Thanksgiving 2008

Back from Plymouth, VT; birthplace of Calvin Coolidge. The dinner was yummy, the weather co-operated. Traffic was nothing until I hit Brattleboro, VT on the way home and even then not horrible. The biggest shock was leaving Massachusetts Thursday morning with the sun shining, the grass green and the temp balmy. The farther north I went the greyer and darker it got and eventually I noticed blobs of white stuff on the sides of the road. Then all non-asphalt areas were coated in snow. When I got to sister's house they had plowed and the driveway was a giant ice sheet. There I go again, wrong wardrobe. I managed not to fall off my 2.5" heels walking with pie and sweet potato casserole. I should know better too, snow starts in October up there. Okemo was open and I could see tiny dark specks skiing down the mountain.
I have the Town Hall to myself today and quite frankly it's spooky in here. We all know it's haunted. Doors open and close upstairs but there are no footsteps. That hasn't happened today --yet.
I think I'd rather go home and finish my fingerless mitts.

Let The Season Begin

The holiday season cannot possibly start without a trip to Yankee Candle Village. Younger sister and niece came up from NJ. Here they examine ornaments around a gigantic Christmas tree. I forget what they call this room. I live minutes away from this. It's like a second home.

I tried "kinnearing" bears in the Enchanted Forest. For no reason mind you, photos are welcome, I just wanted to see what I got. I got more tree than bear. I did manage to scare the crap out of a kid walking by just when the flash went off. It looked like lightening. You should have seen him jump. oops. The Enchanted Forest is dimly lit and forecasts snow every 4 minutes. I have to say it was dead on with the forecast.

At home Beau decided there were critters under the couch.

And they moved down to the other end. (Wild imagination that one.)

Then he came in for his close up.

After the relatives bolted for home I found a WEBS bag behind the couch and in it was a hank of SOCK YARN! WOO HOO! I thought I had busted my stash of sock yarn. Now I really have. The colorway is remniscent of my Brownie uniform. (No I don't still have it... I don't think). Back in 196(blah,blah, blah) we wore brown dresses, socks and beanies with orange accents. Those are the colors in the variegated yarn.

The next holiday gathering will be Thanksgiving and I was dealt sweet potatoes as my assignment. I need to find inspiration...and soon.

What Season Is This?

When ya gotta bloom, ya gotta bloom, regardless if you're a Christmas Cactus and it's not Christmas. This gang lives on the front porch all summer and the shock of outside to inside causes spontaneous blooming.

So be it!

I finished Gryffindor cardi and must do button shopping. I also need a method to remove rust marks from my white (of course, couldn't happen to a dark color) vest. I didn't notice the pins had gone bad when I blocked it. If anyone lurking knows of a sure fire removal system I'd appreciate the help.

I'm at a project stand still. Maybe a romp thru my stash will bring inspiration. Better yet, a romp thru WEBS.

Don't Blink, You'll Miss It

I have the oddest Burning Bush. When all the other burning bushes are flaming red, mine remains green. I wait and wait. And then, within 24 hours, it turns red and the leaves fall off. I took this picture this morning. By the time I get home this evening at least half of the leaves will be gone. I swear it's an offshoot of the Whomping Willow from Harry Potter.

It used to be conical shaped but I clopped the top off of it this summer. It's going to get more shaping next spring because it's getting too wide. Why is it in the middle of the lawn? Well, when I bought the house it had an old brick path leading from the back steps straight down to where that bush is then it turned to the left to a little storage shed behind the garage. My neighbor tells me there was a grape arbor over the path at one time. By the time I got it most of the path had been overgrown with lawn. I planted the bush at the inside corner. The shed fell down during the first winter. I dug up the brick and reused it for a tiered white garden. That left the bush smack in the middle of the backyard. It has it's advantages. If I'm out back on the swing I'm out of sight from the neighbors and passersby on the street. I like my privacy. But enough of that.

I see from my email from WEBs they have some Cascade 109 on their closeout specials. I like tweedy yarn and it's bulky which equals quick. I may have to toddle down there to give it the tactile test. I could use a new throw.

It's one of those cold, damp fall days. I think instead of being in this drafty old building I'd be happier at home with one cat snuggled beside me, the other sprawled on the headrest of my chair, a cup of chai tea and the Gryffindor cardi. Oh, and watching those Rock Solid guys on DIY. Yes, I'd be much happier.

There's Got To Be A Morning After...

I know, the last thing you want to read about is the election. Well, I'll just update the non-political stuff for you that occurred at Town Hall on election day.

Remember the Pie people? They sold pie outside. It was a gorgeeooouus day. Great for selling pie. They sold alot of pie.

The Bake sale in the downstairs hallway? Sold out. People get hungry standing in line and at 7am cookies are GOOD.

I counted 10 phone calls from people wondering if they were registered to vote. No planning ahead for THOSE people, no-sir-ee.

Did you know if you don't answer your street census you're listed as inactive on the voting registration list? Yup, doesn't mean you can't vote but you have to fill out paperwork proving you live in the town your voting in so save yourself the grief-don't argue with the election clerk and fill out the paperwork they hand you or answer your street census. Wasn't that easy?


Oddest/dumbest (my opinion) question of the day? "Where would I get a map of Greenfield?" (the question was asked in the town hall, which is not in Greenfield.) After staring at him with one eyebrow hitched up and wanting to say, "In Greenfield." I restrained myself from stating the obvious and responded, "Try the Assessors office. They're the only room with maps." Off he went. I'm sure he was very disappointed to find out they only have maps of our town.


Cutest moment: a small child was waiting in the voting line with his parents. He said he was very excited and hoping Barack Obama would be in the voting room when he got there. We all smiled. His parents tried to explain that they didn't think Mr. Obama would be there.

Honking for support. Does it reeaallly do anything for the cause? Is there a special count for "honk if you support...?" Where do they tally those honks? I've never seen a news broadcaster report an election that included: "So & So was trailing by 57% of the votes but s/he won by a landslide with 90% of the honks." No acceptance speeches have included the phrase, "We won this election by a honk!"




















Andrew says:
"Now with voting over, will they stop canceling NCIS and House?"

It's Here!

And I've never seen anything like it. I've been voting for 30 years and I've never seen anything like this. I got to work by 7:30am (after I voted in my own town. Small line, 5 minute wait) and drove around the parking lot for 5 minutes. I finally gave up and drove down the street and parked in a restaurant parking lot. I've never had to walk to work before. The Town Hall main hallway is wall to wall people. There's a little one out there that's starting to get a little bored with the whole thing. Or maybe it's an adult, sometimes it's hard to tell around here. It's only 8am.

On the knitting front, yes, contrary to the latest posts I do still knit, I'm still working on the cardigan with 2 color section. Or, the Gryffindor cardi as I refer to it due to it's red wine and gold colors. I paused from the body work to get the sleeves done so I can use up all the leftover wool to lengthen the body as much as possible. I want this one to cover my bum. I know you all wanted to know that so there you go.

(I wish you could here some of the conversations outside my door)

Ah yes, it's going to be an interesting day. Join the excitement-go vote!

















Beau is exhausted from the excitement of voting.

One More Day To Go

Monday before Election Day. The buzz is getting louder....
Can you hear it?

Noon is the deadline for absentee ballots to be administered.

The Town Clerk's office has been the hub of excitement and whining.

After noon, the place will become eerily quiet. Kind of like the movie "High Noon".

From noon on the calls will come in asking what time the polls open and close.

I took wee breaks from knitting this weekend to create some bling. I'm

not sure the Christmas cactus appreciated it. After all, it has

it's own bling going on.

Andrew wasn't impressed much.

"Mom won't let me knit, won't let me do jewelry. BORING!

"Hey Lucy, come on over. Heat comes out of these holey things

and it's really warm, though, when the hot wind first comes out of them

it scares the bajeevees out of me."