The Lobster Pot Christmas Tree

I live on Cape Ann, so it makes sense that the city of Gloucester boasts a Christmas Tree built from layer after layer of lobster traps. This past Saturday was the Middle Street Walk which ended with the lighting of this tree. There were the usual political speeches and Three Sheets to the Wind sang a few songs before the lights.
As you can see from this photo below, the lobster pots are stacked like pieces of cake with lobster boys hanging in between the traps. Each buoy was hand painted by the kids at Art Haven .
There will be an auction at a later date featuring these one of a kind buoys to help support Art Haven.
Blog On!
Leslie

My Top Three Favorite Christmas Events

Of all the events Three Sheets to the Wind does, the Christmas Open House at Lowell's Boat Shop is one of my top three favorites. It's not just that it is an historic site (1793) or that they serve the best corn chowdah I have ever had or that this working boat shop becomes Santa's work shop for the weekend. There we are singing among dories in progress.
Rumor has it that the group has been invited to sing for the spring opening.
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Leslie

BASD Shawl Pin Workshop

Here is a collection of shawl pins by the Boston Area Spinners and Dyers . Yesterday afternoon's workshop was held at Carol McClennan's house which was the type of home that made me feel instantly comfortable. It also fueled today's desire to clean my own.
I have two favorite parts to teaching. The first is the look on a student's face when she completes a project that expands her self definition. The second part is when they take out shawl and sweaters that they have made to test the new creations. Many times the student who complains about not getting something perfect the first time pulls out a garment they made that stops me in amazement. There is nothing I can say to ease their concern for not getting their pin perfect right away. So I use the momentum to (re)give the talk to myself. Knowing the price of perfectionism doesn't always mark the bill "paid in full".
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Leslie

Fancie Purls and Pine Hills.

RoseAnn and I have been teaching in Plymouth this past week. We did two evening events at Fancie Purls and one afternoon at Pine Hills. Anne at Fancie Purls went beyond the call with wonderful goodies. And when did she find the time to make those cookies! It was hard to concentrate with all that beautiful yarn around.
Taken at Pine Hills, this photo
shows RoseAnn's newest variations on the heirloom rugs: wool ornaments that are shirred, beaded and stitched.
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Leslie

Fiber Twist Tote = Instant Organization

OK, not instant organization but certainly better than pre-tote and damn quick too. It has become my favorite "go to show" bag. The pockets not only hold but also organize the myriad of things one needs to be prepared when away. It is especially nice that there is ample room for Gabriele's soon to be finished shawl despite my obsessive need to pack for any contingency. One great thing about being older is all the room that is freed up by not having to bring tampons and Midol.
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Leslie

A Few Phrases I Can't Believe I Actually Said

and meant!
So cutting to the chase, here they are:
"Oh she's young, around forty"
"I'm never going to dye my hair"
"I could have spent the night with (fill in the name of a great guy), but the prospect of an evening alone with the new Martha Stewart Living........"
"Feel free to drop my my studio anytime. I am usually here"
Ah, to (hopefully) live and (hopefully) learn.
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Leslie

The True Cause of Global Warming

How obvious can it be? How many million baby boomer woman having hot flashes at the same time does it take to raise the Earth's temperature one degree? When it happens to me I feel like I personally am responsible for the temperature shift.
Blog (and flash) On!
Leslie