pending the week in the depths of the Appalachian Mountains with my mother. I thought I'd be able to escape Houston's baking summer, only to find the thermostat bursting at the seams even in this otherwise idyllic location. Several locals blame the increase in temperature on the increase in population in Atlanta to the south (another dig at Katrina evacuees?) others on global warming caused by our overdependence on Arab petrochemicals. Whatever the case it's hot.
y mom has knitted me a new headband, at my request, from her collection of exotic animal fibers. Starting with a strip of mild dun colored camel, moving on to a layer of American bison (which is far softer than its rugged appearance belays), followed by the dusky brown yak fibers which have been spun with a layer of hairy mohair giving the appearance of a light halo of fur. The llama yarn is dark and rich and quite silky to the touch. Finally a couple of layers of Jacob's sheep yarn, followed by the delightfully supple alpaca comes from a local animal named "Jade" who is the pride of knitters in the Highlands area and whose highly sought pelt is delightfully supple.
ordered a few ounces of Jacob's ram locks which I intend to weave into my natural hair in places where my natural locks refuse to mat together or look kind of wimpy. I'm not quite sure what will happen, so I'm only going to try it in a couple braids at first to see what havoc is wreaked in this unnatural union between man and sheep (hey I AM of Scottish descent!).
esterday, as we were driving to Hiawassee to visit some ken, we ran across a tiny road mysteriously named "elf school". Never one to miss the opportunity for a bit of adventure, or inane endeavor, or preferably both, we drove down the path looking for the source of the name. We came upon an older building which had evidently been a schoolhouse at one time, with the legend "Elf School Inn" in large green letters on the façade. Apparently the establishment had been a bed and breakfast before certain septic problems had forced their closure. Yuck.
