Part Two, in which I meet Admirable Women, am entertained by Olive the cat, and get up to Mischief First Class

More Rhinebeck! Yaaayy!

Did I mention the imaginary rodents? No? WELL, Swan decided to try to put on over on me and made up this animal, a "wood-chuck*", and kept claiming to see them on the side of the road, "sleeping". I will have you know, Swan, I did not then and do not now believe in the existence of such creatures as "wood-chucks", so you can stop with the funny-ha-ha joke. There are no "wood-chucks" just like there are no "baby pidgeons" or "midget cats".

I wore the Cookie Monster sweater on Saturday, and have firmly resolved to knit myself sweaters for every day of the week so I can always feel "that way", the way that says "this looks nice and everything about it is my doing". I received lovely compliments on it, one of which I will relate to you now.

I met Stephanie. Swan was standing in the Socks that Rock line, and I decided to take a little walk around building A, which housed Grafton Fibers, Golding, and lots of other beautiful things, like knitters in the throws of yarn-acquiring passion. I was just browsing about and I look right and recognized a certain shawl of which the wearer needs to be very proud. I looked up slightly from the shawl and saw the infamous huge freakin' hair (which seemed to be behaving itself for Rhinebeck). I admit, I was a bit dumbstruck. I really admire Stephanie Pearl-McPhee; not only is she a very talented knitter, but funny as all hell and, according to her friends, an incredible family woman. I enjoy her books not because she wrote them but because they are genuinely enjoyable; her style is sincere yet amusing, and I always learn something from her. So I said in the stupidest voice I could muster, "Oh, you finished the shawl."
Harlot: Yes, I did.
Me: It's gorgeous. (Wishing I had said something intelligent like, may I see the other side or even do you mind if I touch it?)
Harlot: Thank you... That's a beautiful sweater.
Me: DUH.....
Harlot: (touches sweater) It's really soft.
Me: (a bit loudly) ThankyousomuchitismyfirstsweaterandIamwearingitforthefirsttimetoday!
Harlot: Oh, there's no charm like a first sweater. (turning to Juno) Look, it's her first sweater, feel how soft.
Me: (blushing and melting into the floor and realizing that everyone but me is still talking)
Harlot: It was nice to meet you.
Me: bye...
And then I was a bit starstruck for about an hour.

I didn't want to bother her again (and I was embarrassed and a bit shy), she seemed quite busy with all the fibrous goings-on (and I certainly do not blame her), so I took my photo op later... and I present to you, Yarn Harlot and Enchanting Juno in Natural Habitat:

Shortly after was the Blogger Bingo meet-up, where I met this nice lady:

I figured I had already blown my starstruck stupid moment on Stephanie, so I was not going to waste another opportunity to meet a woman I admire (girl is self-employed running an online knitting mag, how cool is that?). I walked right up to Amy Singer, Swan in tow to get the picture for me, and said as cool as I could, "May I be a dorky little fan girl for a moment?"
Amy: Of course!
Me: (pulled out my Pixie, made from her first book, and put it on)
Amy: OH MY GOD I LOVE THAT! Can I have a picture?
Me: Only if I can too.
And I felt much better after that. She gave me the requisite "I heart Knitty" button, I declared to her that I absolutely do heart Knitty, and we've been best friends ever since.

Welllll.... not really. But every time she saw me, she pointed and said "Pixie!" and I feel I got some cred back. She even put her picture of me on her blog. She really is the sweetest woman; she was spinning silk at Morehouse Merino later that night, and don't tell Swan, but... I was slightly interested.

More celebrities...
I met Debbie Stoller. I told her I taught myself to knit out of the first Stitch n Bitch book (yes, all by myself), and thanked her very much. Then, I told her I was wearing one of the patterns out of it (To Dye For), showed her the slight modifications I had made, and she complimented me heartily. Thanks, Debbie. Thanks for all the times you've inspired me, which is MANYMANYMANY. Girl, you got it goin' on. Sorry about the pic, but I love it anyway.

Meet Melanie Falick and Betty Christianson, of Weekend Knitting and Handknit Holidays, and Knitting for Peace, respectively. Again, inspiration. I talked to Betty about the PL Blankie, and she loved the idea that charity was keeping my friendship strong. I told Melanie about Yoshi's stocking (out of Weekend Knitting), and she was touched that I was warming my boyfriend's Grinchy heart with a pattern forom her book. And Melanie had the coolest riding boots on... wish I could pull that off in Florida.

And then everyone was very tired, so I relaxed on the most decadent bed ever:


That's all the sale yarn at Morehouse Merino. It's on a daybed in the middle of the store. They looked at me funny.

BTW, that scarf? Swan's second project ever, and she did it for me. Props, girl. Right back at you. I love that scarf.

Sunday was much running around at the festival, running into people we'd met at the book signing the night before like Sarah and Tina, and getting generally tired and cranky. So, Swan took me to her home, where Mr. CygKnit prepared us a lovely meal of Chicken Marsala. Sadly, there were peas.
No peas for me, please. I hate them. They pop and squish and taste funny I will never hear the end of it from the CygKnit family.
Fortunately, Olive the Cat came to my aid with a lovely butter rum fondue.


Olive only entertains her guests with the very best, and made this from-scratch fondue to welcome me into her home. Then she hissed at me like there was no tomorrow. Those of you who read CygKnit will recognize Olive from her many adventures in eating angora fiber, chasing wild bunnies, licking Kool-Aid dyed yarn, accidentally consuming iodine, and catching snakes.

There will be pictures of my haul as I swatch them. It is all put away now and I am not getting it out again because everyone in my house will make fun of me, including Yoshi, even though I brought home Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Granite Peak for some socks for him.

And as promised, some Hallowe'en mischief. I rolled Walter's house; I knew I could get away with it.

* - I am not stupid. I know there are woodchucks. It's just funnier this way.