The weather has been truly insane!!!!!!

It has been a busy April!  First, my parents came to visit – it was GREAT to see them.  I’ve been wanting them to see the beauty of northern Colorado and the fantastic weather.  Unfortunately, that didn’t exactly happen.  It was a bit chilly and EXTREMELY windy while they were here and of course, mid-70s and sunny the two days after they flew home. 🙄 Hopefully they’ll come back another time and the sky will be blue and clear and the temperature warm!  (Ed. Note – Maybe fall instead of the crazy spring!!!)

We’re gonna need a yarn trailer eventually!!!!!

This past weekend was Interweave’s Yarn Fest and my lovely friend Gail came to visit!  Before heading to the market place Friday and Saturday mornings, we had a couple of incredible breakfasts – one at the Back Porch Cafe at the Lambspun yarn shop and another at The Waffle Lab. (Ed. Note – Why haven’t you taken me there yet?!?!?!?!?)  I highly recommend both of them and will be going back in the next two weeks before we head out!  Here’s a picture of Gail with her gluten-free raspberry bacon REAL maple syrup waffle!

OMG!!  Do we really NEED more or do you just WANT more?????

The market place had over 60 vendors and, of course, I had to go around a couple of times to look everything over (which is why we spent part of two days there).  There was yarn galore!  Many of the booths had samples knit out of their yarns which truly made me want to buy something at every booth but…I restrained myself, especially considering I couldn’t knit that much in a lifetime. 😏 (Ed. Note – You can’t knit all the yarn you HAVE in a lifetime – hello sweater for the oldest!!!!) Demonstrations were shown on a stage in the back and workshops were offered in break out rooms.  There was a winding station outside of the market place for those who wanted their yarn wound which was a really nice service.  There was only one animal at this festival – a giant angora rabbit!  She was so soft and calm and yes! I got to pet her.

  

  

Gail showed much more restraint than me and only went home with two different balls of yarn, both fingering weight.  I think her plan is a pair of socks with one and a cowl with the other.

I came home with a skein of Sun Valley Fiber bulky weight superwash merino called Spring Meadows which caught my eye the first time around the floor.  On the second morning as I was browsing around, two colors popped out at me and not my usual colors.  One is a lovely shade called Potters Clay and another called Goldenrod – they are so very soft and look gorgeous held together.  I’m not sure what I’ll do with them but am envisioning color blocked sleeves with a neutral body. (Ed. Note – Just put them in the yarn trailer for later!!!!) They are from Salt River Mills, 70% Suri alpaca and 30% wool.  My final yarn purchase is a hank of mohair from Midnight MoonSong.  She had a sample scarf and the mohair is supposed to bloom as it is knitted – I can’t wait to start knitting with it!  (Ed. Note – Sweater?!?!?!?!?) I also purchased a couple of handmade wooden buttons with a tree on them – there were only two but will make great accent pieces on a sweater. Of course right now I’m still working on my oldest’s sweater 😊 (Ed. Note – HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!)

It’s hard to drive when you keep swerving off looking at animals but somehow they survive!!!!!

After our delicious breakfasts and browsing through the market place, we headed for a visit to Loveland, then up to Estes Park and through the Rocky Mountain National Park.  Thank goodness, the view was clear this time (not like when I took my parents two weeks earlier) and the animals were out living their lives in view!  We got some great pictures!  The first pictures were coming into the park and the last 3 elk were actually in a yard on our way back to Fort Collins from Estes Park!  Look at their shaggy coats and the big one laying down in the back of the picture – we didn’t even notice it at first!!

      

     

                                      

It’s been such a great month with my visitors, good food, driving adventures and YARN!  I’m looking forward to heading out to visit some familiar places and new places over the next several months! (Ed. Note – On the road again!!  Just can’t wait to get on the road again!!!)

Happy Spring everyone!!

❤️