Home, home, home.

I’m home, and despite being telling absolutely breathless things about the heat in the desert to anyone would listen, I’ve come home to discover that it is just as hot here as anywhere I’ve travelled. (Today has a humidex of 48 degrees. That’s 118. That’s hot.) That Toronto is steaming away in competition with the American Southwest likely means the world is ending, but I digress.)

I have made the executive decision, as the knitter in charge of this blog, to fall over face down onto my bed (instead of blogging) until it is time for me to get up and go to the event in Aurora tonight. ( 7:30 at the York Region Knitters Guild meeting at Needles & Knits (15040 Yonge Street).

I am imagining that my fine Canadian compatriots will have laid in a supply of beer, yarn and excellent company, which will restore my travel weary self entirely. (I will quietly admit that I wish you were all coming here to my house so I didn’t have to travel to Aurora…but I bet it’s going to be worth it.)

Tomorrow, long juicy blog posts about Austin and Ann Arbor, knitters, glory…and the discovery that I look fabulous in a Cowboy hat. (That last one is something that you just don’t discover living in Toronto.) for now….Bed.

120 thoughts on “Home, home, home.

  1. It must feel great to be home in your own bed. What a crazy hectic schedule you have! We all enjoyed meeting you in Austin, thanks again!

  2. Glad to hear you are safely home, and by now tucked in bed and hopefully having sweet dreams (cool, breezy, knitting in the shade sweet dreams). I can just imagine how fetching you look in a cowboy hat, that’s great, can’t wait (but will) to hear about the rest of the travels and view the pics.
    34 days.

  3. Welcome back! Sorry it’s so flippin’ hot there. We’re in the midst of a heat wave in NYC too. Ick. Can’t wait to read about your adventures. I love Austin (and the women of Hill Country Weavers) so much. Sigh.

  4. It was wonderful to see you in Ann Arbor – even in the “overflow” location! Thanks for being so gracious in signing all the books. My friend and I drove over 250 miles round trip to see you, and it was worth every gallon.

  5. Welcome home and sleep well! We too in New England are suffering in the same weather as you. Looking forward to the juicy blog posts.

  6. ahhhh sleep- I remember it well-
    slumber now Young Harlot- for later there is much to knit, and more to blog;)
    (whatever that was- apparently it’s the heat- or I was possessed by strangley speaking spectre, sorry bout that )
    Was it a HANDKNIT cowboy hat? Felted? (that’s a pattern I’ve yet to see- now look for;)
    Sweatin in the mitten as well-

  7. It’s brutal out, isn’t it!! Sleep well – see you tonight. It’ll be cooler tonight, right?

  8. A well deserved rest. Sorry about the heat, but we’ve got it too. So, you’ve got sympathetic suffering from over here.

  9. You wrote: “I will quietly admit that I wish you were all coming here to my house…”
    and I thought: “Be careful what you wish for!”
    Rest well, friend!

  10. 600 miles round trip + lots of yarn + fabulous knitters + one very understanding fiance + the Gracious and wonderful Yarn Harlot = the best weekend I have ever had
    Thank you.

  11. Have a restful collapse and we’ll see you tonight. I am not looking forward to the advertised hot and close quarters (I will be ditching my lambswool fisherman’s gansey project in favour of a silk/cotton lace shawl), but I am totally looking forward to the thing itself.

  12. Whenever I;m coming home from a trip I always hear that Simon & Garfunkle song in my head…Homeward Bound… very comforting…

  13. So really, it IS that you hadn’t tried the right hat – noy all hats make you look phallic.
    Glad you’re home, sorry about the heat.

  14. Sleep well. I hope you have some air conditioning that will help. We live in a 100-year-old house and there is only one air conditioner in the whole place (the sewing room! He he).

  15. 118? I think the hottest weather I’ve ever been in is about 100. A few times. And those were all in Massachusetts almost 10 years ago-now living in Washington State, where the hottest it’s been in awhile was last week at 95. And being of the kind that starts wearing cotton tank tops at 75, I’m incredibly sorry for the heat. Oy.

  16. Nighty-night! You’re a total saint for signing books and posing for endless photos in a sweltering hot room for hours, so even the almost-the-end-of-the-line people like me got their turn. You’re my hero. Thanks for a great Sunday afternoon.

  17. So sorry the heat followed you home. The cowboy hat did look good, by the way. It should become your new fashion accessory. Start a new trend in Toronto.

  18. Ah, what bliss – you’re own home, your own bed…
    Too bad it so darn hot! Over in Cali, we are enjoying the coolness again after one hell of a heatwave – that really did feel like hell. Add to that a lot of us don’t have A/C in the Bay Area and then electricity went out all over the place…but I digress…
    A toast to the Harlot – rest well and see you in Sept when you come to Full Thread Ahead…

  19. Ever fallen asleep outside for just a few minutes while laying in the sun with your current work in progress on your midsection? TAN LINES GALORE.
    Now ask me how I found that out.

  20. Congrats on getting thru another leg of your book tour! a nice frosty beer and great Canadian compatriots will do the trick! rest up and come back to us refreshed and re-invigorated!
    i hope you sleep so hard that you snored so loud that your throat is sore…but you aren’t sick…and the beer will fix your throat. :o)
    knit on!

  21. Ah, the weather… Weather.com says 95 feels like 106 in Toronto. Washington DC says the same! Gotta love that humidity, eh?
    Love hearing your adventures. Looking forward to the next installment.

  22. Isn’t it nice to be home? I like to go away… but the best part is coming home. This heat wave is kicking my butt though.. glad it will be short lived in the eastcoast.

  23. Come back to Texas. It’s only 90 in San Antonio right now!
    You do look great in a cowboy hat! All of us who shlepped up the road to Austin had a great day. Thanks for bringing Canadian hospitality to Texas.
    By the way, you shoulda seen the look on my friend’s face when I told her I had been in Austin all day Saturday to see the Yarn Harlot. Wish I’d had my camera.

  24. For our friends inquiring about the crazy Toronto temperatures, Environment Canada can give you a snapshot of what weather the Harlot’s under – in Fahrenheit, even! http://weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/forecast/city_e.html?on-143&unit=i
    And the reason the temps seem so high is because of the rotten humidity. There’s the actual temperature, and then there’s the humidex, which factors in the humidity and gives you a temperature that more closely approximates what it feels like outside:
    Q. What is the “humidex”?
    A. The humidex is an index (a computed value as opposed to something measured) devised to describe how hot or humid weather feels to the average person. The humidex combines the temperature and humidity into one number to reflect the perceived temperature. It takes into account these two important factors that affect summer comfort. It is therefore a better measure of how stifling the air feels than either temperature or humidity alone. A humidex of 40 with, for example, a temperature of 30 degrees means that the sensation of heat when it is 30 degrees and the air is humid is more or less the same as when it is 40 degrees and the air is dry. We must be careful not to depend on this interpretation alone: it is a mere indication of physiological reactions, not an absolute measure

  25. Ugh. The same thing happened to me last week, I went to Georgia for the weekend and came home to find it was hotter here in Windsor, and the nights were not cooling off as much as they were in Atlanta.
    I’m not at all surprised that you’d look good in a cowboy hat; that’s the sort of hat that becomes country singer hair best, after all. I guess it’s why you never see country singers in toques.

  26. Think of it this way–if they were all going to show up at your house, you’d be worrying about cleaning. A little more travel is probably easier to deal with.

  27. Sorry about sharing the humidity with you! If it’s any consolation, Ann Arbor is *much* worse today than it was on Sunday (we’re suppose to get to 99 degrees, plus humidity).
    As lovely as it was to have you in Ann Arbor, I can’t begrudge you home even one tiny little bit!
    –Lee

  28. I’ll just have you know that I have had to call my Native Texan status into question because of you… I was born here and look founnnkky (pull that syllable out!) in a cowboy hat and you, you look fantastic. It’s not fair! 🙂
    We’re all so glad you came to Texas and any time you decide to come back, let me know and I’ll have a cold beer waiting for you!

  29. Yes, you DID look awesome in the cowboy hat!
    Please tell your husband and daughters a big “Thanks, Y’all!!” for going it alone and letting you share your time with all of us – we all had such a wonderful time! Glad you made it home safe and sound.

  30. Yes, to those who think Canada does not get hot in summer – it most certainly does. You don’t cross the border and immediately find ice.

  31. So glad you made it home safe and sound! We thoroughly enjoyed having you in Austin and yeah, total babe in the cowboy hat. You should wear it for Joe. Hehe

  32. You more than deserve all the rest you can get – with room service from the girls :).
    I’m so glad you came to Ann Arbor & I was able to come hear & meet you! Thank you a million for autographing my book & posing with me!

  33. Welcome home! We really enjoyed meeting you in Austin and you definitely deserve to get some rest. Drink a beer for me!

  34. I think I understand a little about that Southwest heat. First time I went to Florida was in the summer – the heat was like a physical force pounding on one. Not something a Michigan native like me had experienced before.

  35. I couldn’t believe how calm and rested you were (looking, at least) in Austin, when I knew that your schedule had been chaotic for a while.
    You deserve to catch up on some zzzzz’s.

  36. Thanks for the update, even if it’s a brief one! I’ve been breathlessly checking every half hour. (Most of the breathless has to do with the stifling Houston day…they’re claiming 86F/heat index [as we call it here] 103. THEY LIE.)
    Please note that there is now a URL attached to this comment. Please also note that it’s a work in progress. 🙂
    Texas misses you!
    (Susan, aka TXPW, now called…)

  37. To hot to cook……no cooking, I’ll bet Rachel .H agrees. three out of three knitters agree………to hot to cook.
    luv denny (smoothies for dinner) x0x0x0x
    welcome home.

  38. Welcome home! I hope Joe has stored up a whole bunch of cold Canadian beer and ice cream- special for you!
    While you were gone, I got a knitting blog finally. You do get mentioned in my first post and in my second post, you can see where my traveling sock has been if you like.
    Cheers! Happy napping.
    Abby

  39. Cool is headed your way, just hang on a little longer. After way too many days of hot, humid, nasty weather and no rain, we are now wet and cool in northeastern Minnesota. I’m not making any promises, but it should get to you soon. Eagerly awaiting travelogue and pix of Austin. I got a peek and a great picture on Susan Albert’s blog.
    As for cowboy hats, get a nice straw, it makes shade with lace for breezes to blow through. Keeps one a little cooler in the insane heat.

  40. Cheers! Wish I were there. I’ll likely consume a cold one for you since I’m now allowed to!
    (baby is born)

  41. Yes, I agree with Denny on the cooking thing. Too. Stinkin’. Hot.
    But. I just got back from Kelli’s blog. Where I learned that while I was watching the Cars movie for the FOURTH time, YOU were spending time with the person I most want to grow up to be in the whole wide world.
    Jealousy this strong cannot be good for my complexion.

  42. Poo. Typical me, I waited until the last minute to RSVP for tonight and they are chock-a-block full. Oh, well. Back to the torment of my air conditioned home for me tonight, I guess. 😉

  43. It’s well over 100 here in St. Louis for the sixth or seventh day. You’re right, I think this settles the fire or ice controversy–the world is going to end in fire for sure. Someone sent me a knitting joke, which I shall pass on.(I’m a touch crazy from the heat.) A policeman cruising on the highway noticed a woman ahead of him speeding and weaving back and forth from lane to lane. She ignored the flashing lights and the siren, so when he caught up to her, he pulled along side. To his astonishment, she was knitting as she drove. He put his window down and yelled at her, “Pull over!” “No,” she shouted back, “Scarf!”

  44. Rest up! By the sounds of it, it’s going to be a full house tonight. Be sure to drink water in between beers – to stay full hydrated, you know.
    🙂

  45. Glad you’re home safe and sound and getting some well-deserved rest. LOVED you in Ann Arbor. My 3 friends and I travelled about 250 miles round trip too, and I agree with the previous post…worth every gallonand orange construction cone! We had a blast! Enjoy your time at home with your family and friends.

  46. How was Ann Arbor? I’d planned on going for a month, but at the last minute work bought me a plane ticket to Milwaukee for a 3:30 flight on Sunday… how horrid!
    It’s just as ungodly hot in Milwaukee as in Michigan – not to mention the humidity!

  47. oh the heat — — they keep saying on TV that we are only at 95 out on the island but how come my thermometer keeps saying 101 and that isn’t even taking into consideration the heat index YIKES!!!! — I bought my first already cooked chicken in the market today – no way was I putting my oven on.

  48. Looks like the weather in Toronto is almost identical to the weather in the Chicago area. My daughter is visiting her in laws in southern Mississippi & it’s considerably cooler there than here!!! What was that someone said about global warming being a myth?

  49. Just wanted to let you know that Sarah Peasley thinks I am a “dork” because I now consider her knitting royalty like you, Meg, Amy and Joyce because you not only read her blog but remembered it was her anniversary on Sunday. I told her anyone with assistants(ok,I am unpaid) is knitting royalty. 🙂

  50. It’s only in the 70s (deg. F.) here in Albuquerque. The weather is wacky all over.
    Rest up, and then let us see you in the hat.

  51. Have some great Austin pictures up on my blog!
    We are going to inundate your publicist to get you to Dallas, next time!
    By the way, I loved the weekend, the beer, the yarn and finally getting to meet you. Good times!
    And it was a wolf spider, Steph…absolutely harmless, but usually bigger than a Hummer…(must’ve been a baby!)

  52. Doesn’t it feel good to fall into your own bed though? Hope you have a nice fan to cool your sleeping brow. Rest well, we will wait here for your next installment.
    Humming Brahms lullaby…..

  53. Man, just reading your post made me go get an ice cream bar. I’ve seen that black layer in the sky, too, and it’s depressing.

  54. Woo Wee! I bet that big, wavy chestnut mane DOES look good in a cowboy hat! Welcome home and looking forward to hearing about the trip. Again, just let me say that there are knitting shops in the mid east coast states. 🙂

  55. My best friend from high school (I’m talking 40 years). We scored seats in the Bay Area…yippee!
    Can’t wait. We will literally knock your socks off.
    Chloe and Marji

  56. I remember how exhausted I was on Sunday when I came back from Austin, so I can’t even imagine how tired you must be from traveling so much in such a short time this past week. Rest up, Stephanie. Drink loads of alcohol and have a great time!

  57. Thanks for stopping in AA on Sunday. You were great and the lights really were blinking, honest they were, we all saw it…….

  58. Glad you’re home safe and sound. Thanks a bajillion for stopping by Austin and brightening up the weekend.

  59. I am really excited about Austin, TX, since I am from a town around there down the interstate about 52 miles. Now when I visit home, I will know what yarn shops are the best. Viva Texas!

  60. I confess. I have not been teaching my kids your silly temperatures….. ha!
    I’m glad you’re home safe and sound.
    I think Carole and I might go have a Chama beer. We’ll toast you okay?

  61. HOT is right !!! I’m not just referring to the weather which is vicious. I’ve been looking at the blogs from others on here and the number of lovely knitters going to see our “Harlessness” makes you one HOT lady. Good for you Stephanie you kept them in ” stitches ” laughing . Get rested up and enjoy being home for such a short tme (just enough to use Mr Washie ) and hit the road or sky again. Love your blog . Really look forward to it each day .Thank You

  62. Dear Heart,
    You will need more than beer. You will need AIR CONDITIONING!! I will pray for it (and you!).
    Hugs,
    Your Fan — Literally and figuratively (if you’d like!) Marg in Cooler Calgary

  63. Welcome back to Canada. You know, it’s much nicer weather here in NS (home of the Fleece Artist). Can you not be more tempted? Is this a bad time to ask if you made any progress on this Tuesdays are For Spinning?

  64. Have a good rest! There’s nothing like your own bed, is there? I’m looking forward to reading your next post. I am at my cottage in Haliburton, on a lovely small lake, and you would think its nice and cool here, but it is not. Hell without the flames is what we have here. Even swimming is not that refreshing, as the lake has turned the temperature of chicken soup.

  65. Welcome home!
    The heat here has helped me to discover a new sign that I am obsessed with knitting. Did you know that there is a lot of knitting in movies? Especially older movies. I was watching Gone with the Wind and knitting for my twin grand-daughters and trying not to think about how hot it is. Just what kind of wool is in Bonnie Blue Butler’s baby blanket? I think that Melanie Hamilton Wilkes was quite the knitter. She has this gorgeous gossamer blue shawl on when she goes to comfort Rhett Butler. And hey in her death scene are those felted slippers on the feet of little Beau? Gives a whole new dimension to watching movies. Try it!

  66. I’m going to have to look up what Humidex means. I’m with AlisonH on this. 118 in Toronto? The weather.com that I looked at said something about 93F. So, the 118 is factoring in maybe the humidity? Whatever, I’m glad to hear you are home. Silly question, how are the twins? Or more importantly, did the TEENAGERS survive without you?

  67. Thank you so much, Stephanie, for coming to Ann Arbor. I missed the friend I supposed to meet there, and we both thought the other had made it into the inner sanctum. Even though I was in the overflow room, I enjoyed your talk immensely. Much laughter was had by all. I’m impressed by your gracious attitude and excellent handwriting after signing all those books! Rest up, and please come back again. Maybe in the Fall, when it’s a tad cooler.

  68. That’s odd. It was quite cool here today; in fact, many people wore jackets to work. I didn’t because I refuse to admit that our summer is over. I will send this frosty weather out your way — watch for it in a day or two.
    In the meantime, just have another cool beer!!

  69. OK, so now that you’re back & resting & getting reacquainted (I KNOW I spelled that wrong) with Mr. Washie & Joe & the girls, it’s time to think about the next leg of the tour. Well really it’s time for me to think about it out loud to you, because I’ve been thinking about it. A lot. To the point where I had a dream that we met you at the airport & my son who is only 8 months old ran up to you and said something, though for the life of me I can’t remember what. Probably something about wanting to eat the cats. ANYWAY. If you’re still interested in a knit shop tour/beer fest (there is good beer here. Even a non-beer gal like myself has found a few good ales)/luncheon/ride-from-the-airport-to-your-hotel-because-taxis-in-Eugene-suck when you’re in Eugene, OR, just let me know. Also: I have a cute kid. Evidence here: http://gonzopants.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3046&g2_serialNumber=2

  70. Don’t worry, the world isn’t ending at all, she’ll be fine but if we are lucky civilization (insert bitter quotation marks there) will take a big hit…

  71. You deserve several days of sleep! Thank you for taking time to come to Austin. You looked great in the hat!

  72. Ah, home sweet swealtering home, neh? I hear you on the humidex complaints, fortunately the gurus over at Environment Canada are predicting a 10 degree drop tomorrow. If it drys up too it will feel like heaven.
    And since you’re willing to post pictures of yourself when you’re disgusted with your hair, I propose that you post pictures of yourself in a Stetson, when it looks great! (I would suggest the addition of a red tunic too, but that won’t help the stereotypes).

  73. Your entry triggered memories. In the early 60’s my father was transferred from Massachusetts to Southern Ontario. We moved to King Township, outside of King City (population 1900,growing with Canada). I started highschool in King but renovations would have forced a group of us to move to the next nearest school in Aurora for my second year. As it happened Dad was transferred back to the States.
    I remember long hills of rolling farmland. I hope the area is as lovely now as it was then.
    Meg

  74. Glad you made it back home safely, albeit tired! Thanks so much for coming to Albuquerque, I had a great time and it was good to meet you Stephanie! And I’m glad you liked the sky in Albuquerque, it’s one of my favorite things about living here. Hope you get some much needed rest before embarking on the next tour!

  75. Just home from a place with a beautiful sky myself (Missouri – methinks it’s the greenest state … check it out on GoogleEarth) and catching up on all your posts … thank you Stephanie. For your raw and wonderful truth-telling about writing (I’m contemplating taking it up myself and it’s good to know what I’m in for … I knew it wasn’t easy but never imagined it was hell on earth), for your generosity and wit but mostly for your willingness to advocate for this good earth and sky. I met a pilot once who had sold his 2 cars (and donated $1000 to our local Green Party) because everytime he got up in the air he could see the brown line and it hadn’t been there even 10 years ago and he just couldn’t bear it. It means so much to me that you have such a receptive ‘audience’ and you tell it like it is … thanks.
    Tara

  76. I am so very glad to be vacationing in Corner Brook, Newfoundland right now. I was a little grumpy about the rain and grey skies till I heard how things were back home. I’d rather have to wear a sweater than sweat like a hog. I hope the heat breaks soon!

  77. I can’t wait for the next installment of the virtual tour. Even though I wish I’d been with you every step of the way, I emit fewer GHG staying home and reading about it.

  78. ring ring……
    BEEEEEEEPP….
    You’ve reached the Yarn Harlot, she’s exhausted- but if you leave your name and a message- she’ll get back to you- as soon as she’s re-hydrated herself- and fondled some yarn;)
    BEEEEEP
    There you go- Harlot- i created a voicemail message for ya;)

  79. ring ring……
    BEEEEEEEPP….
    You’ve reached the Yarn Harlot, she’s exhausted- but if you leave your name and a message- she’ll get back to you- as soon as she’s re-hydrated herself- and fondled some yarn;)
    BEEEEEP
    Tere you go- Harlot- i created a voicemail message for ya;)

  80. Sending cold and frosty thoughts your way! We’re going to see a picture of you in your cowboy hat, right??? 😉

  81. When you wake up, Steph, would you give me a shout? I’m that author of a book about knitters as a subculture, and I’m getting to the part of the book where I describe the phenomenon that is you. It would be great to talk to you so that I can get all the facts straight.
    In case you don’t remember me, I made a drunken plea via email in which I probably mentioned that I’d just learned about having an older brother. (Turns out he’s a really nice guy, by the way, and Canadian!)
    Hope that jogs your memory and sparks your interest. Please respond as soon as you are well rested.

  82. I hope the knitters in Aurora treated you well.
    You’ll need a bigger venue next time – 🙂 I emailed an RSVP the day you mentioned the signing on your blog… but later found out there wasn’t enough room for my friends and I to come.
    Regardless, hope you had a blast and have got some well-deserved rest.
    See you next time!

  83. Ok, I’m a dork. We traveled 150 miles not 250 miles, but would have gone much farther to be in your presense, m’dear. Just got a new printer and the photos I am using to test it are of you and me behind the book signing table. I may have to frame one! Thanks again for the laughs, Steph.

  84. You were way adorable in that cowboy hat, and I even got a picture of it, albeit blurry. Blurry and cute. Welcome home! Now wake up and post already. 😉

  85. Ah..all this talk of Warmth! I’m here in Melbourne Australia FREEZING in a wintery wet drizzly day. Which reminds me…beanie knitting weather! xx

  86. Oh I would LOVE to have the pattern for the Texas facecloth! What fun! And quite good geographically. Please send!!!

  87. You look great in that cowboy hat! Can you wear something knitted underneath it in the winter in Canada? It’s too cool to leave in the closet. Maybe a cowboy hat cozy?

  88. I bought your book Yarn Harlots a couple of days ago and just started reading it, it is a chuckle a chapter. I have a suggestion on where to hide your stash, a good place is under beds in a large plastic container that is made specifically to fit under beds. I was surprised at not finding it in your chapter. Keep up the good work and the humor.

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