Simply Shawlette

Finished!
Well. . . almost. The shawlette still needs blocking.





I'm not a huge fan of the garter stitch, but sometimes simple is perfect.

Look how perfectly Tasha Tudor wears a garter stitch shawlette. (Photo from Victoria magazine: Sept/Oct 2008)

Q is for

the quivet that's been marinating in my stash:

A Diversion

We interrupt the knitting of the mini shawl, to start something new:



I've been wanting to:
*learn, practice Magic Loop
*use a 32" rather than a 40" cable for Magic Looping
*use up some stash yarn
*have a small project to carry in my purse

And it all came together when I received that sweet bag from the multi-talented Sonja!

Isn't the bag lovely? Sonja sewed the mah jongg print fabric into such a perfect bag. (She remembered that I have a mah jongg obsession.) I just love this bag! Thank you, Sonja.

The project is the the Ribbed and Ruffled Wristlets from the Magic Loop booklet. It's just enough to give me some practice with Magic Loop without a long-term commitment.

Yesterday/Today

Yesterday, the skies were blue and the sun was shining--a perfect day!



But we had to say good-bye:



On the way home, we visited the alpacas once more:



And we noticed that fall in the North Country is on its way:



Today, I feel like doing this most of the day:



But I will take time to wish my birthday twin a happy day!

Knitting?

Was any knitting done during this mountain vacation?
Why, yes there was!



I brought enough yarn and needles for about six projects, but I worked on only one using the green and gray yarn.



I wasn't sure what this yarn wanted to be and I tried a few different things.
Neither I nor the yarn was happy.

Even when I decided on this mini shawl and cast on for it, I still wasn't happy. I'm not a big fan of garter stitch.

But the soothing, boring pattern grew on me. I was able to watch the lake and talk to the hubster and listen to an audiobook without worrying that I would mess up my knitting.

Boring and care-free. That's what I like in a vacation!

P is for

Pine trees



Pine needles



Pine cones



And if this blog had smell-o-vision,
the luscious scent of pine.

Green and gray

This week, the weather in the Adirondacks has been has been foggy and gray.





And green and gray are the colors I'm drawn to.





Is it a coincidence that the yarn I'm working with mimics the colors around me?

A Pack of Alpacas

So the hubster and I headed to the Adirondacks of NYS again for vacation. On the way, we saw:

trees



wildflowers



the Hudson River with trees and wildflowers



AND. . . .

alpacas!

The Gore Mountain Farm is an absolute gem of a farm! We two city kids had zillions of alpaca questions and Barry, the owner, graciously and patiently answered them all.

AND he took us to one of the barns.







Is this a face you could love?



Look at me! I'm feeding the alpacas and getting alpaca saliva all over my hands!



The Gore Mountain Farm also has a lovely gift shop with many beautiful items for sale. And, yes, of course I bought yarn. But, no picture--it has to be ordered.