Apples and Trees

I took a short jaunt north of my home to Demarest Farms and boy does it pack a punch. There were hay rides and a corn maze...lots of kiddies with lots of exhausted-looking parents.

They had fresh-baked goodies...

...a farmer's market with great stuff...

...chocolate is the lesser-acknowledged food group but those in the know know that if it's sold at a farm stand, by definition, it's a vegetable.

...folks could pick their own pumpkins...

...I spent a small fortune on apples...

...when I returned home, I harvested the ripened veggies from the garden and...

Made a huge vat of apple butter...delish! ~ksp

Just in Time

Because this year my garden featured heirloom variety tomatoes, I had an interesting fall. For weeks I regularly watched the weather projections for the predicted first frost.

The summer months were too humid for tomato blossoms, but the unseasonably warm fall gave the garden new life (and me new hope).

This past weekend, my trusted Garden Laborer (AKA Damien) went about the business of digging up the remaining plants and preparing the tools and ground for a long winter.

All of his hard work produced this...and just in time. ~ksp

Fried green tomato anyone?

Neti Pot Prophetess

"It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to
Think of how many weak shows you slept through
Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you" ~Rakim*

Several years ago, while living in Atlanta, I developed "the worse sinus infection I've ever seen"**. My ENT referred me to a surgeon who put me under to fix a malformed middle turbinate...I know, I know, more than you wanted to know. Anywho...the surgeon taught me ho w to irrigate my sinuses with a Waterpik. Now if I know my readership as well as I think I do let me answer the obvious questions.

1. yes, a Waterpik
   
2. yes, it was as uncomfortable as it sounds.
   

Since then, I still irrigate my sinuses but I rely on the wisdom of the ages instead of the brute force. I use a neti pot. I'm not really sure who introduced me to them, but I know it was pre-Oprah. I have since inculcated several folks to join me running water through my nose and sinuses. If you haven't already tried it and you suffer from head cold and sinus pressure. It is truly a life saver.

On to knitting news...
The needles have been very busy around here lately. I finished my first ever sweater in time for NY Sheep and Wool. All of that will be discussed in future posts. For now we will combine two of my loves fiber and food.

I was in the NYC for a Midtown button run and took the opportunity to visit one of my favorite old haunts. Anyone who reads this blog regularly (or as regularly as I have been posting) knows that I loves the East Village (West Village too for that matter!).

Here is the Dumpling Man chillin' on the swatch to my latest project.

I think I made dumplings...or was a dumpling in a previous life.

No meal is complete without the hot sauce.

Here is the latest project. It's a Snuggle Snack from the PurlBee. I am going through MAJOR stash busting so this project is 90% stash (I bought the white) Knit Picks Swish DK Superwash. I am dubbing it the Mint Chocolate Chip Sundae Snuggle Snack.

It's to be a gift for one of my hairdressers who's having her third child.

*  A little hip hop reference...for those in the know

** A direct quote from the ENT.  It made me feel great to hear.

A Day at the Races

The Call to Post!

My father recently retired from the daily working world and since has had several retirement parties. Yesterday was party number 2 at Monmouth Park. What a time!

The photo on the left is my mother getting some handicapping help. She did okay. She's really not all that into the whole betting thing. My dad, a more seasoned gambler, isn't all that into horse racing. Go figure! All parties report having had a good time.

I made friends with a handler who gave me some tips on some of the races with mixed results. He was showing me cool features of the horses. Its seems like a rough life though...it doesn't smell so great either.

Monmouth Park is a racetrack built in the 1940's and is very reminiscent of the olden days. The photo above is of the terrace and club levels. While I do love old world charm, that area is a little too sterile for my tastes. I quickly moved down to the grounds level. Park benches and over-priced beers are much more my speed. My day summed up in one photo.

1. Amy Bulter Rowan knitting bag
2. Crab Cake Festival Freebies: cups and t-shirts
3. US Open Socks - Fluted Bannister (ravel it)
4. Blackberry Curve (new toy!)
5. Betting tickets & scouting book
   

The finish line.

US Open 2008 - Better Late

I love tennis. I happen to suck royally as a player, but I am a damn good spectator. In fact, I come from a long line of dedicated fans (don't call the house when a final is on). I have been attending the US Open since I was a wee tike.

Fluted Bannister Sock in YarnLove.