You understand that better is a very subjective term, right? 

A (mostly) pictorial recap: 

Bo and Luke Duke?  You here?  This guy would probably enjoy seeing y’all… just sayin’ 

His neighbor is rocking the reverse mullett…

The three over on the right seem to a bit confused regarding fashion decades…

80’s slutty? 90’s goth rock? Gangsta thug? Hippie?

Take your time…get back to us when you figure it out, k?

Not much commentary required here…

Ladies, you sure about the tied off wife-beaters and low-rise jeans? You may want to rethink your decision to wear that out in public…

Hawaii 5-0 meets Smith & Wesson:

Seriously. I couldn’t make this stuff up. Dude.

Sweetie,

Jon Bon Jovi is PISSED OFF that you broke in and stole his jacket. He promises not to send Tito after it if you just mail it back.

The bargain of the weekend…Look see what 10 bucks gets you:

Prime seating for the burnouts. WOOT!

The view from the start of the burnout tunnel:

I truly think this shirt says it all:

(would you be caught DEAD AND ON FIRE wearing that shirt?)

I STILL managed to find a knitter (or child of one) among the burning rubber and drunk hillbillies:

Ahhhhhh…can’t you just smell the stench of burning rubber?

Stay tuned for Saturday coverage…

You all remember that I grew up watching my grandmother knit and crochet, right?

What you may not know is that she was actually amazingly talented with all things fibery and crafty, sewing included. There was also needlepoint, embroidery, tatting…the list goes on. And on. And on.

Even though I saw her sewing all throughout my childhood, the desire to learn how never struck.

Even up until a year or so ago, I never had the desire.

Nope. Not interested.

Not even when a friend of mine at the hotel gave me all of his mothers quilting (and knitting, and crocheting) supplies after she passed away. I gave the quilting/sewing stuff to Erin without even looking through it. (Sweet as always, as soon as she realized the sewing bug had bitten me, she offered it all back to me. I declined except for some beginner-type supplies)

Anyways, my point is that until very very recently, I never had the desire to so much as touch a sewing machine or pick up a needle and thread.

Looking back, I’m not even sure what the catalyst into this new deep, dark, abyss was.

All I know is that all of a sudden I HAD TO HAVE a sewing machine and I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO SEW.

Just a little bit Crazy, isn’t it?

So I found a great deal on a middle of the line new machine, and I dove head first into fabric shopping.

It started innocently enough. A couple of fat quarters and a 1/2 yard or two from some Etsy shops.

I found a cute pattern for box bags.

Then there were a couple more coordinating fabrics I picked up at The Fabric Shop so my linings would match…

All innocence dies at some point.

During my early fabric searches, I discovered entire lines of designer fabrics…patterns galore…more fabrics…more patterns…

Who, you may ask, were the takers of my innocence?

Amy Butler… Michael Miller… Valori Wells… Kaffe Fassett…

I mean really…who knew that ROWAN HAS FABRIC!?!?!?!?!?

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck me………………………………….

I am so screwed.

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I was very rudely roused from sweet slumber just before midnight last night by one very scared orange kitty. And some very LOUD thunder.

Thank GOD Pugsley doesn’t have any claws as I woke to him sprawled over my face. I can only guess that he jumped in his sleep when the thunder clapped and since he sleeps next to my head, well…you get the idea.

So I crawled out of bed and peeked outside to the sight of sideways rain and hail. It looked like a hurricane had blown in! CRAZY!

The storm lasted for about an hour (Not nearly long enough, because you know something? I love a good thunderstorm. I can thank my mom for that. Despite her outright terror of thunder and lightning, she used to sit in a window with me when I was little and say things like “Whee! Listen to the thunder!” and “Ohhhhh! Look at the pretty lightning!”, while the entire time she was scared shitless. Thanks Mom! You instilled a love of thunderstorms in me that has certainly lasted!!) and the best part of all is that the rain *finally* broke the humidity and cooled things off a bit.

The air was very refreshing this morning when I got up and I happily opened a couple of windows to get some cooler air in the house. And today it’s only supposed to be 85 instead of 100. (Sweet!) Which means we’ll have perfect weather to hit the coffee house for knitting on the patio and beers! WOO HOO! (ummm - is it 6:00 yet?)

Even though the storm brought much more desirable temperatures, it did leave some unfortunate damage in it’s wake:

There was quite a trail of branches and debris running down my street when I left for work:

and there were some pretty big branches on the sidewalk in front of my house that I didn’t get any pictures of, along with some planters that had blown down from a neighbors yard.

Across the street from my street is the WPI campus and there was some hefty tree damage over there:

The damage extended a bit farther, too…

About half a mile down the road, the hotel where our gift shop is located had some tree damage:

(this one is blocking one of the front entrances)

Luckily, this tree toppled onto Rt. 122 in a spot where it was easy to get around it by cutting through the Stop & Shop parking lot, otherwise it would have meant a long detour back to the highway:

I was relieved to not see any firsthand damage to homes this morning, though there were reports of trees landing on houses and cars out in Framingham, which is only half an hour or so from me.

It could have been so much worse.

I hope you’re all safe and sound!  Have a great day!

Because, really…

This has never happened to me before…

The only projects that I’m actively working on are crocheted.

Babette:

This blanket has been on my “MUST DO OR DIE TRYING” list for a while now. I’m taking it one section at a time, in order, and assembling as I go.

I can NOT imagine doing the assembly on this sucker all at once at the end of the project.  If I did, it’d sit there, a pile of squares, for the rest of eternity.

Three sections down, seven to go.

You may even be seeing a few more blankets ’round these parts before fall and winter. With fuel prices so crazy high, I predict a mighty chilly winter in my house. BYOB (bring your own blanket) if you happen to stop by.

(No Beth, I haven’t blocked the Hemlock Ring yet…I’m waiting because of all the sucky, soggy, humid air we’ve had lately. Soon. I promise!)

Also on the hook?

Anne:

I had originally started the Mermaid Scarf, but I was having my own set of issues with that one. Any scarf that requires 40-gazillion-something stitch markers is a bit more labor-intensive than I care for. Sorry.

I’m loving the color changes, and the yarn is really nice. New from Noro, Taiyo. Cotton/Wool/Silk/Nylon. I don’t know that I’d care for a sweater made from this (too heavy), but a scarf will be perfect! It’ll be a really cute way to dress up jeans and a t-shirt!

Stay cool!

~Bethe

It’s late.

As usual.

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Many things in life bring me joy. (Whether or not it’s noticeable is an entirely different topic. )

My little Joy spinning wheel does indeed bring me joy:

Other things that bring me joy?

Finishing a project does, too:

(well, almost finishing…the knitting is done, it still needs a good blocking!)

Sweet little purring furrballs:

and cute babies:

my friends:

Wednesday Night Knitting:

rainbows:

learning a new craft:

and doing pretty good on my first ever project in that newly learned craft:

(Amy Butler Birdie Sling)

Just a handful of things that cause a bit of Joy in my life. =)

~Bethe

Invitation!

My friend Jasmine is getting married next weekend!   I’m really excited to attend the ceremony (I’m bummed that I have to miss the reception).  I’ve never been to an Indian wedding and I’m sure it will be lovely.

I can’t wait!

Are you sure?

Such a shock.