If you look to the left, you'll notice that my Flickr bdge has changed.  This is so because I uploaded photos from a knitting retreat I hosted this past weekend at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico.  If you are interested in learning more about the specs for this retreat, visit the retreat's blog here.  I will be requesting this same weekend again next year (last weekend in October Thursday, noon - Sunday noon) so save the date, as they say.  To look at the photos, click on the Flickr badge, of course.

The photos should tell you that we had a glorious time.  The weather was fabulous, the food was damn decent, the wine was heavenly, and the night sky was breathtaking.  As my friend Paula would say, "enough stars to tumble up into."  The energy at Ghost Ranch and in the Abiquiu area, in general, is so pristine that one cannot help but leave there feeling somehow cleansed.  It makes me think of the notion that there are places on earth where the boundary between this world and another is much thinner.  And it makes me wonder if there are places that somehow melt away all the stress and strain of the every day world and bring us closer to our true selves, our creative selves and our spiritual selves.  Interestingly, Ghost Ranch offers a program for having your ashes scattered on the property after cremation with a $500 donation.  At least two of the nine women on the retreat said during our stay that they were going to make that plan for themselves.  Just like that.  It is a magical place.

Knitting notes:  The Elizabeth Zimmerman purple sweater is nearly complete.  I am just knitting on the wrist cuffs.  Lorna's Laces worsted weight merino wool in the Watercolor colorway came into the picture and took over the project so it looks somewhat different than I had planned.  It's a wonderful yarn, though, so it should be a good change.  Photos soon.  Tell Miss Lime.