Pile O' Pendletons

I don't do much thrift store shopping anymore, but I was antsy this morning and decided it was time to step away from the computer and get outside. Although my intention was to head to Agway to get some narcissus bulbs to force, I pulled into the Parish Outreach Thrift Store just to take a gander.  I picked up a bud vase and three Pendleton skirts. Feeling lucky, I stopped in at the Eastern Long Island Hospital Op Shop and took a look around -- more Pendleton skirts!  Plus a Ted Lapidus skirt -- fancy French designer wool -- that I probably won't hook with, but will use for something else.  For less than $20 I came away with 8 skirts and tons of yardage.  Score!  Some people say that Pendleton wool is to0 thin to hook with, but I say they're crazy.  I LOVE Pendleton wool -- as is, over-dyed, inside out -- it is great fabric.  Of course, they went right into the washer when I arrived home -- don't want any little flying critters in my stash.

Heading Toward December

Yesterday felt like winter: icy and cold and dark.  When Cairo and I returned from our walk on the beach, wet and chilled, I baked a batch of Dorset Scones and made a big cup of dark roast coffee and hunkered down for the rest of the morning, working on some needle punched stuff, reading blogs, looking at catalogs.  I am actually looking forward to decorating for Christmas this year.  The past few years, I couldn't be bothered after the long fall season of show after show, but this year I am gung ho.  Maybe its because Clara is coming home for the week.  Whatever the reason, it feels good.

We had a glorious Thanksgiving here in Greenport.  The weather was spectacular.  I cooked for two days solid, but it paid off.  I raced out to the Candyman in Orient Thanksgiving morning to get chocolate turkeys for the place cards.  Our friend Dennis, who stayed with us after Sandy knocked out his electric, joined us for dinner, bringing my favorite bubbly rose from Croteaux Vineyards.  The Osinskis, our neighbors who own Widows Hole Oysters, came with an endless bag of the best oysters ever and a still-warm lemon meringue pie made by their 14-year-old daughter. I roasted a 17 plus pound turkey, adapting an Americas Test Kitchen technique, starting the turkey out breast side down with salt pork layered along its back and flipped it half way through.  I had dry brined it with a mixture of ground fennel, herbes de Provence and orange zest.  I baked wild rice from the Ojibwa reservation at Odena, Wisconsin, that my in-laws sent to us, and made Brussel sprouts with bacon.  Pete roasted his home-grown parsnips and carrots and made fresh cranberry relish.  He also made delicious little rolls that we served with herb butter.  Our salad: Martha Stewart's Winter Spinach Salad -- so good. I didn't forget the stuffing (yes, I cook it in the bird!) and gravy and pumpkin pie.  I also made some adorable and delicious Cranberry Hand Pies from the Thanksgiving issue of Bon Appetit.  The recipe made 40, and we were too full to eat many, so I sent everyone home with some.  We sat and ate and talked from 1 o'clock in the afternoon until 8 o'clock at night.  Thankfully, politics didn't come up until the end . . .  

Friday dawned sunny and bright and I headed up to the Naugles barn at Hallockville to help out at the Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale, my last sale of the year. (Hurrah!)  I spent the morning sliding open and closed the barn door -- you'd be amazed at how many people tried to pull it open like a regular door.  My right bicep got a good workout.  As always, the barn looked great, thanks to Barbara's talent at creating attractive vignettes.  

I went home and napped for two hours and later went to bed at 9:30!  I was exhausted after three days of going non-stop -- didn't feel rested until Sunday . . . . Now it is back to work -- I have to get some things in my etsy shop: The Paisley Studio.  Give me some time to catch up, then come and visit!

It's That Time of Year

Yes, its not just Thanksgiving time, its Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale time!  After you've recovered from overeating, head out to Hallockville on Friday morning for the the sale of the season, now in its 21st year!

Here's the scoop:
Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale
Friday, 11/23/12 
Saturday, 11/24/12
Sunday, 11/25/12
Naugles Barn
Hallockville Nuseum Farm
6038 Sound Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901

When Does One Become a Senior?

My husband Peter turned 59 yesterday.  We went to the movies to celebrate.  An adult ticket at the theater costs $10.  Pete handed over a twenty, but got $6 back.  He couldn't figure it out and asked me if the kid -- maybe 16 years old -- had made a mistake.  When I looked at the tickets, I saw the answer:  the teenager gave us the Senior Discount -- even though we hadn't asked for it.

Pete was a bit taken aback at first -- he doesn't feel like a senior -- but decided he may as well take advantage of the perks it brings.  But we are both wondering when we will officially become Senior Citizens.  We figured 65 was the official age, but it looks like we were wrong.

Back Home Again

Another Fine American Craftsman Show has come and gone.  Hurricane Sandy and the subsequent snowstorm put  a damper on things this year, but we still managed to do pretty well.

I was proud of our booth this year --  I think it looked stunning with the rickracked oval in the center showcasing my snowflakes, which are hooked and needlepunched.  I sold my Whale of Tale rug -- I knew it would go this weekend -- and several mats.  It is really wonderful when someone buys a rug.  To  know they they love it enough to pay for it is a thrill.

Barb is still cleaning up from Sandy.  She's thankful to have electricity back, but still doesn't know if her washer and dryer survived.  when I left for home Monday morning, her neighbor, whose house is right across the street from Long Island Sound, was shoveling bucket loads of sand off his front lawn.  So much damage.  Its heartbreaking.

                            

One more show this year:  The Country Parlor Holiday Home Sale at the Naugles Barn at Hallockville Museum Farm in Riverhead, New York.  It takes place the three days after Thanksgiving.  I'll post details soon.

Today is Pete's birthday, so we are heading out to see the new James Bond film, Skyfall.  I made a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling and a chocolate pecan glaze -- very decadent!  Happy Birthday, Hon.

Fine American Craftsman Show

Please join me and Barb at the Wilton Historical Society's 27 Annual Fine American Craftsmen Show this weekend.  Discounted advance tickets are available on their website: Wilton Historical Society

WE have lots of new goodies this year, so please stop by!

I'm Hooking Away

It's a beautiful day here -- sunny and crisp.  I sat down and made myself hook yesterday and my worries melted away.  So many people are so worse off.  It's important to keep things in perspective -- that keeps you from feeling sorry for yourself.  Sorry for whining yesterday.

Scatterbrained

We are very lucky to have weathered the storm so easily.  I am so thankful for that, but, boy, am I out of sorts.  Can't seem to focus and by bed time I am so exhausted I can hardly see straight.  I've decided that today is the day I will get back into a work routine or die trying.

Barb is back at home and has made inroads into the mess Sandy made of her house.  She is still without heat and electricity. Her landlord has a generator that he runs until 9 at night, which allows her to have her refrigerator and a light or two.  Her neighborhood was really hit hard.

Our friend Dennis hasn't had heat, water or electric since the storm so he is staying with us for a few days.  Four days without a shower convinced him to take us up on our offer. of shelter.  It's fun to have him here.

Although Barb and I will not be at the New England FIber Festival this weekend, we will be at the Wilton Historical Society's Fine American Craftsman Show November 10 & 11.  Hope to see you there.