Angelarae Knits

No Shopping For Me

Today was Black Friday and some of my friends went shopping and there was certainly plenty of television coverage showing people waiting in line at the Circuit City.  Yes, one of the guys they asked had been waiting in line over night so that he could be the first one to get a great deal on a laptop???
'Kay...whatever.  Maybe my age has made me slightly more conservative about how I am willing to spend my time, especially waiting in line, and, most especially, waiting in line, in the cold. 
All I can say is that I am happy that I spent my time stash diving and knitting socks rather than shopping.  Oh, I am sure I will get my share.  You can be sure you will hear about it, too.
I think my dislike for marathon shopping trips came from my formative years, when my mother would take my sister and I shopping for clothes and would not rest until we had the right size of the right color of the right garment.   If they didn't have it at one store, she'd have the sales lady call another store to see if they had it and we'd drive over there to get it.  Usually, we would shop all day and sometimes cover every department store at one mall and move on to the next.  In those days, there were 3 malls.  Cary Village Mall (now Cary Towne Center), Crabtree Valley Mall, and North Hills Mall.  North Hills had a Boylan Pierce and a J.C.Penny, so we often ended up there.  My feet are aching just thinking about it. 
Guess I'll just have to live with the knowledge that I did not get the best price I could on that pair of Heely's for my son.  I think I can live with it, though.   You betcha.

Great Day In The Morning

We had a fabulous and busy day, today.  We went to church, had a chili cook-off afterwards with lot's of great food and desserts.   William tried to eat 3 pieces of fudge, 2 fudge brownies, a chocolate cookie and a 3 layered chocolate dessert in one sitting.  I think all he actually ate of it was a bite or two of the fudge a bite of one brownie and that's it.  I just found it amusing that he thought he could stomach that much sugar and chocolate...little boys are so cute, sometimes.   
My sister's birthday party was loads of fun.  We ate hot dogs, cake and broke in her new fire pit.  I have decided I must have one.  They make it possible to sit by a fire and roast marshmallows on a cold November night.   Great fun and conversation.  Becky liked her scarf and the pocketbook slippers I made for her, even though they were a little too big.  Next time, I'll have to knit them with a size seven needle.  I have started another pair for Emma (she want's some) with some fingering baby yarn and a size 5 needle.  I'll let you know how they come out. 

When Pigs Fly

South Carolina is playing football today, and no one can stand to be in the house.  My husband's yelling and whooping for his beloved Gamecocks is only worse during the seasons that they are ranked.  Like this year.  When they aren't, it's more like a quiet acceptance that the cocks are likely to lose.  As a result, I wanted to get out of the house today, so I headed on over to my local Wal Mart buy me some Milk Duds and yarn. ( Distraction is a powerful tool... he doesn't even glance away from the t.v. to count the money.  He just hands me his wallet.  Score! )
So, I drove to the Wal Mart with Emma in tow and we headed  for the crafts corner of the store. First we looked at yarn.  Emma wants a poncho.  She is six years old and does not understand that it is difficult to knit a poncho with silver fun fur.  But you can bet Wal Mart has silver fun fur, and some kind of royal blue chenille yarn with silver sparkley thread in it (her second choice).  We had temporarily abandoned the yarn search and I had began to look toward the needles when,  Lo and behold, what do I see in the notions section?  Bamboo knitting needles!  Take a look at these.

They cost $2.44, so I expected imperfection, but the only thing wrong with these was that one of the tips  was a little rough.  I was able to sand it a little and fix that.  The joins were fine, too.  They had sizes 10, 11, 13, and 15 straight needles and this size 8 was the only circular left. 

South Carolina won their game and Wal Mart has 16" bamboo circulars.  I guess this is one of those pigs flying days.

Harvest Moon Tonight

Full moon's are often named.  Did you know that? I did, but I didn't.  For example, we've all heard of the Blue Moon, the second full moon occurring within a given month.  This can only happen once every three years or so, according to astronomy sources.  Tonight's moon, the Harvest Moon, is simply the full moon rising closest to the autumnal equinox.   It is called the Harvest Moon because, traditionally, farmers could work later in the fields at the end of the growing season to harvest their crops by moonlight. 

So, I think I'll be sitting out tonight, under the moon.  There is something very peaceful about a full moon.  You can visit this site, for more stunning pictures and information about the moon.  Also, check out the Skywatcher's Guide to the Moon. 

Winter Retreat

Just found out about this winter retreat in Boone, NC.  Thought I'd pass it along.  It's the Baskets of Yarn Winter Retreat, March 1-4, 2007.  Pretty sure I can't go.  But I believe I will try to plan for it next year.  It's about a 4 hour drive from Raleigh.   Beautiful scenery abounds in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The photo below is linked to a photo-journal of the Blue Ridge Parkway.   Worth a gander even if you aren't going to the retreat.  I used to live in these mountains and not a day goes by that I don't miss it.  Something about them makes all your cares melt away.    Peace.

 

Book Signing

Kate Jacobs will be coming to Quail Ridge Books on Wade Avenue in Raleigh on Wednesday, February 7th at 11:30.

She will be reading excerpts from, and signing copies of her new book, The Friday Night Knitting Club. 

I really wanted to go, but this will be impossible due to my 'regular' job. (dangit!)  But, I thought I'd share, in case any of you would like to go and, possibly, blog about it.   The appearance is co-sponsored by Great Yarns, one of our lys.