Old Sturbridge Village

Whenever my modern-day life is getting me down, I fantasize about how easy it must have been back in the day. And then I take myself back, via Old Sturbridge Village, to remind myself how lucky I am to be existing in 2009, because in 1809 it would have been Way Worse.

So yeah- I like... indoor plumbing, knitting for fun, air conditioning, washing machines, refrigerators, women's lib, furnaces, supermarkets, reproductive choice, plastic, sneakers, PANTS, music that isn't live, SPF 50, antibiotics, sewing because I want to, mattresses that are not made of hay, and... cars.

We did have a nice day though. I had been thinking about doing a day trip, and then the kids were going wild this morning, and we HAD to get out. An hour in the car with a cup of coffee and the Breeders took me from Bitch Mother to Field Trip Mother. Plus, Sturbridge Village is really just an excuse for fiber fanatics to pretend they're interested in the past...

Now that's a motherfucking carder.


Notions Department


probably would not have done that 200 years ago.


Tinsmith


Didn't inherit my hatred of bugs.


Hangin' with Mr. Cooper


The Cooper.


The potter.


Bah!


Me, in 50 years, trying to indoctrinate little children.

This weekend was way less exciting than last weekend.

When Chris and I finally got down to discussing weekend plans on Saturday morning, the only major thing on my agenda was to get my predatory nematodes into the garden soil.

I also wanted to go for a hike, and was willing to fight the crowds at Purgatory or Sachuest. Chris declared that a hike would guarantee a chest cold-induced asthma attack, so (luckily) those plans were nixed.

All plans were definitely off when I found out that I was scheduled to work on Saturday rather than Sunday. Big oops. I've never actually failed to show up for a shift, and this was the closest I've ever come.

So off to work. I sometimes leave my knitting at home, since its presence pretty much ensures that I will be too busy to eat or go to the bathroom. Since I was so royally bummed about the nixing of the hiking plans, I opted to bring my latest project in (with fingers crossed).

Totally worked out. I managed to spend a decent amount of time knitting- I finished all but the tubular bind-off of the first armwarmer, casted-on and completed 2 inches of the second. I had all of ONE post-partum patient. At the hospital I used to work at, we had 5-7 patients a night. It was busy, but very doable. Having one patient is pretty much like not being at work.

Today was pretty great. Two sets of very gracious grandparents meant we were down two kids, so we set off to Swan Point Cemetary for a little walk with Enzo. I had brought my camera, but Chris decreed that there was no photography allowed in the cemetary. Too bad, because I could have taken cheesy tourist photos in front of every single Former Governor's Grave he insisted upon visiting. He is very cute with his extensive knowledge of (and interest in) RI History (despite his transplant status).

After, we headed to Sunday buffet at Kabob N Curry. This is probably my favorite Sunday activity, although we tend to only go if we have less than three children with us. Sunday buffet means I can eat an entire Tandoori chicken without judgment. The waitstaff is ridiculously accommodating, and the kids always manage to score a free mango lassi. We've tried their sister restaurant, Rasoi, and while it's less hipster-y, it's also a bit more fancy.

After we returned home, Chris headed off to a progressive caucus meeting, and my friend and her son came over for knitting/sandboxing. It was a perfect Sunday- morning paper, nice walk, Indian food, and knitting.

a very busy evening shift


the camera (or I) did not do this justice.
one of the most beautiful rainbows I have ever seen.


TF Green's grave. Shot from moving vehicle.
Chris does NOT want to get caught. :)

The extended version. Link crazy.

So this weekend was my long awaited child-free trip- a day at MA Sheep and Wool, and a night in Pioneer Valley.

Jenn and I hit the road at 9:30- I had expected some major traffic, but despite it being Saturday morning of Memorial Day weekend, there was none. I had an idea that the festival was kind of in the middle of nowhere, but I was a little surprised at how back-woodsy Mass it was. On our way, we got slightly lost and drove by some extremely scary unidentified roadkill, and arrived (despite the festival's lack of signs) at a decent hour.

The festival was not quite what I had expected. I've been to RI and NY Sheep and Wools, and they are both great in their own ways. Massachusetts Sheep and Wool was a little disappointing- despite the fact that there were a ton of vendors, there didn't seem to be many *great* vendors. It was a little to 4-Hy for my taste. Jenn picked up a new drop-spindle, and after an extreme amount of deliberation, I bought some very yellow yarn from A Touch of Twist.

Since there were no drop-in knitting groups or any workshops worth going to, we went off in search of good coffee and a less buggy place to knit. We ended up sitting outside at Woodstar Cafe, with our projects and some very good scenery. I can't remember the last time I sat at an outdoor cafe with no one to chase after and no messes to clean. It was glorious.

When I went to book a hotel, I had a hard time finding a hotel room near Northampton. The combination of UMass commencement and Memorial Day meant that every room within 20 miles of Northampton was booked. We ended up at the Holiday Inn in Westfield Whip City. Whatever. It had a pool and a free continental breakfast.

I find that when I am having a kid-free day, I don't want to see ANY kids. The only kids I think are marginally cute on my kid-free days are very quiet babies. Unfortunately, there were children in the hotel pool. They didn't stop me from enjoying my responsibility-free swim, but I didn't stop wishing they would leave.

After a lovely dinner, it was back to the hotel to laugh at the very ridiculous porn synopses and drink beer in bed. Either the beer or the porn plots gave me a wicked case of insomnia. I ended up sleeping for about 2 hours, and I woke up when the baby in the room upstairs from us fell out of bed. There is a very unmistakable THUNK when a baby falls out of bed, even when it's a floor above. At that point, I really wished there was a kid-free section of the hotel. Then, tuberculosis-ridden man next door completely sealed the deal on No Sleep. meh.

Luckily, working full-time nights for two years and not having a decent night's sleep since 2004 has made me somewhat resilient to getting a total of 2.5 hours. I managed to score some alone time in the pool, where I spent a good ten minutes making a whirlpool before I realized that the front desk lady was probably watching me (on camera) plow circles through the water like a Gigantic Douchebag.

I took a shower with my favorite boyfriend, something I would never ever ever do with the little ones around. We packed up and headed over to Whip City Candles, which was unfortunately closed. I'm glad to have to found another partner in Being Twelve Year Old Boys- we also drive-by photographed S&M Marble and Granite, Whip City Brew Bar & Grill, the Easthampton Bear Fest, and Tasty Top. :)

It was a very lovely and mostly relaxing time away. I had excellent company, and managed to do everything on my list.

drop spindles


colory


odd spinning machine


I had signed up to work a little Sunday-evening shiftlet, so there were all of three hours between my return home and my trip back out. I got my annual review out of the way (they'll keep me for another year!) and got my assignment for the night.

I was the outpatient/labor nurse, which basically means no sitting and knitting- fine since I had forgotten my knitting at home. I had a wonderfully sweet couple whose doula looked kind of familiar. Apparently she knew who I was (not a lot of homebirthing L&D nurses out there?) and had already told her client I was "awesome". Hello, ego boost. I pretty much only had time to do the admitting and then it was time to go. I love shiftlets, because even if you walk into a shitstorm, it only lasts for 4 hours. I can pretty much do anything for 4 hours.

Now I'm listening to a very enthusiastic bird couple sing their INCREDIBLYfuckingLOUD lovesong in the bushes outside. I have searched and searched for my Bird Call thingie, but since it's missing, there'll be no fake Red Tails to scare the horny birds away. I hope they get it on soon and shut up so I can finally get some sleep.

The KKK took my sheepy away

Fiber Festival #2?
not so much.
I dug the quaint-ness of the RI Sheep and Wool and the variety of Rhinebeck. MA Sheep and Wool? meh.
However, I did have a lovely weekend.

Beach!

Last year I had every intention of going to the beach once a week until school let out. We ended up going once, in one of the last few weeks of August. oops.

This year, though- I'm doing much better. Today it was 85 degrees and sunny, and I thought it would be just perfect to sit in the sand and enjoy the cooler beach weather. Heh. It was like 65 degrees at the beach, and small-craft advisory windy. Still beautiful, but I'm glad we had sweatshirts.

swinging






We ended up at Sand Hill Cove, my favorite kid-friendly beach. It was high tide, so no rock flipping today. My most favorite tide pool place is at Point Judith, where Chris and I got married. I need to keep an eye on the tide charts to see when the next mid-afternoon low is.

no fear


the view from my swing

This week I'm down to two children- Hannah is in Maine with her grandparents. I've been enjoying my time with the little ones. Yesterday, we had my friend Patti and her son Jeb over. The kids had a lovely time playing outside, and Annabelle got to try her hand at being the biggest big sister.





Later on, Patti's husband and my friend B dropped by for dinner. We've all known each other for 15+ years, and I love that I have friends who shared the very weird experience of Catholic School.

Today, it's off to the beach for yesterday's plans- dinner picnic and sandcastles. I'll bring my knitting- just in case.

Fiber Festival #1

Today, Jenn and I hit Fiber Fest #1 at Coggeshall Farm in Bristol.

Annabelle wants to sit on donkey.
Can donkey tolerate 40 pounds of kid? Probably?


Annabelle making a very fabulous necklace.


Fiddling with the f-stop.


Pea porridge.


Carding


Bah!


This kid was a brutal nurser. ouch!



Next weekend, it's off to Fiber Festival #2 and a kid-free night. (!!!)

Can't win

I am outnumbered. Even when I have things mostly under control here, there are still three of them and one of me. Nothing would please me more than having a clean house and the ability to sit down for more than 3 minutes at a time.

This morning while I was helping Annabelle choose her "fashion" outfit, Enzo found the jar of peanut butter. Not two minutes later I walked into the kitchen and found this.



There are two hands under all of this peanut butter.

Thankfully we have plans today- we're going to the Gilbert Stuart Museum with our homeschool knitting group. It's on my fieldtrip list, and with all the rain we've been having, we're far behind.

Mother's Day

stayed in bed until 11:30. ate cinnamon buns while reading the Sunday paper. played and won a game of Monopoly. internetted. pulled a tick off of Enzo's back. freaked out. wrapped presents. raked. planted. watered. ate yummy grilled sausage. hung out with Mom and Grandma.


still to come: grapefruit. gilmore girls. bed.

Blech

I woke this morning with stuffy sinuses and a sore throat. I am so done with being sick.

It was 3pm by the time I realized that it was warm outside, despite the dreariness. We managed to spend a few hours outside before the rain started (again).

Sometime in between, I did some dishes and baked some bread.

Knitting Model #2


The books always seem to make it out with us


Quincy resting in the sandbox


Enzo checking on the compost


Allergens


Chris gets behind the camera!