Tuesday, May 27, 2014

May 26, 2014 - meeting notes

Another great Kniterary Night, but the warm weather kept some of us outside. With a small, intimate group we got underway with a few quick announcements, including this updated blog, some new comment and question sheets and the Pass It On project.

Pass It On Project
Last month, Aisling eagerly volunteered to take the Pass It On Project, which so far has had pieces from Mary Charles, Monica, and Mark. Aisling was quite excited to share her contribution to this community piece and rightly so. She knitted a small cotton rectangle, then added a sparkly black cover with the word KNIT! embroidered on top. What great creativity! The next Kniterary member to volunteer to add a piece was Lou, and we really look forward to seeing what she has to add!







Story Time!
Tonight's theme was Story Time and we had some wonderful selections and a good variety.
First up was Aisling, reading "Socks for Supper" by Jack Kent, an adorable picture book about a poor couple who trade her knitted socks for food and get more in return!
Then, Lisa shared with us the entertaining and timeless story of "Derek the Knitting Dinosaur" by Mary Blackwood. Derek is a knitting dinosaur who at first thinks that his knitting hobby is strange in the community of dinosaurs, but soon learns how necessary his contribution might be!
Kelly, our fearless leader who is on maternity leave, was unable to make it but foresaw this possibility and had provided Monica with her selection. Reading from "Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting" a collection edited by Ann Hood, Monica read The Pretend Knitter by Elizabeth Berg. Berg tells of her love of the idea of being a knitter and always wanting to learn to knit, and her traumatic experience with knitting. Witty and touching!
A night of knitting literature would be incomplete without a selection from the Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Pearl McPhee, and Karen was the one to provide. Reading Failure to Think from  "All Wound Up", Karen regaled us with McPhee's hilarious story of trying to knit a lace shawl and failing miserably at every step...as we all have done!




Next, Siobhan read another great kids picture book, Amos's Sweater by Janet Lunn. Amos is a sheep, who is not impressed with having to be sheared again and left cold. But he learns what a blessing it is!

And last, Monica again read, this time from the timeless classic Through the Looking-Glass, the second half of Lewis Carroll's masterpiece. In the chapter Water and Wool, Alice finds herself suddenly in a tiny, dark shop with a sheep who is knitting with an impossible number of needles. They magically transport themselves into a row boat, where Alice attempts, in vain, to pick water rushes, with the most beautiful always being out of reach.

Although Pam was not able to read from her selections, she did share with us how much she's enjoyed reading the Kate Jacobs books, both the Friday Night Knitting Club, and Knit Two.

We are very excited for next month's Kniterary on Zentangle Drawing, presented by Anne Gallant, who will demonstrate this technique for expanding your creativity. Something a little different for Kniterary, to be sure!


Monday, April 28, 2014

One Llama, A few Horses and a Ton of Sheep!

Click on the photos to enlarge.
We arrived at Hubbert Farms in the damp and chill of noon and were met in the parking lot by Jody.

Jody gave us an introduction to her history with the farm, discussing husbandry, shows & competitions and the basics of running an alpaca farm.
Then she led us to the outdoor paddock which contained the two sheep who had not reproduced this season.
The ewes were incredibly friendly and eager to see us!
The poked their heads through the fence and wanted to be rubbed!
All the while, a trusty alpaca stood guard!
Cathy got a little love.
Jody led us into the barn, where we spent most of our visit. Many of the ewes, alpacas and the Llama were inside....along with the one- and two-week old lambs!

There were both new and experienced mamas, and many different shades of coats.
This ewe was playing 'stepmom' to a rejected lamb, along with her own!
Jackson, the llama, stood watchful guard over the flock!
The alpacas were on their own, and a little more wary of our presence.
Beautiful shades, from white to caramel to chocolate!
Pregnant and waiting.
"Who ARE these people?"
Another small paddock of ewes and lambs.
Once we'd been in the barn for a while, Jody allowed us to pet, and then hold the lambs.
Jody had just fed them grain, but that didn't deter them from nuzzling and rubbing our hands.

Holding the lambs was the highlight of the day...for everyone!
Victoria with baby Jiggy!
This little one really thought she'd get something out of my knuckle!
Jackson still watching over everything!

Judy brought out some handspun alpaca and wool, as well as some fresh fleece!
Outside again, we met these gorgeous beasts!


These beauties seemed to enjoy the chilly, fresh air!
Thanks so much to Jody and Hubbert Farms, for a fun-filled and entertaining tour!