Wrap Up of a Week
Animals! Estes Park Wool Market had barns full of animals...goats, alpaca, llama, sheep and more! The goats are such funny creatures and they have a way of enchanting me with their 'look'. Their various horns, bleating sounds, fleece varieties and shapes seemed to bring a widening smile to my face as I walk through the pens. The llama and alpaca barns are quiet (except for an occasional hum), but walking through the sheep pens one becomes aware of the symphony of sounds. Each animal has its own tone and tenor of baa-ing and maa-ing...it's impossible to leave without laughing.
Estes is still on my mind, and in my heart. I've enjoyed reading other posts about the Festival experience.
FJ was revisited after my return and it seems the separation did us both good. The back has been finished and the fronts are growing nicely. It took considerable effort for my brain to figure out how and where to start the front "slope", as the v-neck decreases are called in the pattern, in comparison to the armscye decreases. Now that all that has been determined, the knitting is going along swimmingly. Both of us are well behaved and happy. Our future together looks long and lovely.
Hidcote hasn't had much attention, but that should change this weekend and, despite recurring, seemingly unstoppable rumors, Jóhö rests quietly, happy in her hibernation. Despite the "Free Jóhö" campaign she will stay behind the scene, for now.
Emmylou and I have had only short bursts of time together and so, progress is slow on the Spun Stitches project. When we do get a chance to spin time flies by...but it's still a bit of heaven. I'd like to fill a bobbin with the lovely bunny crack by the time the weekend is over.
In more spinning news, did you see Tour de Fleece? This sounds like a great way to spend July and I'll be joining in the fun!
There has been an ongoing contest here, as the comments on this blog approach 30,000. As of today they are half way to 29,000. Next week the 29,000th person will receive a box of goodies and I'm trying to think of something special for the 30,000th comment.
Last weekend, when we arrived at Val's home after our ride back from Estes, I walked around and took pictures of the flowers in her yard (don't you always type 'yarn' first?). The beautiful yellow lily you see here was in full sun and I wasn't sure the pictures would turn out. What a nice surprise and a perfect way to start Flower Friday.
May your weekend be as beautiful!
I had to laugh about the "yard" comment, I always type in yarn first instead of yard! I love the pictures from Estes Park. Those fleecy animals are so photogenic, aren't they? Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Rachel | June 22, 2007 at 04:51 AM
Haha! Free Joho!
I must say I always type "yarn" instead of "yard" too (I just did it then!) and I often accidentally type "knitting" instead of "kitten"! :)
I love the way those spun singles are looking! That's some beautiful fibre there! It looks soft enough to lick. (*Note* I don't lick fibre...yet.)
Posted by: Arianne | June 22, 2007 at 04:53 AM
29,000?!? Wow!! Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Kathy | June 22, 2007 at 05:06 AM
The "bunny crack" looks heavenly!
I wish I could join Tour de Fleece, but July is simply too busy this year.
Posted by: Kirsten | June 22, 2007 at 05:27 AM
The bunny crack is beautiful! Hope you have a great weekend, too!
Posted by: Susan | June 22, 2007 at 05:33 AM
Your Sherbet Bunny is coming along beautifully.....and your lily is stunning! Our lilies haven't started opening up yet, but soon :-)
Posted by: Kim | June 22, 2007 at 05:36 AM
Happy Weekend to the person who knows how to do weekends like no other! XO
Posted by: Norma | June 22, 2007 at 05:44 AM
I love the description of the differences in the animal barns! I visited an alpaca farm a few months ago and it was rather quiet. Until the head stud, Viagra ( I swear that was his name) let out what I was told was a mating call. As in "come hither baby, I am ready and willing!" It was really quite different from anything else that I have ever heard.
Lovely flowers too!
Posted by: jackie | June 22, 2007 at 06:08 AM
Just looking at all those faces and imagining their different personalities makes me smile!
That's a gorgeous lily. Happy weekend!
Posted by: Vicki | June 22, 2007 at 06:11 AM
Oooohh.... Flower Fridays! It's the first I've heard of it. I'll have to check it out. Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Zarah | June 22, 2007 at 06:13 AM
I'm so happy you're making progress on Joho!
Posted by: Carole | June 22, 2007 at 06:14 AM
Love the flowers...um, bunny crack??
Posted by: Sarah HB | June 22, 2007 at 06:15 AM
Love the spinning - what a great color for you!
Posted by: Cara | June 22, 2007 at 06:34 AM
A lovely end to the week. Thanks for the link to Tour De Fleece... I'm so all over it!
Posted by: Birdsong | June 22, 2007 at 07:09 AM
The goats and llamas were definitely my favorites. But they were all fun to see.
Posted by: Cheryl | June 22, 2007 at 07:10 AM
What lovely pictures today. Thanks for the mental break!
Posted by: claudia | June 22, 2007 at 07:36 AM
Glad you and FJ are getting along better!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Posted by: Kelly | June 22, 2007 at 07:45 AM
Flower Friday is such a beautiful idea! Love the lily! Estes sounds terrific and perfect for dreaming about. Happy Weekend!
Posted by: Nancy J | June 22, 2007 at 07:58 AM
What beautiful pictures you take!
(Now to figure out where in these progressive lenses to look ....)
Posted by: Jan | June 22, 2007 at 08:02 AM
Personally, I find the llama pictures the most captivating. Not sure why....
Posted by: Carol | June 22, 2007 at 08:18 AM
Um, Flower Friday isn't going to be happening around here, I'm afraid. Not unless I go to someone else's yard! Your lily shots were beautiful, though. Interesting stuff on those bobbins...can't wait to see it plied. (Note to self: get cracking on Spun Stitches!)
Posted by: Marcia Cooke | June 22, 2007 at 08:22 AM
I don't think your gift for the 30,000 comment can be any better than mine. Thank you so much, Margene. Everything is wonderful. Here's hoping your weekend is terrific! I love your Spun Stitches. It's exquisite.
Posted by: CindyCindy | June 22, 2007 at 08:25 AM
The animal pictures are fun. I like the goat with the long bangs. He could use a barrette or two to keep them out of his eyes.
Nice photo of the lily!
Posted by: Wool Winder | June 22, 2007 at 08:29 AM
I LOVE that pink yarn!
Posted by: Heather Joins The Round | June 22, 2007 at 08:31 AM
Look at all the fibery animal goodness. I love to see all the different textures too.
That lilly is so pretty. What wonderful colors.
Posted by: Tonia | June 22, 2007 at 08:45 AM
Critters! Love critters! Especially love critters with captions! And knitting and spinning and lilies, too. A very well-balanced post. You have covered my four favorite photo groups!
Posted by: Roxie | June 22, 2007 at 08:46 AM
Nice lily!
Oh God, now I have to go placate my Lily and reassure her of her own lusciousness.
Sibling rivalry is going to kill me yet...
Posted by: Susan P | June 22, 2007 at 08:52 AM
FJ is looking lovely! Can't wait to see her all assembled!
Posted by: Sneaksleep | June 22, 2007 at 09:01 AM
Estes Park sounds like it was fun. Love the animal photos! But doesn't Estes Park have any bunnies? Your spinning, as usual, is looking terrific!
Posted by: Chris | June 22, 2007 at 09:14 AM
Baby alpacas are very high on my "cutest things" list!
Posted by: Jacquie | June 22, 2007 at 09:20 AM
LOL! I do often type yarn first :-)
Beautiful flowers in Val's yard! Thanks for the heads up on Tour De Fleece!
Posted by: Kristi aka Fiber Fool | June 22, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Love the pics of the animals at Estes! I personally find the llama humming sound soothing. We have two llamas--a mama and her son--that often hum to one another. You should hear their alarm call, now that's a strange sound!
I'm glad FJ is behaving now. It looks like it'll be a lovely sweater!
Posted by: Nicole | June 22, 2007 at 10:34 AM
I DO type 'yarn' first. All the time. And I bet everyone else does too. ;-)
There's something about the goats... they seem to have so much personality! I don't get that as much from the alpacas, but the goats always seem to be sizing me up intelligently when I point a camera at them. ;-)
Posted by: Beth S. | June 22, 2007 at 11:17 AM
The babies' teeny baa's for their mamas always make me laugh! Looks like you are coming in the home stretch on FJ, and I hope it doesn't need another time out.
The Tour de Fleece, oh my, I seem to be following you around to alongs, but this just sounds like too much fun!
Posted by: Margaret | June 22, 2007 at 11:42 AM
very pretty
Posted by: michelle | June 22, 2007 at 11:46 AM
I can NOT believe I didn't go into the goat barn!!! I love that one with the hair in his eyes. hehe Too cute!
Lovely lilies for Flower Friday! I think I'm just gonna stick with ECF since I do other stuff than flowers too. It's fun to take so many pictures for the blog. Otherwise I'd just keep them and nobody else would ever see them. :)
Have a lovely weekend - enjoy your knitting and spinning! XOXOX
Posted by: Laura | June 22, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Yarn.
Yard.
Yearn.
I don't fight it anymore.
Happy weekend, Margene!
Posted by: Cookie | June 22, 2007 at 01:13 PM
Hey, just a wee reminder- FREE MOJO or HOJO or LOBO or whatever the heck his name is ......
Posted by: Olga | June 22, 2007 at 04:18 PM
Love the goats. We had goats when I was young. They have such personalities. The goats are what I go to state and county fairs to see.
I just had to chase a doe and two spotted fawns out of the yard (no, I don't type yarn - I garden a lot, too). One of the fawns took a wrong turn and got separated from it's family. It spent a while wandering around keening until I could herd it in the right direction. That's an unsettling sound.
Congrats on the comments landmark. I'm closing in on 100 comments on my young blog and I really appreciate that one is from you after the first time I commented here.
Posted by: KarenJoSeattle | June 22, 2007 at 05:24 PM
Wow, you sure get a lot of comments! I'm getting close to 4000 myself, but I'm sure I have several months to go. ;)
Posted by: Andrea | June 22, 2007 at 07:19 PM
All of you spinners have corrupted me. I'm taking a spindle class at one of my LYS' at the end of July. Now I just need to win the lottery so I have enough time for knitting and spinning and beading and ...
Posted by: Kristyn | June 22, 2007 at 08:04 PM
I'm going to be joining you in the Tour de Fleece. I hope I can keep it up!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 22, 2007 at 08:25 PM
those lilies would qualify for eye candy friday, fer sure. i didn't get to go to estes (it's an 8 hour drive for me as well, just opposite, lol). a friend did go, though, and she gave me a lovely bunch of hand-dyed mohair locks as a thank you for helping babysit her dogs (three of us took shifts, lol).
hidecote sounds gorgeous! (am i 29000th yet? lol?)
i knew someone who did tour de fleece last year (her husband is a bicyclist, so it was s combined thing, lol), and she spun with a spindle for the first time. she loved it!
Posted by: minnie | June 22, 2007 at 11:53 PM
OOOHHH, that pink bunny crack is making me drool. Buh-buh-buh-beautiful!!!
SO glad you had a fabulous weekend in Estes, and I'm looking forward to August!! Woohoo!!
xoxoxo
Posted by: Kim | June 23, 2007 at 06:38 AM
Love the pictures and the sounds at a wool fest always bring a smile to my face too.
Thanks for the link to Tour de Fleece - I'm going to check it out now.
Posted by: Lisa | June 23, 2007 at 07:01 AM
oooh, I may have to participate in this!
Posted by: Jenny | June 23, 2007 at 08:09 AM
Your pictures are great, too! I just read Quiddity Jane's post and saw you in her pictures. Seems that you all had a fantastic time!!!
Posted by: Robin | June 23, 2007 at 10:58 AM
I DO always type "yarn" first. Sometimes when typing "yarn," I type "yearn." Freudian, no?
Posted by: Chris | June 23, 2007 at 12:18 PM
Hey it's me again. This is the way I'm answering comments since I'm in NJ and can't access my email. The monkeys are quite fun to play with and have been very friendly. Did you have enough yardage with the STR? I was going to use STR but went with the higher yardage with my Brooklyn Handspun to be on the safe side. I did do an extra repeat on the leg also since I wanted them a bit longer. Actualy it was a great decision since I have never used the Brooklyn Handspun and I am REALLY loving it!
Posted by: Lisa | June 23, 2007 at 03:27 PM
Thanks for the Tour de Fleece link. I wonder if I can actually do that much spinning. I should - I might actually get that alpaca spun and plied in 3 weeks. I'm going to think about this, but I'll probably join.
Posted by: Stephanie | June 23, 2007 at 05:11 PM