Happy Halloweeeeeeen!

None of these guys belong to me - they were culled from Cute Overload and other sources. I promise this is the last of me posting internet pics. Still, I couldn't resist.

Be sure to check out the latest happenings at PRTZL, the Philly Resist The Zombies League, updated by Girlie, the Journalist.

By the way, this morning a black cat crossed my path! S/he sprinted out in front of Gromit (our Jetta) and I had to nail the brakes to avoid a gruesome Halloween.

Meat-eating bunny

You guys know that my Blackberry is far from a shrinking violet - she bosses everyone around and is Alpha through and through. She even eats cat food.

Yesterday we ran out of kibble. Being plagued with horrendous microbes, I didn't feel like going out. So I gave them (3 cats and the bun) a can of tuna.

Hoe. Lee. COW!!

That evil rabbit, having had a taste of meat, is now chasing the cats all over the house! We are talking about a 4lb ball of fluff attacking a Maine Coon, a Bengal, and a fat black beastie.

I know you're gonna ask: Blackberry has NO digestive problems with the cat food. Nor has tuna bothered her in the past. Greens give her instant poopy-butt, as do the higher-carb hays. Currently all she eats is unlimited oat grasses and, yes cat food. She gets tons of exercise, her weight is good, she is shiny and happy does binkies and flops.

My life is so weird.

Glamour

We just saw Matt on TV!

The National Geographic channel is running a trio tonight on dwarfism, giantism, and conjoined twins. When we visited Philly last January for Matt's interviews, we went to the Mutter. Lori and Reba happened to be there - in fact the cameraman backed up at one point and bonked me pretty hard. :) It was especially amusing given we were the only people there (It was 2 minutes past opening).

Anyway, you can see Matt peering into the glass cases in the background.

How cool is that? Being a total geek is indeed its own reward.

Just wait til Lovely Bones is out...

Goodbye to Wendolene

A very sweet couple, Tom and Brenda, have adopted her.

I know I should be happy. I've been trying to sell her for a while and we really need the money. So how come I'm crying? It feels like I've been punched in the gut.

"If you're cold, put on a sweater..."

Pics found on Cute Overload and other places.

Fall Felted Bag Exchange sent....

My downstream pal Cindy has received my package, so I can reveal its contents now. Are you excited? I sure am!

There were lots of little prezzies - chocolate & yarn & knitting-oriented goodies - but the main event was the purse. Cindy also understands the joy of a sweet ride. She loves her convertible Z, so my first thought was to needlefelt a scene on the side of the bag: A side shot of her roadster going past a colorful tree, her hair and leaves flying around wildly. But she prefers a more understated approach, so I left the loudness hidden inside. Matt helped tremendously with the lining and wire support structure.

I'm probably a little too proud of this bag. :) It was hard to send it off!

Staat your engines!

So... Matt and I were headed home from Rhinebeck (Did I mention that it was his birthday on Saturday? I volunteered to stay home but he wanted to come with and make a weekend trip of it. Fall foliage tour, etc. What a guy! I fixed him up with a rabbit-decorated fudge cake and he enjoyed the leaves from Wendolene's back seat all weekend.) and we saw a bunch of antique cars... of course we followed them, and *bang* wound up at the Staatsburg auto show! This was one of the best shows we've ever attended. No judges, no awards, no entrance fees. Just hundreds of people showing off their babies. They held some fun contests, like blindfolded obstacle course driving (assisted by a passenger), a horn blow-off, etc. Matt actually won a book on historical sites in NY in the costume contest. He happened to be wearing his usual gear of a kilt and balmoral. :)

We had spent our cash at Rhinebeck, so Matt went to the food booth with our remaining $6.30 to see what he could do. As it turned out, the vendors were out of nearly everything, including buns and bread. They had to get creative. He came back with 2 iced teas, 8 cents, and a bowl of nacho chips, cheese, chili with beans, and cut-up hotdogs. Nothing beats a bizarre picnic in the back of a London cab on a perfect sunny day at a car show. Wow. What a terrific trip.

On the way home - cinnamon sweet potato "fries" and more chili dogs at a little place across from West Point. Once again... I am amazed by how wonderful my life is. Thank you, Matt, for being my love!

Rhinebeck Report

Okay, so I spent more than I planned. But I didn't go toooo crazy, and how can you pass up silk at $1/oz? Everything was so cheap... And I should be able to fill my Xmas orders now. I love this first pic, taken by Pam's husband Kris. It represents what the weekend was all about: Showing off your gorgeous shawl, yarn and people everywhere, but mostly connecting with (and hugging) your online knitsibs.
Sheepies! Sorry, Jas, couldn't find one to volunteer to live on your porch. Matt went bonkers touching all the bunnies. So hard not bring them all home!

Kimberly exhibited both practicality and style.The Fairgrounds were gorgeous. I was actually born in this area and it was fun to see names of towns, etc that I remember my parents talking about. Driving around was amazing ... obviously the brilliant colors influenced my fiber buying quite heavily.

I've been lusting after roving to make an autumny sweater. Found it! Didn't have quite enough green so I bought a supplemental bump to blend in. The mohair was Matt's request for a throw (I got a bag full). Also adopted: A pretty ironwood Lucet, white tussah silk fiber, charcoal gray teen alpaca roving, and some purple for Maddie's mittens.

Another high-fiber weekend

Spent last Friday with Jas and Jamie. I hadn't met her before, but the project she was working on quickly broke the ice. It was a birthday surprise for a friend. He sure won't be getting blue from the cold. After Jamie fled the area, Jas and I trekked to Baltimore for Stitches East. We met up with Roxy & Pam. We were all uncharacteristically well-behaved and spent time rather than money. I was able to barter therapeutic bodywork for 2 incredible enamel pins (The blue one is for my MS3. I still want this and this and these to make earrings. And this.). Then onto some seriously authentic Thai food. Jas grew up in Bangkok, so speaking her native tongue with the owner was a nice appetizer.

Tomorrow - RHINEBECK!!!! I'll be wearing light-up bunny ears and Matt will be with me (as long as he can stand it).

Fundraising

I opened an Etsy shop! I may load some handspun yarn on there, but for now it's just Matt's silverwork.

Also, in case you don't know, Wendolene is for sale, for those who want a funky daily driver.

Head-Bangin' Bird

I don't know about his musical taste, but this bird can really shake a tail feather!

What's happening with me:
1) I'm madly knitting away on a cardigan I started on Monday. It should be done in time for Rhinebeck. *fingers crossed*

2) Biz is picking up at my acupuncture clinic. Yay!

3) I joined a gym. It always feels SO GOOD to work out. Why is it always SO HARD to get (re)started? Suddenly I feel all alive & functioning. Anybody need personal training from old Mean Streak?

4) This Saturday I'm attending Stitches East as a thinly-disguised house call for my friend Roxy's sore back.

Spin-Out 2007

What a day! Perfect weather, friendly people, knitting, wheeling, and spindling everywhere. Check out the adorable tiny Peacock (smaller than it looks - I got some forced perspective on that shot) and Hitchhiker wheels (click to see details of cut-out hitchhiking hand and the foot pedal). I didn't notice until I was processing these pics, but it looks like there was some serious racial self-segregating going on. Hopefully next year we can mix it up better.