New socks...finally

Set number two of the handspun that was dyed by funky carolina. I am going to measure the leftovers - I might be able to eek out one more sock! I've been wearing the first pair, they are quite cozy and go well in my Doc Marten Club Mary Janes! There's more color in these socks than I've ever worn in my entire life.



Hazel the Honda is doing well. She has converted me to a mini-van lover - her spacious cargo area with little hooks that hold cloth bags from dashing groceries all over the place is groovy. And her stereo system kicks ass. And the air conditioning works. And the passenger side door opens from the inside (haven't had that in a while). And the hatch doesn't fall on my head. It's the little things.

This past Saturday I saw my other man, Steve Earle, in concert in Charlotte. It was in the McGlohon Theatre, which used to be a church downtown (right across from The Discovery Place). Small theatre, good seats, great company, and Steve playing for 2 1/2 hours. He was fabulous. I wasn't sure how I would feel about the DJ part of it (this album he recorded mostly by himself and there are some "loops" on it). Lots of old songs and all of the new album. None of The Revolution Starts...Now and only one song off Jerusalem. He's producing Joan Baez's new album coming out soon. Can't wait to check that out, too. Allison Moorer (wife #7) played for 45 minutes and that was hard for me. I've said it before and I'll say it again, she has a great voice, but her music and lyrics don't do anything for me. On top of that, she has the stage presence of a wet dishcloth. Sad but true. Here's a sample from this year's tour, but it sounded much better when we saw them.



This weekend is MerleFest... only Saturday for me, but since I'm a first timer it may be enough. I tend to be overwhelmed in crowds and get my fill of them rather quickly. Looking forward to Levon Helm, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, and Ollabelle. The Avett Brothers are Friday night so I'll miss them. Wah! I'm totally taking my camera. I could kick myself in the ass for not having it at Steve. I didn't know if the theatre would allow it (I should have known they wouldn't care - there are pictures of Steve all over the internet) and we were so close to the front it would have been perfect!!

Steve and wee sweaters

Steve Earle is up for two Grammy's this year. The first for best contemporary folk/Americana album and the second for best vocals with wife #7, Allison Moorer. He's also got a small North American tour going on soon. The closest he'll come to me is Chicago, which is about as close as the moon for my practical purposes. Damn. He used to have a thing for Asheville, but now that he's all converted New York City Boy I don't know if it still holds something special for him.

Jared has made some perfect sweater ornaments. I think part of their extreme wee perfection may come from being carefully steamed. Three sweet little sweaters have come off the needles today. Please note, mine are not blocked or steamed - I'm having my sweater ornaments rustic or just-out-of-the-box, if you know what I mean. I'm going to try a different increase tomorrow, but these may be the gift next year. I'm feelin' the love already.

My day off wasn't technically work, but it wasn't rest either. I was a rotten parent last year, and due to extreme stress did not participate much in the classroom, or even donate delicious delicacies to teacher appreciation lunches. In order to make up for my slackness I told the boys' teacher from last year I would bring him a roasted potato tart with rosemary, sauteed mushrooms and melted Gruyere tomorrow. I used to make tarts and sell them, but I stopped when I was vegan. Now that I am back to being an omnivore I recalled how much I like them. Normally, men do not even think they want a tart, but I know Brent and his family are foodies, so it seemed worth the effort. It smelled so lovely while baking.... I may be making another soon.

Steve Earle and still socks

I realized I have not been effervescent about Steve's new album. I am quite pleased with it. It is good to hear a love song from him about someone he still loves. Most of the time they are, "I love you even though I treated you badly and you're gone." I have the CD with the bonus DVD and let me tell you, that man would be a HANDFUL! I knew he seemed kind of hyper, but now that he is drug, alcohol, AND nicotine free - Holy Hannah! The man barely pauses to breathe. Steve had a radio show called The Revolution Starts... Now on Air America for a while. His show had other musicians coming on and sharing their favorite music; problem was Steve would barely let them get a word in edgewise. I haven't heard the new show, so I don't know if his interviewing skills have improved (and I still adore him even if they haven't).

I was a little disappointed in the drum loops and the lack of the Dukes on the album. The Dukes rock so hard live. My favorite songs right now are: Tennessee Blues, Down Here Below, City of Immigrants, Oxycontin Blues, Red is the Color, and Pete's Hammer. Almost all of them. Next week it will be the other songs not on the list this week.

Intercession break is over so the children are back in school - yea! - and happy to be there. The great thing about their charter school is that, in most cases, their only homework is reading for thirty minutes a night. Chicky has spelling every week, but that is so doable. I am worried about next year for the boys, I need to go out and start scoping out the middle school situation. Scary. I can't believe they are so freakin' old already.

My love for monkey socks is extreme. I got four rounds of the pattern off yesterday, and am waiting for the kids to go to bed so I can work on them some more.



Roza's socks by Grumperina are coming along nicely. I love Cherry Tree Hill yarn, it is so sheeny, soft, and bouncy. Of course, they will look better when blocked, but they have grown on me. Now I want to do her Odessa hat next.




I'm almost finished with Nancy Bush's Welsh Country Stockings! Right now, they are a little large, so I might try felting them a wee bit if blocking doesn't help the situation.

Chicky is spinning on her drop spindle. She's using some funky carolina scrappy love to spin, and hopefully knit a sweater for one of her dolls. I would've bet good money she would have chosen all the pinks. I was dead wrong. She's going for the greens. All. of. them. It's so hard to share.



She's pretty darn cute though.

No jail time...

Hopefully, you will be impressed (or saddened) by my lack of jail time. No jury was needed for my summons date. I'll be honest... I'm not sure how to take it. One part of me is relieved, and the other is very offended.

Steve Earle's album hits the spot for me (and I was touch and go because I wanted to be his seventh wife) and Allison Moorer aside, it is a good album (I really do like her voice BTW - I saw her live with Steve and she was amazing on The Rolling Stones cover of "Sweet Virginia").

Another Loopy Ewe shipment arrived today. Have I mentioned how much I adore Fiesta Boomerang yarn? It is so soft, boingy, and beautiful. Here's my latest shipment (I'm actually worried Sheri doesn't think I feed my children).

Here you have it from left to right: Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome in Fall Foliage, Fiesta Boomerang Baby Boom in: Rainforest, Alaska, Mochachino, and Raspberry Mocha. There is a Wooly Pet in the background. I love to felt and it seemed like it should be my mascot.



My future goals in life: to be an at least one-time wife of Steve Earle, and sock yarn wizard. We'll just have to wait and see...

Washington Square Serenade

He, he! Steve Earle is in the house! I met the UPS guy at the truck and he said, "I sure appreciate that, ma'am." I wanted to say, "Sorry, it's not for you, I want my new Steve Earle. NOW!" It's blaring right already, we (the kids and I) are digging it. I got the special DVD version. In a perfect world, last evening I would have been in NYC watching him live from a very close to the front row vantage. This was foiled by my commitment to civic duty WHICH I FORGOT ABOUT. Yea, talk about HOLY SHIT! Two weeks ago jury duty was on my mind continuously. Yesterday, not at all! Anyway, tomorrow I throw myself on the mercy of the Hillsborough Court House; tonight I will enjoy Steve Earle. The Dear Becca has promised me a cake baked with knitting needles inside if I get tossed in jail.

Click on the link to Steve's website at the right for more information.