Vacation and Sharp Knife are synonymous

x-posted from LJ

....yeah, so anyway, here is something NICE to cut the stress with:

ME/MA Weekend!

My friend Stacey, our little guys and I took a three-day weekend and headed north. The plan was to camp a couple of nights on Hermit Island, leave Friday morning, come back Sunday night.
On the way, I had a knitting emergency occur just as we happened upon Purl Diva:

Phew! Super-cute shop! Brunswick, I think???

Later that evening, we ended up here:

Magical.

The air was so damp we couldn't even get paper to burn, so we spent a rather chilly night (no cocoa by the fire!)...and then the rains came. We woke up to water in our tents and soaked sleeping bags. I had the beginnings of a cold and so we decided we would pack up later that day, head to the beach and skip back down to MA where we could sleep the night in a warm, dry cabin. Before packing up, though, we headed into town...first to try to find a part for the cookstove that was forgotten and then on to Bath, ME to check out the farmer's market there.
Like everywhere we went, it was right on the water and I think I could totally live there. However, I was very disappointed that the sign saying "Chocolate Church" did not in fact lead to a place of chocolate worship. Just a regular church that happens to be painted the color of chocolate. Harumph. OMG, Stacey, it's so not a church at all...we should have made a pit-stop! Take a look at Amanda's comments!

Anyway, we played on the beach:

...where aggressive gulls tried to steal our sunflower nut butter and raisin bread.

Then ended up here:

to play amongst young trees and sunshine...and maybe a wee thunderstorm thrown in the mix.

And in case you didn't know...

FERNS ARE VERY EXCITING!!!!!

I did succumb to the nasty cold, but am now on the mend. I don't think I have quite the constitution to hold up to damp Maine summers. A very satisfying weekend, but next time we're skipping Maine and just heading the short journey south to Mass...woodsy, watery and just as splendid.
eta: not because Maine isn't totally amazing, but rather an hour drive is better than five hours when there are two young boys in the car!

hmmmmmm...

...situation up in the woodsies not going to be easy...

we can't stay at the farm itself because one of the main ingredients used in the kitchen that we would have to share is BUCKWHEAT (READ: EVIL).

not much in the way of housing in willow creek...need to find something, though. a place that will take us AND our 26 chickens. cripes.

i wonder if it's even possible?


can i please have a home now, please oh please?

i miiiiiiiiiiissssssss my husband.

eta: fluffy weekend-post tomorrow. with pictures

overwrought much?

x-posted from LJ May 26

Yeah, so I went to the naturopathic clinic today to get the blood draw for my allergy panel.
After leaving my crying kiddo at school, then passing the clinic by and driving several minutes out of my way, I arrive fifteen minutes late.
The receptionist is sorry but the doctor is already in with her next appointment.

It was just. too. much.
I started to try to explain and next thing I know I am weeping and she wants to come around and give me a hug. Can I be any more of a mess?

I found out yesterday evening from an exhausted C that the Santa Cruz situation wasn't going to work out. In pretty much a thousand major ways. Not the least of which being that the roof is rotting and the contract is all kinds of different from what we'd discussed with the landlord previously (like not being able to tell anyone we live there). C and his dad spent the night at the house and the former woke up at 1AM, turned on the light and found a scorpion next to his head. Thank you very much, Universe, I read your signal LOUD AND CLEAR.

So, in my flustered panic at being 3000 miles away and completely powerless in helping to make decisions regarding my very near future in California, I call an old friend.
Who just so happens to be in need of a farm manager.
Goodbye, Santa Cruz. Hello, Humboldt County (tea, modernacorn ?)

Everything has changed in a span of 12 hours. Instead of the south-of-San Fran Pacific Coast I will have the Trinity River and HELLO I WILL BE LIVING IN THE BIG FOOT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. No joke.

I need a nap.

btw, I love you all who offered encouragement in my locked-post moments of freak-out. And you, sarahcoyne , I am so taking you up on your offer, but just for one night before we fly out from Boston later in June. :)

Points of Interest...

*It's time again to make dandelion biscuits. Remember these? YUM.

*I saw a naturopath today and have an appointment for an allergy panel blood draw. I've never been so excited about getting stuck with a needle.

*It is, apparently, amazing that I can even stand up with such low blood pressure. I am a delicate flower. Or maybe my adrenals need some TLC.

*C leaves with the truck tomorrow. Our space feels very lonely right now...a shell of a studio and a futon on the floor. The little guy was awesome about saying goodbye to all his stuff for a few weeks. He seems to understand that goodness will come of this move.

*I sold the Subie to a junk guy for $100. When he came to get the car, which mind you is/was actually still running at the time, he said, "So, since I came today, can I give you $94 for it?" $94???!?
I took $100, thank you very much.

*I still miss my goats.

*I'm going to miss my cat.

*I appreciate "the nineties" more as a decade than as a temperature. This is only temporary, seeing as how all my skirts are now packed on a moving truck. Why did I do that?

*I have a new pattern/kit...pdf coming as soon as I figure out how to make one. Ha ha. I need to find me some of this magical stuff called "time" so I can learn how to use some of the seemingly awesome programs I have on this computer.

*Anyone know any tattoo artists who knit?

The Crapola and The Goodness

Crapola first: I haven't been posting because I'd love to have something else to talk about besides how preparing a cross-country move is rapidly destroying my soul.
We are seriously tense over here, people. C and I don't usually argue over petty bullshit, but here we are, doing just that. I've been purposefully avoiding most forms of communication with my friends. It's so much easier to shut down and be an asshole than to feel my heart break every time I feel closer to a good friend I'm soon to leave behind.

Goodness = The weekend was awesome. Stacey and I went out to see Jill Sobule at the Iron Horse, and I am really going to miss that venue. Jill was full of Adorable and Charm and Hilarity, and I had a very nice sparkly water with lime. Before the show was a shared pile mountain of deliciously greasy tempura (hence the sparkly water to settle the tum) and a solo-effort chocolate truffle that was much too large and delicious for one person to consume (but somehow I managed it).

The next morning was you-know-what (which, btw, I had totally forgotten about...I'd like to think I honor my mothers every day) and I was allowed to sleep in (7:50am!!!) and a pile of french toast awaited me at the bottom of the stairs. Sleep + Toast = The Good Life.

The rest of this week I can pretty much do without. Our tenants (yeah, the new ones who moved into the house we haven't been able to sell) just decided to move out...a week before C leaves and so now we scramble to get new tenants in.
We have friends to buy our wood, though, and I might even get $100 for the sad Subie that is minus one cylinder. It's all about balance, right?

Oh, and before I forget...and this one's for the locals...well, the locals who are into fiber:

This Saturday, May 16th 10-4pm...The 6th Annual Jamaica Fiber Festival
in Jamaica Village, VT

Come visit. It is my last New England hurrah.

And when we get to where we're goin' and I have a whole new set of locals, there will be this:

Here: on July 18th and 19th! Woo!

I'm teamed up with Kim of Infiknitty for this event, and I'm very excited! It's a fabulous way to be welcomed back home. I'm keeping just enough of my studio here to keep up on production while 99.5% of my worldly belongings are on the other side of the continent. I'm borrowing a spinning wheel and I won't have my drum carder, but felting gear is very minimal, so I will be focusing on the summer Tangled scarves and a couple of new kits for the show involving a sweet little mitt pattern and some dyes.

Happy...what day is it? Thursday! Happy Thursday!

Meme and Dream...Not Necessarily in That Order

I woke from this dream this morning:

At the neighbor's house across the street from our old place...it's not clear what I need, but there is something important I need to ask her. I knock several times but she doesn't open the door...I can hear her bustling about inside, and since we're on friendly terms I go ahead and let myself in. The first thing I see in the front room is a GIGANTIC pile of sand, and it's the really good sculpting sort of sand with the perfect amount of moisture in for holding shape. I see neighbor lady as this sort of blur in my peripheral vision...she is really serious about this bustling about business, and does not immediately acknowledge my presence. It's okay, though, I am so enchanted by the sand! I begin forming a turtle, about three or four times the size of me, and when I'm putting the finishing touches on it, I hear someone come through the front door. It's neighbor-lady's secretary! Oh, good, maybe now I can get through to her. But, the Sarah Jessica Parker-esque secretary shakes her long blonde locks and begins to enthusiastically describe her surprise dinner plans for neighbor lady...she has a wooden box full of individually wrapped baguettes...and there will be sardines! I cannot get through to her at all...she's just over the moon about the sardines and it's like I don't even exist. She squeezes herself through the kitchen door and is careful to keep me shut out...I am left to contemplate my giant sand turtle while neighbor lady continues to bustle.

Strange!

On to the Memery:

8 Things I'm Looking Forward To:

1. More rose tea with honey and milk.
2. Sand between my toes.
3. National Parks pass.
4. Close proximity (well, a helluva lot closer than now) to Yosemite National Park (see above).
5. Updating my climbing gear (see above).
6. Bicycling!
7. Year-round farming.
8. Camping trip to Maine in a few weeks.

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Made felt!
2. Walked the 3-mile round trip to the post office and back. Uphill both ways.
3. Learned how to make a french knot. Cute!
4. Daydreamed about the smell of redwood trees.
5. Researched the upcoming train trip - expensive!
6. Worried about a lot of things.
7. Got excited about a lot of things.
8. Wrapped up an order like a lovely little present.

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. Walk on my hands.
2. Play piano.
3. Stay in Vermont.
4. Be patient.
5. Sew.
6. Dance (or at least not be self-conscious about it).
7. Buy a Westfalia (one that works).
8. Stop worrying.

A Post...all proper-like

Hello there, internets!

I have been absent for so many reasons.

1: Prepping for shows...one down, one to go before we move! For a report on Twist Fair, scroll down.
2: Playtime and yummy things with good friends.
3: Our internets was brokity-broke. For more than a week, which made it easy to fall off the posting-horse.
4: A general malaise about the impending uprooting of my life...
5: Many trips to the pond.
6: More, I'm sure, but who cares? Here I am!

That whole malaise thing is boring me to tears, so I'm pretty much done with it. I have no choice but to go with the flow and see where this takes me, so I might as well make the best of it. There are dear friends, fog, old growth trees and granite to climb...all waiting for me at the end of this, and hundreds of other Items of Goodness I could note if I just put away the fear. Right here in this little box.

And if nothing else keeps me going, I have two New England visits already planned for the fall.

So...Twist!
Customer flow left something to be desired...there were some pretty long lulls of zero traffic, especially on Saturday...maybe it's the economy or maybe it's that no one could get into town and park because of the Pride parade/rally/thing that was happening downtown. I did pretty well, anyway, and received some really amazing and validating feedback. Sadly, there were quite a few folks who mentioned that they would buy something if they, say, had a job or weren't broke. Being in that same boat myself, I wished I could have plunked it down for some of the other great vendors there, but the almighty Swap be praised, I did make some awesome trades.
The Candy Thief and Bill Pickles (karatekatkniter ) were my neighbors. They were swell and didn't think I was crazy when I was on a moth-murdering rampage (they were flying around in the venue and seemed very interested in my stuff...my guess is that costumes are stored somewhere on that floor of the building...don't know for sure). I'm 99.9% sure I didn't bring any of those little bastards home with me, but all my goods are on a freezer rotation just to be 100%...
Casey helped me start my Candy Thief collection, and here she is sporting her Spun Monkey acquisition:

There were clowns harrassing amusing the vendors and shoppers, one of which was very impressed by my partner-in-vendoring whipping out a pen and a key to start a knitting project with...

Here's my set-up:

Yarn:

New neck warmers modeled by Lacey:

Lots of other nuno:

Friday was full of fabulous...it started with a journey to the venue with my good friend Stacey who, not only chauffeured and kept me company at my table, but also took us to her family's cabin that night for our few hours of sleep. Sans children for the weekend, we shared a semi-fancy dinner before the show...I had forgotten how relaxing it is to have a meal with only adults at the table. And to have someone else cook it for me and clean it up! Extreme luxury.

After the Friday night installment of the show, we ate sugar with supersnackcake where we declared our love for otters, expounded upon the virtues of fried foods and lost and found her wallet.

I have now taken a two-day break which, while a lovely thing to do for myself, does not help me prepare for the Jamaica Fiber Festival a week from Saturday.
Too bad I spent most of yesterday afternoon/evening trying to remember how to breathe after being attacked by my Most Deadliest of Enemies: buckwheat flour on the Co-op floor. It was my worst reaction yet, so I've made an appointment to get an allergy panel and talk about whether or not I should be carrying around one of those EpiPens. I am staunchly anti-pharmaceutical, but when C told me he was going to start carrying around a knife and a ballpoint pen just in case he has to give me an emergency tracheotomy next time, I figure manufactured adrenaline is maybe a saner, more sanitary alternative.

Wheeeeeeeeeee!