Alpacalooza

Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Splitrock Farms up in Ridgeway, Ontario. For the last several years the owners, Glenn and Lynda, have run a bed and breakfast and built up their herd of alpacas. Now that they've got around 48 alpacas (with 11 more on the way!) they're planning to cease running the b and b and focus solely on the animals. Many of their animals have won high honors across Canada and they are starting to see some real results of a careful breeding program.

My friend Katherine is a longtime friend of Lynda and Glenn and when she realized I'd heard of alpacas she set up a private tour with Lynda (thank you again!!!) We headed up a little after noon and about 20 minutes later arrived at the farm. The b and b is gorgeous, I'm sure it's hosted many satisfied guests over the years. And the alpacas ... omg, they are so cute! They were sheared just last month so you can really see what lean animals they are. It was so much fun to watch them play and interact. It was also fascinating how Lynda described their individual personalities and the specific "roles" different animals play in the herd.

The capstone to the day, of course, was looking through the yarn that's been spun from these beautiful alpacas. I just love the idea of knitting with the yarn of an animal you've actually met. I had about $20 Canadian burning a hole in my pocket (living 5 minutes from the border I've kept a Canadian change jar for the last couple years ... it won't do me much good in Indiana) so I picked up some gorgeous silvery-grey yarn in a lace/sport weight.

So, how can a less well-connected individual share in the Splitrock Farms experience? Lucky for you they host an Open House in the fall, September 27-28 between the hours of 10am-4pm. For more info you can visit their website. I think the yarn I saw yesterday will be available for sale at the open house ... believe me, you want to go check it out!!!

Banished!

Today was yard sale day here in Buffalo, in preparation for the move. I finally came to accept that I will never use the 100% acrylic yarn in my stash so it has been BANISHED! It wasn't all junky, some of it was Lion Brand Micro-spun and such, so hopefully it will still be made into something by some kind soul. I just have so much other yarn and every time I think, "maybe I'll make something from that acrylic yarn" I sort of cringe and pick up some bamboo or alpaca instead ... it's amazing how easy it is to become a yarn snob.

Have I mentioned that my new place in Indy is a 7 minute walk from the yarn store? 7 minutes? Oh dear. :)

Wish us luck with packing!

Bosom Buddies

So, here are the aforementioned sock yarn and mohair that I plan to use together on some sort of lacy little thing. So sweet, my Toronto yarn and my Texas yarn, coming together to make something wonderful! Awwww... I'm thinking small a lacy cowl/hood. There's about 225 yards of the mohair and 290 of the wool so that should be just about right.

My other Texas yarn, the linen, has been frustrating me to no end!! I started a project, not once but twice, only to tear it all out. The first time because I realized I would run out of yarn if I made the bag that big, the second time because I somehow managed to twist when I joined the round and realized about 20 rows in that I was making a mobius. Not really my intention. I rewound the linen back into a ball and have set it aside for the moment.

My current project: Manly Legwarmers!

I was talking to my dad a week or two ago (he's a blog reader! yea!) and he mentioned his workspace is quite freezing year round. He manages to dress for the climate in most ways but his legs are always cold. Thus the idea for the manly legwarmer was born. Made from soft, easy care Microspun by Lionbrand, it's a quick knit in the round on #5 double pointed needles. The other one should be done in the next few days and then I'll put up a pattern. It looks like one skein will do it but keep your fingers crossed for me, will ya?

Denied!

Our first attempt at visiting a Florida knitting store was less than successful. This store was CLOSED! Sigh.

Luckily just a few days later Lilly and I hit up a fabulous knitting store in Maitland, FL, Sip and Knit. Being a warm climate knitting store they had the most wonderful selection of cottons, silks, and bamboos I have ever seen! Knowing this would probably be my last knitting store splurge for a while I went a little nuts and added 3 projects worth of yarn to my stash ...

On the left is Hempathy, which I plan to make either into an empire waist camisole tank or maybe a lacy skirt. In the center is Sidar Baby Bamboo, and oh my goodness is it soft and wonderfully drapey! I am thinking this will probably be a summery baby dress for the new niece I mentioned yesterday. Sort of graduated colors, light grey to green to putty, with the pink for some accents ... Last is some Rowan wool cotton, which I plan to make into a striped baby sweater for yet another new arrival expected in the fall by some good friends in Buffalo. Babies babies babies!!! Freaks me out! I guess it's all part of being nearly thirty.

Speaking of babies, on the Florida trip I got to meet my fabulous BF's nephew, who is the CUTEST 14 MONTH OLD EVER!! He was totally my buddy. Which is saying something because I haven't always had a track record of being a "kid person".

The BF is out of town this weekend so I'm enjoying a much needed day of lounging in my pajamas (and knitting, of course). I may finally get around to photographing my stash for Ravelry.

Coming up on knitjenious: photos of the Kathmandu DK shrug and a preview of my Montego Bay scarf.