Wow - it's been awhile! - Gotta play catch-up!

I kept thinking about updating and have taken loads of pictures to use, but just haven't, Was sick for awhile and it took alot of my energy. Also been quite busy and very stressed at work. Yeah vacation is two weeks away! So guess I'll just post some pics...Niece in hat and scarf I made. She picked out the yarn, it's Paton's Encore. The picture cracks me up everytime I look at it. She's a goofball!

Winding Yarn

This is how I usually wind my yarn into balls, sitting on my bed, using my knees. I really want to purchase this http://www.strauchfiber.com/sw_floor.htm I saw them at Rhinebeck and should have bought one then. I'm hopefully going to order one from a company here in CT. It will take less time, hopefully, and obviously be more comfortable.

Well my second home on the internet has imploded and I'm mourning it's loss. Not sure how I am feeling at the moment, but am hoping that things work out...

Surprises in the Mail

It's always fun to come home and find a big envelope stuck in your mailbox. It is the season of surprises. At Crochetville, I have signed up for the Holiday ROAK. It is a lot of fun every year. I am not going to send as much as I usually do, just cuz I am also doing some swapping at Ravelry. Also this summer I sent a lot of things out and I only received a post card. It was nice of the person to send me a postcard, but still was kind of a bummer. I have discovered a forum on Ravelry that I am addicted to, it is a swap forum. Most of the swap threads I just read and drool at the sight of the yarn. I've only jumped in twice. I did the international swap and got a great package from Norway. I have also been doing the "Surprise Me" swap. I got my first package yesterday from Wyoming. It was a great package and is the picture with the pretty green Dreams in Color yarn...my first. Can't wait to try it!!! Today I did receive a Holiday ROAK from an elf in Mass, the other picture. I happen to know the elf and think it was sweet of her to send some wonderful things. I mostly asked for things for school and the Crochet Club that I started. It is on Tuesdays and I have about 25 girls in it....I also love the pens she sent and of course the Lindt - my favorite!

Alpaca Farm Farm Days

On Sunday I met with Leah and her daughter Natalie to head to Hunter Hill Alpacas for Farm Days. It was a bit chilly, but the alpacas were beautiful. I bought some yarn to send in a swap. Natalie was adorable and I loved spending time with Leah outside of school. She and Keira are both pregnant, so Kit and I will be partnerless for a period of time at the end of this year/beginning of next. They are due one day apart! I loved seeing the alpacas again and this time on a dry day!

Alpaca Farm

A couple of Saturdays ago, I went to a local Alpaca farm. It started to pour as I drove there. The alpacas were wet, but still cute and very curious. Today I am heading back up there for a Farm Days open house. I am waiting to hear from a friend, if she is going to join me. I have had 4 days off and have not left the house in 3. I've just been cleaning a bit, crocheting a bit and reading a bit. I am reading 3 books at the moment...Stephen King's new one "Under the Dome" a sheep mystery called "Three Bags Full" and a memoir called "Trafficking in Sheep" Thought I'd put up the pics of the drenched alpacas to share...

Some more hats

I did my first swap at Ravelry. It was an international swap and I sent to Elinbh in Norway and she sent a nice package to me. Today I used the multi colored yarn she sent me and made myself a slouchy beret hat. It'll go well with my new purple winter coat. I also received some nice yarn for my birthday from my friend Wendy in Australia. That is the green set. I absolutely love the colors in this yarn. Although it's mostly green there are flecks of a bunch of colors....

LYS' in Connecticut

One of my goals is to visit all the Local Yarn Shops in Connecticut. I have been to about 12 now. This past month, I visited 2 new ones and revisited 2 others...
The first one in the pictures (if I have it right) is The Yarn Garden in Meriden, CT (www.yarngardenct.com) It was in a small building and pretty packed. The owner was a bit distracted the day I was there, as her daughter had just given birth to her first grandchild. But she was very friendly and very helpful. I was looking for some yarn to send to Norway for my Ravelry swap. I picked up some local (New England - Maine) yarn. I also picked up some possum yarn. It was a nice and friendly store, although a bit cramped.
I also this past month discovered Creative Fibers in Windsor, CT (www.creativefibersonline.com) and have been there 3 times this month. The first time was to check it out. The second time because I went back for an author visit and then found out I was a week early, so I went back the following week. It's a large store with very pleasant staff. I was very surprised that they called me by name on my third visit! There were some very friendly patrons there as well, especially on my third visit. I ran into a few again at Stitches. I took a picture inside this store. I will definitely return to this store, however it is a bit of a haul for me...This past week I revisited Bayberry Knitting (www.bayberryknitting.com) in Plainville, CT. I was still looking for things for my swap. I ran into Karen Drouin, a designer and teacher at the store. I met her last year at CGOA in Manchester and she is a member of HHCC. I stopped back there this weekend, because my niece had picked out some yarn from there and I needed another skein. Luckily they had one left. This store is run by a husband and wife and they are very friendly. It was quite packed when I stopped back on Saturday! Lastly, I went to my local yarn shop New England Yarn and Spindle (www.newenglandyarn.com) This is a small shop, but very friendly. I go up there every couple of Sundays for a group UFO session. Mary, who owns the shop, also runs the Knit Wit group at the library that I attend every couple of weeks. I am enjoying checking out all the local yarn shops. I do shop at the "Big Box" stores too, but I think there is a place for all kinds of yarn. Although lately I have been really coveting the indie dyers that I have been exposed to on Ravelry.