Yep, we went to Rhinebeck today, and it was thankfully dry. Cold, only in the 40s, yes … but dry! No snow, no rain. Phew! So we got to see the horses with the silver and gold hooves.

I didn’t see as many friends as usual and, except for the (formerly) MVFF get-together, most of the people I saw were fairly local friends that I usually see at Jessica’s for her spinning get-togethers (which includes Jessica). So, I’m a little sorry I didn’t get to see some of my ‘regular’ Rhinebeck friends, but am glad I saw Jessica, Annie, Kim, Jessalu, Risa, Susan, Sarah, and the other folks. (Thanks to Mom for this pictures, which shows the number of layers I had on today. I was dressed for January, not October!) But, Norma, Sandy, Carole, Laurie, Claudia, Silvia, and all the rest of you–sorry I missed you!

Oh, and I metKnitter’s Review’s Clara Parkes, which was particularly great since I just posted an interview with her at Knitting Scholar. (Which you should read, if you haven’t yet.)

In fact, she’s standing in the backgound of this picture, watching the progress on the Big Sock.

(That would be the attempt at the world’s Biggest Sock, which I’m very excited to have had a part in.)

I’ve got the button to prove it.

And a picture of what the part I knit looked like.

Now, as to the REST of the day? Like, as in the rest of the family’s day while Mom and I were having fun with our wooly friends? More interesting stuff.

Like, my car wouldn’t start this morning. The last couple of days, the key hasn’t wanted to turn in the ignition. You know how you sometimes can’t get the key to turn until you jiggle the steering wheel, like it’s locking the ignition in place? Exactly like that. Well, Mom and I piled in the car and … nothing. I could turn the key a quarter turn and that was IT, and putting my foot on the brake had about as much “give” as an inflated rubber ball. So … we had to bring Mom’s car instead.

While we were gone, Dad called the mechanic who said the “cylinder” (don’t ask me, I don’t know more than that) was about shot and that it was probably lucky that I didn’t take it to Rhinebeck because it could “go” at any time … and, being stranded somewhere around town is one thing, being stranded 100 miles from home is another! So, Monday we need to get it over to the mechanic so he can go to Volvo to get a replacement part. … We’ll need to work out the logistics of that.

Then, also while we were gone, someone came to look at the house–in fact, a second visit, this time with both daughters and both grandmother–and if they’re getting BOTH grandmothers’ opinions, they must have liked it the first time. For the walk-through, Dad put Chappy in my car in the driveway, and those folks were leaving just as my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew arrived, so Patty got to let him out of the car, which made Chappy VERY happy, indeed!

Then, the four of them moved furniture. They took our guest room set and our ping-pong table home in the van they rented for the occasion. (Unfortunately, there was no way to get the shuffle board table out of the basement. Not without removing walls.) They also brought some of the no-longer-wanted upstairs furniture, like the old metal desk from my parents’ office, down to stash in the living room until we can get rid of it.

Because we’re trying to get rid of our living room furniture and our dining room set, but Mom’s not having any luck on Craigslist. In a pinch, we’ll donate it to the Market Street Mission, or some charity or other, but we’re hoping to get at least some money for it, to help pay for some of the pieces we need in the new house. Like a futon so guests will have someplace to sleep. Or the new television we need for the living room (since the one we have now is getting iffy and we’re just hoping it will survive the move).

Anyway, Chappy was apparently very stressed while they took that furniture out of the house, which just cements our decision that on Moving Day, he will be in the first car to head over to the new house. We’re all agreed that he will be MUCH happier being in the new (unfamiliar) house and having strangers walking in with his familiar furniture than being in his old, familiar house having them walk OUT with his stuff!

Okay–tired now! In fact, so tired, I didn’t even knit tonight.

And, yes, I DID buy some yarn … I couldn’t help myself since it’s Rhinebeck … but you’ll have to wait for tomorrow for some pictures!

How about another picture of that BIG sock??

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