Last few minutes at the Wool Market

As Julie and I were leaving the fairgrounds area of the Wool Market, we were stopped by a young lady.  She asked if we were familiar with the mascot for Windy Valley Muskox.  Julie said she was, and we noticed the young lady was holding a stuffed Muskox in her arms and also had a camera around her neck. 

Next thing we know, she said she noticed we were carrying bags from their shop, and she wondered if we would be willing to pose for a picture with the mascot to post on their Facebook page.  We said, Sure!"  So, here we are...

Julie is holding the Muskox.

Wool Market, p. 3

Saturday morning Julie and I still had not made a final decision about whether to go to the Wool Market before heading home or not.  Oh, what the hey!  We're here.  We'd nearly spent our wad.  But we hadn't seen EVERYTHING.  So, we decided we'd go to the Market...but limit ourselves to an hour or so, and then get back on the road home.

We are sooooo glad we did.  The Windy Valley Muskox booth was wonderful.  We both bought some Qiviuk yarn...so soft.  We got a blend (45% Qiviuk, 45% Extrafine Merino Wool, 10% Mulberry Silk).  I got one ball for a short scarf; Julie got two balls for a long scarf.  It was on sale...and we were pretty thrilled.  (100% Qiviuk runs nearly $90 a skein! A blend, on sale, was much more enticing for the pocketbook!)  I also purchased up a ball of pima cotton.

1 ball of pima cotton on the left, 1 ball of Qiviuk yarn on the right.

While we were walking around, we saw several of our Wyoming friends.  So that was cool.

I also saw a vendor that had an entire wall of tailspun in almost every color, so I had to buy a few yards.

We saw some yarn that was made from a Paco-Vicunas, and we were curious what the animal looked like.  So, on our way out of the Market, we decided to stop in the tent that was showing them.  It turns out they are a rare type of alpaca.  We got to pet them and also heard them hum.. which is the noise they make.  Cute. Not annoying at all. 

They were soooo cute.  Their big brown eyes were adorable.  We got to pet them, and they were quite calm, even with all these people milling around and wanting to touch them.

The day held one more surprise...

Wool Market, p. 2

 Both Julie and I signed up for 2 days of knitting classes.  Julie took "The Language of Lace," which was a 2-day class.  On Thursday I took "Cables, Twists, and More." Friday's class was "Knitting With Beads."  We were very pleased with our choices and learned a lot of new techniques and tricks. 

Thursday was all knitting...but we were invited to a reception at the Art Center in Estes.  On display were some very artistic wool garments and wall-hangings. 

The buildings and tents to the right in the background housed the Wool Market.

After classes on Friday, we were surprised to find out that all the "students" were invited to a special opening of the Wool Market, located at the fairgrounds.  That was exciting!  So, the shopping...and spending...got underway.

I found some washable wool at a very affordable price to make another sweater shawl.  The colors are rich, and the yarn is soft. 

Lots of alpaca yarn was available...and I couldn't resist...picked up two skeins.

As long as I'm showing off the new additions to the stash, I need to come forward and show what I bought at My Sister Knits.  The shop was in a carriage house behind the main house.  It was so beautiful, we could hardly stand it.  We could have been very comfortable knitting in the garden!!

Because we arrived very close to closing time...both Julie and I were compelled to purchase something, thankful that the gals kept the shop open long enough for us to browse...and drool...and buy.

I bought a pattern and yarn for a neck cowl. 

We assumed we would be spending all Saturday morning shopping at the Wool Market.  However, since we were able to go all through it Friday night, we discussed leaving for home Saturday morning. Well,  there was one catch...Julie did not get to visit the vendor she most wanted to see: Windy Valley Muskox.  We don't know why they were the only ones not to show up...but that was the case.  So, we debated back and forth...was it worth going back the next morning or not? Was it also possible we missed seeing something the first time through?   OH....decisions....decisions.

Wool Market

Julie W. and I took a road trip to Ft. Collins and then on to Estes, CO to attend knitting classes and the Wool Market on the weekend.

Julie posed for me outside Cowgirl Yarn in Laramie.

First stop was Cowgirl Yarn in Laramie, WY to start the trip off on the right foot...I mean needle.  What a cute shop!! Loved it.  I found a tiny crochet hook there, which I needed for one of the classes in Estes.  I could have picked up yarn too...because I saw so many pretty skeins...but decided I better pace myself.  A couple of doors down was a great little restaurant which was perfect for lunch, and then we were on our way to Ft. Collins, CO.

We had heard great things about two yarn shops in Ft. Collins, so we had to search them out.  First we found "The Loopy Ewe."  Wonderful shop...and it had every kind of yarn you could want!  Sensory overload!!!  I didn't have a specific project in mind...and I reminded myself again that the Wool Market was still ahead!  However, I found some Kollage square needles on sale, and I did purchase some.  Can't wait to try them out.  Have any of you tried them?  Any comments?

The next morning we drove to Estes.  The approach is through Big Thompson Canyon in Estes Park.  The scenery is beautiful.  Every turn held a lovely surprise.  We were in time to see lilacs blooming near some of the fabulous homes nestled between the canyon walls and river.  The fishermen were out too, trying to get in some fly fishing during the morning hours.   

As you can see, the canyon is narrow, and there were very few pullouts, so I took pictures through the windshield while Julie drove.  I'm kind of amazed they turned out this well. 

Estes is nestled in the mountains ...so pretty. (Kind of reminded us of Jackson Hole.) Our classes were held in a high school building very near the fairgrounds, where the Wool Market was set up.  Thank goodness for Julie and her iPhone to navigate our trip.  We found everything quite easily!

More tomorrow...

Wild Flowers and Pine

Blue phlox grows wherever it can find a good spot, not necessarily where I planted some years ago.  I'm so thrilled these flowers are growing and blooming and showing off their delicate blooms, I don't care where they decide to show up. I welcome them and enjoy them every morning.

I'm giving some bare root pine trees a start.  I received ten of them, and I haven't planted but three in a permanent spot.  The others are still in pots.  I'm going to plant them (eventually) in various places on the property, in hopes that some of them find enough water and survive.

Pots o' Flowers

After discovering and photographing a brilliant rainbow

After looking expectantly for the pot of gold

After accepting I live many mythical miles from Ireland

After noticing my decorative pots suddenly exploding with color

I wondered if Leprechauns sometimes wear cowboy boots and hat, 

Spreading magical dust on the prairie.

Breakfast at the Bird-feeder

I'm open for business....breakfast at the Bird-feeder.  Come check out the millet, sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and peanut pieces! 

Word has spread, and more birds are showing up, checking out the menu, engaging in some taste-testing, and much to my delight, returning.

Previously, I haven't paid much attention to the birds in the neighborhood.  I didn't even know what to think about those who talked about watching hummingbirds, robins, etc. from their porch or kitchen windows. You have time to do that??  I just didn't see the attraction.  But, change happens.  I've been paying much more attention to all the wild animals that pass through, and I'm finding a real joy in it
.

So, who's showing up at the feeder?  I'm trying to figure out the identify all the clientele.   I recognize the pair of doves, and a few robins.  I had to do a bit of research and found the most colorful ones are western bluebirds.   I think I've identified a few others as Sage Sparrows and House Finches.  A few strangers have come to town... and observing them from afar, I haven't quite got them ID'd.

I don't have a fabulous camera,...so the pictures are pushing the capabilities of my camera lens...as the only way to get a picture, so far, has been to stand inside, taking pictures through the window with the telephoto lens fully extended. These are pretty grainy.  Maybe I'll be able to get better shots if I can be more sneaky...