Alpaca Farm, Sweet Wendy and Black Moon

I do love an adventure.  Yesterday was such a beautiful day, sunny and warm, that I talked my husband into a drive up the gorge to find a place for lunch and enjoy the day.  We even saw a Bald Eagle flying over the river, big white head and white tail.. what a joyful sight!  We cruised up the Columbia River to Hood River and had lunch at the Riverside Restaurant.  I then thought of an alpaca farm I'd heard about and my husband (dear man that he is) agreed to go visit.  I think I had alpacas in my mind as my blog friend Meredith visited an alpaca farm recently.  :-)  I called the place and the owner said he'd look for us.  We followed the signs 10 miles from the restaurant and wound up the side of a hill and eventually found the place.  Oh my goodness.. look at this darling face!  I'm in love!

Here is Jonathan, the owner of Foothills Yarn & Fiber.  What a nice man!  He showed us his favorite spinning wheel, showed us his wools and one whole side of all alpaca yarns, bags of alpaca prepared for spinning, etc.  

A very pretty and tidy shop with so many enticements!

There were several sweaters all knitted up to see.  I love the swift all set up to use.  They offer classes too!

I thought all of you who have been knitting and crocheting cowls would get a kick out of this book and it's name.  Sorry the image is a bit blurred.

Dyed roving ready to spin.  

This whole wall was alpaca yarn from bulky to fine lace and sock weights.

I bought two skeins of yarn.. will show you in a bit.. then we went outside to meet the herd.  

One of the youngest of the herd.. ohhh.. wot a tweetie pie!  How cute are these darlings?  Another thing I noticed, they are very quiet creatures and very sweet.

The herd down the road were all white.

We assumed that this regal creature was the "Herdsire, stud or macho".  (ETA - this is a guard llama watching over the herd of alpaca - thanks, Meredith!)

On down the road I rolled my window down and chatted with these two nice ladies who were out riding their horses.  I asked them if I could share this photo with people all over the world and they said yes.  :-)

I snapped this sweet little farm further on down the road.

By the time we headed home, it was time for an ice cream.. :-)  The East Wind Drive-In at Cascade Locks.

Dayle held both ice creams while I drove down to our new little photo spot under the Bridge of the Gods.  There we watched the changing colors of the clouds while we enjoyed our chocolate ice cream.

I like a waffle cone and he likes a sugar cone.  Can you believe that he ordered a "baby" size and I got a "small"?  :-)

Lick, lick.. ohhh look at that cloud.. lick, lick.. mmmmm.

I love how the sun glows on the cliffs.

Turning to the right of where we were enjoying the view from our car, you can see the bridge and the interesting paintings down the support column, a Bald Eagle, Wolf, Bear, Cougar and a man.  

This morning I took some photos of the yarn I got.  I *LOVE* the colors in this skein!  Wouldn't this make a lovely scarf?  Or hat?  What would YOU make with this?

The name of this skein is "Marionberry".  :-)

I also got a HUGE skein of natural white spun up so beautifully.  I can make a whole shawl out of this.. which is what I plan to do.  Now I need to find a suitably lacy pattern to use.  I will crochet it.  

Luscious, isn't it?

And I am excited to show you the aMAYzing gift I received from Wendy in Australia from the blog called Ruff's Adventures.  I've gotten to know Wendy over the last year or so by reading her blog and corresponding with her.  She's a great adventurer, devoted partner, mother, grandmother and daughter.  She is a crocheter and sock knitter.  She loves trains, too!  So, I was full of joy and appreciation when I opened the package and she had sent me this fabulous pair of wrist warmers that she crocheted herself and they JINGLE with cute little bells on them.  Isn't that the nicest thing ever?  I love them!

And then.. I was beyond touched when she was given these knitting needles from her very own mum.. and she sent them to ME!  What a dear and wonderful thing to do!  I adore them and will treasure them forever!  Thank you, Wendy!  

I continue to love love love these faux tortoise shell knitting needles, the colors are so beautiful.  I can't wait to knit up something pretty on these!

Oh.. and I had to show you the beautiful iced tea we were served at the restaurant for lunch.. and the wonderful server gave me these two tea bags when I raved about the flavor of the tea.  He also told me that the tea maker is in Portland and makes the very finest tea - so I am going to check out his website and see what I can see.  And I am going to have myself a hot cup of tea today.  :-)

My day just kept being fabulous when I got a text from Pammy Sue, my blog friend from Scotty's Place blog, who lives in Texas, and she reminded me to check out the "Black Moon" last night.  SO, I put my shoes on and went out with my camera and captured this image.  Isn't it fun?

I also asked my son Travis to try getting a photo of it and was super pleased with this image he captured.  I knew his camera had a better zoom than mine and just love his shot.  Mine has a 30 zoom and his has a 50 zoom.  A black moon is when the moon is mostly in shadow but just a sliver of the moon shows on the edge.  

Well.. I had a lot to share, didn't I?  LOL!  We are having another brilliantly sunny day, I don't see a cloud.  I'm trying to talk hubby into another outing.. do you think I'll be successful?  We'll soon find out!  I hope your day is a wonderful one.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)