Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Knitting for Kids

I finally finished a couple knitting projects. I have about 6 going at the moment and it feels good to complete something. This darling little piece is the 'Magic Troll Vest' although I don't really think it's a vest, more like a dress or long top. 

I knit it out of my hand dyed Bee Bop superwash wool yarn, a skein of the Sorta Solid Purple and a skein of Spring Meadow. 

It's an easy knit and could be made larger for a 4-year old. I just want to do a bunch of these in different color combinations. 

I had the perfect buttons for it too.

And this is the Sawtelle, a free download on Ravelry. 

It's knit with my very own sheep's yarn, undyed, just natural brownish grey (Mocha) and a blend of the brown and cream (Mocha, and Brambles), one skein of each.


This wool is from last year's shearing. I sent it all away to a woolen mill on Prince Edward's Island in Nova Scotia. 


I'm always amazed that these wooly sheep produce such a beautiful product. Yay for sheep!

I Lovermont


I think Vermont is my favorite state. The West is grand, but I'll take lush green, comfy mountains over jagged, rocky mountains any time. 

Krista and Jaimie met Houston and me in St. Johnsbury because Houston was going to a conference in New Hampshire and I was going to Burlington with Krista and Jaimie. On the way to Burlington we passed this most awesome barn which is a reproduction of an old barn on the same property. 

We got up early and hit some yard sales. There is some great stuff in New England!

Like these cool Hollywood type glam chairs. Jaimie picked them up for $15 for both! Sweet!

We picked up a lot of small stuff

and a few pieces of furniture, frames and a mirror. Didn't have time to take many pics as we were off to more yard sales.

Scored these old coffee tins which will be great for display or planted with succulents or for storing stuff.

Then it was off to the farmer's market. Loved this woman's jewelry made out of bike tubes. She even pulls this entire cart with her to the market on her bike. Couldn't walk away without a pair of earrings and a pin.

Loved this bike rack...a huge combination lock. Clever.

 The Old Spokes Home, a small bike shop in Burlington, has a nice collection of antique bikes in their bike museum on the top floor.


Liked these bike lights.

A different type of bike...saw about 50 riders, all with stuffed animals on the back. The Teddy Bear Gang.

There's a nice bike path that leads from downtown out over Lake Champlain. 

 
We rode on the causeway that was once a railroad line. Perfect day for riding, cool and sunny.

In the evening Jaimie and Jeremy took us out on their boat (used to be Krista's boat, but she thought it would get more use up there).

Juniper sports her jaunty little life vest. 


We packed wine, cheese and snacks to thoroughly enjoy the evening.

Being on the water as sunset was just grand.

One evening we heard "Bread. Get your bread right here!" We waved him down, grabbed some money and got some freshly baked bread pedaled right to our door by the bread guy!

Window shopping downtown

Jaime sitting under a retro hair dryer. It really worked!


Cool sculpture made from car parts

The umbrella over the door is all metal.

Just south of Burlington is Shelburne Museum and Sehlburne Farm. We didn't have time to go through the museum (it takes all day) so we ventured into the farm.

The barns are so incredible, so neat, clean and gorgeous.

This is a mural in the creamery.

I usually know my poop pretty well, but I was stumped on a few of these!

Love the names of their animals. I've named many of my sheep and chickens the same names.

Always something to do at the farm. 3:30 sounds a bit Tom Sawyerish to me.

Mama pig and her wee piglets

Fun times with friends in Vermont. I bought my fill of cheese (1-year old sharp, 2-year old sharp, goat cheese, smoked cheese...yep, love the cheese!) and chocolate. Oh, and a half gallon of Vermont dark amber maple syrup. I do love Vermont!

Friday, August 16, 2013

Through New Hampshire in a Flash

We buzzed right through New Hampshire, but not before making Houston turn around to go back to this junk shop. I wasn't sure the car could actually make that turn with Houston behind the wheel, but I helped him turn the steering wheel from the passenger seat and we made it. The car seems to turn around just fine when I'm driving.

It was jam packed with cool, rusty goodness but things were way overpriced. If things are staged well and fussed with, I can see asking a bit more, but when stuff is just thrown around and looks more like a hoarding hole, no way flambé.
The only things I ended up with were 7 old pop bottles that have red writing on them. I'll use them for STAGING something clever and cute for the holidays. 

This old trailer was out front, waiting for someone to come throw a few thousand at it and haul it away.

The side yard was overflowing with heaps of stuff too.

Thought this gate was cute with water spigot handles for the flowers. Glad I got to stop or I would have pouted, thinking I missed the greatest deals on cool junk. I did pout a little though because I really, really wanted a lobster roll and Houston didn't stop at one of the lobster shacks cuz it was too early in the day and he said there'd be more but there weren't.   : (   oh well, gotta go back to Maine.