Saturday, November 03, 2007

Oh, Saturday, You Torment Me

This was the plan...

Wake up before the kids and knit in peace. This never works. Even though they act like they can't get enough sleep on the weekdays, the little one can still wake before the sun on Saturday. I snuck into the living room and before I could finish one row I had a company. It seems the cat couldn't understand why I was the only one awake and proceeded to meow continuously up and down the hall until her favorite kid emerged. Ugggghhhh. At least she was quiet for about an hour because she really was still sleepy.

Then we would go to the farmer's market. That went well...



A lovely place, isn't it? I called myself one Saturday messing with the kids by waking them at the crack of dawn talking about "Put on your clothes and lets go!" That was our first time to this farmer's market. They liked it then and they like it now. Yesterday they begged me to take them. They love the kettle corn and just looking at all the stuff. The fiber content is a little treat for me this time since those two spinners weren't there on previous visits. I should have taken a shot of the decadent desserts several bakers presented to us. It's even a date spot. Several times I've seen new couples (you know the lovey dovey ones who neck and hold hands) just strolling through and not buying anything. This irritates me because it's already so crowded it doesn't need lookey loos (and oh yeah, I'm jealous). But this is just how nice the place is. Some weekends it's complete with horse carriage rides.

Then, we'd come back home to do the front yard. No problem there. I think this is the fastest we've gotten it done in months. I later learned this was because the boy wanted something, but that's another story. And on a side note about home maintenance. Didn't nobody (ok one person in the WHOLE subdivision) think about painting their front door. It took me years to repair a botched job just cause I was always broke. And NOW that I finally have, everyone wants to paint their door the SAME color. Last season two close (in distance) neighbors have copied me. How tacky! I can't say the words that I've been yelling as I pass their houses here. Kick plates and everything.

But here's the sad part. My favorite LYS has closed. I was informed by the lady spinning. damn, Damn, DAMN! She explained that the owner was keeping a part time job just to hold the store up, has recently discovered that she's pregnant with her third child (her other two are still babies), and she just couldn't recover from a store down the street from her closing its doors and giving all it's contents close-out prices(I never liked that other store). Oh I wish I'd had more money to give her. I loved it and my kids loved it. I'd take them there to shop and knit and they never bothered me or her yarn. She just carved out a corner of the store and threw some toys back there.

So, while trying to cop me an extra skein of Cotton Fleece in Victorian Pink, I went to this store in Midtown that's been hanging tough since I've been in Sacto (6.5 yrs). I don't know how long they've been in business. So now, that's the LYS down the street from me that failed, and now this one in Davis (15 min away) that failed. The Midtown store, Rumplestilskin, shows no signs of closing shop but I hate them.

Now, I know my little girl can get bad as hell sometimes, but that old bitty of an associate must have said, "beeeee careful with that" about seven times. I didn't know who's ass to beat, hers or the toddlers. Shouldn't she know that my offspring may have the same affection for fiber as I do? After a while it started to become an entertaining game for Teddy Bear. "Hmmm, let's see if she'll say something if I touch this." I couldn't wait to get out of there, but I did get some yarn for these knee-highs I want to try out and some lace yarn. I'm never going back there. There's a store about 30 min to the south that I haven't tried yet. If they don't work out I'll just be bound to the Internet until I can coordinate family visits to Oakland with positive cash flow. Then I'll hit Artical Pract.

I've cast on for my next Mommy and Me set. It's going to be Juliet and Tiny Juliet. I started on the tiny one first. Here's what I have so far...

I'll have to rip back because around here I can't count up to 60 without some kind of interruption, and so therefore when binding off stitches for the sleeves my numbers were off and therefore so was everything else. But I'm in love with the vision. We're going to be sooooo cute. I think this color, Victorian Pink, says fall all over. I'm working single strand for the tiny one with size 3 needles. Of course at first I was dead set against splurging in order to work double for the big one, but I'm so in love with it that now, I'm going for it.

9 comments:

Virtuous said...

That sucks about your LYS!! Sad that she had to close down :o( and now you only have the one you hate.
If I was you I would only go in to fondle and look at the yarn and purchase all of it on the web! LOL...heck...I kinda do that now! :op (its cheaper!!! shoot!! Haha! but I do purchase every now and then in some of the LYS)

I love how you make the mini versions of all the patterns out here!

I need to get started on my Juliet soon!

Lesalicious said...

Hey seen you on Ravelry you added me as friend wanted to stop by and read your blog. WOW you had a busy weekend. Can't wait to see the Juliet mommy and daughter set. Your daughter's turning out great so far. Hope you able to find a place that sells all your yarns with no problem best of luck. :)

Still Patrice said...

Theres finally a LYS in an area of town I'm always hanging out at, the grand opening was this weekend and I was happy about that! Sorry yours is closing :(

I have yet to go to the farmers market here, it's on my to do list for fresh seafood for thanksgiving dinner.

urbanknitrix said...

I LOVE farmer markets, they are always a treat. Your knits are always so pretty!!!

Sheila said...

That sucks that your LYS closed. Your farmers market looks like fun. We have one but nowhere as cool as yours. Looking forward to your Mommy & Me Juliet.

NikkiJ said...

Yes, the farmer's market has become one of our traditions. I'm so excited about the Juliets. I'm just trying to find the Brown Sheep Cotton fleece at a dirt cheap price. The average online price is $8.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for leaving a comment on the Zebra Dale sweater. Let's say....I'm glad it's finished. I ordered the "Juliet" pattern and can't wait to make it. The pink one so far is cute! Hope you don't have to rip it back too far.

cher said...

I'm sorry to her Knitters Playground is gone. She was always sooo nice! I agree with you about the social skills of the crew at Rumplestilskin. I have never had a good experience there and I will not go back! Have you tried Knitique in Elk Grove? Danielle the owner is super nice and kid friendly. i make the trek from Rocklin just because I don't like my LYS. It's got a similar vibe to Rumple. blegh! Can't wait to see your Juliet's!

NikkiJ said...

Cher,

I know you've been telling me about Knitique, but the price of gas has me bound to my normal route. If it ain't close or on the way, then I ain't going. I've called and they don't have cotton fleece there but they do have a similar blend by Cascade. I think I'm going to make the trip this weekend, I hope it's worth it.