Ok, let's begin with the packing. Izzy was sulking the whole time we were packing and when we turned around there he was sitting on top of the luggage. Notice the grip on the luggage by our baby, "Don't Leave!". But leave we did, and arrive was not as easy thanks to delays in Newark making us leave a half hour later, congestion landing which delayed us a half hour, a truck breaking down so our plane was delayed a half hour to reach the docking station, and then the conveyor belt which delivered the luggage broke causing another delay.

A word of advice on mapquest in England. Double the time. When we finally landed we got our car and paid $100 USD for gas (oh yes, complain all we want gas in the US is cheap compared to others). So, off we went to Monmouth in Wales to visit a Habedashery called B's Hive. While mapquest forecasted 1.5 hours, it was closer to 3 hours. While mapquest forecasted 1.5 hours to get to Bruton after that, it took more than 3 hours (and yes we were speeding as we were incredibly late). Most importantly, I picked up Colinette yarn which I will discuss and post photos of later.

We got to Bruton late missed the caravan and assumed to head off in their direction looking for Orchardleigh. The estate was beautiful and we rested. I can go off on a few tangents about cultural shock except I have been to England way too many times to forget this stuff.

1. Brewed coffee is not an option (coffee is instant)
2. Sugar is not commonly used in tea (expect stares or comments)
3. Sugar is not often used in desserts (but chocolate is widely accepted)
4. Whip cream is whipped cream so it is not sweet
5. People will ask you "Are you okay?" what they mean is "how are you?". It still throws me off and when you are jetlagged and tired you feel like you are being evaluated.
6. Kissing when done as a greeting is often on both cheeks. (My family does one cheek)
7. Certain things are acceptable to discuss that are considered strange here, and things we sometimes discuss without care is offensive there.
8. Wedding speeches are done after the meal.
9. The read cards of people who could not attend the wedding for 10-15 minutes.
10. The wedding is so much longer than the US wedding. The ceremony (UK it is service) was an hour (not bad), the cocktail hour was an hour (not bad), the dinner was 3 hours (just sitting and talking a little long), and then the dancing was all night (which was really cool).
11. Did I mention there is no brewed coffee so when they serve dessert or cake there was none?
12. Because the bride's family is responsible for the wedding there is no groom-mother dance which I think is okay.
12a. The wedding cake is fruitcake.
13. Women wear lots of hats, colorful feathery hats.

Now, at this point, let me tell you the camera's batteries died so I was only able to squeeze two shots of the wedding. I really wish it didn't I think the hats were fun and fabulous. Very fascinating. And I wish I had the camera because I do take pride in my photos and I wanted photos of the beautiful cake, the dress, the church, the location, and candid shots of people (as the photographer mostly did posed shots).

I am extremely happy to be home. I ordered Chinese food the first night and everything was ordered spicy. I am going to go make some coffee now. Brewed, fresh, wonderful smelling Puerto Rican coffee and I am going to drink the whole thing.

Rachael and Dave during their wedding kiss at the Church of England service. It was a very interesting service. Two favorite moments during the ceremony is when Dave dropped the wedding ring, that was cute and broke up the tone for comic relief. The second is when during the singing of the hymns Ben's Uncle started singing completely different lyrics "we swept oh they changed the lyrics in Jerusalem..." which gave me a giggle. The organ was hand cranked so I think that means it was old, really old. The church was on the other side of a bridge and it was very rustic and cozy. It was very cozy.

This was the moment we were permitted to take photographs. We were informed by Rev. Dan when it was appropriate to take a photo which I thought was interesting and nice as you don't want to offend the people in the church.

I am so ecstatic! After Cyn announced this game, I have been practicing and going back, and I have surpassed Beginner, Avid Reader and Journeyman to finally reach Master.

I think I vote Colinette. Ok, so my dilemma is I am going to the UK for several days and I am determined to hit a yarn store. The thing is I really want to make a sweater for me to wear. Sadly, I am noticing all their yarn is really bulky. Sheila gave me some Colinette yarn samples to play with and some of their books, but yet again, I am lost for what to buy and make. I like their Fandango (18 st/10 cm) and Skye (18 st/10 cm). Does anyone have recommendations for Colinette yarn?

Oh-BTW. We have five kittens living next door to our building and through the wonderful work of Sandy Reynolds, Humane Montclair, three of them are now at PAWS Animal Shelter (see photo above). Sandy, DH, and I were outside for over an hour attempting to trap the furry critters (full of mosquito bites and all). We are aiming to grab the other two as well as get Mom and Dad fixed. Humane Montclair is a trap-neuter-release program and so far they have captured 239 cats. It is amazing work they do and I just wanted to let everyone know. They only work in the Montclair, but if you can help them out with donation of food or money it is a worthwhile organization. One of the neighbors in our units has already started the paperwork to adopt two of the kittens, so hopefully that will work out well.

Which yarn is a different dye lot? So, I ran out of the blue surf Malabrigo yarn and thus ordered yarn from Personal Threads Boutique. Now, I have to say the yarn shipped extremely quickly which was nice considering I have to finish this project this week. Tomorrow, I learn how to rotate the yarn so the dye lot doesn't impact the library shawl too much.

So, do you know which skein isn't the same dye lot as the other two?

The sweater after all the seams are done, before the ends are weaved in, and before the edging is done. Ah, but it's almost there. I jumped for joy when Sunday taught me how to do all sorts of things with the sewing needles, I learned how to connect the shoulders together, the sleeve to the shoulder, and the side to the side, and the sleeve to itself. Yeah!

You have guessed correctly if you said the middle yarn came is a different dye lot. The skeins on the end were recently purchased. Do you think anyone will notice?

Well, the weekend was busy. We looked at more homes. I knitted more. I bought more. I posted pictures. finally.

Let's start with the trip to Blockbuster. We rent the strangest films and I am okay with that. In fact, the clerk commented I was the first woman he ever heard say "Get Ultraviolet". That is the film with Milla Jovovich in a futuristic world (not the futuristic world with zombies because that would be Resident Evil). Oh yes, we rent independent, horror, sci-fi, b-movie, comedies, etc. We do not discriminate in our selections. Here is this week's rental list:

1. She's the man
2. Failure to Launch
3. Ultraviolet

Then, today we went to Pub 199 up Route 80 in New Jersey. They had a history of being a motorcycle bar, but did a lot to change that reputation. They have amazing king crab legs. We even surprised Churchill with some pieces (which btw he looovvessss!-he loves it). Ironic, four other kitties don't like shrimp or crab. Ella (pictured above) loves General Tsao's chicken.

And I have finally posted pictures of the knitting projects. Lotsa pics, enjoy!

This seed stitch scarf is for DH. Somehow, the sneaky thing has developed a criss-cross color pattern on its own. DH picked out this colorway and it is so luxuriously soft and yummy.

The library shawl in Blue Surf in Malabrigo. Two skeins done, two more to go.

The MIA FIL that I have been working on for months, since the January sns sale.

The Debbie Bliss baby sweater front panels and back. Where are the sleeves? Well, after warning from Mary, I finally got a significant amount of work done on the sleeves and you know they are uneven. Oh yes, and the largest obstacle in any of my projects is frogging and casting one again. Sigh. I have a week to finish this thing.

The sleeves, the uneven remaining last part.

Ok, so I was actually up to date on my bloglines when I went to Wendy Knits to learn that Socks that Rock made a special colorway after Lucy. Oh yes, they did. Which is why, Lucy is Izzy's hero. Well, Izzy doesn't really know who Lucy is, what the computer does, or why I knit, but I think it is really cool Lucy is immortalized. And when Wendy mentioned you can order the Lucy colorway by contacting Blue Moon FiberArts- I did it. So, shortly, not only will I receive my "bad shelter" in blue surf (ahem that is Malabrigo yarn for those who missed my earlier post), I am also getting some Socks that Rock in Lucy. Ironically, I should probably learn how to knit socks. Isn't that the way, you buy yarn and learn what to do with it next.

More irony, this isn't my first sock yarn. Oh no, I forgot to post about this purchase. A month or so ago, Lionbrand emailed about the Red Cross Knit Kit which is a cute litte tin (see picture) which includes army green sock yarn, DPNs, and a finishing needle. I couldn't resist.

I think there has to be a rule to how much sock yarn I need to acquire before I break down and knit some socks. I still need to coordinate and see if I can get one of Trek's sock bags. Oh, so many things to do, so little time.

So, I rarely catch Futurama except for when DH has control of the remote control and I am self-focused on knitting (BTW: self-focus includes new acquisition of two skeins of Malabrigo in Jaen colorway for DH's new scarf). So, I hear this piece of dialogue:

Leela: If you don't mind, we're here to deliver the scissors for the ribbon-cutting.
Zapp: Then you're under arrest.
Leela: What for?
Zapp: How do I know these scissors aren't part of some Neutral plot?
Leela: But they're not even sharp. Who could I possibly hurt with them?
Zapp: The Yarn People of Nylar 4? So, a plan to assassinate a weird-looking alien with scissors. How very Neutral of you.

After 15 minutes of surfing I cannot locate a photo of The Yarn People but picture two skeins of pink yarn sipping tea and talking.

Oh! So, Thursday night at sns involved my new yummy malabrigo which after a few swatches I have settled on a seed stitch. I know, I know, I type but no photos and where is the fun in reading and not looking at photos? I promise photos will soon appear. Cathy's mom (whom I forgot to get her name) knit up this beautiful sweater which was either Fair Isle or Intarsia and tons of colors. The buttons were made by her DH who had used a branch from the cherry tree and cut at an angle. It was truly stunning, impressive, and amazing (oh yeah and it had a zipper). All of this she knit in a month.

Ok, so DH and I will be traveling to the UK at the end of this month. You might have heard about the latest news, (if you haven't you seriously need to check the news more often) about the failed terrorist plot to use flights from the UK. Oh yes, we are in panic mode. We have another week or so to learn the latest on what we can bring but call me crazy I am sure no knitting will occur on the plane. Eight hours and no knitting! Anybody have suggestions for the flight, i.e. books, learn a new language, practice my scales with my fingers on the meal tray, etc....

So, have I mentioned when I knit with malabrigo I make people I know touch the yarn or the project. At least, I haven't grabbed strangers and insisted they touch the yarn. And so after I am about to finish the second skein of the library shawl for Ben's grandma in this yummy soft blue to white variegated yarn, I realize that no, I don't have enough yarn. Now, I was stupid and didn't realize this at sns when I first purchased the yarn because they don't have anymore left. Sheila being really cool actually started calling other lys to see if they have any of the yarn in stock and no luck. So, the inevitable happens (and if your answer to the inevitable is frogging you don't know me) I surf the internet for two hours in search of the yarn. While I did come across Yarnia the sample photo of the colorway was really off (did I mention it was Blue Surf #28?) so I come across Personal Threads. So, the yarn is ordered and it should be arriving. When I explained the ordeal to my father a man who has no understanding for knitting and more importantly dismisses my fondand love of fiber, he tells me Malabrigo means a bad coat. Out of the whole discussion of the needing the yarn, handmade gift, ordering off the internet, buying yarn from Nebraska, etc., he only hears the word Malabrigo. Out of boredom, I look up mal abrigo and find out it means bad shelter.

Oh! Non-knitting news. We finally put down the Flor mats on the dining room. I am so happy that the room is now done.

Lastly, I will be chilling at sns tonight's sit and knit. I may try and get more done on the log cabin blanket or....maybe, I will buy some more Malabrigo for another scarf. It seems during a moment of weakness, well a moment of me and DH sitting at Borders for the afternoon, I picked up Last Minute Knitted Gifts and fell in love with a few projects. And one would be perfect with Malabrigo yarn....

Well, it has been a crazy summer. I finished all the classes last week and I was exhausted. I did well on all my classes (I am smiling as I type) and I feel like I finished a significant portion of my work this summer. Sadly, we didn't get the house we bid on due to some shadiness but let's put that aside. On the other hand, my folks bought a house ironically while looking for a house for DH and I. My father gets bored (he's retired and enjoys projects).

More importantly what am I knitting?

1. Well, I have had the baby blanket on my needles all summer.
2. I just started the library shawl for DH's grandma. It is a shawl with pockets. This is being knit on Blue Surf colorway on my all time favorite Malabrigo. It is so much my favorite I made my husband pet the shawl at our dinner at LoneStar. Sadly, I didn't pay attention to how much yarn I needed so I just spent an hour locating a store with my colorway. Agh.
3. Karaoke in green for FIL. I have had this on the needles for months and I sorta don't care. Not that I don't like my FIL, I do- he's a sweetheart and very funny, but it is a project that is perfect for travelling and just hangs out in my home.
4. The baby bib from Mason Dixon book. I picked up the Sugar n' Cream yarn available at my AC Moore and thought why not, and I did. Although, the book says the yarn is Peaches n' Cream, but they sell Sugar n' Creme. I wonder what the difference is? I wonder more if I am really concerned with this difference? Only time will tell.
5. Lastly, I started the Log Cabin Blanket. I started the moderne one for my mom for Christmas. I am not doing the small one, I am doing the large one on Superwash Cascade.

I promise photos to follow. I like photos. But that requires more time and attention than I am accustomed. Anyways, if anyone is looking for radiator covers, I have two metal ones in a soft white that are way too big for my place (and they reimbursed but gave up on the service).

Other than that, what else is going on?

1. I went to Borders and picked up a trashy romance novel the day after classes ended and I loved reading every minute. I finished it that night at 2am and then slept until12pm and I loved every minute of sleeping.
2. DH and I bought the Simpsons UNO deck and had a blast playing at the cafe.
3. Puffy cat loves DH's flip flops. I don't understand this strange behavior, but I enjoy watching it.
4. I had thai food. I love thai food.
5. My neighbors went away for the weekend and I loved every minute of not hearing them.
6. I spent Saturday afternoon at stix-n-stitches knitting. I loved every minute of it.
7. I saw Pirates of the Caribbean 2. I loved every minute of Johnny Depp (or was it Orlando Bloom...?)

Ok, so I took advantage of this weekend. Yeah!