fleece!

Posted by ann

Originally uploaded by purlingswine

Do you remember that at last year’s Rhinebeck I bought a fleece? The only reason I even remember is that it has been in the garage lo these many months! Every time I park Onslow I have a guilty reminder of all those promises I made myself in the seconds before I bought it.

I figure the least I could do is get it washed before Rhinebeck rolls around again. geesh!

So washing a fleece is first and foremost a big pain in the ass.

Everything I have read highly recommends that you do not dump the dirty water down the drain since the lanolin can cause plumbing problems.

I am not into plumbing problems. I live in fear of my cess pool and will go to great lengths to keep my cess pool happy (yes, we are on cess pools here in Suffolk County NY – civilization seems so close and yet so far away) .

Fleece washing is therefore an outdoor activity.

Fleece washing takes a great deal of hot water. The last time I did this, I set myself up on the deck, right outside of my kitchen with the hot water not too far away. Well, I like to keep Mr. Boar happy as well. I may not worry about his happiness quite as much as my cess pool’s, but I at least try not to make him unhappy.

I do believe that dumping dirty, lanolin soaked fleece water all over his new deck boards would make Mr. Boar unhappy. very very unhappy.

So on Friday, I started washing the fleece out in the yard. This is not close to the hot water. And with every electric tea kettle full of hot water that I trotted out back, it seemed to get further and further. I only did one tub full of fleece, it took me an entire afternoon and by the end I was exhausted and stinky.

This is where my friend Flair comes in to save the day. I was bitching to her on Friday night about what a colossal pain in the ass it all was. (by the way, friends with full time jobs just love it when you complain about crap like this) She reminded me that she holds the keys to the kingdom. Hot Water in the Back Yard!

Sunday saw me at Flair’s, reveling in the steamy outdoor availability, realizing that fleece washing isn’t as bad as all that and wondering just what it would take to get Boar to put in an outdoor shower?

cheers!

Posted by ann

D#1 was showing us some of her mad bartending skillz last night. I had a Godmother and Boar sipped (gulped, really) a Godfather. She was talking about all the different drinks and why they are in different glasses and was full of details and I just had to say, “You’ve learned this all in three nights?” Seriously, the way she was going on and on it was a freakin’ dissertation. I can’t decide if it sounds like she has been pouring drinks for years or working in the glassware department of Crate & Barrel. Well, I know for a fact that she has never worked in the glassware department of Crate & Barrel …….

Onto fiber related things ….. I am still questing for my knitting mojo and biding my time knitting dishcloths. I keep giving them away, so I have only increased my own dishcloth pile by one. It’s the loneliest number.

During this lull in my knitting mojo, I have been trying to do a good deed for a non knitting friend. Years and years ago before I knew her, this non knitting friend hired a young woman to knit her a Rowan cabled cardigan. She had almost completed the project but had many health problems and is not able to finish. Since I am without any mojo, I told my NKF that I would take it on. The problem I have discovered is there will not be enough yarn to finish. And naturally this yarn has been discontinued.

So if you, or any of your knitting friends who don’t happen to read my site (what??!!!) are sitting on a few skeins of Rowan Magpie color #608 I would love to talk to you!

and finally, one last pic of Mr. Boar tipping his new favorite child …..

one whole dollar ….
Mr. Boar is a bit thrifty, no?

Happy 4th!

Posted by ann

How about a quick update?

This photo was taken on Wednesday. Flair, Nancy and I went to the beach. I did a bit of knitting, got pummeled by some waves (actually knocked down and rolled around in the surf – how’s that for a visual?) and then they cleared the beach because of incoming electrical storms. But it was a fun day and I made my usual vow to come to the beach more often!
I believe I have failed to mention that D#1 is going to bartending school this summer. A few weeks ago she said she had a great gift idea for her 21st birthday, that she hoped I would hear her out, that it is the kind of job where she could have another job. She had her defenses all lined up, clearly expecting some kind of argument from me. I said, “Make me a gin and tonic”. She didn’t know how and had to be shown. what?! I thought college was supposed to be a bartending head start program! what’s the matter with kids these days?
It starts next week and runs for two weeks. One thing I find tremendously funny – she keeps referring to it as the academy. I realize that they call themselves the academy, but really do we all need to follow along? I stay quiet and just give myself knowing looks in any available mirror.
We are throwing a graduation party/bbq for D#2 tomorrow afternoon. The weather reports are looking ominous. fingers crossed! Today will be spent getting ready – chopping celery and onions for various mayonnaise laden salads!
I have decided to not fight my lack of knitting mojo. I am waiting it out and knitting dishcloths. I get an inordinate amount of pleasure from the colors of kitchen cotton. For instance, this one makes me want a lemon water ice!

my Peeps speak and I obey

Posted by ann

You asked for deck, you get deck.

This project has consumed our every waking moment for the past two weeks. We couldn’t be happier with the way it is turning out. I didn’t realize how bad our old deck had become! Are you also noticing the Mason-Dixon Adirondack chairs?

I am sure that Mr. Boar would like me to draw your attention to the stair risers.

He is in love with his deck, but is especially pleased with the way the stairs are turning out. Because he decided to do these vertically instead of horizontally, they are taking much more time and so the deck is not totally finished yet.

Actually if you go over to my Flickr pages you will be able to see more deck pictures and see that the built in planter still needs to be done too. Another two weekends and it should be completely finished. You will also see pictures of the dogs, doing what they do best – sunning on the deck!