The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Ah happy days...Candy corn back in the stores! I bought myself some Autumn Mix in Giant on July 31st. Time really is moving faster as I get older...

In other news...

One of the most daunting/exciting/fun/fractious parts about being pregnant is coming up with a name for said future person. The power!
I love this website - should be on the curriculum for all parents-to-be. I have a poll on there to help me decide on name for my future person - join in and give me your feedback!

Ooh - and seeing as this is a knitting blog - I started the Elizabeth Zimmerman baby surprise jacket at the weekend! Such fun to knit - details coming when I get a picture to post.

An Irish story.

Look at this wonderful carving I got in Sligo - a wedding gift for the couple whose wedding I recently attended:
Ireland has a great storytelling tradition, full of warriors, princes and princesses, magical creatures, spells cast and hexes...One of the stories everyone knows is Niamh and Oisin in Tir na nOg*. This carving shows Niamh on her horse, when she meets Oisin.

This was carved by a wonderful artist named Michael Quirke, who works in his renovated butcher shop in Wine St. Sligo. Should you ever be in the vicinity, take the time to visit - not only does he have wonderful art on display, he'll take the time to explain it all to you. I was delighted to find something special for my friend.

*sorry for the rather breathless prose in the link ;)

Oh yea, Ireland pictures

Got back from Ireland about a month ago - were there for a friend's wedding held here - vay fancy and lovely. Been meaning to post you all some pictures...



I've always loved foxgloves. My two favourite colours together - bright pink and green. Yes I know they are terribly poisonous...



Glorious Irish weather...



Running water!

Yummy food... (Dame St., Dublin)

Bog 'cotton', Co. Sligo (maybe Leitrim?)

My son, at my Dad's house...(not really)

Lough Gill, Co. Sligo.

Knitting on NPR

There was a segment on Marketplace last night on yarn stores, and the tough times owners are facing in the current economic climate. According to this piece, people turned to knitting for comfort after 9/11 (I started a big cross-stitch piece that day), and yarn stores blossomed. However, in the past couple of years people have started to go online for their supplies, and yarn stores are learning that they must make their presence felt online, or perish.
Personally I love to go into LYS, both in the neighbourhood and when I'm travelling, and I always come away with something....It's not the same when I go online - I'm much less likely to impulse buy. I have in fact been very good about not-adding-to-stash lately, but that'll likely change when the nesting instinct kicks in in the winter.
Have added two squares to Babette this week. I think the dogs/my son have a conspiracy against this blanket, every time I pick it up they need something. Ah well, 'tis nice to be needed :)