Has summer started yet?

Usually by this time of year, it's nice and hot. The 4th of July festivities are a sign that summer is in full swing, but with the wacky weather we've been having, this year is a bit different! It's been so rainy up here (and in many other places) that it doesn't even feel like summer. The other day after the 4th of July parade, it was so cool, that I felt we should be drinking apple cider, picking apples and carving pumpkins.

We had a great 4th of July. The shop was closed for the entire weekend but we were certainly busy leading up to Saturday! We had so many out-of-towners in to visit. It was great meeting all of them, as many of them were internet customers of ours. And what was selling? Well, everybody seemed drawn to the Berroco brand last week. Vintage Wool, Comfort, Ultra Alpaca and Lustra were the top yarn sellers, and Kollage square circular needles and Fiberspheres were close behind. And of course, Berroco pattern booklets were also in demand.

Karen from New Jersey, one of our sample knitters and friends, was in town visiting. It was great to see her, as usual! She and her husband and kids joined our family on Saturday for the Williston 4th of July parade. It was a lot of fun and the kids all had a blast. Later that night we watched the Williston fireworks with some other friends from our neighborhood. It was a great show, but it was about 50 degrees with the wind chill. Oh, how I loved those seat heaters in Marc's car for the ride home. We were COLD!

Sunday was my husband's birthday and because it was the most beautiful day we've had all summer, he wanted to take me and the girls on a scenic drive. We went through Huntington, up over the App Gap, past Mad River Glen and Sugarbush, through Warren, back up over the Lincoln Gap, and into Bristol, where we ate dinner. It was the most beautiful drive - and if any of you out-of-towners are looking for something fun to do, I highly recommend this drive. Of course, I wanted to knit - like I usually do when Marc is driving somewhere. But those hairpin turns going up and down the gaps would have done me in. And, I would have missed the scenery. So it was not to be.

We pulled over at the Camel's Hump Alpaca Farm and got a tour from Lydia, the 9 year old daughter of the owners. She saw us standing by the fence looking at the alpacas and came zooming over on her ATV to chat - she was lovely! And the alpacas were beautiful. Thanks Lydia!How can you not love this face?

This week, there's more rain in the forecast. And we're hard at work unpacking some new items from Lantern Moon. I'll get those online shortly, as well as a few more interesting yarns from Tilli Tomas. Stay tuned!