Happy Halloween

Tonight we carved our great pumpkin, whilst "Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin" played in the background. After we completed our nifty little Jack-o-Lantern and gave him a test run, I decided to let Scarlett try on her costume. The little devil costume is the very same one that I wore for my first Halloween and it was also worn before me by my childhood doggie, Fella, thus it's a tradition that we have to keep. We're still waiting for the pumpkin seeds to finish toasting, but otherwise we are all set for trick-or-treaters tomorrow night. We have an assortment of mini-chocolate bars and if all goes well I won't have eaten them all before the children arrive.

Above: Scarlett says, "look what my people mad me do." I say, "the devil made me do it."

Matthew and I carving away

Below: Mr. Jack-o-Lantern

Tourists

The Vedras, a.k.a. Mom and Tim, came to visit us and were our first official guests here in Santa Fe. It provided an excellent opportunity to act like a tourist. While they were here we took in all of the sites. We toured the Cathedral, the Loretto Chapel (with its miraculous staircase), the San Miguel Mission, and the Santuario de Chimayo. My mom and I hiked up to see Nambe Falls, and everyone headed out to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. We ate tons of green and red chile and had a fantastic time eating out as well as cooking some yummy meals at home. Scarlett was thrilled to get to spend time with grandma Karen and grandma's husband Tim. She loved all the extra attention. Now that they are gone, Scarlett is a bit depressed. She really loves her grandma and misses her already. Our whole little family is anxious for their return.
Here are some pictures of the Vedras and their trip:

Up top: A scenic overlook near the Santa Fe Ski Basin. Below: In front of the historic Palace of the Governors, the oldest public building in the country.

Above: Nambe Falls. Below: Santuario de Chimayo

Above: Tent Rocks. Below: The family at the Tent Rocks, Aren't we cute?

So, who's next?

Travels

I returned yesterday from my cross country travels. I started out from Lamy, NM one week ago today on the Southwest Chief headed west to Riverside, CA. After a slightly bumpy start (I forgot my regular drivers license but was allowed on the train with an old one and a few tears), the train ride was great. I got some work done, ate dinner with some interesting people, and got some decent sleep. When I arrived in Riverside at 6 a.m. Jessica came and picked me up and took me back to the Malisch's where I fed Emmet his breakfast. I got to campus and took care of some business and got work done. That evening I attended the good old Stitch n Bitch before heading to friend Catherine's to set up camp. Wednesday I met with all of my advisers and stoked the dissertation fires. That night I had dinner with some good knitting friends and got to knit even more! It was awesome. Thursday I had lunch with Caroline and took care of some business, including a trip to Riverside's amazing new H&M, before heading out to my dad's to get some sleep before flying to Milwaukee on Friday. In Milwaukee I went out with our friends Susan and Dave, and then woke up early to spend some time with Grandma Alyce before driving up to Appleton for Step-Aunt Teena's wedding. I drove up in my rented Chevy Cobalt that was Cobalt Blue. The wedding was lots of fun and it was great to see my dad, step-mom, and sisters. Yesterday I left Appleton before the sun rose to make my 9 a.m. flight from Milwaukee to Albuquerque. I was so happy to be home with my husband and my puppy and our new couch, and on top of that it snowed! That's right folks, it snowed. Not that much, just a few flurries, but that was enough to totally amaze Matthew and I. We can't wait until the first time we get to take Scarlett out for a romp in the fresh fallen snow.
Now, we are busy preparing for the arrival of Mom and Tim on Wednesday. Our first visitors here in Santa Fe!

Above: Dad and his girls. Below: Dad and his Jim Beam.

eye candy

The beauty outside and in. The photo above is from our trip up to the Santa Fe Ski Basin to see the Aspens show their glorious color, and the photo below is of my work space now that we have finally hung the painting we bought on our honeymoon.

The Wool Festival at Taos

Today we loaded up the car headed to the The Wool Festival at Taos. It was everything I dreamed it would be. We saw sheep, llamas, goats, and lovely little alpacas; Matthew ate a yummy lamb sausage, and I got a fresh infusion of fabulous yarn. Scarlett wasn't so sure about the festival, mostly because she had to ride for over an hour in the car to get there and she hates the car, but I think she ended up having a good time.

The drive up to Taos:
Me in heaven, I mean at the Wool Festival:
It was a beautiful day for a mow:
The spoils:

The purple/red/blue: Brook's Farms Mohair; White: Jabberwocky Farms Cashmere;
Gray: Elsa Wool Company; Green: Plain & Fancy Wool & Sheep Co.

We had planned to camp near Taos but unfortunately, despite getting our tent up in 50 mile/hour winds we had to abandon that plan when we discovered we had set up camp on a pricker patch and the puppy's paws were full of sticky prickers. Turns out the whole area was covered in them, and so we decided to take the hour drive home and put off Scarlett's first camping trip for another day.

Textured Tunic in Francis

With all of the unfinished objects (UFOs) in my knitting basket, it may shock you that I have cast on for a new sweater. For my birthday my mom bought me this fabulous worsted weight alpaca from a local ranch. It is a lucious light brown color that was named for the alpaca it belonged to, Francis. I had planned to turn Francis into the Textured Tunic with Side Buttons from Fitted Knits come fall, and so with the weather turning cooler, I had no choice but to cast on. So far, it's really fabulous. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

How much is that doggie in the window?

Little Scarlett chased a fly right into the window sill and then she decided to stay.