Weekending

Hello All,

Whew, another whirlwind Monday morning.  I had a doctor's appointment at 8 - another "spot of bother" removed (that is why I never hang out in the sun any more)...stopped for coffee at a new place near me (good coffee, a little slow on the service)...then at the office in time for a conference call.  Meanwhile the e-mails are flying from the CEO and a million and one things to do.  It's all good.  But really I want to talk about the weekend.

Saturday was the Allentown Fiber Festival.  Dee and I met up just before 10:00 and proceeded to shop!  Unlike other festivals, there are no animals at this one.  This really needs to change (in my opinion) - sheep and alpacas are needed!!  I didn't even see rabbits this year - usually there is a woman spinning angora with a bunny in her lap.  This was the 4th year for the Festival and each year it gets a little bit more crowded.  The venue (Merchant's Square Mall) is not the most attractive place and parking is at a premium.  Inside it was crammed with vendors (and some were in tents outside).  Anyhoo, here is what I got (I think I showed great restraint in my buying):

Some pretty yarn (the skein on the right was on sale for only $15!).  The cake is over 700 yards and I loved the shades of green.  There's a bit of sparkle to it as well.  I think it will make a gorgeous shawl.  I couldn't resist the DPN holder that has foxes on it.  And...a new project bag.  This one is quite sturdy and opens up and folds down so you can just keep your caked yarn in the bag and pull from there.  It has a drawstring closure and there is a sturdy handle too.  Love the kitties with the yarn.

The tiny object in front is a pair of the smallest scissors I've ever seen.  So light for my notions pouch and just cute!!  The only other thing I purchased were some individual little stitch markers.  And that's it!  See?  I really was conservative.

By the time we were done looking and shopping it had gotten pretty hot.  We drove over to Emmaus (only a few miles away) for lunch and a stop in at the new digs for Conversational Threads the local yarn shop.  Their new shop is gorgeous.  Lots of room for sitting and knitting and lots of natural light.  I didn't see anything to buy there, but there was plenty to tempt me.  Dee and I ended up at the local coffee/bike shop for some sipping and knitting.  A perfect day!

Sunday was spent doing chores and getting out some warm weather clothes.  Winter has definitely departed.  In fact, we had a very loud thunderstorm last night/early this morning - woke me up at 3:30!

Fiber Festival!!

Well hello everyone,


I guess I could have titled this post "Dee Is No Longer a Virgin" - LOL.  Yesterday Dee and I met up in Allentown for the Allentown Fiber Festival - Dee's first festival.  I'm sure you've already read her blog and have seen that she did ok - picking up some lovely yarn and a nice pair of underwear...I mean a beautiful flamingo project bag.  It was a beautiful day for the festival - sunny and, if you can believe it, 82 degrees!!


This festival is very small.  And, it doesn't have the sheep and goats that Maryland Sheep & Wool and other festivals have.  But...the crowds are very manageable and you can see everything!  Plus, there are a few animals.  Rabbits to be specific:

So sweet and so very, very soft.  His/her (not sure which) owner was holding another rabbit in her lap and spinning right from the rabbit!!

It was fun to watch.  We saw a couple of rabbits for sale, but I didn't think Tyg would take kindly to my bringing a rabbit home...or he might, but the rabbit wouldn't last very long.


So here's a look at what I got.  First up stitch markers.  I love buying individual ones - fun and cheap!

Aren't they cute?  I love them all.


This is the yarn I got at the festival:

Both sock weight yarns, of course.  The green is Kettle Steps, Good for Ewe.  It is 40% superwash merino, 40% baby llama and 20% nylon.  The skein on the right is from Youghiogheny Yarns and is their "show color."  Limited quantities are dyed for the festival.  One of the women in the booth was knitting some socks with it and they were gorgeous.  I had to have it!!  It is 75% merino and 25% nylon.


Dee's friend Joyce and her daughter Aubrey also met us and when we were done wandering the festival we all drove over to Emmaus to visit Conversational Threads a most wonderful yarn shop!  We had all received a postcard at the festival for 15% off at the store that weekend only.  So, we had to go, right?  I came away with two items...more sock yarn:

The skein on the left is a new one to me:  Theodora's Pearls by DizzyLettuce and the colorway is Thistle.  It is 80% superwash merino and 20% nylon.  The skein on the right is Trekking which I've been wanting to try (75% superwash and 25% bamboo).


And that's it!  I saw plenty more that I wanted to buy but was trying to be reasonable.


After shopping we stepped across the street for burgers (the BEST burger I've had in a long time) and then Dee and I ended up at a coffee shop across the way (actually a combination coffee shop/bike shop - Kathy I was thinking of Fireman!!).


When I finally decided I really needed to get home, I pulled up Google maps and was directed home via back country roads.  It was a beautiful drive and actually faster than the ride up on the turnpike had been.


Fletch was doing some outside stuff when I got home, so after jumping in the shower, I joined him on the patio for a glass of wine.  We walked out towards our shed and FINALLY there are buds on our redbud tree.  All it takes is a couple of warm days:

Sorry it's a little blurry.


Today, of course, is a different story.  Rain, grey and chilly - about 40 degrees cooler than yesterday!  At least we are not having snow (which some of you are...I'm so sorry).


Time to wrap this up and get ready for bed!  Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!