Gearing up for Rhinebeck

Maybe the title should read, “Purl’s list of greed”, or “How to piss away $500 in one afternoon.”  Either way, it would be accurate.

I am going to spread out the greed over two events, I think.  The Finger Lakes Sheep and Wool Festival is in Hemlock on September 20 and 21st.  I have already coerced a coworker into going with me to that one.  I am thrilled at this prospect, because A) it sort of looks like I have a friend, and B) I can buy a Bossie and maybe the Golding I lust after, thereby relieving the stress of finding them at Rhinebeck, along with everything else I want.  

(I want, I want, I want…to breathe in the autumn air…to see the leaves on a sunny afternoon…to wander around and pet soft, gentle creatures…to inhale the scent of the sheep barns (my mother, if she’s reading this, will likely being muttering, “that smells like sheep shit!”  I can’t help it; I love the smell, shit or not)…to get totally overwhelmed by color and sensation…and go home feeling simultaneously satisfied and wishing the day had lasted just a bit longer…to spend the evening pawing through my treasures, knowing they’ll bring me a whole year of happiness.)

Oh, yes, and the other rationale for spreading out the greed is that my mother will be none the wiser about the spindles I pick up at Hemlock. She already thinks I’m nuts; no sense in worsening that sentiment.

Here’s the spindle from Tom Golding that I’d like to purchase.  

I looked at it several times last year, but for some reason chose a plain ring spindle with an ebony whorl. Don’t get me wrong; I love the spindle I have.  

 

But I love the new tree spindle, too, and must have it.

Bosworth spindles are another breed.  I put myself on the waiting list for a Moosie.  I love, love, love the idea of a Moosie.  The antlers of moose that are either shed (do they shed their antlers?) or found on deceased animals found in the wild are carved into spindles. I believe the Bosworth’s when they assure me that no creatures whatsoever are harmed in their endeavor.   Rather, a naturally occurring thing of beauty is recycled into a useful tool.  I like to think the spirit of the moose lives on.  Anyway, this special spindle takes a long time to manifest itself.  First they have to wait for the right season to find the antlers to begin with.  Then it takes Jonathon a good bit of time to fashion the material into well balanced spindles.  So, my expected date of shipment is somewhere around May of 2009, which is really nice, as that is my birthday month, and I can rationalize nearly any purchase then.

Here.  I lifted the Bosworth’s photo of their moosie off the website.  I’m sure they won’t mind, particularly if I include the link to get your very own moosie.

My daughter returns to Oswego on Tuesday, so today we’re spending the day together, and I can’t wait.  We’re going to American Eagle so she can find some (more) jeans for school.  We’re going to Verizon so she can check out the new cell phones, because her contract is up for renewal.  We’re going to Sephora so we can play with all the goodies.  Then we’re going to see the sequel to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and then we’re going to California Rollin for a sushi dinner.

Things I’ve finished since I posted last:

1) a washcloth.

Things I’m working on, still.

1) Blue/green Noro silk garden light clapotis.  (Dear lord, will it ever end?)

Things I started:

1) My so-called scarf

2) Assorted Solstice gifts which cannot be shared.

Hey, I’m really liking Joe Biden for VP.

I’m also liking this sentiment. Yeah.  

So there.