Welcome to Vermont...

...where it's always Mud Season!

That picture is from the county fair, although we went during a brief hiatus from the summer-long crappy weather. Besides the mud, it turned out to be a good night for the fair, although the selection of rides was slightly reduced because the ground was too wet to set them up.

I like the Ferris wheel.

So what's going on around here? We said farewell to our Fresh Air child on Tuesday. I wish the girls had hit it off better, if only for the selfish reason that I could have relaxed a little while they went off together for hours of summer kid fun. But it rained almost the whole week and I confess it took a lot out of me to keep them both occupied. Still, it was a good experience, and if we do it again, I know what I would do differently.

Things are back to normal now, and a lot is going on. We said goodbye to this old thing (which I swear already had rust and a skiing bumper sticker when we moved here, but which I confess I did not work hard to keep clean, inside or out):

and hello to this:

Wow, a fridge that has an ice-and-water dispenser in the door and, hey, the door even closes all the way. What a treat.

And yesterday, a friend made this for me:

Don't you love it? She makes and sells silver wire and beaded jewelry around here and I've been trying to get her to sell online, through A Piece of Vermont Yarn & Fiber, even. Whaddya say? Would you buy something like this?

The biggest changes around here have to do with the shop. I've got Courtney Allenson designing a block-print logo for me. And I've got Louet and Interweave products going up on the site. Together, they helped me make these: beginners' spinning kits!

One already sold, but this one's still available:

I also had a not-wonderful dyeing experience, which left me with 10 skeins of almost-wonderful Colonial Superwash yarn. Only I have finally reached a decision and they will, from this day forward, officially be known as Long Trail. (I thought of going the Prince route and calling them something like ^@#)* , but Long Trail seemed catchier.)

The imperfections run along these lines

and mean the skeins are all 20 percent off. I'm seriously tempted to make a little striped scarf using the pink and orange or maybe the purple and green...

As soon as time permits, I'll be uploading some Interweave books, which I will be offering with my yarns and fibers. Buying Favorite Socks, for instance, will entitle you to a reduced price on sock yarn. First I have to go in and re-code the yarns so this will work, but it's coming.

My particular favorite socks are not finished yet. But both are almost ready for toe decreases. In the meantime, I started a sweater (Ravelry link) for my SIL, who is soon going to be shivering at her son's football games. She had some health problems this summer which, the doctor says, are going to make her more sensitive to the cold. And she's about the only in-law of mine still waiting for a sweater from me.

I've already got the sleeves done. Bless you, bulky yarn.

Meanwhile, summer flies by. Yesterday, we stopped by the Charlotte Berry Farm (very cool website, very cool place, with a peace-love-granola feel and the Dead playing in the background). (Note: This town in Vermont is pronounced Char-LOT, not CHAR-lut.) It took maybe a half-hour to pick 8 pounds of berries. I must go back for more. Muffins this morning!

Comments

[Chris]

Lovely Bracelet!!! I would definitely buy through your site - and I'm so partial to that spiral shape, as you can probably already tell!

[Kristen]

The bracelet is lovely. The sweater you're making for your SIL is perfect for sitting through those downright freezing games- yay, bulky yarn.
I'm ready to go blueberry picking a third time - can't get enough of blueberry pies, muffins, cakes, pancakes...!

[AnnaMarie]

There's not so much mud at the new place as Marsh, complete with things for the dogs to roll in. We've already started moving things up to the new place (barn and shed) and the break in the weather has made this alot more fun than it could have been. I'm hoping to hit a U-pick this weekend, there's a freezer at my grandfather's that has a bit of room and I'm laying claim to it!

[Mim]

Lovely fridge. Wish they would have had that one three years ago when we bought a new fridge. :0( Pretty bracelet!

[jillian]

So much prettiness! Argh. I'm trying to knit from the stash. Stop it.

And yum, blueberrrrries.

[Heide]

Holy cow that is a swamp! The bracelet is quite lovely. The yarns are gorgeous, especially the green. Cheers!

[SpiderWomanKnits]

Our fair started last night and we were hoping to go today but rain, rain...ugh.

LOL! Our new fridge was supposed to be delivered this week but it's coming next week instead. Right now we have a brown, clunker from Montgomery Ward which the appliance guy said is close to 30 years old! It's currently freezing everything we put into it! The new one can't come soon enough...

[trek]

Very nice on the new appliance.
And the berries.
And the bracelet.
Are you going to mail me some homemade blueberry scones or shall I just have to dream about them?

[samantha]

we had blueberry muffins this morning too! (course we've got a field full of them behind the house...)

[(formerly) no-blog-rachel]

Dang - I think you should have gone with '^@#)*'! :)

[CindyCindy]

And, as you have seen from the PurplePi shawl, your seconds are gorgeous!!!!!

[Marcia]

Gee, we just got rid of a 25 yr old fridge that looked an awful lot like your old one...and replaced it with a French door black fridge almost like your new one! No water in the door, though. Still, I L-O-V-E it! The bracelet is lovely..she does nice work. I've been taking some silversmithing classes so I know what goes into that!

[donna lee]

The bracelet is beautiful. I have a daughter who would love it. My old frige is looking a little worse for the wear but it still works so we'll keep it for now. Can't justify replacing it. I like the outside of your new one. We have had one of the wettest summers I can remember. Usually by not things are dry and brown but with all the rain this past week, we are green all over.

[NeedleDancer]

I'd buy one of those, certainly (assuming, of course that I could afford it).
I'd love to buy one of those refrigerators though.... how wonderful!

[candy]

lovely bracelet. Would look great as a collar for Milo.. We need more Milo

[janna]

Pretty bracelet! Yes, you should carry them! And pretty fridge, too! I miss my ice-in-the-door fridge that I left behind when I moved. Yours is much prettier than mine, though.

[Robin]

I love the bracelet - very nice!! Looks like there's a lot of CYA going on at the fair with all those signs. The fridge looks wonderful. Ours is 24 years old. I'm waiting.....

[Robin]

The bracelet is very pretty! So is that fridge! Ours is 24 years old. I'm waiting..... Looks like there's a lot of CYA going on at the fair with all those signs.

[lisa]

I keep thinking about getting a new fridge... I've heard that the energy star fridges of 2008 are 40% more efficient than fridges from 2001, and mine's about the vintage of your old one, late 1980's. Your new one is too big for our space... how do you like the bottom freezer? I'd think that the 2 top doors (but with the wonderful full width, HATE the side by sides) would also be more energy efficient. I've never been big on the water/ice in the door, BUT my friend has one and it is WONDERFUL to get crushed ice for cocktails! Pretty bracelet!

[Knitnana]

Oh! Mom always pronounced it "Cha-LOT" without the "r" much like the Lady of Shalot.
What a great new fridge! And yes, I'd probably buy a bracelet like that - pretty stuff!
(((Hugs)))

[Sonya]

Love the bracelet! She should absolutely sell online. Does she do earrings? Totally jealous of your new fridge BTW.

[Mary Neffinger]

I've been meaning to go to the Charlotte Berry Farm but I head it sold to out-of-staters, and I've been waiting on postive feedback. Glad to hear it's still great.
Love the bracelet, too!

[Teyani]

what a fabulous photo of your daughter at the fair. It seems that nothing can get that girl down :-) Sorry your visitor didn't really "get" your family.. her loss.

What a GREAT new frig!!! woo hoo.

and that sweet little bracelet is a lovely addition to your already wonderful shop. go for it.