Samhain Altar

Over a week!

Oh my goodness. Time this week has gotten away from me. We had company this past weekend and my second to last week at the prison really wore me out. I have been knitting.

I'm working on a hat for my son's friend Nichole.

I'm still working on the lace. I really like how this seems to move along quickly when I sit down and work a few rows.

I need to start on my mini sock for the spinning witch group. We are doing a mini sock exchange made from yarn we have spun ourselves. It's supposed to have a natural Yule theme. It's due in about a week and a half. I think I will have to start working on it tonight! Yikes!

I've never felt so loved

Friday was an interesting day. I was stressing out over having to cram 26 inmates into one classroom so a guest speaker for their class could come to talk to them (it's a cognitive therapy group addressing the effects of crime on victims). Normally, this group is divided into two and the speaker comes twice in the week to talk to each small group. This time she could only come once, so we scheduled it for Friday at 2 p.m.

I went to lunch then swung by my office and checked my voice mail. I had three messages. One from an inmate's mother who was looking for her son. One was an invitation to come to a second interview for the first job for which I interviewed on the phone. The third call was from the District Chief who was offering me a job as a probation officer.

The first job involves lots of traveling (although they provide the car, a cell phone, a lap top and a pager). It has HUGE networking potential. It has the potential to be either a ton of fun or a total stress out. I don't know enough about it to figure that out. It also pays more. And did I mention it would involve a lot of travel?

They are also just talking about a second interview at this time... not a job offer... yet.

The second job, the probation officer job, is the next logical step in my career with DOC. It pays more than I'm making now, but not as much as the first job. It's high stress. It's doing something I deeply believe in (law enforcement). It's tons of paperwork. It's a good office to work for. People don't normally leave positions in this office unless they die. Openings in this office come rarely. And the chief really, really wants me to come work for him.

I told him about the first job and the second interview. He told me to hold on and he would call me back. He did and invited me to come out to the office after work. I went by and he introduced me to everyone there. He sat me down and told me that he was going to ask for more money from the department. He filled out some paperwork and sent it off to headquarters. We chatted for a bit more and I went home (making note, mind you, that everyone in that office was still at work at 5:30 on a Friday night... they are very serious about what they do).

The phone at home rang at 7 p.m. It was the chief. He said he had made some phone calls. I suspect he called some people at home on a Friday evening to get the information he wanted. He told me that while they wouldn't give him enough money to match what the first job offered, he could get within $100 to start. And, if I was still there in 2 years, he would guarantee in writing that I would be making an additional $3,000.

Now, for those of you who don't work for the state, this is pretty normal stuff. For a state employee, to have folks fighting to get you a higher starting salary... it's unheard of!

I'm freaking out! I'm utterly amazed. Even more amazing, he told me to go for the second interview. He said he believes I have paid my dues and deserve the best job and top pay. He said he knows the job he offers is going to be very hard work. He wants me to have no doubts.

But he still wants me to come work for him and hopes I will in the end. Still, he needs an answer by Monday so he can get the transfer paperwork started.

Job interview update

I've now had two job interviews. One was over the phone and while I felt pretty good about it, I still have not heard back from them regarding a second interview. I hope I hear from them soon, because I really want this particular job.

As for the other job, I had the first interview today. Unlike the first, it was in person with a two person panel. I feel very good about this interview. I was very comfortable talking with them. They even talked a little bit about money and ways to make the job better. Unfortunately, due to the actual circumstances of the job, I'm not sure I really want it. Don't get me wrong; I'm not afraid of hard work but there is hard work and then there is impossible case load. I suffer enough from stress. I'm not sure how long I can handle an unending stream of chaos. On the other hand, I may be letting comments from the last person who held the job color my perceptions. Fact is, she used to work with me and I know for a fact she is LAZY. They were very frank that the job is hard. But I also know that the majority of the people who work there love their jobs and normally there isn't an opening until someone dies.

I hope to know by the end of the week if I have second interviews for either job. My only real worry is that I might have to choose between them.

Mohair sample picture

Here is a picture of the pink mohair blended and spun with some white merino. I like this but need to make more. I'm thinking it would make a lovely hat or part of a hat or trim on some mittens (or both).

Lace pictures

I got to playing around with the scanner and took these scans:

This is one with a pretty blue background (paper).




























This one is a Black and White scan.

Slowest knitter

I read Yarn Harlot faithfully. She's my heroine.

I got a chuckle at the October 16th entry because she was lamenting that her wedding shawl was taking so long to knit. And she's a very quick knitter. She was complaining that she had only completed two rows in 107 minutes. Then she actually counted her stitches and discovered that there were some 1,760 stitches in those two rows. That's something like 16.44 stitches a minute. (Assuming I did the math right). Mind you now, this woman is knitting a very complicated lace pattern.

So I thought I would time myself. On the lace shawl that I'm knitting (and have screwed up, but I'm proceeding anyway for another few rows just to see if I can "unscrew" it and proceed).

I finished two knit rows and a purl row in an hour. There are 117 stitches in a row (so 3 rows is
351 stitches). It took me an hour. That's about 5.85 stitches a minute.

I think Stephanie should feel better about her work.

Kate Samples

Here are samples of Kate's wool spun and knitted. The first gives a better impression of the color.

It really is DARK brown.



















This second picture allows you to see the details (I also figured out how to use the text tool on my scanner).






The black yarn noted in the middle of this little skein is worsted weight that I used to tie it off the first time and it got sucked in there somehow... Anyway, it gives you a good idea of the size (and lumpiness) of my yarn compared to commerciallly prepared.


I like using the scanner to show completed stuff and will work on getting better quality.

Fuzzy fur

Here is a picture of some of the cleaned and carded wool from Kate's Fleece. It's lovely dark brown (reminds me of dark chocolate) .

I now have a basket full of nice fat rolags and have started spinning using my new Bosworth spindle. I'm Navajo plying as I go, so the going is a little slower than it would if I was just doing singles.

I'm learning that I really need to pick out the second cuts as they make rather (to my eye) unattractive nubs in the yarn.

Considering that spinning woolen seems to be a whole different animal from spinning worsted, my yarn isn't consistent by anyones standard so I'm not really complaining... just in learning mode still.

The yarn itself is amazingly springy. Think of a really soft sponge. I wish you could feel it. I'm anxious to get enough of it finished to actually knit something with it.

I did rewash some of the rolags that seemed to be sticky for some reason (probably didn't get all the grease out) and they are very nice now.

I'm going to card some of it with some of the fawn colored alpaca roving I bought and make a hat for my dad. But I want to get better a spinning carded wool first. Or I may wait and figure out if I can comb it to make worsted yarn. At this point I have so many projects going, I need to finish some things that have deadlines (like Yule) before I start anything else.

Job Interviews

Today I had my first interview for one of the jobs for which I applied. The commuting may really take a bit to get used to... but the job itself, as I understand it, would really be great fun and would still challenge me in all the right ways. And I would still be working for the Department of Corrections.
The strange part is that this first interview was by phone and I had all the interview questions in advance. I will know sometime next week if I get a second interview. That one, I'm told, would be in person with the Regional Director.
I also got a call from one of the other jobs I applied for. This one closer to being local but it pays less and from what I'm told is probably a lot more work with much smaller rewards.
I kind of hope I will get calls on some of the other jobs for which I applied.
It would be nice to get several offers so I have some options (and maybe some negotiating power). In any case, it's exciting to be back in the market again. I suddenly feel much less trapped. Maybe I won't have to work until I'm dead ... or if I do, I will much more enjoy what I'm doing when I die.

Kate's "Mom"

I sent an email to the lady who owns Kate the Ewe letting her know I had purchased the fleece and she wrote me back! I reprint her letter (in near entirety) with her permission.

Hi Cate,
You must be reading my mind--I have coated the entire flock this year. Last year everyone started out with coats, but as the fleeces grew out, I didn't have enough of the larger coats to go around for everyone and, by lambing, none of the full grown ewes had coats. I was also very leery of having the mamas lamb with coats on--don't want delivered lambs hung up on coats and strangled while lambing.

The coats are $15-$18 each depending on size and it is a large investment when each individual adult sheep will go through 3 different coat sizes due to fleece growth and lambs can go through twice that many as they get gain frame size and their fleece gets longer. Would love to say that the coats are reusable, but as I am finding out, the adults tend to stretch the elastic out to the point that it no longer retracts (Which leaves the coat too long and loose to reuse) and tear holes in it. Only a fraction of the adult coats can be reused.

This year I'm going to try have the shearing done in February, before the lambs start arriving in the beginning of March. That way I can watch the ewes closer for signs of lambing, the babies can get a better start at finding mama's milk since it won't be hidden, the babies won't get chilled from cuddling with a mama that has a full damp fleece, there will be more space in the barn (you'd be shocked by how much room a big full-fleeced fat pregnant ewe can take up), and I can keep the fleeces a little cleaner.

I would be delighted to sell fleeces straight from the farm if you would be interested in coming out sometime in March or April. (I'm not sure where Heathsville is--I'm located just over the mountain from Charlottesville on Rte 33--it took me less than an hour to get to Montpelier). In May I take some of my best fleeces to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival to sell. In mid-May I will have a booth in Berryville at their fiber festival to sell fleeces, fresh lamb cuts, and hopefully tanned hides--I slaughter lambs this month and if the hides are ready by May, I'll be selling them.
`
I have a pretty good variety of colors in the flock. A number of true blacks, a couple of moorits (browns), a cream colored Tunis, a few whites, a few of my blacks now turning gray, a black and white spotted one, a very light beige and white spotted one, and I think that I will have one true gray--right now she's only 2 months old and there isn't a lot of fleece length to judge color. She's either really shiny or she's gray! There will be a total of 17 fleeces to be shorn when the time comes.

I am also introducing new breeds into the flock--I'm crossing some of my Rambouillet ewes to a black Merino ram and the others to a white Romadale ram that has a CVM parent (California Variegated Mutant-they carry color patterns and are not solid colored)--I'm really looking forward to lambing season to see how fleece quality, growth rate, and color are affected by the new rams.

Well, I enjoyed reading your blog and seeing Kate's fleece. We'll try to make your cleaning job just a little easier next time around!
--Jackie

In the letter responding to this, I asked if I could quote her in the blog and also asked if she would consider a visit from myself and a friend in the Spring. She invited us right along and said she would contact me again near to the right time.

I wonder which of my spinning friends would like to go?

Carding

History has it that children used to card wool. It certainly seems to have a learning curve. But I think I'm getting better. Did an internet search and found some videos which helped a LOT. I'm improving but I still need to get "the rythym" down. And I think I'm carding too much. But then it could be the wool I'm working with just needs more work.

I found good directions and videos at these two sites:

Joy of Handspinning: How to Card

And Canadian Museum: Teasing and Carding

My Fall Fiber Festival Haul

As promised, I took a couple of pictures of the stuff I bought at the fiber festival.

The first is this darling little fiber fairy. I found her in a little tent with a delightful lady who told me that her tent blew over Saturday and other folks from the fair rescued all her stuff for which she was profoundly grateful. I do think this little thing is too cute. Not counting her wingtips, she's about 3 inches tall.

The rest of this stuff... let's see. Clockwise starting with the spindle... as you can see I've already blended some of the pink mohair with some merino and started spinning with it. Next to the spindle is the braid of teal colored merino/tencel. Then the bag of pink mohair locks. The color in person is a little deeper but this is pretty close.

The next bag is the fawn colored alpaca fiber. That's four ounces there for $10. I THINK I bought it from Alpaca's of Rivanna River Farm but I got some of the business cards mixed up so it might be from another vendor. In any case, it's really nice. Finally, at the top of the picture are the Strauch Fiber Wool Child-sized hand cards. I have small hands so these are perfect for me.

The first pound (or so) of Kate's wool is drying on a window screen in front of a fan in my front room. The house has an interesting barnyard aroma just now... faint, but definitely there. Ken, thankfully, says he can't smell it. I actually don't mind it at all. It's just sort of 'earthy'.

Fall Fiber Festival at Montpelier

Well, let me tell you first of all that the soil of the Piedmont is still red.

So is the mud.

Second of all, it was absolutely great fun and I will go back next year. There are a couple of things I will do differently:

1. I will bring more money. The deals are outstanding and there are many.

2. I will attend both days regardless of the weather. Venders on Sunday reported that turnout on Saturday simply came prepared for the rotten weather and were also prepared to shop.

3. I will take at least one workshop. Maybe two.

4. I will bring my spindle and sit down with other spinners and get pointers from folks who know more than I do and attempt to addict those who don't know better.

Anyway, I went by myself.

For me that was perfect. I didn't have to wait on someone drooling over something in which I had no interest. I was able to spend as much time as I wanted where I wanted and not feel guilty that I was holding someone else "hostage" to something in which they had no interest. Call me anti-social, I just prefer to shop alone no matter if it is for a car, clothes or fiber.

I spent time talking to a couple of sheep breeders. Really interesting information and I left them wishing I could fence in my property and raise a half-dozen for myself. Romney sheep are really darlings and can be used for both fiber and meat.

I visited every single vender and fondled lots and lots of raw wool, roving and yarn. I also got to admire a lot (surprisingly more than I anticipated) handmade socks, sweaters, shawls, and other clothing most of which was very reasonably priced and beautifully made.

I got to pet an alpaca. These guys are so CUTE. I had no idea that their eyes were so... human... I was going to say ET like... but I seem to remember that ET's eyes were modeled after a human being.

I watched one round of the sheep dog trials. If you have never had the opportunity to watch these amazing animals at work, it is worth the trip even if you do nothing else (like shop). I will keep an ear/eye peeled for more of these trials. This was worth the trip all by itself.

So what did I buy?

I will post pictures later of all my new stuff but here is a quick run down.

1. I bought a braid of teal colored merino blended with tencel. This stuff is "ooo la la" to feel. I'm going to enjoy spinning and knitting it.

2. I bought a darling little fairy figurine that has bendy arms and legs and feathers for wings.

3. I bought four ounces of heavenly soft and silky fawn colored alpacha roving. I'm going to blend this with some merino roving and make something for my dad.

4. I bought 22 ounces of bubblegum pink mohair locks. This will also probably be blended with some of that white merino roving and made into something for one of Ken's granddaughters. I think that blend would make really nice socks, too... so I may save some for that.

5. I bought a Bosworth midi spindle (great deal on this, by the way). While I should have "test driven" this, I didn't but took on faith it would work well based on all reports I've been given. Turns out I was correct in this thinking.

6. I bought 2 Fall Fiber Festival of Virginia Coffee mugs. Like we need more coffee mugs...lol.

7. I bought a set Wool Child Hand Cards. Also a better deal than what I've seen on the internet and no shipping.

And finally, I had to buy the hand cards because I bought:

8. Eight and one-quarter pounds of black raw fleece from a Rembouillet Ewe named Kate who lives with Jackie Woodell in Elkton, Virginia.

So I came home (after a stop at my mom's house since she can appreciate this stuff) and laid out Kate's fleece on a tablecloth on my front lawn just so I could get a really good look at it.

Ken was so amazed at this, he took pictures.

The upside is clearly sunbleached a bit and to my untrained eye seems pretty full of hay bits. The underside is deep black and the whole fleece is just wonderfully soft, silky, curly and springy and leaves my hands wonderfully soft from the lanolin.


I'm seen here picking out the worst of the VM and chunks of what are clearly sheep droppings. Yummy!



And here I've pulled the fleece into 8 sections and am preparing to wash about a pound of the raw stuff in my tub. I used dawn dishwashing soap. I should probably have waited to add the soap until AFTER all the wate was in the tub because I ended up with a lot of suds.

And here is the mud. We are talking some really dark water.

I was afraid I would end up with a completely light brown fleece (not that that would be a bad thing, but I fell in love with Kate's fleece because the majority of it was black.


There is/was a real unflattering photo that Ken took of my backside as I was leaning over the tub. I will spare my dear readers that photo.

In any case, I used soap at the beginning with hot tap water for the first washing. Then there were 6 rinses. Yup, six times I had to rinse before the water came clear.

Mom loaned me her nylon laundry bag for this job.

Only 7 more pounds to go.

I did wash a big handful in cold water with Dawn and rinsed with cold water and it seems to have come out pretty well.

I've laid out both the handful and the pound on a window screen to dry. In a day or two when it's nice and dry I will find out if I prefer the cold or hot wash. I suspect I will stick with the cold water simply because I really like the feel of the wool with a bit of the lanolin still in it.

In any case, as mom said, I got enough of some really soft wool to make two or three sweaters for the cost of less than one, so I can live with some extra VM and a bit of sun bleaching.

Answer to Barbara

Barbara asked a good question in the comments under the post about doing spinning wheel research. She wanted to know if I had considered a Lendrum.

At this point I am not. The reason I have, at this point, skipped the "modern looking" wheels is because of how my house is decorated. My wheel will probably "live" in our sitting room/music room. All of the furniture in that room is either an antique or an antique reproduction.

There is no one time period represented but I want it to fit in reasonably well.

The other reason is that I may be doing demonstrations at events where a more "traditional" looking wheel would be better received.

Someday I will probably buy a second wheel and it may well be a Lendrum. But I really want my first to be something I find to be personally attractive to me.

One job turn down...

I got a turn down letter today on one of the jobs I applied for: The Operations Officer Position is out.

I'm waiting to hear on the Human Capital Resource Position - Eastern Region, the SOAP P&P Coordinator in Fredericksburg, the P&P Officer in Westmoreland County, and the System's Analyst at Atmore.

A new position was advertised today for which I will probably apply: Training and Development Coordinator Senior at the Academy for Staff Development. It would involve training counselors and other folks who work in treatment in institutions.

Off to Fall Fiber Festival

Well, not yet exactly. I'm going to the Fall Fiber Festival of Virginia at Monpelier, Virginia this weekend. It is supposed to be raining tomorrow but nice on Sunday. The weather report tomorrow morning will determine if I go on Saturday or Sunday.

I hope to test spin some drop spindles.

I plan to fondle a lot of fiber.

I want to pet some fiber animals.

And I hope to test drive some spinning wheels.

I will probably buy some nice roving. I might buy some yarn. I most likely will buy a new spindle and might get some fleece. Other than that I'm open to possible purchases. I have promised Ken that I will NOT buy a wheel (I'm still hoping he and/or Mom will get me one for Yule).

In any case, I will make a report when I get home. Unfortunately, my camera's battery is only good for about four pictures before the battery poops out, so I probably won't have pictures unless I pick up a disposable... which I might do just for the sake of my blog...

Research

I'm researching a spinning wheel. So far I have discovered this: Most retailers charge exactly the same thing for the same stuff. The difference is normally in the shipping costs. Some, thankfully, provide free shipping.

Other than that I have learned this: That ratio might be important. I like to spin fairly thin yarn. I want to have a wheel so it is easier to ply the yarn I spin. So I need something that offers a fairly wide ratio rate.

At this point I'm most intrigued by the Kromski Symphony with a Mahogany finish. The ratio ranges from 8:1 to 20:1. The cost is $465.00 which is more than $100 over my second choice.

My second choice is The Kromski Prelude also in Mahogany finish. It's ratio is 6:1 to 13:1. But it is a single drive only. I think I want the option of both which the Symphony has. The Prelude is $342.00.

Third choice is the Ashford Tradition in the Antique Finish. The cost is what is prohibitive here: Single drive is $470.00 and the Double Drive is $510.00. The ratio is 7.5:1 to 14:1.

Finally, the Traveller in Antique Finish is now my third choice. I really like the size and design but the ratio is far more restrictive: 6.5:1 to 11.5:1. The cost is also a bit high: Single Drive is $490.00 and the Double Drive is $505.00.

I'm wondering if anyone can give me additional feedback on what is going to be my best bet.

I'm hoping that some folks at the Fall Fiber Festival at Montpelier this weekend will have wheels I can test drive.

Panic

I found out today, much to my surprise, that when I get panicked or upset, other people think I'm yelling.

Twice I had security staff people tell me not to yell at them because it wasn't their fault that all my plans for a well presented program was going down the drain just because noone would open the darn door!

In fact, I was not blaming them. I did not think I was yelling them. I was just trying to impress on them the importance of finding the person who held the keys. I was also trying to express my frustration with the concept that just because the pass list says the programs starts at 1:30 this does not mean the door doesn't have to be opened before then. And that all the set up is done because there are tables in chairs in the room. What is meant by a 1:30 start is that the inmates should be in their chairs and I should start lecturing at 1:30. NOT that they should be called out of their buildings at 1:30 p.m. and I want to start the program at 1:45. It also does not mean I have no other set up to do.

And there is NOTHING like trying to impress this upon co-workers while important people from the Attorney General's Office are there as guest speakers and they've shown up 2 hours early. Nothing like it at all.

So I wasn't yelling. I was just expressing my panic.

Fortunately, the door was opened at 1:15. I did get set up real fast and in a hurry by 1:30 and the inmates were all in place by 1:40.

The bad part was that the curriculm called for the speakers to speak last, but the lady who recruited them didn't understand that and they were all looking to be out of there by 2:00 p.m. They left around 3:30.

But it was a good class. I think the inmates got a lot out of it and I'm looking forward to Thursday's class which should go a lot smoother.

Dog hair yarn

The very first fiber I ever spun was dog hair. Specifically, it was Gloria's hair. And it was spun using a Q-tip. Matthew showed me how to do it.

Here is a picture of Gloria.

She's pretty. She's got lovely fur. It's soft and silky and it has an average length of about 2 to 3 inches. But I have a little trouble with the odor. Like wet wool, dog hair has it on particular odor. I can't say I'm fond of it.

I think I need to try to spin some more of it however, as I have a whole bag full. Matthew has done a wonderful job of brushing her out lately and has collected quit a bit. I have no earthly idea what I would make from it however... other than perhaps a coat for Maggie.

Matt's Hat

It took two versions. The first one (pictured on the left) will go to Matt's cousin and the larger version is now Matt's. He won't let me take a picture of him in it, but trust me when I say the larger version fits him far better.

A lovely anniversary

Ken and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary yesterday.

We orginally had the notion to grab dinner then catch a movie but when we looked at what was showing we could not agree on something we both wanted to see. The one we were hoping to see is called An Inconvenent Truth and presents in some detail the threat of global warming. Unfortunately, it was not showing anywhere within a reasonable drive time.

The DVD comes out in November, right before our Samhain event, so we may buy it and have it on hand for everyone to watch. Aren't our friend lucky?

In any case, we decided to venture out and eat dinner at a restaurant we had never tried before. There are a lot of nice restaurants in the Northern Neck which cater to the Northern Virginia vacation crowd, but most of them close after Labour Day. We found one to which we will most certainly return again.

The Mt Holly Steamboat Inn is a restaurant and bed and breakfast with an 11 slip pier. It is literally down a little crooked dirt driveway hidden between several other driveways and we had a little trouble figuring out which one. But we made it.

I had made reservations for 7:30 p.m. When we arrived, there was a party of four on the deck, a party of three in the dining room and another party of 2 in the dining room. There were many available tables. One waitress handled both the dining room and the deck and she was apparently also helping out in the lounge where there was a party of 16 celebrating something.

I was most impressed with our waitress who, despite having her hands full, was gracious, funny and bubbly without being obnoxious. She remained cheerful in the face of a frantic co-worker who was not handling the stress of the 16 very well and could be heard mouthing off about it from the kitchen.

The decor of the place needs some work. But we also know that the restaurant and inn was slammed when Isabel came through and they lost a lot of furniture, and sustained a lot of structural damage. They've got the structure repaired but are serving meals on IKEA tables and using what appear to be industrial stackable conference chairs for seating. I would have liked to have seen table clothes on the tables. Even tossed over with the points in the middle, it would have rendered a softer image with a bit of country flair.

And there the criticism ends.

Ken was driving and so stuck with iced-tea for a beverage but I ordered a glass of the house Chardaney. It was very nice. Crisp and fresh. Our waitress kept Ken's glass full and also brought me a glass of water with a slice of lemon floating in it.

For a starter we split a pound of steamed mussels. They arrived, cooked to perfection (not a tough one in the bunch) in a bowl of a garlicky, butter sauce with parsley bits. Around the edge of the bowl was balanced four pieces of crusty big-holed slices of what I think was a home-made Italian bread. Had we known how good this dish was going to be, we would have ordered a pound each and left quite happy. Considering the amount of garlic, I'm glad we split it or we would not have been able to remain in the presense of each other.

We both also received a Ceasar salad which a delightly piquant mustardy dressing and abasket of more of that wonderful bread.

For our entrees, Ken ordered a sirloin steak cooked medium and some fries. I ordered crab stuffed ravioli.

Ken's steak was a nice size: An inch or so thick, and about the size of his hand. He said it was cooked perfectly and was seasoned nicely without being over the top. His fries were clearly a potato cut up and deep fried so they were golden brown without being over or under done. It came with a bottle of Heinz Catsup which our waitress joked was of a fine vintage.

The ravioli was to die for. First of all there wasn't a speck of shell in the stuffing and each ravioli (there were 8) were of good size and tender. I suspect they were handmade on premises. They were smothered in a bisque of which I have never before enjoyed the likes. It was not over seasoned but had tiny cubes of tomatoes and bits of parsley. It was creamy, rich and really just stunning in its yumminess. I'm not sure if it was a shimp bisque or crab, but either way, it was awesome.

We both agreed the price tag of $55 for a delightful evening out was well worth it.

I suspect the Inn will see us on future dates.