I know I don’t need any more fleece… but this BFL in deep mulberry purple.  Then there were also yarn acquisitions.  Yum!

There were also a few patterns, little treats bought, and visits with friends.  All and all this a good day.

Of course the wool kitties love the new additions. Everything looks lovely this year.  Julie and I had one big fleece split and blended half with Angora and half with Alpaca… then we split those.  Those combos turned out lovely.

These followed me home.

To end these doldrums some retail therapy was in order.   As you can see lots of bright pinks and green and spring time colors.

A new Avi Wasserman out of Olive Wood from Israel.

The underside which is the most interesting.

I thought Sweet Pea had cracked it when she knocked it off my make shift light box (she such a diva…she loves to jump on the light box whenever I get it out), but it was just a wood knot that I didn’t see until I got in the bright light.  Whew… it’s fine.  I’ll tend to spindle over carpet to avoid any breakage.

First off a new Cross pen – it’s giraffe motif.  Fine nib and really an extra fine.  There was also ink involved.

More gifts from my hubby – who spoils me.  That’s a leather 4-case pen holder with my initials on it a cherry wood box to keep letters and whatnot’s in.

A lovely lap writing desk with lamp.

Books, books, and more books.

A lovely writing clutch from Julie – Thanks Julie!

A sock spinner and I couldn’t get a good shot of the needle sizer – Thanks Beverly!

A lovely new bag from Dawn – Thanks Dawn!

Mom sent me money – so I stashed a bit over at The Fold.  Going to card the last ones together to make my own fancy batts.

Beverly, Dawn (we share the same birthday – how cool is that?)  and I headed to The Fold, then to lunch and saw New Moon.  A great way to start a new year.

So I headed out on Wednesday to Julie’s and the fun began right away.  We headed to Concord, MA where we went to the Orchard House.  This was the house where Little Women was written by Louisa Mae Alcott.  It was a great.  I stood right next to Louisa’s desk, pen and inkwell.  We learned a lot about all the Alcott family members.  We had a great guide.

Thursday we went to the MFA with a quick stop to an antique book shop and Bromfield’s pen shop.  This was my first experience at a real pen shop.  I ended up picking up this gorgeous Waterman Perspective.  I inked it today with Diamine Prussian Blue.

At the corner of the street is Granary Burying Ground.  We looked at the site of the Boston Massacre and all the graves.  We found lots of famous in folks from New England, but Mother Goose was a complete surprise.

We then lunched and walked around the MFA.  Unfortunately I couldn’t get any good shots without the flash at the MFA. However, I did get this one… which was scary cool.

Friday we headed to Hyde Park, NY where our hotel was right across the street from FDR’s home and library.  We toured the house and the grounds.  This great bronze piece was on the grounds.  After that we had dinner at the CSA’s Escoffier Restaurant.

Saturday we went to the NY Sheep and Wool.  It was the coldest festival I’ve ever attended.  I also think it was busier than ever.  Some of the booths were so busy, we couldn’t get in them.  I did manage to get some good finds on lace.  The top brown is silk and yak and the colors are silk and cashmere.  The bottom is merino and silk.

After we got too cold, we decided to bail on the festival and head to the Vanderbilt house, which was much different than FDR’s house.  I was able to get a better shot of the house today.

Sunday we headed back to the festival real quick for a few more purchases.  We got there at 9am and it was nearly empty.  Not all the booths were opened up yet, but we had a great time and made it back to the booths we wanted to see.  So I also bought a few patterns and some other things on this trip that I had to ship back.  Once I get the box, I’ll be able to share those.

Monday we went back to Concord, MA and to the Burlington Mall.  We stopped at a few paper stores and another pen shop, but I managed to behave myself this time…well for now.  Well, I made my way home and rested up today.  Back to the grind tomorrow.

Closing with a great Gabby photo – which is one of Julie’s kitties.  She made sure that I wasn’t lonely for kitties while I was there.   However, she much preferred the bags the goodies came in than the actual goodies.  To see more pictures, please check here.

I brought this great yarn.  The picture does not do the color justice.  I can’t wait to wind it and make it into something gorgeous.

This is a bag.  Isn’t it cute?  The lady designed it herself.

I met this couple who wrote this book.  I can’t wait to read it.

Saturday we went to Stitches and goodness gracious it was so busy, I couldn’t seem to think.  Finally when the crowd cleared out I was able to walk around and get some nice stuff.

There are a few things that are not in the picture, they are for my swap sock pal and I’ll make sure to post those later.  Speaking of the Silly Sock Swap – I’m finished.  Yeah!  My socks are complete and my package is ready to go.

It didn’t make the book due to there not being enough room, so she released it on her website the Wooly West as a kit.  Of course I loved it and had to have the kit.

I ordered it first in the Fjord blue.  However, when it came I couldn’t see it in this shawl and thought the red might work better.  Poor Nancy, I emailed and called her back.  She probably thinks I’m nuts, but your know, the red works and is gorgeous for this shawl.

Of course, I have no intention of returning the blue.  The blue is gorgeous.  I’m thinking the blue would work for the Miralda shawl. I figure this is good.  I have the yarn for two shawls and I can’t wait to knit them both.

One of the lady’s always has a very hard to resist sock yarn selection and I found myself adding to the stash today.  What do they say?  Sock yarn don’t count.  (lol)  Of course I did walk away from some beautiful raw wool.  I had to have a conversation with myself that there would be plenty next month at the NH Sheep and Wool and that I really did need to work that stash down a bit more before then.  Really it’s like talking a jumper off the ledge.

It was a beautiful sunny day.  The wind was a little cool, but it was about 50-degrees and just perfect for getting my Philosopher Wool sweater out for a tour.

I bought 13 balls of this gorgeous light blue – 100% pure wool of Ella Rae.

Now I figure that’s enough for one of several possible Arans.  These are the ones I have in mind (all Rav links):

• FLAK
• The Shalor Cardigan
• Cassidy
• Central Park Hoodie
• Am Kamin
• #19 Cabled Cardigan

Now if I do one of these I may have enough yarn to do the front of the Ribby Cardi.  Any suggestions?  I imagine I will knit them all one day, so which one should I do now?