I spent the weekend visiting my cousin in Lawrence, KS. In addition to entertaining four kids, going to parades, and exploring the fabric shop of my dreams, I was able to pick up some yarn. I chose to ignore my yarn diet rules and picked up some yarn that I’m not counting against my earned yarn.

At The Yarn Barn I found a skein of yarn from Feederbrook Farm that came with a pattern. The yarn knits up into a pattern similar to argyle when knit into a scarf or cowl. I have no need for a scarf or a cowl, but the yarn facinates me, it is BFL, and the pattern name is Darwinian Evolution (I love a good pattern name).

At the farmers market I stumbled upon Pinwheel Farm, where a sheperdess sat spinning wool into yarn. I stopped to talk to her about her flock, and she went into great detail about her sheep. The primary breed started out as CVM, but she bred into the stock other breeds that are better for the climate of Kansas and other breeds that are better meat producers. I emjoyed talking with her so much I picked up a 300 g skein of fingering weight yarn. I have no idea what I’ll use the yarn for, but I will be happy to have it in my stash to look at and remember the nice trip we had.

Do you buy yarn on vacation? What do you usually pick up as a souvineer?

I’m thankful for cousins that live a few hours away. I’m thankful for visits with family. I’m thankful for cousins who realize that if we put a Stinky and Dirty Show on a phone our four kids will sit quietly the entire time we wander around an amazing fabric store.

I’m thankful for cousins who volunteer to take our kids to the playground so I get time in the yarn store alone.

I’m thankful for yarn stands at farmer’s markets.

I’m thankful for Veteran’s Day parades. I’m thankful for Veteran’s.

I’m thankful for parks with trains.

I’m thankful for November days in the 60s.

I’m thankful for November.

It has been a busy week, so I haven’t been knitting as much. It has also been too cold to knit on the playground, so that has cut back on my mindless knitting.

The Farmhouse Cardigan continues to grow slowly. I am almost to the point where I attach the pocket lining, so it feels like I’m making progress. I don’t love working on this project, but I think I’ll love wearing it so I keep plugging away.

I am working away on the baby sweater. The pattern I’m using is The Gift. I am not going to do the lace ribbing, because I think that is too much. A simple rib will be better for this.

I cast on a pair of Vanilla Latte socks last night. I only have a few rounds of ribbing done, but I’m hoping to make progress on these soon. I’m heading to Kansas the next two weekends, so I’m sure I’ll get some car knitting done.

What have you been working on this week? I keep wanting to knit sweaters. Is there anything you are in the mood to knit?

Back when I was working it was common to see me at happy hour with my coworkers. I miss very little about quitting to stay home with my kids after 14 years at a big insurance company, but the social aspect of it is something I definitely miss. I guess what I’m saying is, I really like being a stay at home mom, but I’m sad that I no longer drink enough to call this post Boozy Tuesday and have it be a regular feature. Sigh.

If you do occasionally enjoy a beverage of the adult variety, I highly recommend my drink invention. I warm up some apple cider and add caramel vodka to taste. It is a boozy version of the Starbucks caramel apple cider (ah, Starbucks, I used to go there daily when I worked and haven’t been in ages. Sigh.).

It is the perfect drink for sipping while imagining you are really the sort of person who sits outside on crisp nights around the campfire wrapped in beautiful plaid blankets (instead of knitting in pajamas in a recliner while watching knitting podcasts).

My kids have fallen asleep already, so I’m off to make one now. Have a great night!

We spend at least one day a week from September to Halloween at Center Grove Orchard. It is full of outdoor fun and activities about 30 minutes from our house. This is the second year we’ve purchased season passes to the orchard, and I’m sure we will get them again next year.

Today the orchard closed for the season. I’m going to miss loading up the kids to spend hours in the country, riding the train, bouncing on the jumping pillow, and playing in the corn pool.

Do you have any ideas to get us outside and enjoying fresh air this winter?