And A Good Time Was Had By Me

It's Monday.  Again.  Seems like it shows up after every weekend, what's that about???  ;-)

I hope you had a good weekend.  Mine started off with exhaustion - Members' Night was especially taxing this year, since the person who filled out our forms did not think to ask for chairs.  So we were not just inundated with people, but had to stand the entire time.  By the time I left, my back was killing me and my voice was nearly gone.  I woke up on Saturday with the beginning of a cold, which was annoying, but it was *my* weekend and I wasn't gonna not enjoy it.

My Going to Rhinebeck By Staying Home weekend did in fact get to start with apple cider donuts.  I walked over to the farmer's market, and managed to get the last package of four!  (I got up later than I usually do - see above - so I'm lucky that any were left ...).  The Tim and I had our apple cider donuts and some tea, and then we headed to a Michael's nearby to look for frames.  I have been wanting to get a frame for my honeybee cross-stitch, and we both wanted to find a good frame for my witchy cross-stitch I made for my niece.  I had looked at a couple of A.C. Moore stores, but the ones near us primarily sell supplies related to painting and drawing, as they are near art schools.  Fortunately, we found the perfect frames and they were even on sale, buy one, get on free.  It was nice since they were not inexpensive.  Once things are framed I'll post photos.

The rest of Saturday, I stayed put, knitting, napping, and watching some podcasts.  We also watched some things we'd recorded.  It was a stunning day, but sadly I didn't get in any walks because I was still feeling kind of icky, and The Tim took Hamlet for a couple of walks. But it was still a good day!

Yesterday it rained steadily all day, so although Hamlet and I went for a couple of walks, they were not terribly enjoyable.  I did still go over to Loop for their Fall Festival, which was lovely!  It was fairly small scale, but I talked to Laura (one of the owners), and she said it had been busy on Saturday also, and there was a good chance they would make it an annual event.  That would be great!

I even treated myself to a few items! I've been proud of myself this year, because other than buying a skein of sock yarn to make the socks for Brian (the person getting the kidney transplant), and two more balls of yarn to finish my Pabaig (hopefully they are making their way here as I type), I have knit completely from stash this year.  So I told myself that I could treat myself to one skein if I saw one I really wanted that was no more than $20.00.  As you can see, I did buy yarn.   This is a skein of Liverpool Yarns, a company owned by a woman who used to work at Loop, and yarn I've been hoping to try since they started up.  I bought a skein of their Bulky yarn, in the colorway Bramble.  At the moment, I think I will use it to make the Bulky Trellis hat, but since I won't be touching it until after the holiday knitting is finished, that could change.  They provided the project bag with the purchase, which is a nice touch.  Then I bought a ceramic notions dish with a bunny on it, and two ceramic pawprint buttons, just because I liked them.  So I spent a total of $25.00, which I didn't *need* to spend, but I did anyway as a treat.

We ended up with Barley-Feta casserole for dinner in the crockpot, and The Tim had made brownies on Friday night, so we each had one for dessert.

So even though I got hit with the start of a cold, and was more tired than usual, and it rained on Sunday, I enjoyed my Rhinebeck weekend!  I think I'll try it again next year - maybe we can even have a virtual Rhinebeck weekend together, who knows?

Here's hoping your weekend was enjoyable as well, and that this week will be kind to all of us.

Going to Rhinebeck By Staying Home

As a lot of you (most of you?) probably know, this weekend is the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, New York, and I know so many people who are going.  And of course, on Instagram, blogs, and podcasts, people are not just talking about it, but knitting "Rhinebeck sweaters," planning what to buy, etc.  I enjoy the vicarious aspects of this, and to be honest, even though I know it's a huge festival and can be crowded out of this world, I would like to go myself just once.  For the experience and because it's such a lovely time of year to be traveling to that part of the universe.

Anyway, once again this year, I will be at home while everyone else travels, enjoying their various social media posts, hearing what friends did/bought/saw, etc. and feeling a teeny bit left out.  BUT guess what?  I'm going to Rhinebeck anyway, though I am not leaving the state of Pennsylvania.

I have been giving this some thought for about a month, and here is my plan.  By the way, the other day, I said to The Tim, "This weekend is Rhinebeck, and we are going to do it ourselves!" and he quite excitedly said, "Oh wow!  We're actually going???"  Yes, dear, we can just drop everything and go with no planning, and we won't have any trouble finding a place to stay or anything.  I mean - really? 

Anyway.

Being that it is Three on Thursday, I'm sharing three of the things I'm planning for My Rhinebeck Weekend.

1.  Apparently, a big specialty at Rhinebeck is Apple Cider Donuts.  I plan to get up on Saturday morning and head over to the farmer's market, where they have both freshly made apple cider donuts, as well as apple cider.  If for some reason, they are out, I have some apple cider tea to enjoy.

2.  On one of the days I'm walking over to Loop, because they are having a Fall Festival for those who aren't traveling up to New York.  I think it will be fun, and I like the idea of seeing yarns that are new to me.  I don't know if I will buy anything, but I do know one of the women behind Liverpool Yarns, and it's always nice to get to see her.  Who knows who else I might run into?  And you'll never find me turning down a Philly pretzel!

3.  Fall walk and crock pot dinner on Sunday.  If you are walking around Rhinebeck all day, you likely want a nice, hearty dinner where you can relax and enjoy thinking over your weekend and all the people you saw, animals you petted, yarn you fondled.  Hamlet and I will take one particular walking route on Sunday where we can enjoy fall, Halloween decorations, and just being outside.  That morning, I'll put stuff into the crock pot so that our dinner will be cooking while we are out walking, and the house will smell good all day.  I haven't decided yet what to fix, but I have a couple of distinct possibilities in mind.

Of course, I'll also be knitting - why have a Rhinebeck weekend without some actual knitting?  I have some gifts on the needles, and since I will likely be recovering from Members' Night at work after tomorrow night, sitting and knitting will be extra enjoyable and relaxing.

So that's the plan.  Depending on how things go, it may become an annual event for me.  And who knows, maybe next year, we can all plan a Staying Home Rhinebeck weekend, virtually or in real life!  Something to think about, right?

*****

Thanks to all of the people who sent kind comments about yesterday's post.  I am fine, and was all day - it just kept seeming surreal.  As I told several people, it's probably a good thing that I was stunned, because if I had been paying more attention, I think my natural impulse would have been to slap the woman back, and that wouldn't have ended well for me in any fashion.  It was all the more weird because Wawa can be crowded, but it is truly a benign place 99.9999999% of the time.  Go figure.

Moral of the story: Maybe I should stick to tea.  ;-)

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Apologies to the Rolling Stones for stealing their words.  I'm sure they'll be furious.  I'll just have to take my chances.

Lately, I've been thinking of all the things I wish I was able to do but cannot for whatever reason.  None of them are necessary things, hence the wishing part.  But you know how it is, sometimes you get things in your brain, or someone reminds you about something, and you just keep thinking about it.  

For example, nearly everyone I know here in Philadelphia who is a knitter is going to Rhinebeck this weekend.  I've never been to Rhinebeck, but would love to go for the following reasons:

1. Duh.

2. Supposedly there is wine- and/or cheese-tasting.  See #1.

3. Upstate New York would be so pretty this time of year, and I would love to see the changing colors.

4. It sounds like there is so much to see and do, both as far as actual activities, and what people are wearing that they have knit.

5. Animals.

I do wish I could go some year, and who knows, maybe I will.  Again though, not necessary.

Also, I would like to knit a sweater.  Technically, I would like to finish a sweater I have been knitting (way more off than on) for two years.  Now, again, since I do not depend on my knitting skills in order to be clothed (thank you, Fiber Jesus!), I don't ever have to really finish it.  But I want to, for the following reasons:

1. I like the yarn and the pattern - from a Custom Knit class I took at Loop.

2. I started out like a house on fire ... then found a mistake, ripped back, and lost inspiration.

3. Theoretically, being a Custom Fit pattern, it will a) fit properly and b) look nice.

4. I would like to actually start knitting a sweater, finish knitting said sweater, and then wear said sweater.  You know, like some people do.

Theoretically, this can happen.  Not soon, as I am not allowing myself to be derailed from my gift knitting until it's all finished.  Fortunately I'm enjoying it.  Unfortunately, so is Jack the kitten, so I don't get to knit as much as I'd like.  But if nothing else, I plan to knit more for myself in 2017, so perhaps I will actually finish said sweater then.  

Another thing I'd like to do is learn to how to do watercolor painting.  I adore watercolors, and had a knitting friend who was also an artist who offered to teach me.  Then she moved to Florida.  (Coincidence? I think not.)  Now there are any number of places here where I could take classes, but I have not for the following reasons:

1. I cannot currently afford classes in anything.

2. They all require some other classes as prerequisites (Intro to Drawing, Basic Painting Techniques, Other Ways to Get Your Money Before You Take the Only Class You Want To, etc.), and due to the combination of #1 and my lack of interest in the others, it isn't happening.

3. I am not overly artistic.  I mainly want to learn so I can entertain myself with colors and shapes on nice paper.  Even more basic than basic.

4. In reality, I don't actually need another hobby.  (See also: Why I Haven't Learned to Spin)

Now the aforementioned friend recommended an online class that costs ~$75.00, and you can go at your own pace.  At some point, I may be able to afford that, so I'll keep it in the back of my brain.  Again, not something I desperately need to know/have, just something I'd like to try.  Having said that, online things with audio are often frustrating for me, since it's usually the situation where the audio goes for about half a sentence, and then pauses for five minutes to load the rest of the sentence.  Even on my best day, that makes me stabby!  

Finally, I would like to have someplace to go occasionally that is near the ocean and that I really like.  Fortunately, this weekend while everyone else is at Rhinebeck, we will going to Rehoboth Beach for a long weekend - YAY!  I think I've mentioned before that my niece's husband Pat's family has a beach house there, and Amanda and Pat invite us a few times a year.  However this visit will be our last, because the owner of the house has decided not to renew their lease.  We don't know why - I'm sure we'll hear all about it this weekend - but I fear it might be because he wants to sell it to someone who is planning to tear it town and build one of those obnoxious Beach McMansions.  The house is perfect for the following reasons:

1. It is a nice, little, beach cottage.  Like there should be everywhere.  

2. It has screened in front and back porches.

3. On the front porch, you can look down the street and see the boardwalk and sand dunes.

4. On the back porch, there is a view of lovely trees and a little lake.

5. It is less than a block to the beach.

6. It is within walking distance of most of the shops and restaurants - including yarn stores! - that we like.

7. It felt a teensy bit like it was our own.

It's unlikely that we'll go to Rehoboth or anywhere once they no longer have the house.  Hotels are expensive, even in the off-season, and you usually can't take your dog. (Dug LOVED the little beach house, and someday when we have another dog, I'd like to take that pup with us as well.)  Granted, sometimes over the summer, we go to the Jersey shore for the day, and that is better than nothing.  But the past couple of years we haven't done that, due to health issues, and problems with The Tim's work schedule and mine meshing.  

Not necessary.  But lovely.  So we will make sure to eke out every bit of loveliness that we can this weekend.  :-)

I guess these are good problems to have in the grand scheme of things - they are, to quote one of my sisters, "White Man's Problems."  And they are not in fact real problems.

What about you?  Do you have any things in your brain rolling around like this lately?