LYS - Stars Hollow Yarn

I have been following Stars Hollow Yarn on Instagram for awhile.  I wasn't able to make it to their soft opening, but I was able to go the following Saturday, December 8th.  She is opening on Saturdays for several hours until she does a grand opening after the New Year....

I texted my husband: This is my kind of yarn shop! This could be dangerous!

The store is beautiful!  The building is gorgeous!  The owner and her mom were friendly, talkative and so excited that we were there....they made me a cup of tea!!!

I ran into Kris and her Mom...

So many lovelies!  Now that I'm living mostly at the inlaws....it is only about 30 minutes away...I will let the pictures do the talking...

She has lots of framed posters that you can also buy (unframed)

I really wanted this bag, but didn't get it...I may go back this Saturday to pick it up...

Up the stairs was a loft full of goodies....

And a neighbor's cat that likes to hang out in the store...

I picked up a couple of enamel pins...

My acquisitions!  I started the hat when I got home.  It's from a skein of Canon Hand Dyed exclusive Gilmore Girls themed yarn, called "You want to devil egg Jess' car?  I only used about half the skein...Although I bought a pom there, I ended up ordering one online from PDXpom, as I decided it needed a yellow pom....

The other skein of yarn is Round Mountain Fibers, dyed in Vermont, yarn is grown and spun in the US...It's called Jack in the Pulpit...I know it's crap picture...sorry...

She carries many indie makers: Leading Men Fiber Arts, Canon Hand Dyed, Wee Ones with shop exclusive Gilmore Girls inspired stitch markers: Paul Anka, a hamburger, a coffee and a snowman.

What a wonderful shop!  I will definitely be visiting again!!!

ETA: The hate with the yellow pom

and I did not go back this week to get the bag...:(

Stitch Along - Last One of the Year

Well I haven't done one in weeks and weeks (this may be long!).....I haven't finished anything...wait let me check Ravelry....oh, yes I did make two Vermonter hats.....one for a swap partner and another for me...but they are not on Ravelry....

I have worked on things though......some socks and a shawl.....

I bought a yarn advent calendar from a local dyer....it's been fabulous!!!! There are 24 miniskeins and one full skein, plus a pattern for a shawl.  I started the pattern, but it was wrong...

I emailed the designer and got some help...and now I'm on the third color....

The colors are all inspired by Christmas movies....I love it! I am on " Do You Want To Build a Snowman?"  The Hubs and I watched Frozen the other day, he had never seen it.

And the packaging was amazing!

And I've worked on some socks, of course! 

Okay I have spent the better part of the day switching pictures over from phone....so I'm going to end it here...not as long as I'd thought it would be...I hope to get back to regular blogging......

Update

Hello my internet friends.....

So FIL has been home for about three weeks.....he is now on hospice care....it is just a waiting game.

We are living full-time at the Homestead.  Eventually we will move out here once everything is said and done.....but we keep bringing more and more of our stuff here.....but we need to clean out this house first...My sister-in-law lived here with her parents and she died suddenly about 5 years ago.  My MIL never cleaned out her room.  She did pack some things up, but we still have a couple of closets to pack....plus now we have to pack up MIL's things.....They lived here for 40 something years, so the house is full of stuff....there are three crawlspaces, that aren't actually crawlspaces, you can stand up in them...plus a cedar closet, plus regular closets.....it's just a full house....

This the garage and original house on the land.  The land belonged to my husband's great uncle Bill.  It's been in the family for about 100 years.  They owned a lot of land in this area.

The house, sorry its so dark, I was on a walk with the dog we have also inherited and took the picture at dusk....

FIL passed away this morning...now we have lots of decisions to make.

Year of Projects Post: Week I Don't Know

So if you are a friend on Facebook or Instagram, you are aware of what's been going on....On October 10, my mother-in-law passed away from a heart attack.  My father-in-law is physically disabled, as well as having dementia and is bi-polar.  The day after my MIL passed away, FIL fell and broke his ankle.  He was able to walk with a walker.  He has not been able to walk since.  We suddenly were thrust into the role of caretaker for him.  It has been very stressful, overwhelming, sad and so many other emotions.  My husband has been taking care of his father 24/7 at their house, so we have been living separately the past month.   FIL is now in a rehabilitation home for at least two weeks.   Things happened, we brought him to the hospital, they evaluated, etc....It is a break for the Hubs, who has been picking his father up and moving him for the past month.  Also the sundowning part of the dementia was getting to him....we have now hired an elder lawyer to help us through all of this....it has been a shock to everyone, as we all expected FIL to go first, as he really is ill and has been for a long time.  We are trying to preserve the house and land as best as possible...His dementia has gotten really bad, really fast.  Luckily we were able to get a power of attorney right before he went downhill. Three weeks ago, he knew who we were, he no longer knows who we are.  We are taking it day by day, but it has been new learning every day...and the Hubs has struggled....he really couldn't mourn for his mom.  He was super close to his mom and not so close to his father, so there are mixed emotions there.....anyway...

I did go to Rhinebeck and the Fiber Festival of New England....I will post about them later this week, maybe.....I am attending a Veteran Day luncheon with FIL at the nursing home, as he is a veteran.....

I have worked on some things, but have finished nothing......I may finish a pair of socks this weekend....

Johnny back in 2010 with the hat I made him......

Riding in the gator with my MIL.....

Hopefully I'll be back next week with an actual YOP post....

Stitch Along: Week 42

Just popping in to post this....will have more time hopefully....things have been happening that have cut down on my online time....

I did got to Rhinebeck and I'll post about it later this week.....

I did not get a sweater done....but I worked a lot on my Beekeeper Cardigan....

I think this is the latest picture, they all look the same....anyway, I hope all is well...and I hope to be back soon...

Year of Projects: Week 30

Good morning!  I am spending my day watching The Walking Dead along with Doctor Who...can't wait to see the new Doctor at 1:45 and the start of the new season from The Walking Dead...with a female showrunner!!!!!!! So yesterday may have been a day of anger for many here in the US......(and no I don't believe Kavanaugh should be a judge...I watched his hearing....I did not see Dr. Ford's testimony, but he does not have the temperament to be a Supreme Court judge...and I believe her)....November is coming......

Anyway back to yarny things.....I have been working on my Beekeeper, almost exclusively....I stayed home on Wednesday...Tuesday was one of the worst pain days I've had in awhile (my infusion is tomorrow)....and I worked on socks...since Thursday was a Once Upon a Sock post.....so you can check out that post to see what I've done....

Yesterday I also stayed home...and today, we were possibly going to go out, but I had a bad night....so we are again staying in....I do love to hermit......

Anyway, I pulled out Beekeeper and worked on it some more...I'm about 4 inches below the armholes,,,another 7 or so to go.....

So I started this about two hours ago...my pictures were not uploading....so just spent time deleting things and trying to upload....I take a lot of pictures...so need to delete occasionally....

So I am going to go find my Time Traveler Felici yarn from Knitpicks and cast on some socks to watch the new Dr. Who...see you next week.....

2018 Finished Projects:
Millennial Slytherin Mitts - Jan 6, 2018 
KG AMi - Jan 10, 2018
Shamrock Hat - Jan 20, 2018
Snowflake Hat - Jan 20, 2018
Elephant Reserve - February 11, 2018
Bunny Hat - February 12, 2018
Blue Wave - February 12, 2018
Folding Chairs - March 4, 2018
Jessica Jones 2 - March 7, 2018
Chicken Scratch Sock (test knit) - March 8, 2018 (only one sock)
Zombie Latte Socks (Zombie Valentine) - April 8. 2018
Fortune's Shawlette - April 11, 2018
Hudson Bay Socks - April 12, 2018
Chemo Hat for Deirdre - April 16, 2018 
Farewell Sockhead - July 4, 2018
Multnomah - July 10, 2018
Colourscape Cowl - July 24, 2018
A & C Vanilla socks - July 30, 2018
Swap Gift - August 20, 2018

Works In Progress:         
WIPS: Crochet:
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)-not sure he'd want this anymore, being a high school freshman and all, but I think I'll finish it for him. He is now a sophomore.
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done - I looked at this recently and I'm still liking it, so I'll keep it...maybe make it a baby blanket instead.
Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done. I still love the look of this.
Tabard Tunic (NW Diss 2/1/14) - Haven't made a final decision on this yet.
Throwback Poncho 2/19/17 - would like to finish for the fall
Venetian Cowl (July 1, 2018)

Knit: 
Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done, I put this in the giveaway yarn bags..not thrilled with colors....will use squares at school for water bottles..
Shark in the Woods (11/27/14)- I really love this, but it's a lot of cabling and I'm not a fan..about 1/2 done.
Vanilla fingerless mitts (12/25/15) - Think I'm going to frog and do different mitts or crochet them.
Zombie Vixen mitts (10/17/15)- why I may crochet the others...have these and still working on them, again cabling
Garter Path Shawlette (5/30/16)- I have frogged this a couple of times...
Swinging with Winkle (6/4/16)- I love this so much!  Just need to finish it! Added a few rows
Meandering Top (5/20/16) - Took it out, at the separation of arms, looks really big!
Bulky Cowl - this hurts my hands to work on...think I need slippery needles...
Splediferous Blanket - (4/15/17) Roald Dahl club, mitered blanket
Selbu Mitts - 3/26/18
Beekeeper Cardigan - 7/1/18 
Lucy's Elephant - 7/24/18


Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012) - has not changed, 
Espalier Socks (Jan 10, 2016) - started and stopped...
Just Keep Swimming - (6/16/16) - 1 done
Muertos - 8/13/17
Games Socks- 2/15/18
I'm Irish - 3/3/18
Cloudy Rainbows - 5/11/18 
Sunny Skies - 5/12/18
Northampton Socks - 5/26/18
 
Scarves/Shawls:
Splashy Flowers: (May 2011) - add a motif scarf, don't see that being finished soon...
Light in Shadows (1/14/14) - I love this so much...need to start the new direction, so need to sit down and figure it out.. 
Willow Fields (9/6/14) - ran out of yarn, waiting on yarn 
My Shelly Valentine (2/10/16) - should finish for this year's Valentine's Day, yeah, that did not happen

Bags:
Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in, I used it this year without the lining...so may just call it a day on this.... 

 KAL/CALs: 
Fire and Blood (5/4/14) - not anytime soon
Outlander MKAL (8/8/14)  - possibility of finishing this..the yarn is so yummy

Once Upon A Sock - Socktober!!!

Welcome to Socktober!  Do you do anything fun for Socktober?  I am just trying to finish socks up...then start ALL THE SOCKS again!!!!!!

I don't have any finishes, BUT I have put some heels on several socks!  And I will have a couple of finishes before the end of the year.  AND I have done the Fish Lip Kiss heel a couple of times (6 as of Wednesday night), although I am having some issues with holes....

Put some yellow FLK heels on my Kiss Me I'm Irish socks....these will be done by the end of the year, maybe by the the next post in November...

Also put a FLK heel on my Dia de los Muertos...and almost got to the toe before I realized that the foot was WAAAAAYYYYY too big!

Now I can handle a slouchy sock...I'm an 80's girl, it was all about the slouch...but the foot needs to fit me...so since I was home sick on Wednesday...I tinked back about 13 stripes...over 2 hours of tinking....if I was Tinkerbell...I wouldn't have minded...but this was tedious!!!

And then I spent about an hour and a half finishing that sock!!!

I can't believe how well the red mini (on the heel) matches the red in the sock!  The mini is from Two Sisters and the stripe is from Desert Vista Dyeworks...I will cast on the second one this weekend...maybe have them actually finished for dia de los muertos....

This is where my Keep on Swimming socks were at the beginning of Wednesday.....this by 9:00pm...

I've got another FLK heel completed! This was the sock I wanted to learn the Fish Lips Kiss heel for...because DUH! "Keep on Swimming"  I'll complete these socks this weekend, especially since it's a three day weekend....although I do want to finish my Beekeeper Cardigan. 

I may recast on my Faces in the Wallpaper socks...bought the pattern several years ago and loved it...but I lost my place, so then frogged them, but have a hankering for a nice grey sock and I love the spooky faces.....

Also should maybe work on my Christmas Stripe socks.....

We'll see.......If I get distracted by the new pretties and well Rhinebeck is in two weekends....I'll be looking for new self stripe, so there's that!!!!!

If you'd like to join up on our fun roundup of sock projects, please head over to Paula's blog
Spin A Yarn and link up with us...

Stitch Along: Week 39

Good morning...I am actually home today....I had a really bad day of pain yesterday and I worked all day because there was an important meeting I needed to attend....so I'm letting my body heal today...I was still in pain this morning, but it has gotten better....

So I posted on Sunday for the Year in Posts that I had picked my Beekeeper Cardigan back up...that's what I've been working on this week....I now have about 2 inches of the 11 body inches done....

I really love this stitch!   I know there is a cowl and a pair of socks that also use this stitch...

So that's about it....since I am home, I'll get my post ready for tomorrow's..Once Upon a Sock post, especially since it is also Socktober!

Year of Projects: Week 39

Good Sunday morning! Yesterday I pulled out my Beekeeper Cardigan....it was that 4 day challenge back in July...haven't worked on it since July!  Had to figure out where I was, as I hadn't left myself any notes!

I am feeling better, but still dealing with the exhaustion part of my disease.  I came home from school every day and take a nap...and I'm still in bed by 9 most nights...just so tired....

But I worked on it most of the day....got past the arm divides....doesn't seem like a lot was done, but it was about 16 rows, I think (could be 12) but around there.....now the body is easy-peasy...straight shot down, may even have it for Rhinebeck, depending on the sleeves!  Trying to decide if I want to do a full sleeve or not...

That is pretty much all I've worked on this week....Next weekend is a long weekend, so maybe I'll get it finished!  Then I need to start my Vintersol...

So this is how the lists stand:

2018 Finished Projects:
Millennial Slytherin Mitts - Jan 6, 2018 
KG AMi - Jan 10, 2018
Shamrock Hat - Jan 20, 2018
Snowflake Hat - Jan 20, 2018
Elephant Reserve - February 11, 2018
Bunny Hat - February 12, 2018
Blue Wave - February 12, 2018
Folding Chairs - March 4, 2018
Jessica Jones 2 - March 7, 2018
Chicken Scratch Sock (test knit) - March 8, 2018 (only one sock)
Zombie Latte Socks (Zombie Valentine) - April 8. 2018
Fortune's Shawlette - April 11, 2018
Hudson Bay Socks - April 12, 2018
Chemo Hat for Deirdre - April 16, 2018 
Farewell Sockhead - July 4, 2018
Multnomah - July 10, 2018
Colourscape Cowl - July 24, 2018
A & C Vanilla socks - July 30, 2018
Swap Gift - August 20, 2018

Works In Progress:         
WIPS: Crochet:
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)-not sure he'd want this anymore, being a high school freshman and all, but I think I'll finish it for him. He is now a sophomore.
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done - I looked at this recently and I'm still liking it, so I'll keep it...maybe make it a baby blanket instead.
Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done. I still love the look of this.
Tabard Tunic (NW Diss 2/1/14) - Haven't made a final decision on this yet.
Throwback Poncho 2/19/17 - would like to finish for the fall
Venetian Cowl (July 1, 2018)

Knit: 
Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done, I put this in the giveaway yarn bags..not thrilled with colors....will use squares at school for water bottles..
Shark in the Woods (11/27/14)- I really love this, but it's a lot of cabling and I'm not a fan..about 1/2 done.
Vanilla fingerless mitts (12/25/15) - Think I'm going to frog and do different mitts or crochet them.
Zombie Vixen mitts (10/17/15)- why I may crochet the others...have these and still working on them, again cabling
Garter Path Shawlette (5/30/16)- I have frogged this a couple of times...
Swinging with Winkle (6/4/16)- I love this so much!  Just need to finish it! Added a few rows
Meandering Top (5/20/16) - Took it out, at the separation of arms, looks really big!
Bulky Cowl - this hurts my hands to work on...think I need slippery needles...
Splediferous Blanket - (4/15/17) Roald Dahl club, mitered blanket
Selbu Mitts - 3/26/18
Beekeeper Cardigan - 7/1/18 
Lucy's Elephant - 7/24/18


Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012) - has not changed, 
Espalier Socks (Jan 10, 2016) - started and stopped...
Just Keep Swimming - (6/16/16) - 1 done
Muertos - 8/13/17
Games Socks- 2/15/18
I'm Irish - 3/3/18
Cloudy Rainbows - 5/11/18 
Sunny Skies - 5/12/18
Northampton Socks - 5/26/18
 
Scarves/Shawls:
Splashy Flowers: (May 2011) - add a motif scarf, don't see that being finished soon...
Light in Shadows (1/14/14) - I love this so much...need to start the new direction, so need to sit down and figure it out.. 
Willow Fields (9/6/14) - ran out of yarn, waiting on yarn 
My Shelly Valentine (2/10/16) - should finish for this year's Valentine's Day, yeah, that did not happen

Bags:
Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in, I used it this year without the lining...so may just call it a day on this.... 

 KAL/CALs: 
Fire and Blood (5/4/14) - not anytime soon
Outlander MKAL (8/8/14)  - possibility of finishing this..the yarn is so yummy

Stitch Along: Week 38

Good Tuesday evening!  So if you saw my post on Sunday, you know I picked up some socks and put some heels on them...tonight I worked on my dia de los muertos and almost finished the foot....but it's too big on my....sigh...

I usually reduce stitches once I get to the foot...I have very skinny feet...and I forgot, so I'm going to have to rip it back and restart the foot with some decrease stitches....thankfully I did not spend a ton of time on the foot, abotu an hour since it's just a vanilla pattern....

So that;s about all my content...the season premiere of This Is Us is coming on....so I'm cutting it really short tonight....

If you'd like to play along...