Friday I met with Debby of She Knits by the Seashore to head for the annual sale at Farmhouse Yarns. I drove to her beautiful, spacious new house, barely a 40 minute drive now. She has a yarn room! Now we need to persuade her to buy more yarn to fill it! It was my pleasure to meet not only her cycling husband, Chris, but also the famous kitties, Charlie and Timmy. 
I vaguely recalled that some guild members had attended this event in the past, but it was Kimberly's memo to the guild Yahoo list that brought the sale into my consciousness and I realized that Debby in her new home lives just a short drive from the farm. You can see from the photos that there was an overwhelming amount of rainbow-hued yarn in bins. You could either stuff a bag with all you could for $159 ($30 discount that day), or buy skeins of Carol's new offerings, not yet in the stores, for $11 a skein. I managed to stuff 24 skeins of 5 different yarns in my bag, which at some point will become sweaters or vests or mittens or hats...Debby was the model of restraint, buying just a couple of skeins for which she had a definite purpose. (That is no way to fill a yarn room - we must do our best to enable her !)
By the way I was going to wear the Tahki cap-sleeved cardigan I recently completed using Farmhouse yarn when I went to the sale, but it was a little too warm for it. You can see in the Finished Items photo album or check out the June 16 post. 
After having lunch at the eponymous eatery, Kristen's, (where I had the Kristen salad!), we headed for Yarns Down Under. This is one of Debby's favorite yarn stores, and I can see why. A huge selection of yarn brands and loads of books too (plus a cute pug puppy snoring away.) The saleswoman was very helpful with Debby's Oceane shawl dilemma, which I'm sure she will blog about.
I caved in and bought two pricey little KA circular needles, both 9" size 2's. Why, you (and I) ask? Because I'm thinking it may help me enjoy knitting socks more. Wendy recently posted about Judy's Magic Cast-on for toe up socks. Judy calls for casting on over double points, but Wendy finds it easier with circulars. You can see from the links the nice neat results. I've been using Wendy's toe up sock pattern almost exclusively when I do knit socks, but have never been satisfied with my somewhat messy looking toes. I may as well give the magic method a try after investing in these needles. 
I really enjoyed getting together with Debby. We have a lot in common, including biking and knitting, but it seems we spent the majority of time talking about cats!
The other night we ate our first plum tomatoes from the lasagna garden, with mozzarella, fresh basil, and olive oil - mmmmm.
I'll post photos of the individual yarns I bought at Farmhouse next time.
What a buy!!! A bag for 159!!! Just what we all need more yarn.I bought little in contrast at Fresh Purls.....just 3 skeins of Rowan Cashsoft.
Posted by: Cindy D | August 19, 2007 at 01:24 PM
You were down in my area. I lived in the town where Yarns Down Under is located for twenty four years. We down sized nine years ago and now live in the next town. I got the sale announcement for farmhouse yarns and was planning to go but an ill grandchild needed some TLC.
Do you think the farmhouse yarns are next to the skin soft? I have seen them at shops but have never purchased any.
Enjoy the last few days of vacation. Mary
Posted by: Mary | August 19, 2007 at 09:27 PM
Thank you again for a wonderful day! Poor Charlie was on my mind, so I'm afraid I didn't ask you nearly as much about riding and knitting and audiobooks as I wanted to...that just means we'll catch up next time! And I know that you will be a bad influence stash-wise, but I'm secretly looking forward to it!!
P.S. YDU has classes on toe-up socks, socks on circular needles, etc...
Posted by: Debby | August 19, 2007 at 11:44 PM