sopranos

After I joined Netflix a few months ago, I decided to start watching the Sopranos. I never watched a single episode of this show before this past few weeks. With teaching and doing all the family stuff- I just never had time to watch TV. Plus we did not have HBO.

So I am on a Soprano watching marathon.This past few weeks I have watched all the 1999 season episodes and there should be a Season 2 DVD waiting for me when I get back from knitting camp. My plan is to get thru the first 5 years by the end of the summer. Of course,I can't watch any of those episodes on A&E because I want it to be in order..No gaps in what is happening. The final episode news I have been avoiding because I don't want to know yet.

No wonder so matter people followed this show.The writers are so clever and the characters are so funny. Little things like when Tony was on too much Prozac and the music was slowed down make it hilarious. It is definitely an adult show with the naked pole dancers and the episodes with Junior and oral sex conversations.

Knitting Camp

My clothes and knitting supplies are getting gathered up so I will be ready to take off to Bradford , Pa this Friday. It is my second time attending this Knitting Camp with my sister from Lancaster, Pa. The theme this year is miters and includes a Crayon Box sweater -which I may pass on because it is not me. But I did gather yarn from stash in pinks and greens just in case I change my mind. Bradford is where I was born and I still have relatives there so this is a special place to visit .

This is how I pack.My method includes piling things in my computer room a week. Then it will be sorted out and half left behind . space is limited because I am taking the Mini Cooper not the Honda Element.

So far:

wine

birthday present for sister (big 60!!)

bags of fiber to spin and share with my sister

spinning wheel and accessories.

needles of all sizes

The Knitter's Handbook ( for added help )

show and tell stuff ( mobius, oven mitt - not much else I am brave enough to share

Idenity theft

I am scared.. I feel so violated.My credit card bill came with 3 unknown charges today. I hope that is the only place that I find this. I called CapitolOne 3 times today and finally got through. One charge is to a pet store called Pandyshop in NY for $546. Like I need another dog with 3 already? The 2 others are for some music down loads of sort at 58$ and another for 99$.I am basically deaf so I don't do that.
The only place I have charged recently with it was at the Woolery to buy my Lendrum bag and extra bobbins. Usually I use my checking account for most things like EBay and Pay pal.It makes you paranoid thinking that somehow some evil person would do that.
The credit card had to be cancelled and now it will be another 2 weeks before I get a new one.The nice man with an accent said not to worry - right!

Fireworks

Daughter Liz is coming home tonight to spend the weekend.We are having a big picnic here before the fireworks on Sat.It is the perfect view of the fireworks as they put them off directly across the river from our deck.

Tonight will be spent at Sam's club and then she will basically take over.She has always been such a great help even when she was in elementary school. I am so proud of her.

Knitting has been using Cat Bordhi's book to knit socks with 2 circulars. Today I am off to NYC on a bus trip with a friend so the socks will be perfect for the trip. One was completed on the trip to Lancaster last week.

I am not sure if I like using circulars or dpns best. I felt very clever using the dpns but sometimes stitches would fall off when packing them away .Circulars are easier with that and I don't notice those ladders I used to get with dpns.

News-

Winnie was our first pug. I had read an article about pugs in Dog Fancy which said pugs have the big dog personality in little bodies. I bought Winnie from a lady in Sullivan County .We loved Winnie so much that we continued to add more pugs to our family.This last year she has had a very hard time walking.My poor husband found her dead this am.

Have not had time to post lately as the last 2 weeks have been busy. I spent the last few days at Lancaster , Pa with my sister.We took a spinning class together yesterday. It was fun but unfortunately I have been suffering with vertigo and and pressure in my ears so I spent early this am in the Urgent Care.Tomorrow I go to an ENt doctor. I am trying to find the energy to clean up and get ready for the the knitting group from the spinning guild that is coming here in a few hours .

But the hardest part is that my oldest pug Winnie died this morning. These dogs become one of the family and it is so very sad.

Alpaca Farm in Bethel, Ny

This adorable alpaca baby arrived while we were there.These are his very first first steps.

This was another youngster who came to visit .

The Double EE farm is located right down from the new Bethel Woods Concert Center located at the original Woodstock site.

Today was shearing day.

This was before everyone came and started to set up. It became very crowded with spinners , weavers and spectators coming to shearing day..

Today was a such a fabulous day! The Spinners and Weavers Guild I just joined went to this Alpaca Farm.It was shearing day for the alpacas.They gave us free fiber to spin .This was my first learning to card and spin alpaca. I learned so much today as I had no clue as how easy it is to card fiber.

I was so excited to see this beautiful farm and the owners were so gracious and generous. Then while we there a baby alpaca was born. You can see in the photos how the cord is still attached and how it is getting up and wobbling around for the first time.

ALPACA info
Weight on the Average is 100-180 lbs. about 1/3 to 1/2 the size of a llama
Weight of the average newborn is 15 - 19 pounds
The fiber, for clothing has been the traditional use of these
Do not require a lot of acerage, 5 to 8 animals per acre
Alpacas have single births, twins are very unusual
They can start breeding as early as 12 months of age

Fort Delaware

Spinning at Fort Delaware

This weekend my new Spinning Guild spent time at Fort Delaware in Narrowsburg, NY demonstrating spinning. Here is my wheel and empty chair.



Linda ,the director of the fort is helping Dorothy learn to spin. Linda helped me get started on my wheel and demonstrates that this wonderful guild is a teaching one.

Roger is knitting socks from yarn he made on a hand spindle.

Misson Accomplished-Stash reorganized

THE CIRCULARS- NOT COUNTING DENISE AND OPTIONS

JUST A FEW OF THE KNITTING BOOKS

YARN.... AND SOME IN BIG BAGGIES IN CORNER TOO

No knitting or spinning accomplished last night. After I signed up for knitting camp I saw where they are making the Crayon Box miter sweater which requires different colors of yarn. I started looking in my stash and jeezzz what a disaster it was..things were showing up that were forgotten about . Really- I have only been knitting less than 2 years and it is slowly taking over my house. Add now the spinning stuff and whew! I can't imagine what will happen after Rhinebeck !.

Weight Loss -1 to go for goal/ kntting camp

Not going ot Africa so now I am going to knitting camp instead! Last year my sisiter and I loved it

****see here for info on it- Erin teaches and this is here yarn shop.http://www.embraceableewe.com/

Weight loss news

I have been going to Weight Watchers on and off but really have struggled to get those few stubborn pounds off to reach my goal. I have been very careful and strict about what to eat . Still -the extra weight has not been coming off.

The scale was stuck at 135 ..

until this past few weeks it started to fluctuate one day and then go back to 133 or 134.

The difference has been I have started daily walking thru Narrowsburg and the area they call the Flats. The walking combined with my weekly yoga makes me feel so much better even if the scale does not budge. Now ,if I can just keep this up and lose one measly pound I won't have to pay the 12$ at WW on Monday. Oh- I even joined a gym yesterday and went to a yoga class there. I did go for a Pilate's class yesterday but it was cancelled(: Instead -I walked 2 miles on the treadmill and did a few of those scary machines . I feel good!!!

knitting

On my last day of the Dish Cloth Kal.I did yesterdays while visiting my father in the nursing home today. I peeked ahead and see it is supposed to be a unicorn. Mine looks a bit deformed When it is done a photo will be posted....

I am starting this finally!!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/knitbabysurprise/
I have been waiting to try this with the KAL. I am using cheap yarn to test it out..there may be a gauge problem again. we will see............I have no idea how big it will be. Yes- this will be a learning experience -right?

Monday 6/4

It is June already! When you are having fun the time flies by! It was a busy weekend with my son and his wife visiting to celebrate the Boy's big birthday.

Then I went to another birthday party. My 54 year old friend has one year old twin girls. It was a great party with the babies being so beautiful and happy .These twins are so loved in a beautiful house with two devoted (but old - he is in his 60's)parents. But, it was a different as most of the guests were grandparents themselves- not any 20,30 or even 40 year olds....

I got half of my money back from my cancelled Trip to Africa. Still not sure about the balance. Meanwhile I treated myself to this in order to balance out my disappointment.. http://www.thewooleewinder.com/Lendrumpic.html
The lendrum spinning wheel is perfect for me but I am having trouble with the bobbin and the the slider that you have to move. The bobbin is loading up more on on the front side and when I try to slide it to the middle it makes this noise where the clip hits the wood underneath it?I wish a manual came with it to help me figure out these things. I am learning by trial and error. The yarn is getting more consistent and now to knit something special from my first hand spun. Any ideas? I was thinking scarf or hat as the quantities are limited so far.

Here is my Queen of Diamond sock that turned out with the huge heel. Not sure if I will make the other one although they might be perfect for my mother whose ankles get really swollen. These socks won't be made again.The classic sock is just as nice with less stress.

What about knitting

I can't get pictures to upload for some reason ..The button is not responding when I click on it. I have turned off and restarted ?? any suggestions?


My log cabin blanket using Lion B rand Thick and Quick is moving along. I want to finish that before I start one more large project. Sometimes mindless knitting like this blanket is more relaxing
The Dish Cloth KAl Day # was completed already today. I have decided not to do the other sock for the Queen of Diamonds pattern. the first one is huge .Wish I could show the picture of this monster heel sock!


My knitting group was discussing making the Berroco Free Pattern Wayland . 10 balls of Berroco Foliage needed and the skill level is Easy.. http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/wayland/wayland.html

If they do it - I will be doing that this summer. I have so many other things to start that sometimes I feel like I am going in circles.


To top it off this new spinning addiction is limiting knitting progress.

Robins hatch and fly away

My photos uploading has been problematic . My photos are on reverse order and won't let me drag them today...

Yesterday I witnessed one of the chicks leaving the nest. It is in the picture below. The little chick landed on the deck as it was testing out its flight abilities. What a marvelous sight this was! Several robins were perched on my deck screaming and squawking the chick on! Even with my deaf ears it was like soccer parents cheering their kids on.. The noisy chick stayed on the deck for a while and then landed on the lawn where it continued flying awkwardly around testing out its wings.. A hawk was flying overhead and the other robins went berserk scaring it away. The chicks never come back the nest and now will stay in the trees. I hope they survive the terrors of this cruel world like the fox, hawks and other dangers they face....
One good thing . I can use my front door again.

The photos below are of the 4 chicks at about 11 days.
Robins leave the nest after only 13 days .
AMAZING!!!!

9 days old with mother bringing food back and forth.

Newly hatched chicks!

Tuesday May 29th news plus - Robins have landed- part one

Life is good being retired.

I stay up all hours doing whatever I please.My new spinning wheel makes me forget that it is 2 am . This morning The Boy complained the noise woke him ..Maybe the wheel needs oil -so it is ordered from the Woolery. It would be nice if directions come with the oil -like what parts do I oil??

Being retired I get to see all kinds of wonderful things that I never stopped to notice before. One favorite is all the beautiful flowers blossoming outside.

and the ones that were inside-

The most rewarding was watching the 4 robin chicks for the past month. ..
Every morning I rush out to witness what has happened.Here are photos the progress of these chicks up to a few weeks ago.

********************Robin progress will continue tomorrow.


1. Robin nest was made one month ago on my front door wreath.

2. 2 eggs were spotted

3. Next day a total of 4 eggs

So the past month no one has been allowed to use this door due to robin's nest . .

Pug shots / my new wheel!!!

Yes- this is a pug blog so here is a photo update:

The barkers- Molly and Peek-A- Boo let me know if any people , deer or even squirrels are in the yard.So far no bears but with the bird feeders still up we may get one soon.

Buddy- the licker He especially likes legs of all sorts

Molly ( aka Mommy) She is the mother of Peek-A-Boo and Buddy

guess what??? 5 pugs live here

Magoo- a lug of a pug getting old and gray . He is the father of Peek-A-Boo andBuddy.





Poor old Winnie - a loyal pug with very bad legs. She is the pug that started it all.

Pugs gotta check this out

brand new and just out of the box !