Every picture tells a story, don't it?

What do you do when you find out that some of your knitting friends are going to the New York Sheep and Wool Festival (in Rhinebeck, NY, which was on the map for knitters waaaay before Chelsea's wedding, by the way), and you can't go? Maybe your finances are tight, or maybe you can't get away from your job for an extended weekend. . .it's not that you don't want to go, you just can't. . .sigh!

Several of us in the Cleveland Knits West group over on Ravelry were in just that predicament last weekend, but I think we made the best of it. After all, when life gives you alpaca. . .
. . .large and small. . .
. . .and a llama says, "Hey, Bay-bay!,". . .
. . .and gives you a kiss. . .
. . .well, then, maybe it's time for a West-of-Rhinebeck YARN CRAWL! You know, just like a beer crawl, but with yarn. . .just the thing for some enthusiastic knitters on a beautiful October Saturday! And really, we didn't miss the beer at all. . .we like wine better anyway! But even beyond our beverage of preference, when you talk about yarn (and acquiring more of it), knitters get pretty giddy! I think Andrea was even willing to hitchhike for yarn!
None of us thought that was a very good idea, tho. . .so we piled into two cars and headed out to four different shops that are fairly local to us. Thank you Andrea and Judy for driving! (See Andrea, you have a perfectly good car. . .no extra thumb activity required!)
First stop: Studio Knit (in Medina), where I contemplated silver and gold yarn for Christmas ornaments. . .
. . .and Michelle contemplated the giant wall o'yarn. . .
. . .and Annie contemplated which color(s) warranted the fact that she was signing over the rights to her firstborn. . .it didn't really matter. . .there was yarn to be had!
Then we were on the road again, passing the people in cars who were not as excited to reach their next destination as we were, forgoing rest areas and racing ahead to. . .
Our second stop: Black Locust Farm (in Lodi), where I picked up this funny book of "Kniticisms" and some sock yarn, as well as a couple of knitting knotions. . .
. . .Judy and Michelle frantically fondled the sock yarns. . .
. . .and Annie and Michelle contemplated the Zauberball!
We all loved this small store (she has limited hours, so call ahead or check her group on Ravelry), but it's soooo worth it! One side note: she does not take credit cards, so have cash or your ATM card, there's a machine on the corner!

We were hungry after all the shopping, so we stopped in at the Lighthouse in the center of Lodi, where the people eating lunch gave our giddiness a sideways glance, but still we gorged ourselves on good food! The burgers and onion rings are to die for. . .really! So, full and focused, we filed out and piled back into the cars and headed to our next destination!
Third stop: Soft and Sassy (in Broadview Heights), where I had to decide between these two lace weight yarns (I chose the Legacy, even tho Daphne was gorgeous) for a wedding shawl that I hope to make for College Girl! There was also another ball of sock yarn, I think it was Trekking XXL. . .I was into the earth-tones and naturals apparently! Oh, Annie and Michelle ended up with a sweater's worth of bulky yarn to knit Aidez from Berroco. . .I am pretty sure it was the yarn that the pattern called for. . .and now (surprise, surprise), there is a knitalong! To join or not to join, that is the question. . .
And after that, our fourth stop was River Colors (in Rocky River). Honestly, I did not see what anyone purchased there, but I did see the bags of yummy yarns in the back of Andrea's car as we left there! lol
After a full day of yarn shopping, and inhaling those intoxicating yarn fumes, what can a knitter do? Well, since we all ended up back at the farm, Andrea showed us how to "call" the chickens. . .just throw a tomato, or a piece of squash, and they go running after it, with the roosters cock-a-doodle-doing all the way! (I even heard a little William Tell Overature in the background. . .)
If you are out of tomatoes and squash, just bust open a pumpkin. . .
. . .that's right. . .a pumpkin. . .seriously gourmet meal here!
At the end of the day, all the knitters were tired from the shopping, and the laughing, and the riding, and the throwing of the produce, so we all went home to cast on something new. . .after we said good-bye to the chickens, of course!

And now, after 3 days of recovery, I am working on some Baby Booties, and socks and new baby sweaters shall be cast on soon for the coming of Grandbaby Number One! Stay tuned, and. . .

Knit in Good Health!