Major Knitter

Columbus Day and Everything Gets Thrown Off Schedule

Since the boys didn't have school yesterday, it felt like a long lazy summer Sunday.  But since it was in fact a Monday, I'm completely off schedule today.  I didn't put the dry-cleaning out.  Forgot to empty the garbage.  Now I have to keep an eagle eye on my calendar to make sure I don't miss any appointments for the day.  Does this happen to you?

We had a great day.  Primogeniture had a friend over all day.  We invited the parents over and had a little impromptu dinner.  It was very nice.  Now I'm trying to dig out from under.

How about you?

And I didn't even touch my knitting - except to show it off.

Thimble Islands

BF and I spent several wonderful days in Madison, Connecticut with our friends John and Julie.  While the boys golfed, Julie and I took my sock on a little high sea adventure with Captain Dave to tour the Thimble Islands.

 

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After all the fresh air, we were ready for a New England summer lunch - Lobster Roll

We ate our lunch overlooking the marina

Now We Are Three

Wow!  Oh!  Wow!  Oh!  Wow!  I can't believe it's already been three years since I've been blogging.  I've noticed that many knitters started their blogs in late March or early April.  Do you think that has something to do with the winter doldrums?  I'm not sure, but I do know that I have enjoyed every minute of hosting the Major Knitter blog and look forward to many more years of blogging and knitting in the future.  Each year I meet some more of my virtual friends in person.  I hope to meet many more of you live and in color this year.  If you're in the neighborhood (Westport, CT) please let me know.  I'd love to sit and knit with you.

Happy Easter

 

Look at how these hand-painted sugar cookies made by my friend Jillian came out so beautifully.  Isn't it amazing that they coincide with this month's Project Spectrum colors?  If you'd like some of these cookies, you can purchase them (or special order your sugar cookies) at the Westport Country Store & Deli at 332 Wilton Road in Westport, CT 06880.  Call them at (203 227-2200.  I plan on ordering some cookies for an upcoming Boy Scout event in June. 

Down in the Nick of Time

Whew - last night at about 9:00 p.m., I managed to get all my Christmas decorations down, packed and stored until next December.  Whew.  I find that somewhat amazing.  And with 3 hours to go before MLK Jr Day.  Not bad.  I generally think that the tree and decorations are supposed to come down on The Feast of the Epiphany (January 6th).  My friend from Brooklyn calls this date "Little Christmas".  Somehow though, mine always stays up a little too long.  I have imprinted a mantra in my brain housing group that goes like this "No matter what, the tree must come down before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day".  So I did it. 

But never fear, I'm already working on next year's Christmas ornaments.  I bought these six new designs from Charlette's Collectibles.  The boys saw them sitting on the kitchen table in the blog photo-state (you know what I'm talking about, you've left your things in their blog photo locations, too) and Secundogeniture said "Hey Mom, You make these!" as if I had invented them.  Sweet, sweet boy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish happiness, peace, health, and love on this Thanksgiving for all of you.  May you spend it with family, friends, and loved ones and be thankful for the good things that are happening in your life.

Now for a chuckle... you may have already seen this Lola's Turkey cartoon.

Happy 230th Independence Day!

I hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July.  We did.  We spent it with great friends, food, sun, fun, and fireworks.  I did a bit of knitting, but no progress of note. I'll share some pictures tomorrow.  In the meantime, enjoy the cookies from our weekend of leisure.

Halfway Birthday Gift

You probably don't remember this post.  But six months later, my birthday planting party is paying off.  The brilliant yellow daffodils are blooming everywhere in the backyard.  There are probably 1,000 daffodils and they bring such a touch of color to my life as I look outside all day long.  It's the birthday gift that keeps on giving.

Now We Are Two!

I don't feel a day over 39 and a half!  But today is my second blog-iversary.  Yippy!  So far it appears that in two years I've had 973,139 hits.  I wonder what the next two years will hold for me, for the blog, for knitting and for new blogdom friendships.  It's been such a wonderful experience and has opened the door to many new friends from around the world.  I truly feel fortunate to have met everyone online.  Little by little, I hope to meet many of you in person. 

Happy knitting!

NYS Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY

Mark your calendars.  Get your babysitter.  Better yet, bring the children.  Bring the whole family.  Bring your friends.  DEFINITELY bring a large vehicle to cart everything home.  It's time for the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY.

October 15-16, 2005

Saturday:  10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday:  10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

We had a blast last year. We're looking forward to another great time this year.  Here are some snapshots of the fun Tara, Regina and I had at the 2004 festival.

Happy New Year!

I'm having a few friends over for a small dinner party this evening to help ring in the new year.  Actually, it will be the knitting gang... Tara, Regina, Darcy and Patrizia (who is back from Italy!).  How nice.  Friends who knit together, stick together... or something like that.  It's so wonderful to be part of a close-knit group.    OK, I'll stop with the knitting puns now.

Here's wishing you and your family and friends a very happy, festive, healthy, safe, productive and prosperous 2005!

Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival EXTRAVAGANZA

Wow! Wow! and Double Wow! We had a great time at the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival yesterday. Here's a picture review of our day at the fair. If you didn't get to go yesterday. There's still time today. Go for it! Happy knitting...

Baa. Baa. (They really say that!) Here are some blue ribbon winning sheep from the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool festival. These look like they'd keep me busy knitting all winter.

Jennifer - aka the "Major Knitter" with Little Bo Peep and her sheep

Tara finds some beautiful yarns to purchase

Regina begins her shopping spree

Tara got so many wonderful comments about her gorgeous felted bag the entire day. I think it may have been the highlight of the fair. Everyone there had something they made themselves. It was sort of a walking "Show and Tell." I just wore the cammie vest (next time I'll get it embroidered with "www.majorknitter.com")

I hear $250. Do I hear $275? Do I hear $275? SOLD! for $275

Ah, the New England scenery in October is just breathtaking as the leaf peeping is at its peak.

Wow! Look at all this beatiful yarn that Tara and Regina purchased.

Jennifer's meager purchases. Yes! I really only purchased one (1) skein of yarn. Can you believe it? I have way too much yarn sitting around the house to go crazy on new purchases.

On The Road Again

I can't wait to get on the road again... Tomorrow is the big ROAD TRIP to the

NYS Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY
Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17, 2004
Dutchess County Fairgrounds
Rhinebeck, NY
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 (?)

Tara, Regina and I will be there along with a few other friends. Tara asked me if I was going to wear camouflage so people would recognize me as Major Knitter. What a great idea! I went to the Army Navy Surplus Store and bought a camouflage vest which I'll be wearing tomorrow. If you see me, say hello. I'd love to meet you.

I hope to see you there! Happy knitting. Drive carefully.

Happy Birthday to Me!

OK my friends. It was Girls Night Out. The girls invited me out to help me celebrate my birthday (which was on Saturday). We went to The Black Duck (a famous watering hole in Westport, CT). I had a big Cub Scout campfire from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., so I couldn't join them until after dinner. Can you tell I'm still wearing my Den Mother uniform? Oh - and with three knitters in this photo, can you believe that the only person wearing a homemade poncho is the non-knitter - Vinni? Pictured from L-R: Darcy Travlos, Vinni Schwarz, Jennifer Jackson and Tara Brownlee

Now for the test. Which shoes match which girl??? Good luck!

NYS Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY

Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17, 2004
Dutchess County Fairgrounds
Rhinebeck, NY
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 (?)

The NYS Sheep and Wool Festival is coming once again to Rhinebeck, NY.

Tara, Regina and I are planning to go on Saturday, October 16th. I just did a Mapquest search and it looks like Rhinebeck is 1 hour and 50 minutes from Westport. I think it's well worth it. Will we see you there? Here we come.

ROAD TRIP BABY!

Sixth Annual New York Knit Out & Crochet

Wow! It's here already.

Sixth Annual New York Knit-Out & Crochet 2004
Sunday, October 3, 2004
Union Square Park, 17th Street
Noon - 5 P.M.
Rain or shine

I've had this on my calendar for ages. I told my friends. I've been planning. But the truth is... Sunday is my day with my boys. I even considered taking them into the city to do fun things and sneak a trip over to Union Square to drop off my bag of knit 7x9 squares for the Warm-Up America project and also submit an original scarf pattern for the scarf contest and just walk around and look and meet other knitting aficionados.

But, alas! It's not meant to be. The boys have tennis from 2:00-4:00 and I really can't have them miss those wonderful lessons for a knitting event.

If you can go, please do. Tell me all about it. Send me some pictures. Think of me.

Oh, and if you want to take my bag full of 7x9 squares to drop off at the Warm Up America booth, that would be even better!

KNIT OUT NEW YORK!

The Boys from Brazil

Did you ever see that movie? Probably not. I'm in Brazil right now. Doesn't that sound just dandy? I'm here to pick up my boys from Grandma and Grandpa's house where they spend every summer. Unfortunately, since every other Brazilian family who lives in the US is trying to come home this week in time for school, there was no room for the whole family on last night's flight. Fernando managed to get us all on a flight tonight (with an upgrade, too!) so we'll be home tomorrow morning.

Unfortunately, that means I won't be home in time to go to the Saturday Morning Knitting Bee at Abbondanza! I don't know if the other knitters can be there, so it's probably not the best Saturday to venture out to Westport to meet and knit with us. I'll let you know when we have a regular schedule. It might be every Saturday at Abbondanza or maybe only once or twice a month.

Hope to see you soon.

Fifth Annual Knit-Out & Crochet

Hey everbody! Want to meet up for the KNIT OUT??? It's coming soon. Mark your calendars!

New York City, Sunday, October 3rd
Noon to 5 p.m., Union Square Park
(17th Street between Broadway and Park Ave.)
RAIN OR SHINE!

1. FREE one-on-one knit and crochet lessons

2. Fashion shows for people and dogs!

3. "Show & Share" your favorite projects

4. Yarn projects for kids

5. Meet the authors and chat with editors

6. Technique and tip demos

7. "Yarn Doctors" answer your crochet and knit questions

8. Displays of the latest yarns, patterns, tools and accessories

9. Learn about guilds, classes, clubs, and charity programs

10. Plus, help Warm Up America! bring a 7" by 9" crocheted or knitted section, which will be joined with others to make a patchwork afghan for someone in need.

Sponsored by the Craft Yarn Council of America in cooperation with the Big Apple Knitters' Guild, the New York Chapter of the Crochet Guild, The Knitting Guild Association, Crochet Guild of America and The National Needlework Association. For more information e-mail: cycainfo@aol.com.

And the Rockets Red Glare

Happy Fourth of July! We started our weekend out on a perfect note. Westport held its fireworks display on Friday, July 2nd. I guess I should say "Happy Second of July" but that just doesn't sound right to me. The fireworks were at Compo Beach on the Long Island Sound and were absolutely beautiful. The had a few new ones. I particularly liked the ones that shot up the letters S-U-A-A-U-S. It was supposed to say USA! USA! but the timing was off slightly and someone appears to have sent them up out of order. Oh well. Here's a link to my favorite Westport Now site so you can share in the moment.