leaf peepin'

...and campin', hikin' and rhinebeckin'.

Our weekend in the Catskills was amazing, the leaves were at their peak and indescribably beautiful! It was of course, FREEZING, but still very very fun. Emily, Pat, Lisa and Kane were brave enough to face the cold with us. We did all the typical car camping activities: eating, taking walks to the lake, eating, drinking, eating a little more and a LOT of keeping warm by the fire. Despite the cold, the location was idyllic, and Ollie was the consummate car camping chef, keeping our tummies very full!

We hiked the short, steep trail up to Kaaterskill Falls; apparently New York State's highest falls?! Having been to Niagara about one bazillion times, including a few times in January, I'da toldya that Niagara was definitely higher, but I think the sheer volume skews one's perspective. The firepole of a hike up Kaaterskill was pretty steep so I'll take New York's word for it.

Kane was pretty beat after our day of playing at the falls.

Sunday we split up and Ollie, Emily and I headed to Rhinebeck for some yarn shopping, punkin chuckin, and sheep dog trials. We had a great time, made some new friends, (hi danielle!) and even had a celebrity sighting. You know, US Weekly is right, celebrities are just like us!

They pump their own gas! They go to sheep and wool festivals!

I wasn't stealthy enough to capture this shot, but I found it on Flickr, and Alex was kind enough to let me share it with you all! Little Ramona looks just like Peter, and was the cutest thing EVAR!

I think our trip to MA Sheep and Wool and WEBS satiated my yarn needs for a while, because I only whipped out the wallet once, for this lovely worsted weight tweed from Oasis Farm Fiber Mill.

I'm thinking I'll use it for the Central Park Hoodie that's been in my queue forEVER now, and use the debbie bliss casharan to make myself a grown-ass woman sweater ala Flintknits! Oasis also had the most vibrantly colored fingering weight, I picked up a green skein. I was tempted by their beautiful angora sock kits, but held off as I thought of my overflowing sockyarn stash at home. Maybe next year I'll pick some up, because WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING BACK (freezing camping trip and all), it was so much fun.

checking in....

Just checking in, does this thing still work?! Sorry 'bout the neglect on the ol' blog front, I don't even have a real excuse beyond apathy and laziness. However, October is ramping up to be our busiest month all year, so I may have some blog fodder beyond Andy Samberg talking to animals!

Since I managed to flub up my rezzies for my Grandma's birthday, I pushed the trip up to Leif Ericson day to spend some time with her instead. I managed to finish her cardigan in time for my trip out, and she was gracious enough to model it for me.

It was a very well written pattern. I made no mods beyond knitting the sleeves in the round (which were a leetle long). I need some practice with finishing techniques, but I don't think Gram's going to judge my work too harshly, so she was the perfect recipient of my first adult-sized sweater.

I had a lovely visit, mostly just enjoying her company, watching the dodgers, puzzling, and hanging with Bertie and Jess. The weather was gorgeous, a nice change from the cooler wet weather we've been having in the bean.

This weekend we're heading out west to the Catskills for some car camping and a trip to Rhinebeck. Last year Emily and I discovered that this is the PERFECT weekend for leaf peeping, so it should be a great trip.

The Olivers are in town for a visit after that and then we're having our inaugural annual halloween party. Nothing too crazy, Ollie and I are going as Lars and Bianca (not that anyone will know who we are, but I'm excited nonetheless). Here's a preview of our costume:

Life as normal persists, with the exception of our recent purchase--a new Vespa LX50! We picked her up after our labor day trip to Michigan for Stone's wedding (pics here!). We're trying to enjoy it as much as possible before the snow hits. Ronan took a few action shots of me the other day out in Brookline, I look so dorky in my helmet but I don't care---it's too much fun, and she's saving me loads of time on my work/school/home commutes.

Best of all, you can ride in the bike lane and park it on the sidewalk, it's perfect for the city and gets 70 miles to the gallon! Woo hoo! My only complaint is that I've lost my bus/subway knitting time, which is cutting into my progress on my socks for socktoberfest! I've vowed to finish up the two pairs I have languishing on my needles by november....hmmmm.

jaywalkers for me and bff socks for dru

say hello to your mother for me, alright?

Tina Fey is to Sarah Palin as Andy Samberg is to Marky Mark. Srsly.

Won't You Take Me To Funky Town?

Last week I attended The Night of the Funk beer tasting in the South End of Boston with Mister Sterling. It was a wonderful evening of fermented delights. I will admit that these types of beers are not for everyone but I thoroughly enjoy them. Below are the beers I tried as well as some notes.

Allagash Brewing Co.

• Interlude (Strong Ale in French Oak w/ Farmhouse & Brett yeast; 9.5%)- Not bad but not very drinkable
  
• Barrel-Aged 10th Anniversary - Oaky very oaky. Reminds me of California Chardonnay which can be good or bad.
  

Boston Beer Co.

• Samuel Adams Kosmic Mother Funk (Bretty Brown; 10.0%) -One word awful. Sam Adams has no idea how to make a funky beer. Poured this one out.
  

Brewery Ommegang

• Ommegeddon (Saison w/ Brettanomyces; 8.0%) - You take a saison and add some Brett. Good combination of flavors I like this one though not as much as the Bier De Mars which I did not try this night.

• Rouge (Flanders Red Ale; 5.0%) - Very nice
  

Cambridge Brewing Co.

• Samson (Belgian Barleywine; blend of bbl-aged Belgian strong brown ales and vintage Barleywines w/ traditional brewing herbs and subtle Brett; 10.0%)- Not good certainly does not taste like a barleywine Mr. Sterling poured this one out
  
• Delilah (Blend of bbl-aged Belgian strong golden ale with Brett. Anomolous and Bruxellensis, and an herbed Belgian blonde gruit beer; 7.0%)- Also not good I poured this one out.
  

D&V International

• Oud Beersel Framboise (Traditional Raspberry Lambic; 6.0%)- Very nice Framboise though a little on the sweet side
  
• Oud Beersel Oude Kriek (Traditional Cherry Lambic; 6.5%)- I liked this Kriek it reminded me of the Lou Pepe Kriek from Cantillion. Less sour than most but had a hint of spice.
  
• Duchesse De Bourgogne by Brouwerij Verhaeghe (Traditional Flemish Red Ale, matured in oak barrels and blended; 6.0%)- Sour and delicious.
  

Deschutes Brewery

• The Dissident (Flanders Oud Bruin; rare; we only got our hands on one case; 11.0%) - Only got to have 1oz of this one but it was awesome. Jordan says he has a bottle of it out in Seattle that he is going to save for when I visit which may I say is awesome.
  

Global Beer Network

• Petrus Aged Pale (Aged in oak for 3 years; 7.3%) - Nice drinkable beer not that funky. For a pale ale the hop notes are pretty hidden.
  

Ithaca Beer Co.

• Vitus (Neo-Flemish American Whiskey Sout Brown w/ hand-crushd Wild Grapes; 6.0%) - Was not bad though not my favorite.
• Champagne Grisette (Tart wheat ale, fermented w/ Saccharomyces Bayanus & Brettanomyces; 4.5%) - Both Mr. Sterling and I agreed that this was one of the best. We both got seconds.
  

New Belgium Brewing Co.

• NBB Love (Single bbl, unblended La Folie, sour, wood-aged beer; 7.0%) - Liked it.
  

Rohrbach Brewing Co.

• Oak-Aged Belgian Pale Ale (Wild Belgian Pale Ale on cask; 5.9%) - Similar to the Petrus above very drikable and not really funky.
  

Russian River Brewing Co.

• Beatification (Batch #2; 100% spontaneously fermented w/ Saccharomyces, Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus & other wild yeast & bacteria in old bbls; 5.5%)
• Supplication (Batch #3; Brown Ale aged in French oak Pinot Noir barrels with three strains of Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus and sour cherries; 7.0%)
• Temptation (Batch #1; 3 years old; Blonde Ale aged in French oak chardonnay bbls with Brettanomyces; 7.25%)

We were lucky to be able to try all three of these since they were is such limited supply. Throughly enjoyed the 1oz sample of each.

Shelton Brothers

• Mikkeller It's Alive! - Just ok. Would never order one
• Flemish Primitive # 6 - Disgusting. Tastes like an extra butty brie or cow poo.
• Cuvée De Ranke
• Cantillon Classic Gueuze
• Cantillon Kriek
• Cantillon Vigneronne - Was excited to finally try this one and it did not disappoint. It is a lambic with Muscat grapes added. Sour yet had a very nice sweet finish.
  

Southampton Publick House

• Cuvee des Fleurs (A Saison flavored with a blend of edible flowers including L. augustifolia, A. nobilis, C. officinalis, R. canina and H. lupulus.; 8.0%) - This beer was really cool. You definitly could taste the notes added by the flowers. Would love to have it again.
  

The Bruery

• Melangé #1 (Blend of a young Flanders Red & Imperial Stout) - Interesting combination that was well balanced
  
• Saison Rue (Saison bottled w/ Brett; 8.5%) -Very similar to the Ommegedon and just as tasty
  

The Lost Abbey

• Cable Car 08 (Sour Ale, blended once a year to celebrate the Toronado. Only 50 cases were produced this year; 7.0%)- Not so good
  
• Saint's Devotion 08 (Devotion Ale spiked w/ Brett; 7.0%)- Kind of plain.
  
• Sinners 08 (Secret blend of 3 bbls; 9.0%)
  

Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

• Riserva (American Wild Ale; 11.4%) - Not that wild
  

Willimantic Brewing Co.

• Willi Wonder! (Willi Whammer '05 blended w/ Certified Gold to Workingman's Wheat (and Willi beers), aged in a fresh Dickel bbl w/ Brett and Lambic yeast; 7.0% - Interesting complex flavor liked this one a lot as well.