Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Knitting in Peru

I was so fortunate to make a return trip to Peru this month. Peru is a country where knitters sit on every street corner, though they are reticent to have photos taken. The highlands are filled with shepherds and their animals. Here is a posed view of the last rest day in the Cordillera Hyuahuash. I was actually sitting facing the mountains to see them myself.

Thanks to my two beautiful nieces for modeling the fruits of my labor: a second Fortnight hat by Jared Flood. The yarn is worsted weight by our late alpaca, Cassidy. (Thanks to all for expressing condolences after my previous post.)


The second hat: Squish Me by Anne Hanson in DK weight yarn from our alpaca, Moonstar.

Soft hats inspire sisterly love! (Click pics to en-bigger and see whole landscape view. For some reason blogger is not cooperating with the showing of sideways views...)

And lots of silly fun!

Joining the Yarn Along at Ginny's today: http://www.gsheller.com/2016/07/yarn-along-290.html

More posts on Peru coming soon. Stay tuned!

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Missing Your Kisses...

With heavy hearts, we announce that our beloved Cassidy took her last breaths sometime yesterday morning. Unfortunately we weren't home to say good-bye, and our neighbors taking care of the animals for us made all of the arrangements, which included the operation of a backhoe. We are eternally grateful and indebted. They are saints.

Cassidy was born just four short years ago. This was her first wobbly day!


As a cria, she enjoyed pasture time with her Momma Bella and her Aunts Greta and Moonstar.


She was our most sociable alpaca, who always ventured closer to visitors and friends before the others. 

Looking sleek and glossy (middle) after shearing a few years back.


Her photos with me also made her famous in the CHS yearbook in 2015. We wished all of my students "Good Luck" on this page that year.

Her worsted weight yarn had just recently become transformed into some of the most buttery soft hats. 


The cause of death is not known. The vet who performed the necropsy found nothing out of the ordinary. The heat has been horrible, though. Perhaps she got dehydrated or simply too hot.

Sweet, sweet Cassidy, you will be missed.

Shady Grove Alpacas Cassidy
July 15, 2012 - July 23, 2016