Our Rhinebeck Make-a-Long

Hi friends. Liz and I are hosting a make-a-long in anticipation for Rhinebeck 2018! People...it's only 4 months away!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!! It's one of my favorite weekends of the year. Gathering together with knitters, fiber loving friends and family in the beautiful Hudson Valley during fall is the BEST.

Our podcast is gaining more viewers (thank you!) and we thought what better way to reward the fans than with a make-a-long and giveaway. So here's the deal....if you want to join in the fun, pick something to make and tag us on instagram or with #arrowacresrhinebeckkal on instagram. I also opened up a thread on Ravelry that you can post your projects and talk about what you're making. I'll link it below.You can knit, crochet, weave, sew....what ever your favorite craft is works for us!

If you are not attending Rhinebeck, that's ok! You can still join us. It's all about community and sharing to inspire each other.

We will close the Make-a-Long on October 12 (week before Rhinebeck). If you are attending we will buy 2 Rhinebeck tickets and gift you with a project bag from Robins Roost full of goodies. We would love to hand deliver it to you on the hill for the podcast meet up!

I am making the Lovable sweater by Sylvia McFadden using Green Mountain Spinnery Weekend Wool in the chestnut color. It's flying on my needles. It's a big chunky lace sweater that I am making oversize and shorter than the pattern. It will be similar to the version that Kate made from Green Mountain. We talked about making this when I was at Maryland Sheep & Wool. We'll be twins in different colors. I'm not sure what I'll do for the neckline. It called for a rib but Kate did a big cowl. I think I want something in the middle. Maybe more like the neckline from my Kirwin sweater. We'll see....

So join in the fun!!!! And you can always watch us on the podcast to see what else we are up to.
Find us as Cocktail Hour at the Coop on YouTube.

Links: Ravelry Group Thread

Leanne's Rhinebeck sweater

Cocktail Hour at the Coop podcast

New Knitting and Planting

Hello blogging friends :) With all the instagram posts and podcasting, I've neglected my poor little blog. I still try to read everyone's posts when I can but posting myself has been far and few between.

The Yarn Along is always a favorite of mine so I thought I would join in the fun this month.

I am knitting Time Trades by Caitlin Hunter. It's a beautiful and easy to knit shawl. I went stash diving for this beauty! A mix of some of my favorite yarn dyers and makers. It's been traveling to the baseball games these days and it's a perfect game watching knit.

I'm still reading The Thorn Birds. It's a long one but I'm really enjoying it when I do have a chance to read.

We have had SO MUCH RAIN this spring so my garden and flowers got planted much later than usual. Finally got a few in the ground last weekend. It is isn't pretty but it's planted! The chicken coop got a little splash of color with new flowers too.

Happy Knitting!

Joining with Ginny at Small Things for the monthly Yarn Along.

-Leanne

Turning 40, Fishing & Knitting

Every year around the time of my birthday, "my" apple tree blooms.

Over the years the tree has lost many limbs and is much smaller than it once was. It was a a place for my sisters and I to swing and play from, climb and hide. It was the backdrop for some favorite family photos. The top photo of my tree was taken many, many years ago. My guess is around 1982. That's my Uncle Mayo sitting on the ground watching me and Andee swing. He wasn't my uncle by blood, but he felt like family, even like a grandfather. 

So every year, on my birthday my tree blooms and it makes me smile.

This year, I turned 40. A weird birthday to have. Had a rough month of some sad losses but it also makes me appreciate everything and everyone around me and the fact that I get to celebrate another year. 

I've been a bad blogger lately, so this is a mishmash of photos from the month.....

My friends and sisters threw me a fun party for my bday. Loved all the special touches!!

The weather has been so weird this May. Spring has been nonexistent. We go from cold and rainy to HOT. But the fishing has been good in our pond. I love taking the boys down to fish and it's even more fun when all the little boys are there. On shearing day, I took the kids down later in the day after work so everyone could finish up the shearing and eat dinner. We caught fish with every cast!

The chickens have been busy laying their eggs. Nothing like a fresh farm egg to start your day.

I also started a new knitting project. Been in a knitting funk lately. This new project has been perfect baseball knitting and I'm making a lot of progress on it.

Welcome to June! I hope the weather improves and life can slow down a bit!!!!