Back to the Real World...

After a much too short relaxing vacation in Kennebunk, Maine... we're back home with the dogs... back to work tomorrow. Although a short weekend trip, it was great just to get away... do some sightseeing and shopping... and eating.... I'll get to more about all that as soon as I get a few minutes to download pics from the camera...

In the meantime, I have a finished object! The Birthday Cowl(my "Soft Fall Cowl") which I finished up back on October 9th, then took too long awhile to get photos....

The Ravelry page is here. I used Malabrigo in the gorgeous Noviembre colorway (note to self... must get more!) and it was a delight to work up!

I'll definitely use this pattern again... it would make an excellent gift (note to family/friends: get your xmas "hints" in now)!

I received my Autumn Sock or Scarf Swap package right before we left for Maine. I will admit that I am rather disappointed at the lack of contact from my spoiler, as well as the lack of "fall" in the package, however she did take the time to crochet me a little acorn and I do heart it, so......

The yarn she sent is Araucania Ranco Multy in a very pretty purple-blue colorway, which just might be destined for a Clapotis...

I had also received several wonderful birthday goodies and won't bore you, but did want to share a couple of the knitting & doggy related ones...

My blogless pal Cydney (though she is a writer for a famous soap opera and I tell her all the time that she really should blog!) sent me the new Mason Dixon book and the Yarn Harlot's 365-page-a-day calendar for 2009... Chan sent me an awesome Best Friends logo long sleeve shirt (and a pampered chef muffin tin that I'm supposed to be making doggy treats in ... shh, the kids don't know yet!)... Cheryl surprised me with a fun magnet and the coolest "Dogs laugh with their tails" sign at knitting last week. Its one of those metal signs made to look "vintage"... And then there are a few gift cards that made the picture, 2 for Dunkin Donuts (remember, a New England girl runs on Dunkins) and 1 for Barnes & Noble (more knitting books!)... Thank you everyone!

I do have one more gifty I wanted to show off... Ally sent me one of her nifty notions wallets (she really needs to open an Etsy store with these!) and asked me in advance about my knitting bag colors. I explained that my favorite 2 right now are my Namaste Laguna and Newport (which I recently switched over to as my "everyday" bag and will review soon after several days of use)...

Ally really hit the colors on the head - this notions wallet matches both perfectly! Thank you Ally!

I did not make it to the Wool Arts Tour last weekend (well, 2 weekends ago now), however got in the spirit by digging out the wool I purchased from Painted Knoll Farm last year and cast on this hat...

The grey is a wool/silk blend and the brown is a wool that they stuck in a small ball of in case there wasn't enough for a full adult hat, so I thought I'd play with it a bit. It should be finished but got tossed aside (so what else is new?) ... I'll probably finish it up while watching tv tonight.

Is everyone enjoying fall? I'll admit... this past weekend was a bit cooler, especially up in Maine (it was so windy yesterday at Nubble Light that we barely managed to stand outside the car for longer than a couple minutes). I came home last night and immediately put flannel sheets & the winter comforter on the bed... this girl ain't turning on the electric heat yet!!!