Rhinebeck!

Squidette and I departed Manhattan armed with googlemaps directions, Dutchess County fairground directions and a GPS. The DCF directions are only from the Thruway and the Taconic and do not include directions to either road. That's where I had trouble. As a general rule, when I travel long distances, Papa Squid drives. It's not that I do not drive. I actually drive 5 days a week, to and from work, with and without kids in tow. (They look pretty silly dragging along behind the car.) Rather, he does the long haul driving and prefers to do it and I am happy to be a passenger and knit. Yesterday, however, Squidette and I went alone.

The GPS took us up the west side highway and over the G.W. bridge. Made perfect sense to me. Then it recalculated and tried to get me to go back over the bridge. Oops! I knew enough to realize that it is not too difficult to get to the NY State Thruway from Jersey. Unfortunately we have not done it that often so it is not instinctual. Squidette beat up the GPS a bit and we finally managed to get a route that set us going north. Despite our navigation difficulties, we managed to complete the trip without any more excitement. My daughter and I sang aloud and I enjoyed having her in the front passenger seat next to me -- a new milestone for her.

Once we arrived -- and I payed full price for my now "adult" daughter, we methodically made our way from barn to barn looking for the wool for Papa's new sweater. After a lovely conversation with one proprietor, I decided to abandon my quest for washed locks that I would then dye and process myself and settled for already washed and processed roving.

Papa's new sweater!

As I was concluding my purchase, I felt a pair of eyes on me and turned around to find ...Paul! He and I had a great chat and he promised that he had secured the stuff we were searching for for Susan. Good thing, too. I think I found it much later in the day but I since I wasn't sure, it was good to know that she will get it. Paul is a wonderful guy and I am really glad I finally got to meet him in person!
We watched a llama parade and met lots of people who said "are you Squid (s)?" It was so cool to be recognized by Cynthia and Jersey Knitter, Penny and a host of others.
We met Swatchy, Debbie, Jessie, Lindsey, Lorena, Karen and Lise. If I forgot anyone -- I'm sorry! I know there were two people who we had on our card last year but were not on it this year and I was stupid and didn't write their names down. I was trying so hard to remember who I was meeting, too!

Squidette with our purchases. Yup, we kept it small this year.

Penny and PG!

The line for deep fried artichokes. I just do not understand it!

Some pumpkins ...

And some foliage ...

On the way back we only took one wrong turn and had nasty traffic on the Thruway -- my kind of driving! Yup, I actually prefer traffic to wide open highways. I do not know what to do if my foot is not constantly hitting the brakes. Comes from doing most of my driving in manhattan.

Oh, and the rest of my purchases. A few kits from Morehouse Merino. I also got a pretty button but I can't find it right now.

Now to knit some of this stuff!

Still Here

I haven't really disappeared -- it just seemed like that. Our router totally flaked out and when I could get on, it was only for a few minutes at a time. I was able to comment on some blogs but got thrown off by the router when I tried to comment to Dave on Wednesday. (Think there was a message in that?)

Knitting has been happening. Socks for Little Squid are almost done and new socks for Papa Squid are started. I had to attend a middle school application orientation meeting last night and didn't want to keep measuring Little's socks so I cast on for Papa's socks. I was, actually, very respectful for most of the meeting and only took out my knitting when the questions started. Finished the toe and started the foot of the first sock. The yarn for Papa's new socks was purchased as roving last year at Rhinebeck. I'd like to have them done for this year but that will only happen if I make them my sole project for the week. And then ... maybe not. Mike has size 11, extra wide, feet. Instead, I will concentrate on my Flower Basket Shawl, which also will probably not be done in time for Rhinebeck. So, the only new woolens worn by the Squid family will be Squidette's orange socks.

Speaking of Rhinebeck, I have spoken to my Aunt and to my children and decided that I am only going up on Sunday. Little Squid has been given the option for skipping Hebrew School but he wants perfect attendance, so it will be just me and Squidette this year.

Oh the Agony!

Two days ago Squidette was invited to join the borough-wide band. This morning we realized that since the band meets on Saturday morning and Hebrew school meets on Sunday morning, both kids will not be able to join me for Rhinebeck. I was planning on going on Saturday, and since my Aunt is coming down from Massachusetts, I kind of have to be there that day.

The answer? Go both days of course! Now to find someone to share the driving since Mike will not be able to go either day. Ideally, someone to provide a ride for me and a Squidling one day and I will provide transit the other day. I have a mini van ... lots of storage room for goodies ... I am working on a good friend right now.

Oh, and I am both a player and a Square for Saturday blogger bingo.