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The Retreat!

my new knitting bag
I love this weekend so much. I not only get some solid knitting time in, I get to catch up with old friends. Eat amazing meals at Prima Bistro, and this weekend I actually ventured off to Fern Ridge Alpaca Farm in Clinton, WA on Whidbey Island.
The best part of this years retreat weekend? 
My mom came with me this year. 
She made the long trip from Florida to the cold rainy Pacific NW and we had a blast. 

12th man hat for a friend.


We headed up Friday morning, whipping up the freeway, boarding the ferry and Bam! instant relaxation. 
Everyone starts arriving about 12:00 and trickles in throughout the afternoon. We wandered thru the town, bought some more yarn, and then settled in at the Saratoga Inn to knit until our reservation for dinner. 

Neon Beast in progress
Quick Blurb here about dinner. 
We ate at Prima Bistro both nights, every time we/I go I eat there exclusively for dinner. I have eaten there for 5 years now and have never ever had a disappointing meal, the food is always amazing and the staff, atmosphere, owners, and clientele creates an amazing space. When you go to Langley, because really if you come all the way to Washington you must hop the ferry to Whidbey and have lunch or dinner or both at Prima Bistro.

After eating an amazing meal at said restaurant above mom and I wandered back to the inn where she headed to bed and I stayed up a little later with some of the ladies. 

Saturday morning I was up and knitting by 5:00 a.m. curled in a chair by the fire... 

I glanced up once and noticed the sunrise was promising to be amazing so before I could think straight, I grabbed my camera and headed outside and snapped off a load of sunrise photos... I feel bad for any locals who drove past the crazy girl in her capri pj bottoms, christmas themed t-shirt, knit socks and brightly knit hat frantically running up and down the sidewalk taking pictures... 


The Saratoga Inn early Saturday morning with the full moon behind it.
Later in the morning we decided to head out to Fern Ridge Alpaca Farm.
Seriously, I had no idea what to expect and I was blown away.

We arrived, thanks to siri, and pulled up to a Yurt that is a Farm Store.

It's really a YARN store in a YURT! Featuring the yarn of all the alpacas we saw along the drive as we came in.

It was amazing and I'll let the pictures do the talking.
I highly recommend calling ahead and meeting the owner at the shop and then going in and touching everything.

After we had spent pretty much our whole budget, the farmer let mom and I into the alpaca pen and we able to play with some of the alpacas whose wool we had just bought... One spit on me while I was trying to get his photo. I think that means he loves me.

 Bob the spitter...

I know I loved him. 




I bought a skein of this cream colored as well... so wonderful

I bought a skein of this wonderful blend. Smitty and Freya are father-daughter.















What a wonderful trip and adventure! I can't wait till next year. I know for certain I'll be back at Fern Ridge Alpaca's with a much bigger budget and a rain jacket in case Bob the spitter has another go at me... 

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