Big Sven for Little Man

I finished the Big Sven Sveater last weekend and I love the results. More importantly the babe does, too! The colorwork was the icing on the cake. Like I mentioned before, it's so nice to knit up the body and sleeves and then finish off with the fun stuff.

What I like the most about this sweater is the collar. It is super stretchy which I've had a big problem in the past. Picture it now -- trying to coax your child in to his new handknit sweater and then having him get trapped in it because the neck opening is too tight... not a good sell!

The collar is worked twice as long as desired, then folded in and the live stitches are sewn to the first row. It results in a cozy, stretchy collar that also has a great 'finished' look. LOVE! I'm going to use this technique from now on.

Big Sven Sveater is a Cottage Creations pattern. Their patterns are fun and informative booklets that you can buy at your LYS. I bought the entire series at the Pink House in WDM (now closed). Cottage Creations is better known for the Wonderful Wallaby pattern but also have a few other fun kid and grown up knits like the Rambling Rows afghan, and the Babies and Bears sweater. Cottage Creations patterns are written mostly by Carol Anderson who lives in Iowa.

I used Berroco Vintage which is a wool/nylon/acrylic blend. It'll be warm, soft, and also washable. I found this yarn was pretty slippery for a worsted weight yarn... I ended up knitting it on size 6 needles for the stockinette and colorwork and size 4 for the ribbing. I LOVED this yarn and will use it often. It's also only $6/hank for 217 yards.

Big Sven for Little Man

I finished the Big Sven Sveater last weekend and I love the results. More importantly the babe does, too! The colorwork was the icing on the cake. Like I mentioned before, it's so nice to knit up the body and sleeves and then finish off with the fun stuff.

What I like the most about this sweater is the collar. It is super stretchy which I've had a big problem in the past. Picture it now -- trying to coax your child in to his new handknit sweater and then having him get trapped in it because the neck opening is too tight... not a good sell!

The collar is worked twice as long as desired, then folded in and the live stitches are sewn to the first row. It results in a cozy, stretchy collar that also has a great 'finished' look. LOVE! I'm going to use this technique from now on.

Big Sven Sveater is a Cottage Creations pattern. Their patterns are fun and informative booklets that you can buy at your LYS. I bought the entire series at the Pink House in WDM (now closed). Cottage Creations is better known for the Wonderful Wallaby pattern but also have a few other fun kid and grown up knits like the Rambling Rows afghan, and the Babies and Bears sweater. Cottage Creations patterns are written mostly by Carol Anderson who lives in Iowa.

I used Berroco Vintage which is a wool/nylon/acrylic blend. It'll be warm, soft, and also washable. I found this yarn was pretty slippery for a worsted weight yarn... I ended up knitting it on size 6 needles for the stockinette and colorwork and size 4 for the ribbing. I LOVED this yarn and will use it often. It's also only $6/hank for 217 yards.

Happy Fall!

Happy Fall!

In Season

Yesterday was a delightful day... my 32nd birthday. Eric had the day off from work and my son got out of school early so I was able to spend most of the day with all of my guys which always makes me happy. We took off to the Maine section of the White Mountain National Forest, Kezar Lake, and generally the backwoods by Bridgton, Lovell, and Fryeburg... another beautiful area. Quaint New England villages, dark, dense woods, and quiet... lots of quiet which I always love to bask in.

At one point I'd stopped to get out and take some photos of a pond (please click on photo to enlarge) and I was thinking about when people ask what I did for my birthday how I'm basically doing what I do all the time... by choice... so I must be doing something right if what I want to do on my birthday is what I do almost every day... just be with my guys, be OUT there, and have my camera handy to capture it all. I'm a very lucky lady.

In Season

Yesterday was a delightful day... my 32nd birthday. Eric had the day off from work and my son got out of school early so I was able to spend most of the day with all of my guys which always makes me happy. We took off to the Maine section of the White Mountain National Forest, Kezar Lake, and generally the backwoods by Bridgton, Lovell, and Fryeburg... another beautiful area. Quaint New England villages, dark, dense woods, and quiet... lots of quiet which I always love to bask in.

At one point I'd stopped to get out and take some photos of a pond (please click on photo to enlarge) and I was thinking about when people ask what I did for my birthday how I'm basically doing what I do all the time... by choice... so I must be doing something right if what I want to do on my birthday is what I do almost every day... just be with my guys, be OUT there, and have my camera handy to capture it all. I'm a very lucky lady.

He Jumps

I took this photo of my son at Pineland Farms yesterday. (please click to enlarge) I actually caught him in mid-air! It captures our trips to the garden pretty well... he runs, hides, frolics, laughs. I walk around and ooh & ahh over the amazing gardens. If there are other people there, we almost always make new friends. I've met lots of parents and their children there so it's obviously a popular family hangout. It's been such a treat to visit every couple of days all year long and watch how the garden changes.

He Jumps

I took this photo of my son at Pineland Farms yesterday. (please click to enlarge) I actually caught him in mid-air! It captures our trips to the garden pretty well... he runs, hides, frolics, laughs. I walk around and ooh & ahh over the amazing gardens. If there are other people there, we almost always make new friends. I've met lots of parents and their children there so it's obviously a popular family hangout. It's been such a treat to visit every couple of days all year long and watch how the garden changes.

Big Sven Sveater

I'm knitting this sweater for my 2 1/2 year old son. I'm using Berroco Vintage which is a washable wool/acrylic blend. Tomorrow I'm going to join the sleeves and the body and knit the yoke with a little bit of colorwork... the contrast colors will be light teal and cream. I've always loved this type of knitted sweater but this is the first one I've done this way. I foresee many more in my future.

I usually advocate knitting sweaters from the top-down but I have to say that knitting them like this really moves things along for me... get all the boring out of the way first in anticipation for the fun at the end. I like that!

Coos Canyon, Byron, Maine
(click photo to enlarge)

Big Sven Sveater

I'm knitting this sweater for my 2 1/2 year old son. I'm using Berroco Vintage which is a washable wool/acrylic blend. Tomorrow I'm going to join the sleeves and the body and knit the yoke with a little bit of colorwork... the contrast colors will be light teal and cream. I've always loved this type of knitted sweater but this is the first one I've done this way. I foresee many more in my future.

I usually advocate knitting sweaters from the top-down but I have to say that knitting them like this really moves things along for me... get all the boring out of the way first in anticipation for the fun at the end. I like that!

Coos Canyon, Byron, Maine
(click photo to enlarge)

Lusekofte-sque Mitts

Lusekofte-sque Mitts / Ravelry Link

As soon as I saw these come up on Ravelry, I had to make them. I used buttery soft Blue Sky Alpaca Sportweight just like the pattern called for. I've always wanted to use this yarn for mitts and I thought the colorwork was perfect for adding some structure so they didn't lose their shape the way alpaca tends to do.

I also LOVED the hemmed edges which adds extra weight and even more structure to the mitts. (the mitt on the left in the photo below is inside out) Plus, the lining covers up the colorwork stranding at the top and bottom of the mitt which eliminates the possibility of snagging it when you're putting the mitts on.


The cuff was easy to do... cast on and knit 15 rows, then purl a row work 15 more rounds of the colorwork pattern, then knit the cast on row together with the next row. The top, however, was a challenge for me. I hadn't ever worked a hemmed edge backwards before. When I bound off, the edge was super curly -- I solved that problem by just blocking it before I sewed the edge down. Then, I just put the mitt on inside out, folded the lining down and seamed it right where it landed while wearing it on my hand. It was probably the correct row, but it was unscientific and just intuitive... and I love the result.

I will definitely be making more of these. I think you should make some, too!

Lusekofte-sque Mitts

Lusekofte-sque Mitts / Ravelry Link

As soon as I saw these come up on Ravelry, I had to make them. I used buttery soft Blue Sky Alpaca Sportweight just like the pattern called for. I've always wanted to use this yarn for mitts and I thought the colorwork was perfect for adding some structure so they didn't lose their shape the way alpaca tends to do.

I also LOVED the hemmed edges which adds extra weight and even more structure to the mitts. (the mitt on the left in the photo below is inside out) Plus, the lining covers up the colorwork stranding at the top and bottom of the mitt which eliminates the possibility of snagging it when you're putting the mitts on.


The cuff was easy to do... cast on and knit 15 rows, then purl a row work 15 more rounds of the colorwork pattern, then knit the cast on row together with the next row. The top, however, was a challenge for me. I hadn't ever worked a hemmed edge backwards before. When I bound off, the edge was super curly -- I solved that problem by just blocking it before I sewed the edge down. Then, I just put the mitt on inside out, folded the lining down and seamed it right where it landed while wearing it on my hand. It was probably the correct row, but it was unscientific and just intuitive... and I love the result.

I will definitely be making more of these. I think you should make some, too!

Today we went to the top of the world...

... or the Height of the Land to be exact.
Please, click on this photo to enlarge
deep breath .... exhale,
then SMILE!

Fall has definitely arrived in the Rangeley Lakes area.
Click this photo to enlarge and see the cascade of orange foliage down the mountain side.
You won't be sorry!

We had so much fun frolicking through the woods today. We went all around Mt. Blue State Park again... got lost for miles and miles on gravel roads, thoroughly enjoying the absolute quiet and dense canopy of trees.

We emerged from the woods by Coos Canyon. I couldn't be that close to the Rangeley Lakes area without heading north for just a bit and boy am I glad I did because that is when the foliage really started to change.

Today was nothing out of the ordinary for us... we never tire of our exploring. We do this constantly. We will never tire of it. It fills up my soul with goodness.

I have a ton of photos I could share and I will one by one this week... for now I'm just going to go knit and prolong the high of the day. Ahhh...

Today we went to the top of the world...

... or the Height of the Land to be exact.
Please, click on this photo to enlarge
deep breath .... exhale,
then SMILE!

Fall has definitely arrived in the Rangeley Lakes area.
Click this photo to enlarge and see the cascade of orange foliage down the mountain side.
You won't be sorry!

We had so much fun frolicking through the woods today. We went all around Mt. Blue State Park again... got lost for miles and miles on gravel roads, thoroughly enjoying the absolute quiet and dense canopy of trees.

We emerged from the woods by Coos Canyon. I couldn't be that close to the Rangeley Lakes area without heading north for just a bit and boy am I glad I did because that is when the foliage really started to change.

Today was nothing out of the ordinary for us... we never tire of our exploring. We do this constantly. We will never tire of it. It fills up my soul with goodness.

I have a ton of photos I could share and I will one by one this week... for now I'm just going to go knit and prolong the high of the day. Ahhh...

Let's Talk Knitty!

Knitty Fall 2009 hit the web yesterday and there are a few designs that I'm excited about...

1 Across Beanie is really great. It's my number one favorite design from this issue. I love it because it's quirky and because I have two crossword puzzle crazed people in my life... my 10 year old son and my Mom. I think I'll knit each of them this one. I also love geometric, black & white designs... so I might knit another for me, too. / Ravelry Link



Bel is a very unique design! I've been looking for a sweater/vest thing for a while and this one is one that I would love to knit. I love the unique construction and how the tone-on-tone variegated yarn stripes vertically. I've had my eye on some Madeline Tosh worsted in the Ginger colorway for quite a while. Every time I'm in Purl Diva it catches my eye. I think this pattern would be a great match for the yarn. / Ravelry Link




Girl Friday has such a great lacy texture. I love when lace designs incorporate a little bit of garter stitch. It sort of reminds me of the infamous Monkey socks. The combo of garter + lace equals a great funky texture without being too formal.

As much as I would love to cast this one on immediately, I'm hesitant due to my own gauge issues with lace patterns... if I knit this one I'll have to swatch properly and pre-wash it just to make sure it doesn't grow too much. / Ravelry Link


Margot looks like a great twist on a top-down pattern... simple elements... eyelets on the raglan seams, thick garter stitch bands. I also love that it's knit with sport weight yarn. I don't have any sport weight sweaters that I've knit for myself, but several finer gauge commercial sweaters that are my favorites. / Ravelry Link



Colonnade is my kind of shawl. It's knit at a large gauge, looks super quick, and is strikingly beautiful. I could see wearing it like it's styled in the photo or over a basic black knit shirt. It's not a shawl that needs a special occasion to be worn. I would wear this all the time... getting groceries... going to knit night. I think this might be the first thing I cast on.

This style of triangular shawl seems to be all the rage right now and I think this one fits the bill for the colder months when we need something a bit more substantial.

I try not to get hung up on using the yarn that the pattern calls for... who can resist Manos del Uruguay? LOVE! / Ravelry Link

So there you have it... my faves. What are yours?

WAY TO GO Knitty! More amazing and UNIQUE patterns for us to love for years to come.

Let's Talk Knitty!

Knitty Fall 2009 hit the web yesterday and there are a few designs that I'm excited about...

1 Across Beanie is really great. It's my number one favorite design from this issue. I love it because it's quirky and because I have two crossword puzzle crazed people in my life... my 10 year old son and my Mom. I think I'll knit each of them this one. I also love geometric, black & white designs... so I might knit another for me, too. / Ravelry Link



Bel is a very unique design! I've been looking for a sweater/vest thing for a while and this one is one that I would love to knit. I love the unique construction and how the tone-on-tone variegated yarn stripes vertically. I've had my eye on some Madeline Tosh worsted in the Ginger colorway for quite a while. Every time I'm in Purl Diva it catches my eye. I think this pattern would be a great match for the yarn. / Ravelry Link




Girl Friday has such a great lacy texture. I love when lace designs incorporate a little bit of garter stitch. It sort of reminds me of the infamous Monkey socks. The combo of garter + lace equals a great funky texture without being too formal.

As much as I would love to cast this one on immediately, I'm hesitant due to my own gauge issues with lace patterns... if I knit this one I'll have to swatch properly and pre-wash it just to make sure it doesn't grow too much. / Ravelry Link


Margot looks like a great twist on a top-down pattern... simple elements... eyelets on the raglan seams, thick garter stitch bands. I also love that it's knit with sport weight yarn. I don't have any sport weight sweaters that I've knit for myself, but several finer gauge commercial sweaters that are my favorites. / Ravelry Link



Colonnade is my kind of shawl. It's knit at a large gauge, looks super quick, and is strikingly beautiful. I could see wearing it like it's styled in the photo or over a basic black knit shirt. It's not a shawl that needs a special occasion to be worn. I would wear this all the time... getting groceries... going to knit night. I think this might be the first thing I cast on.

This style of triangular shawl seems to be all the rage right now and I think this one fits the bill for the colder months when we need something a bit more substantial.

I try not to get hung up on using the yarn that the pattern calls for... who can resist Manos del Uruguay? LOVE! / Ravelry Link

So there you have it... my faves. What are yours?

WAY TO GO Knitty! More amazing and UNIQUE patterns for us to love for years to come.

She Wore a Raspberry Beret

It's a FO, it's a FO! I have to make this quick so I can maximize naptime and work on some other UFOs.

This is the 'Vine and Leaf Beret' that is on the cover of the Fall 2009 Vogue Knitting. I used Queensland Collection Rustic Wool DK, Size US 2 needles for the ribbing, US 3 for the body of the hat. This hat was fun to knit because each round was a pattern round... I also liked the way that the top finished up... every other lace panel decreased until none were left and then the remaining lace panels decreased. It makes for a pretty beret.

My only advice is to pay attention when you get to the decrease rounds. I recommend that you put a stitch marker between every two lace panels (or one chart repeat) so you don't lose your place. After the pattern has been established, it's much easier to follow along.

I suppose I could block this out, but I like how it looks and feels unblocked. Despite being lace, it'll be a nice, pretty, cozy hat for this fall/winter.

One UFO down, many to go. On to the next....

She Wore a Raspberry Beret

It's a FO, it's a FO! I have to make this quick so I can maximize naptime and work on some other UFOs.

This is the 'Vine and Leaf Beret' that is on the cover of the Fall 2009 Vogue Knitting. I used Queensland Collection Rustic Wool DK, Size US 2 needles for the ribbing, US 3 for the body of the hat. This hat was fun to knit because each round was a pattern round... I also liked the way that the top finished up... every other lace panel decreased until none were left and then the remaining lace panels decreased. It makes for a pretty beret.

My only advice is to pay attention when you get to the decrease rounds. I recommend that you put a stitch marker between every two lace panels (or one chart repeat) so you don't lose your place. After the pattern has been established, it's much easier to follow along.

I suppose I could block this out, but I like how it looks and feels unblocked. Despite being lace, it'll be a nice, pretty, cozy hat for this fall/winter.

One UFO down, many to go. On to the next....

now with more knitting!

I'd describe my knitting habit lately as aimless. Little focus. Little direction. Fickle. Frogariffic. It's time for my knitting to find a happy place again.

I did finish these three lovely pairs of socks recently so that is a bonus. I'm trying to follow through on my knitting. I frog SO MUCH. If I actually stuck it out and finished 50% of what I started, wow, I'd have a lot more FOs to speak of. It's not that these frogged projects were going bad, or didn't work, or the sizing was wrong... I just got bored or on a whim, decided to yank the needles.

I have several WIPs on my needles right now... a beret, two sweaters for the boys, two pairs of socks, a lace shawl, a giftee, and a lace cowl. Holy WIPs knitwoman!

The good news is that I'm about 75% done with most of them. All except the lace shawl which I think might take me eight years to knit. But it's fabulous so I'll live with that.

I want to finish up my WIPs over the next couple of weeks and then move on to something larger. I have a pullover in mind for myself, actually. I'm going to use Blue Moon Fiber Arts Twisted in the Pucks Mischief colorway and knit myself a top-down cowl neck sweater. It'll be warm, just slightly funky in style, and off the hook with color. Perfect!

So, at least I have three pairs of socks to show you. They were all fun to knit and will enhance my sock drawer nicely (ok, lets face it, the sock drawer already overfloweth... and then some).

Very soon I'll have some more fun FOs to share with you, until then I'd better get to it.

now with more knitting!

I'd describe my knitting habit lately as aimless. Little focus. Little direction. Fickle. Frogariffic. It's time for my knitting to find a happy place again.

I did finish these three lovely pairs of socks recently so that is a bonus. I'm trying to follow through on my knitting. I frog SO MUCH. If I actually stuck it out and finished 50% of what I started, wow, I'd have a lot more FOs to speak of. It's not that these frogged projects were going bad, or didn't work, or the sizing was wrong... I just got bored or on a whim, decided to yank the needles.

I have several WIPs on my needles right now... a beret, two sweaters for the boys, two pairs of socks, a lace shawl, a giftee, and a lace cowl. Holy WIPs knitwoman!

The good news is that I'm about 75% done with most of them. All except the lace shawl which I think might take me eight years to knit. But it's fabulous so I'll live with that.

I want to finish up my WIPs over the next couple of weeks and then move on to something larger. I have a pullover in mind for myself, actually. I'm going to use Blue Moon Fiber Arts Twisted in the Pucks Mischief colorway and knit myself a top-down cowl neck sweater. It'll be warm, just slightly funky in style, and off the hook with color. Perfect!

So, at least I have three pairs of socks to show you. They were all fun to knit and will enhance my sock drawer nicely (ok, lets face it, the sock drawer already overfloweth... and then some).

Very soon I'll have some more fun FOs to share with you, until then I'd better get to it.

A Loopy Anniversary

Sheri and The Loopy Ewe celebrated their third anniversary last month and I must say that I felt like part of the celebration, mostly because I have been an enthusiastic customer since almost the very beginning.

I first discovered The Loopy Ewe because I was looking for a place to order Fleece Artist sock yarn. I picked The Loopy Ewe to order from initially because they're located in Missouri... not far from where I lived Iowa. While exploring the web site, I soon found out more about Sheri and her business. I jumped at the chance to show my support (and get some great yarn) for this budding small business. I quickly developed an ongoing wishlist at the Loopy Ewe because they supplied so many sock yarns that we couldn't readily get in Des Moines.

I think that The Loopy Ewe web site speaks for itself in it's awesomeness. They got it right with their web site... straight forward, easy to use, speedy servers (for those Dream in Color, Wollmeise, and Numma Numma crazed shoppers), wishlists, account info, buying incentives, even the ability for customers to contribute to the site with our own projects and postings. But most of all, the amazing array of sock yarns and more that TLE offers. What really rounds out the entire story is Sheri's blog. Her endless enthusiasm is what has driven her business, not to mention the contributions from her entire family. Now, The Loopy Ewe is legendary in the world wide web.

Cheers and Happy Anniversary to everyone at The Loopy Ewe!

On a side note, Sheri has freed herself from feeling bad about knitting only one sock and not a pair. I say BRAVO because look at her amazing display of single sock goodies.

Full Corn Moon

Sep. 4, 12:03 a.m. EDT -- Full Corn Moon. Sometimes also called the Fruit Moon; such monikers were used for a full moon that occurs during the first week of September, so as to keep the Harvest Moon from coming too early in the calendar.- via space.com

- for Tamara :)

A Loopy Anniversary

Sheri and The Loopy Ewe celebrated their third anniversary last month and I must say that I felt like part of the celebration, mostly because I have been an enthusiastic customer since almost the very beginning.

I first discovered The Loopy Ewe because I was looking for a place to order Fleece Artist sock yarn. I picked The Loopy Ewe to order from initially because they're located in Missouri... not far from where I lived Iowa. While exploring the web site, I soon found out more about Sheri and her business. I jumped at the chance to show my support (and get some great yarn) for this budding small business. I quickly developed an ongoing wishlist at the Loopy Ewe because they supplied so many sock yarns that we couldn't readily get in Des Moines.

I think that The Loopy Ewe web site speaks for itself in it's awesomeness. They got it right with their web site... straight forward, easy to use, speedy servers (for those Dream in Color, Wollmeise, and Numma Numma crazed shoppers), wishlists, account info, buying incentives, even the ability for customers to contribute to the site with our own projects and postings. But most of all, the amazing array of sock yarns and more that TLE offers. What really rounds out the entire story is Sheri's blog. Her endless enthusiasm is what has driven her business, not to mention the contributions from her entire family. Now, The Loopy Ewe is legendary in the world wide web.

Cheers and Happy Anniversary to everyone at The Loopy Ewe!

On a side note, Sheri has freed herself from feeling bad about knitting only one sock and not a pair. I say BRAVO because look at her amazing display of single sock goodies.

Full Corn Moon

Sep. 4, 12:03 a.m. EDT -- Full Corn Moon. Sometimes also called the Fruit Moon; such monikers were used for a full moon that occurs during the first week of September, so as to keep the Harvest Moon from coming too early in the calendar.- via space.com

- for Tamara :)

September Update

My son got off to school without a hitch this week. Hooray! He loves his new teacher, he loves his class. Life is good. Lets hope this giddy honey-moony feeling lasts a while.

Despite that we've been trying to figure out where to buy a house, we've decided to just settle in for a while and let life just unfold here. We all need a little stability. What does this mean? That I can go sign the boy up for swimming lessons without having to worry if we'll be here in November or not. Ha!

Things have been in limbo like this all summer. Will we buy a house? or not? Honestly, we came really (really really) close on two occasions. Then we had a long bout of "let's move back" and THEN, the school year started. That throws a curve ball in everything. We've already uprooted the boy during the last school year and it was HARD on all of us. We are in no hurry to do that again.

I do have to say that through this whole experience of moving to Maine, I've become gunshy when it comes to making big decisions. They stress me out bad now. I used to be a 'GO FOR IT' gal pretty much all the time. Then this huge move really shook us and our family core. Now, mmm.... not so much.

Who KNOWS what the future holds. We're still in a holding pattern here. But for now, we're HERE, we're going to settle in even though this isn't where we want to be down the road. We simply must. What is it going to hurt to go out and make some connections, some friends, seek out some community right here where we are. Bloom where you're planted, right?

For now, we're really enjoying the weather... and the start of fall. I love love fall but its bittersweet knowing what comes after. Winter has become so annoying as I've gotten older. I used to enjoy it. Who knows... it seems like there is a lot more winter recreation out here than in the midwest, so maybe our attitudes towards winter will change.

But it's not the recreation that is the issue, it's the every day. The schlepping everyone's snow gear on. The darkness. Just the added difficulty.

ANYWAY -- lets stop thinking about winter and move back to glorious fall. The leaves are really starting to change up here. Pockets of bright reds everywhere! I'm going to try to get some photos this weekend.

Apple Picking season opens this weekend as well. We're very excited to go pick some apples ... and donuts. haha.

This also seems to be the big fair season here. Everyone's county fairs are starting up. How nice to go to these fairs in FALL weather and not blazing hot summer weather. We definitely want to check out the Common Ground county fair, the Cumberland county fair and the Fryeburg fair. The locals say that they are the big ones.

The Common Ground county fair is the one I'm most excited about. It has a special edge because it's put on by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.

MOFGA celebrated its 32nd Common Ground Country Fair on September 19, 20 & 21, 2008, in Unity, Maine. 59,000 people took part in our annual celebration of rural living. Mark your calendars for the 2009 Fair on September 25, 26 & 27!

The Fair allows fairgoers to make connections with a rapidly expanding base of organic farms in the state of Maine. Hundreds of vendors, exhibitors and demonstrators, more than 1,000 volunteers, and tens of thousands of fairgoers will gather to: share knowledge about sustainable living; eat delicious, organic, Maine-grown food; buy and sell beautiful Maine crafts and useful agricultural products; compete in various activities; dance; sing and have a great time.

I'm down with that!

I also have some yarny ventures planned for this fall. The big one is the New York Sheep and Wool Festival. Our hotel room is booked and time off is requested... it's going to be a family affair. Surprisingly, the guys are pretty excited about it, too, after browsing the web site. I think there is also a gem show going on nearby and maybe an auto or plane show? It'll be a fun weekend.

I also want to make a daytrip to Harrisville, NH this fall. That is where Harrisville Yarns are from, and it's also one of the few remaining mill towns in the USA. They offer tours and of course have a shop so that will be fun.

As far as the boys go... they have plans for more camping, for more gold panning, and for cub scout stuff, too. It's surely going to be a fun and busy fall! Enough babble from me. In the next post? ACTUAL KNITTING CONTENT... it's been a long time.