Back from the Beck

And we survived the weather.

The weather was much worse here in New Jersey then it was in Rhinebeck – when we left home, there was snow on the ground and it was still coming down.  Nothing stuck, but still….we were very nervous that our arrival up in NY was going to be way worse.  It really wasn’t.  It was rainy when we got there, but we set up and didn’t get too wet.  It was cold, but we had a nifty little heater that we used to take the chill out of the air before we went to sleep and when we got up and we were snug.  Friday’s weather was really nice – partly cloudy but lots of sun did break through.  On Saturday, the wind was a little whippy, but we made our way through the festival without a drop falling on our heads and I think that was a nice little bonus.  I was not looking forward to trudging around in the wet and the cold and the wind.  I was surprised that there defintely seemed to be less vendors this year – there were quite a few boths curtained off that were empty and the upper floor of one of the barn buildings was only half occupied.  Bob and I had a nice time, and I came home with a few things – no large quantities of yarn that I planned on – I just couldn’t find what I had in mind for a few sweaters and that’s not a big deal – I can always get yarn here for future sweater projects.  I even managed a few skeins of STR, which I never wait on line for, and this year wasn’t any different.  I walked in later in the morning, picked out a few skeins and paid.  The lines earlier were close to mind boggling – and I am not a line person.    All in all, the weather was not nearly as bad as forecasted and really held out for us.  We even managed to get the camper shut up before the first rain drops fell this morning – the weather was really on our side.

I didn’t go to any meetups with other fiber folk – this weekend was a get away for Bob and I – Rhinebeck always falls around our Wedding Anniversary and this year is a biggie – we’ll be married 25 years this Tuesday!  It’s hard to believe that 25 years have gone by so fast.  It’s been 25 amazing years, and I can only hope the next 25 will be as Wonderful!  We had such a great time this weekend – a true tribute to how we get along in our day to day lives, and that the man I married would stand on line and risk his life by uttering the words “RedHeart is way cheaper at Walmart” is a true testament of the sacrafices he’s willing to make for me!  Not every woman can say the man she loves wakes her up by yelling – “You better Hurry up or ALL the worsted weight will be GONE”.   And he managed to crack everyone up around us while we were waiting in line by saying “They were all wrong – it’s actually very cold in Hell!”

I did manage to get another project finished before we left….I loved this project so much, I bought more Cashmere at Rhinebeck to make another.  This was a great pattern and I can see many Pretty Things being knit around here.   I also managed to finish the Anthropolgie wrap and was able to wear it my first day back to work after the flu….it’s a great, fast little wrap and I can definitely see knitting it again.  I think I would make it a bit wider next time,  just for a little more coverage on my back.  I still haven’t gotten a decent photo of it, though.  This weather really doesn’t make for the nice picture taking light.

Time to snuggle up with some knitting and enjoy the rest of the weekend – it’s really blustery and blowing around outside and I’m glad it held off till we got back home!  Have a great week and I’ll post the Rhinebeck haul next time!

Finishes, Starts and In-betweens

What happens when you are home sick for 3 days and counting? Well, you get to lie about a lot, you get to watch a lot of tv, you get to nap quite a bit, strangely – people avoid you like the plague and you might just get a little bit of knitting finished up to occupy your time.

Finished Yoga socks…just in time for me to miss my next two yoga classes.  This weekend because I don’t want to spread my germs around and next weekend was a planned miss for Rhinebeck.  Sigh.  Well, they’re done and didn’t really take much time after all – when you fuss around and avoid stuff, I guess that’s when the time suck adds up.  These really should have been a quicker knit then they turned out to be and they’re very comfy.

I was also able to finish the Anthropologie Inspired Wrap – it’s in the final blocking stages of drying right now.  It doesn’t have buttons yet but once I’m out and about in the real world next week, I’ll pick some up and should be able to pack this with me for next weekend.  I also started another wrap – the Every Way Wrap, which just looks like a bit of ribbing right now because I was distracted by this……

Pretty Thing by the Yarn Harlot.  And it really is a pretty thing – and a delight to knit – it looks so intricate and delicate but the pattern so far is just wonderful to follow and really not complicated at all.  I’m about to start row 25 and I just cast on for this late last night – so it really goes quickly and I’m guessing I’ll be able to pack this along for next weekend, too.  I’m also guessing I’m going to knit more than one of these – it really is that enjoyable.

So….I’m down with what is most likely a mild case of H1N1….which is not surprising because it is going around, around here.  Can I tell you what I find surprising?  Why people insist on sending their children or themselves to work or school when they’re sick.  I’ve had a lot of time on my hands the past few days and I can’t tell you the amount of references I’ve seen to “fever police” or “fever cops” – I can only guess they’re referring to school nurses, which I have the highest respect and admiration for.  Let me tell you something – I used to be a SAHM, and I always kept my kids home until they were FEVER FREE WITHOUT MEDICATION for 24 HOURS.  There is a very good reason why that policy is in effect in a lot of schools and employers – and it’s to protect YOU and YOUR FAMILY.  I pisses me off beyond reason when I see parents mouthing off about being put out by having to keep their kids home another day just to make sure they’re well enough.  Let me thank you now, personally because I can say without a doubt that it’s because of people like YOU, that I’m home sick now.  It’s because of people like YOU, that disregard everyone else because you have an appointment that you think you can’t cancel, a get-together with your friends, a hair cut, or lets face it – you just can’t take one more day home with your sick kids.  How ever will you occupy them for another day?????  Listen, no one ever died of boredom, but people have died of this.  Thank YOU so very much, because not only have I been sick, but my immune compromised husband has had it and I’m just waiting for my other family members – who don’t have a choice in WHERE THEY LIVE, to come down with it.  I’ve isolated my self from my own family and have cancelled birthday celebrations with my friend, going to a Giants game and yoga class – because I’ll be damned if I’m going to be so irresponsible as to knowingly go out in public with what I have.   So the next time you think about whining because you have to stay home sick or keep your kids home another day to make sure they’re well?  By all means, you can reference back to this post as a reminder why. If you can’t have a lick of common sense in your head, than at least follow the policies that your schools and employers put out,  and stop sending sick kids in to school who will undoubtedly be sent home when their tylenol wears off, or sitting in your cubicle, coughing your germs through your entire office.  One more thing – don’t write me a comment and tell me that you sent your kid to school after they had a fever the night before and everything was fine – I don’t want to hear it – virus shed for a certain amount of time (hence the fever free WITHOUT medication rule) even after your initial symptoms.  This particular flu sheds for at least 24 hours before symptoms and 5 to 7 days after symptoms show.  That’s a long time to expose other people.  Stay home and keep your kids home if you’re sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (no whining about having to take days off from work – been there, done that and you won’t find any sympathy from me about that – you signed up for EVERYTHING when you had kids – the good, the bad, the sick)

Soap Box Out.

I need another lie down.