My fabulous friend Keri secured the wheels (that's another story, but let's say that Keri discovered that oil caps are left off during oil changes far, far too often and her quick thinking and firm words had this particular garage averting the ire of knitters with a quick offer of a loaner car), and with Kim we hit the road in search of our kind.
The vistas were not quite as lovely as past years (must have to do with all the rain we had) but were still gorgeous.
We made record time to our accommodations in Woodstock--8 hours--and found ourselves at a lovely "summer home" that Laura had the smarts to get us organized to rent (for much less than hotel rooms).
Then it got smoky.
That wasn't a good thing.
I forgot to open the flue.
No real harm except to the pretty white brick chimney. Which meant we spent part of the evening washing off soot. Then part of Sunday night too, this time armed with toothbrushes, magic erasers and fantastik with bleach.
Soot doesn't come off painted brick so good.
Who the hell paints their fireplace white?
Well, apparently I do. I found some paint and spruced it up. All better. And a funny, minor glitch in an otherwise great trip.
Now back to the fibrey fun...
Saturday we hit the fairgrounds and it was PACKED. I've never seen it that busy. It was sorta hard to shop. But that didn't really stop us. I'll do a separate stash enhancement post because all my yarn looks crappy photographed at night in the house. It's so very nice it deserves better.
Kim was on a mission to find a new wheel. We started with the high-end stuff just to understand how a cadillac compares to all the rest. While none of us liked the Golding aesthetic, Kim's face says how she feels about spinning on this machine.
Keri gave it a whirl too.
I don't spin. I declined. Though that resolve fell a bit. You'll see next post when I show you what I bought.
I bought a spindle for Elizabeth. Kim and Keri got them too. They were later pronounced awesome.
We petted, fondled, ooooooo-ed and awwwwww-ed, hugged old friends, met new ones (I want to state that I LOVE it when someone comes and introduces themselves to me as one of my readers, it's always great to meet you), had some beer with pals I don't get to see often enough (Laura N., Jaya, Jo, Justine, Sarah), saw lots of Central Park Hoodies, Clapotis, Tilted Dusters, some Rogues, and just general knitted gorgeousness. It was all good. When we were back at our place, we did some show-and-tell over pizza and wine. We all had a lot to show and more fondling, oooooo-ing etc occurred.
Keri broke out her new ball winder while Kim assembled her new Lendrum. Laura gave Cheryl and Andrea drop spindle lessons and I relaxed with my knitting. Yes, Cheryl and Andrea are newbies to Rhinebeck and did what we all do when there; by a spindle and fibre and start making their own yarn!
Laura took some silly pictures of us. Really silly (it helped keep us warm--Rhinebeck was freezing).
Monday morning, Keri expertly packed our car. The wheel is even in there.
Our work in Rhinebeck was done.
I always say this will be my last year at Rhinebeck (so I can go to other fibrey things like Maryland or Madrona or Sock Camp) but now that I'm not in school, Rhinebeck is like the start of Autumn for me and Autumn is the start of hard-core knitting season. I'm already thinking of next year's trip.
(Thanks Laura, for a great happy photo of me!)
Scarf looks great and what I can see of Vino Cardi does too. I can't wait to see the whole thing!
Glad you had a good time.
Posted by: Michelle B | October 21, 2008 at 10:22 PM
I'm laughing at your chimmney story - MacGyver would be proud of your solution, seems it worked out fine. It looks like it was adorable house and your pics are great! Glad it was fun. (and funny?)
Posted by: thea | October 22, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Cleaning product for soot on brick: TSP from the hardware store. Works WONDERS. Wear gloves!
Fantatic photos, thanks Steph!!
Posted by: Carmen | October 22, 2008 at 08:20 AM
I can't believe I didn't see you guys! I did see Laura but not the rest of you, how is that possible?
Your accommodations sound great. Next year I want to do the local b&b thing too, save a bit of driving around on the Saturday!
Posted by: Glenna | October 22, 2008 at 08:47 AM
it's to bad that didn't get a flat, your pile on the side of the highway would of been better with a wheel in the picture! Great to see you... remember it's 3.5 hours (well to my house, 45 more to Jo's)... and tweed is on the way.
Posted by: Justine | October 22, 2008 at 08:51 AM
I am beyond jealous! It looks like so much fun.
Posted by: Nicole | October 22, 2008 at 08:53 AM
That is a great happy photo. Great to see you, too. I'm still in the "I don't know about every year." camp but it is great to see folks.
Posted by: JoVE | October 22, 2008 at 09:01 AM
I can't believe no one thought to take a photo of the BLACK fireplace. And wall. And ceiling. Cause it was truly classic. :)
Posted by: Kim | October 22, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Although we are pretty close to Rhinebeck (here in Qc) and some of my fellow Laval Knitters went, Fall for me is much too busy with back to school for my daughter, volleyball season, birthday party to prepare, etc.. BUT, I am already looking for B&B for the Sock Summit in Portland... Sock: the ultimate portable and not-feeling-guilty-I-do-not-start-real-knitting kind of knitting !!!
Posted by: SamLaTricoteuse | October 22, 2008 at 10:13 AM
One of these days, I'm going to make it up to Toronto for a yarn crawl and knit night with you guys!
And dude, I bow in humbleness to the awesome packing job. I could never do such a great job!
Posted by: jaya | October 22, 2008 at 11:03 AM
It sounds like you had a blast, and I love how your scarf came out! I was there on Sunday, but with the crowds and the "ooh, shiny" magpie response I had to everything I didn't see anyone I know from blogland.
As for the fireplace. I would have done that. It wouldn't have even occurred to me to think about a flue, because I haven't had a fireplace in so long!
Posted by: Seanna Lea | October 22, 2008 at 11:28 AM
OMG is it just me or in the past few years have we been making more and more ofour own clothes, so now almost everyone is in hand knitted goodness? Everyone looks so cosy happy nice.
Posted by: denny | October 22, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Wow. It looks like just a perfect time. :happysigh:
Posted by: Romi | October 22, 2008 at 02:15 PM
I hate that there are people I didn't get to see! And it really was freezing on Saturday. I could barely feel my toes for the whole day!
Posted by: scoutj | October 22, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Looks like you had an awesome time! Your scarf looks fabulous! Perfect colors for fall! ^_^
Posted by: Jolynn | October 22, 2008 at 07:45 PM
your scarf is perfect with the vino :-)
Posted by: vanessa | October 22, 2008 at 08:07 PM
What fun! We have a white-painted fireplace that came with the house. A few years ago some wood was very resiny and produced the same sooty stain on the outside. We've never quite gotten the stain out. I've promised myself that I'll paint over it the next time we repaint the living room. Which may be several year away, lol.
Thanks for sharing the great photos!
Posted by: CatBookMom | October 23, 2008 at 01:14 PM
It was great to see you, however briefly. You and your scarf looked fabulous.
Posted by: alison | October 24, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Again, JEALOUS! Can I come with next year? *have car; will drive* hehe
Posted by: Monica | November 10, 2008 at 12:56 AM
It was great to see you, however briefly. You and your scarf looked fabulous
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