Happy Halloween

For the first time in my life there are NO pumpkins on my front porch! How did this happen? How can a person you have been married to for 20 Halloweens, the man who has always selected one pumpkin per person come home empty handed? And on top of it all, seem surprised the entire household was sad, shocked, incredulous? What's next? No Christmas gifts?

Deprivation

Am I the only person in the world who did not attend Rhinebeck this year? Or more specifically, am I the only knitter who has never attended Rhinebeck?

Each year I read the posts and wonder, what am I missing? The yarn and fiber? I can order from almost any vendor on line or via snail mail. Or from one of the six local yarn shops all less than 30 minutes from my house.

The people? I really get a touch anxious around crowds - and hells bells - if they are bussing them in from Boston...

The festival buzz? I have my two little fun fests within an hours' drive.

Aw crap, you caught me! I feel just like the little kid with her nose pressed up against the candy store window, and not a cent in her pocket!

Frogitis or Knit It Again, Sam?

This is a classic example of why nothing is ever finished. Over the summer I knit this. Cute little top town sweater done in the round with Cotton Fleece. Easy. You see that it is a 3/4 length sleeve. I decided that it would make a great short sleeved sweater - maybe because it was the middle of July and 80 plus degrees? I did wear it once. And I hated it. It needs longer sleeves.

I have another sweater started two summers ago. I spent an entire season picking and choosing the exact same shade of 5 different white yarns. I was thinking stripes. The back is finished. I hate it. Why? Because it suddenly dawned on me it would look so much better done in small mitered squares.

Is there a name for this knitting disease?

Odds and Ends

Last night I finished a very interesting book. The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank by Ellen Feldman was based on Peter van Pels, the boy who was in hiding with Anne Frank. Feldman's book is based on the premise that Peter survives the camps. The novel follows Peter after his arrival in the United States. He becomes a successful businessman who settles in New Jersey. He loves his wife, worships his children, and is haunted by his past. van Pels turns his back on his religion, vowing that his family will never be taken - that he will be prepared.

My only criticism of the book was one of tone. Peter's voice did not ring true. The words, the concerns, his relationships seemed "off" in a way that I cannot label. But truly, a book worth reading.

The Yarn Harlot just had some kind of fun. How I envy her trip to SOAR. But let it not be said that McPhee is the only one who has fiber filled weekends. I, too, had a weekend of spinning and weaving. Want to see what I was up to? Since Margaret and MaryEllen (October 8)have done all the work, I will not duplicate their efforts. Thanks for taking pix while we all have tootsie pops in our mouths Mags! After spending two days with Patsy Zawistoski, I no longer feel as though I am posing as a spinner. Long draw, double draft, worsted/woolen spin and prep. I got the power! We may not have been catching drop spindles in our teeth, but we had a great time in a beautiful setting with wonderful friends and teachers.