A view from the road
Last weekend my friend Elisabeth had to deliver two llamas to a farm in Quebec’s Eastern Townships (about a four and a half hour drive from her place), so, hoping to get some photos of spectacular fall colours, I went with her. The colours weren’t at their peak yet, but the rolling hills and fields are scenic at any time of year. It was a very windy day, so by the time the colour is at its finest, there may not be any leaves left on the trees, anyway!
This is Camilla, who didn't know yet that we were bringing her two new friends
I took quite a few photos and will put them into my “painting ideas” folder for future reference. I knit an entire scarf on the drive. Elisabeth bought me a yummy lunch at St. Hubert (a chicken restaurant chain) and fed me pastry and pumpkin pie back at her place. We passed by “Le Ranch de Spaghetti” in Magog — haven’t you ever wondered where spaghetti is grown? (And if they harvest it early, is it spaghettini? If they leave it in the fields longer, does it grow into lasagna noodles?) We marvelled at the price of gas in Quebec (about twenty cents a litre more than here in Ontario).
Tiffany and Hot Chocolate in their new home
I brought home some more of Elisabeth’s custom-spun yarn (can’t remember whether it’s llama or alpaca), and will be making another hat like Amelia’s. I’ll write down what I do this time, so that I can share the pattern.
All in all, it was a lovely weekend away from it all. Thank you, Elisabeth!
3 Comments
What pretty llamas, all three! I love the perpetual smile that llamas seem to have. Fortunately, I’ve not yet bit spit upon by one of these funny creatures! Looks like you had just awesome weather for traveling too. Gorgeous gorgeous fields! Any tips on reducing ladders on dpns?
Truly, llamas and alpacas that have been handled appropriately seldom spit at people (unfortunately, the animals in petting zoos are often stressed and unhappy, so they are more prone to spit, and of course, that’s where many people encounter them).
As for reducing ladders on the dpns — it’s not a problem I’ve ever had, but when I’m working with a slippery yarn, I tighten up the *second* stitch on the needle, and that keeps everything even. Have you given that a try? Or, you could make the ladders a design feature, lol.
Nope, haven’t tried tightening the second stitch (I’ve been pulling maddeningly on first stitch to try to keep it tight, though!), but I’ll make sure to do that next time I give it a go! Also thought about leaving it as a design feature, but looked like one of those old warped ladders with ever widening rungs! LOL