begged to babysit so that I could play.  It’s one of my favorite games; my youngest godson got me into it, and I love to play.  The Superkids and I decided we were playing for the World Championship.  Can you guess who’s the new Champ?  No…not me–it’s Supergirl!  I had a fabu time with the kids, enjoyed Scout’s crock pot Mac & Cheese (she’s promised the recipe.  If you ask nice I bet she’d share it with you), got to watch my Netfix’d Sex and the City dvd (after the kids went to bed, of course), worked on Shadow Shawl, and came home with a lovely thank you gift and Pinky T.  The camera batteries are charging, but you can see some of it here and here.

Two drawings tomorrow:  Race for the Cure and Name the Beaver.  Aren’t you just tingling with anticipation?