SPA!! .... Feb. 19, 2005

Does this picture not say it all??  You really have to click on this picture to appreciate the magnitude of what was going on.  This weekend was the NETA Spa, held in Portland, Maine.  NETA stands for New England Textile Arts.  It started with just a few women, wanting to get together for a spa fiber weekend, that was not going to break the bank.  What started out as a small gathering, has blossomed into fiber artists taking over the entire hotel.  The above picture is only a small slice of what and who were there.  Two huge ballrooms, were filled to the brim with spinners, knitters and any other fiber art that you can think of.  Lobby common areas had couches filled with lounging women, happily chatting amongst themselves as they knit and spin.

Some of the weekend features were vendors galore, numerous door prize drawings, syncronized swimming, a fashion show, along with hotel ammenites such as massages, hot tubbing and even Reiki sessons.  Great FUN!!

This has been a very difficult and trying week for me as Breeze, the mother of the puppies, somehow managed to slip (rupture) a disk in her back and has required round the clock care in addition to the puppies. (more about this later in the week).  Originally, I was supposed to spend the entire weekend at the Spa, but given the situation, I was fortunate that my DH offered to care for Breeze for a few hours, so that I could attend, if even just for a little while.

It was GREAT fun!!  Fiber people are the best!  After being cooped up in the house for weeks on end, it was so nice to be out amongst friends.  Julia was there and showed us her incredible sweater that she is knitting from Poetry in Stitches.  Nancy of The Spinning Bunny had a stunning short row alpaca shawl that she made with intricate celtic knots up the back.  I kick myself for not taking a picture of it, but I was too busy lusting after it, to even think about the digital camera.

My friend, Gil Gonsalves, of Robin Spinning wheels, brought his new traveling wheel for myself and a few others to test drive.  Keep your eyes open for this great little wheel..it is sure to be a hit!  It is called, the "Wee Robin", and should be making it's debut at Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in May.

This is what I left with this morning with the anticipation of a few hours of spinning and a full bobbin......................

This is what I came home with...........LOL.  As you can see, not much spinning was accomplished.  It was so nice to see friends and catch up on what everyone has been doing over the winter, that I spent soooo much time gabbing away..........staying much longer than my DH had agreed to.  Thankfully, he is a good sport and realized how much I needed to get out and visit. 

Now there were fiber temptations of every kind imaginable abounding.  Gorgeous Cashmere laceweight yarns, colorful rovings, wheels, needles ........you name it, it was there.  I was a good girl though and only came home with these little goodies. 

The new Interweave Scarf Style Book, 2 past Wild Fiber Magazines.......and a year's subscription to Wild Fibers.  I spent some time chatting with the editor of WF, Linda Cortwright, and she informed me that they are going to do another spread on Angora Rabbits, so I am excited.  One of my rabbits was pictured in the Spring 2004 table of contents.  It is a fabulous magazine for fiber enthusiasts!

Puppies

I want to take a minute to thank the outpouring of support that I have received from the blogging world.  So many of you have left comments and have written to me privately,  with such kind and supportive words about the puppies.  Sometimes a litter will be whelped and raised without a hitch and are gone almost before you know it, then other times there will be struggles such as there have been with this litter that leaves a breeder scratching their head wondering why the heck they do this.  Somehow when you look into these little faces though.......you remember ~

In parting, here is a picture of the big boy.  A few of you have asked to see the boys.  The big teddy bear of the bunch has his eyes fully open now and already I can see his mother and even more so, his grandmother's gentle expression. His brother's eyes have not
opened yet, so I will save his picture for another day.  This boy in all his hugeness, is looking very promising.........

I swore I would never keep another boy......hhmmmmmm

Comments

[Danielle]

I love the puppy photos! I live in MA and wish I could have come to the spa weekend, but was home recovering from oral surgery. What's this about synchronized swimmers?? Everything else in that list makes sense, except for the swimmers!

[Risa]

Thanks so much for the SPA picture. It was almost like being there!

So sorry about Breeze. I hope she's better soon. I just love the pictures of the puppies! What a cutie that little boy is.

Ooooh the roving arrived in Saturday's mail. Just divine. I haven't had a chance to spin it yet with the new kitten about but I'm planning on a nice lace weight. Yummy!

[Meg]

Wow. So much living going on around there! From puppies with tiny noses and loving eyes, to a weekend of creation and inspiration, to a mommy dog who needs extra care.
To echo Norma's post, our black lab was the runt, as well. And she's as spunky and healthy as ever, with her 11th birthday just around the corner! (She thinks she's more like 3.) A big, furry lump of love. Love your blog, as always.

[vi]

I never tire of seeing the babies, I hope the littlest one is growing well now. ( tell her for me, that I was the runt of the litter and I turned out ok)
kiss them all and their momma too for me please
vi

[Kate]

Are you in the Portland area? I was too at spa, working with the ladies who own Gaspereau Valley Fibers a.k.a fleece artist heaven. Glad you got to get out for a bit!

[juliafc]

Great to see you, ever-so-briefly, at SPA> I hope your mommy is feeling better. smooches,
me

[Marguerite]

Glad you were able to get out of the house for a while. Looks like a great time was being had by all.

Poor Breeze. It is painful for her? What do you do for it? Is she going to be OK? (Were you wondering what to blog about? I have lots of questions. LOL)

On to the puppy. He's so sweet. Thanks for the pictures. Do you name your puppies? Or just call him "Big boy"?

And, finally, I'm very curious about why you wouldn't want to keep a boy dog.

[cara]

you have been so busy! yoy will really need a trip to the spa when the little one grow up ;0)

[Norma]

KIM! that looks like SO MUCH FUN! But I'm upset, because all this has been happening in your life and I've been totally clueless. Apparently Bloglines has not been updating you for me. Dang, dang, dang. Those puppies are precious, and I can just imagine what life has been like for you. I raised a few litters of puppies in my childhood (pre-teen and teen years) and I know what it's like -- even moreso if you're a breeder, I'm sure. I'm glad things are looking up for the babies. My Vincent was the runt of his litter and he was so small we couldn't take him 'til he was almost 4 months old. Puppies from the litter born six weeks AFTER him were bigger than he was! But he is an ever-living DOLL. You know, when you go as a consumer to a breeder and they tell you this puppy was so compromised, you're fearful to buy the puppy, thinking there might be problems -- but in this case, we never could have found a better baby. (he's almost 11 now)

[Cassie]

Ouch. Really nasty, ugly jealousy rearing its head here. I'm so glad that ... other places have such wonderful things. I just have to bide my time for Rhinebeck in October. Even so, this seems like a really special and close-knit gathering. The puppies are still unbelievably cute.

[Laura]

Oh my gosh, look at his little pink nose!! He's so handsome and soft looking. I got the Scarf Style a couple weeks ago and am loving it, not that I've had time to start anything from the book, but the ideas are going in my head and that's the important part.