http://blip.tv/acatandheryarn/episode-thirty-three-long-overdue-5916481 (if embedded video still doesn’t show)

Book Review:
Psychic Eye Mysteries (series) by Victoria Laurie

Current KAL / CAL / WAL for Charity:
I am hosting a Red Scarf Project 2012 Project-along (Knit, Crochet, Weave, whathaveyou) lasting from January through  October 2012 (or so).  Any unisex patterned scarf in Red Dk or Worsted weight yarn.  Join us anytime during the year, so that we can send off our scarves by December 2012.  Sign up and share your progress at the Ravelry Group.

Red Scarf Project is part of Foster Care 2 Success, an organization that helps foster children who have aged out of foster care and are heading off to college on their own, with no family support. Red scarves are sent to these young adults each year on Valentine’s Day to let them know that people do care.

Other Ways to Contribute to Foster Care 2 Success

Current Projects
Knitting:
Tricorner Scarf (for Red Scarf Project 2012)
Dragon Tail Hood - Bought black alpaca yarn to add to this project. Hopefully now I will have enough yarn
Emotional Socks - Ripped out the one and only sock completely during Thanksgiving. Ready to cast it back on any day now

Wheel Spinning:CJ Kopec Creations Sparkly SW BFL – 1 bobbin of yellow is done, blue is almost done, 2 more bobbins to go for 4 ply yarn

Drop Spindle Project: Yellow and Green Bamboo

Current Online Game: Star Wars The Old Republic (Jedi Covenant Server. Rebel Yell[Republic Guild]/Ride the Lightning[Empire Guild])

You can find me on Plurk and Ravelry as Kiarapanther
You can also find me on Shelfari and GoodReads (GoodReads currently only shows what books Ive been reading since joining GoodReads. Shelfari has a more complete reading list, though I will be slowly updating GoodReads as well)

Find me on Google+ as kiarapanther@gmail.com and join the Google+ Knitters Database

Join the Ravelry Group! A Cat and Her Yarn - Let me know what you think of the episodes!

Feed to Subscribe via iTunes: http://blip.tv/acatandheryarn/rss/itunes/ Or now find me directly through the iTunes store

Finished Object: On the Side Scarf for the Red Scarf Project (Scarves for Foster Kids going to College)

Book Review:
A Dance with Dragons (Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R R Martin
Better Read Than Dead (Book 2 of Psychic Eye Mysteries) by Victoria Laurie
A Vision of Murder (Book 3 of Psychic Eye Mysteries) by Victoria Laurie
Furies of Calderon (Book 1 of Codex Alera) by Jim Butcher
Academ’s Fury (Book 2 of Codex Alera) by Jim Butcher

HBO’s Game of Throne Rumours about Season 3 and 4.

Upcoming KAL / CAL / WAL for Charity:
I will be hosting a Red Scarf Project 2012 Project-along (Knit, Crochet, Weave, whathaveyou) to start around January 3rd and running through October 2012.  Any unisex patterned scarf in Red Dk or Worsted weight yarn.  Join us anytime during the year, so that we can send off our scarves by December 2012.  Sign up and share your progress at the Ravelry Group.

Red Scarf Project is part of Foster Care 2 Success, an organization that helps foster children who have aged out of foster care and are heading off to college on their own, with no family support. Red scarves are sent to these young adults each year on Valentine’s Day to let them know that people do care.

Other Ways to Contribute to Foster Care 2 Success

Current Projects
Knitting:
Dragon Tail Hood - Used half of purple skein to make hood and didn’t have enough yarn. Ripped everything and will modify the Dragon Tail scarf pattern to make it more hood-like using available yarn.
Emotional Socks - One toe done in coordinating color, a few rows done with main color (no new work this week)

Wheel Spinning:CJ Kopec Creations Sparkly SW BFL – 1 bobbin of yellow is done, 3 more bobbins to go for 4 ply yarn

Drop Spindle Project: Yellow and Green Bamboo

Currently Reading:
Cursor’s Fury (Book 3 of Codex Alera) by Jim Butcher
Claymore – A Japanese Manga (ie Comic Book) available online

You can find me on Plurk and Ravelry as Kiarapanther
You can also find me on Shelfari and GoodReads (GoodReads currently only shows what books Ive been reading since joining GoodReads. Shelfari has a more complete reading list, though I will be slowly updating GoodReads as well)

Find me on Google+ as kiarapanther@gmail.com and join the Google+ Knitters Database

There is now a Ravelry Group! A Cat and Her Yarn - Let me know what you think of the episodes!

Feed to Subscribe via iTunes: http://blip.tv/acatandheryarn/rss/itunes/ Or now find me directly through the iTunes store

Cameo by my 2 year old nephew.

Blog Spotlight: Ask The Bellwether – Archives are full of spinning info

Book Review: Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye (Book 1 of Psychic Eye Mysteries) by Victoria Laurie

Upcoming KAL / CAL / WAL for Charity:
I will be hosting a Red Scarf Project 2012 Project-along (Knit, Crochet, Weave, whathaveyou) to start around January 3rd and running through October 2012.  Any unisex patterned scarf in Red Dk or Worsted weight yarn.  Join us anytime during the year, so that we can send off our scarves by December 2012.  Sign up and share your progress at the Ravelry Group.

Red Scarf Project is part of Foster Care 2 Success, an organization that helps foster children who have aged out of foster care and are heading off to college on their own, with no family support. Red scarves are sent to these young adults each year on Valentine’s Day to let them know that people do care.

Other Ways to Contribute to Foster Care 2 Success

Future Project: Mahonia by Marie Wallin using all of the unspoken for llama, alpaca and wool fiber in browns, greys and white, for a total of 4 pounds of fiber spun to a 2-ply chunky.

Current Projects
Knitting:
On the Side Scarf for the Red Scarf Project (Scarves for Foster Kids going to College due Dec 15th) – 58″ done, 60″ needed.
Scarf Portion of Dragon Tail Hood - Used half of skein and determined that scarf will not be long enough.  Need to go down a few needle sizes.
Emotional Socks - One toe done in coordinating color, a few rows done with main color (no new work this week)

Wheel Spinning:CJ Kopec Creations Sparkly SW BFL – 1oz spun 2 years ago, 3 oz to go, Currently spinning yellow

Drop Spindle Project: Yellow and Green Bamboo

Currently Reading:
Better Read Then Dead (Book 2 of Psychic Eye Mysteries) by Victoria Laurie
A Dance with Dragons (Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R R Martin
Claymore – A Japanese Manga (ie Comic Book) available online

You can find me on Plurk and Ravelry as Kiarapanther
You can also find me on Shelfari and GoodReads (GoodReads currently only shows what books Ive been reading since joining GoodReads. Shelfari has a more complete reading list, though I will be slowly updating GoodReads as well)

Find me on Google+ as kiarapanther@gmail.com and join the Google+ Knitters Database

There is now a Ravelry Group! A Cat and Her Yarn - Let me know what you think of the episodes!

Feed to Subscribe via iTunes: http://blip.tv/acatandheryarn/rss/itunes/ Or now find me directly through the iTunes store

Red Scarf Project is part of Foster Care 2 Success, an organization that helps foster children who have aged out of foster care and are heading off to college on their own, with no family support. Red scarves are sent to these young adults each year on Valentine’s Day to let them know that people do care.

I will be hosting a Red Scarf Project 2012 Project-along (Knit, Crochet, Weave, whathaveyou) to start around January 3rd and running through October 2012.  Any unisex patterned scarf in Red Dk or Worsted weight yarn.  Join us anytime during the year, so that we can send off our scarves by December 2012.  Sign up and share your progress at the Ravelry Group.

Other Ways to Contribute to Foster Care 2 Success

Current Projects
Knitting:
On the Side Scarf for the Red Scarf Project (Scarves for Foster Kids going to College due Dec 15th) – 48″ done, 60″ needed.
Emotional Socks - One toe done in coordinating color, a few rows done with main color

Wheel Spinning:CJ Kopec Creations Sparkly SW BFL – 1oz spun 2 years ago, 3 oz to go, Currently spinning yellow

Drop Spindle Project: Yellow and Green Bamboo

Currently Reading:
A Dance with Dragons (Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R R Martin
Claymore – A Japanese Manga (ie Comic Book) available online

You can find me on Plurk and Ravelry as Kiarapanther
You can also find me on Shelfari and GoodReads (GoodReads currently only shows what books Ive been reading since joining GoodReads. Shelfari has a more complete reading list, though I will be slowly updating GoodReads as well)

Find me on Google+ as kiarapanther@gmail.com and join the Google+ Knitters Database

There is now a Ravelry Group! A Cat and Her Yarn - Let me know what you think of the episodes!

Feed to Subscribe via iTunes: http://blip.tv/acatandheryarn/rss/itunes/ Or now find me directly through the iTunes store

Deviating from my regular format to bring you my version of small batch dyeing with a microwave. I dyed the faux cashmere I had spun up, using Cushing’s acid dye in the color “Lavendar”, though I got more of a magenta color.

Dyeing Safety:
Old Clothes
Face Mask – Even non-toxic dust can cause health issues if inhaled.
Gloves
Seperate bowls, utensils, slow cookers and microwave that will only be used for dyeing and NEVER for food use.
Oven Mitts – You will be working with hot water and hot containers!
Natural Dyes are NOT inherently non-toxic! Do thorough research if you choose to experiment with them.

Three Types of Dyeing:
Food Coloring (Kool-Aid, Food Dye, Cake dye)
Commercial Dye (Acid Dyes, Plant dyes)
Natural Dyeing (plants with mordants such as copper, chromium, etc)

Dharmatrading.com – Dyers’ Nirvana
Reduran
Syntrapol

Cushings Dyes, also available from WEBS

If you have any questions about this episode or have any dyeing questions I didn’t cover, please contact me on Ravelry or at kiarapanther at gmail dot com. If I don’t have the answer handy, I will help you find it. I love to do research!

You can find me on Plurk and Ravelry as Kiarapanther
You can also find me on Shelfari and GoodReads (GoodReads currently only shows what books Ive been reading since joining GoodReads. Shelfari has a more complete reading list, though I will be slowly updating GoodReads as well)

Find me on Google+ as kiarapanther at gmail.com and join the Google+ Knitters Database

There is now a Ravelry Group! A Cat and Her Yarn - Let me know what you think of the episodes!

Feed to Subscribe via iTunes: http://blip.tv/acatandheryarn/rss/itunes/ Or now find me directly through the iTunes store

Red Scarf Project is part of Foster Care 2 Success, an organization that helps foster children who have aged out of foster care and are heading off to college on their own, with no family support. Red scarves are sent to these young adults each year on Valentine’s Day to let them know that people do care.

I will be hosting a Red Scarf Project 2012 Project-along (Knit, Crochet, Weave, whathaveyou) to start around January 3rd and running through October 2012.  Any unisex patterned scarf in Red Dk or Worsted weight yarn.  Join us anytime during the year, so that we can send off our scarves by December 2012.  Sign up and share your progress at the Ravelry Group.

Other Ways to Contribute to Foster Care 2 Success

Book Review: Cast in Ruin (Book 7 of Chronicles of Elantra) by Michelle Sagara (aka Michelle West)

Movie Review: Goonies. We went to see this at the Dragonfly Cinema in Downtown Port Orchard, which shows classic and independent movies.

Trip Itinerary – Portland to Canada Loop:
Victoria, B.C. to Portland via Olympic Peninsula:
Black Ball Ferry from Inner Harbour, Victoria, B.C. to Port Angeles
Hurricane Ridge

Route One:
Take Hwy 101 East and then South along Puget Sound and the Hood Canal
Three Crabs Restaurant in Sequim, WA
Port Townsend (Take Hwy 20 there and then retrace your route back to Hwy 101)
Hood Canal
Spar Cafe, Olympia, WA
Take I-5 South
Mount St. Helen (about an 1 1/2 hr away from I-5 so plan accordingly)
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge – Great Driving Tour through a nature refuge.

or
Route Two:
Take Hwy 101 West and then South along the Pacific Ocean
Forks, WA (If your a Twilight fan)
Westport, WA (At Aberdeen take SR 105 to Westport and then continue on SR 105 South to hook back up with HWY 101)
Astoria, WA (wear part of the Goonies was filmed and the movie is set)
McMenamin’s Sand Trap in Gearhart, OR
Take Hwy 26 back to Portland

I made a separate page for the full trip itinerary:
http://acatandheryarn.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/portland-loop/

Current Projects
Knitting:
On the Side Scarf for the Red Scarf Project (Scarves for Foster Kids going to College due Dec 15th) – 41 1/2″ done, 60″ needed.
Persephone Cable Fingerless Mitts – Recharted cable pattern, reswatching to check for accuracy. Went down two needle sizes.
Scarf Portion of Dragon Tail Hood – Done with one repeat of chart 2  for 1st of two scarf pieces to be grafted onto hood piece.
Emotional Socks – One toe in progress using handspun faux cashmere dyed during tutorial

Wheel Spinning:CJ Kopec Creations Sparkly SW BFL – 1oz spun 2 years ago, 3 oz to go, Currently spinning yellow
Fiber Processing: Hand Carding Mohair Locks
Crochet: Ripple Socks
Drop Spindle Project: Yellow and Green Bamboo
Spindle Spinning Project: Cotton on Support Spindle
Dye Project: Alpaca Pi Dye – Pindrafted Alpaca to be dyed for gradient rainbow pi shawl – Silver Grey section is done, now onto Purple!

Currently Reading:
A Dance with Dragons (Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R R Martin
Claymore – A Japanese Manga (ie Comic Book) available online

You can find me on Plurk and Ravelry as Kiarapanther
You can also find me on Shelfari and GoodReads (GoodReads currently only shows what books Ive been reading since joining GoodReads. Shelfari has a more complete reading list, though I will be slowly updating GoodReads as well)

Find me on Google+ as kiarapanther@gmail.com and join the Google+ Knitters Database

There is now a Ravelry Group! A Cat and Her Yarn - Let me know what you think of the episodes!

Feed to Subscribe via iTunes: http://blip.tv/acatandheryarn/rss/itunes/ Or now find me directly through the iTunes store

Faux Cashmere spinning report: While attempting to navajo-ply the singles, I had a lot of areas that drifted apart despite overspinning. So if you plan on spinning faux cashmere, overspin, overspin, overspin! Also, do not ply directly from a lazy kate, as this may produce too much tension. Instead, make a plying ball and then add twist with your wheel.

http://www.nownorma.com/2011/09/craft-activism-contest.html

Proposed Project-along (Knit, Crochet, Weave, whathaveyou) for the Red Scarf Project 2012 to start around January 3rd and running through September (or October) 2012.  Give feedback or sign up at the Ravelry Group

Trip Itinerary – Portland to Canada Loop:
Travel to Vancouver Island and Victoria:
To get from Vancouver to Victoria, you have to take a ferry. I love these ferries as they remind me of floating airports. You know all the kiosks, stores and restaurants in the airport terminals? Well, that is what your going to find on the various decks of these huge car carrying ferries.

Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay Ferry – This will get you from Vancouver Mainland to Vancouver Island/Victoria.
Ferry Amenities – This is what I’m talking about when I say its like a floating airport terminal.

Once you leave the ferry, the first thing I would do is go to Butchart Gardens before continuing on to Victoria and getting settled in your hotel. Anytime of year, its beautiful. And if you can’t see everything in one day, its only $3.50 for re-admission the next day.

Things to Do in Victoria:
Victoria is probably my favorite city to visit in the whole world. I have traveled there again and again, and I am chomping at the bit to go back.

Royal British Columbia Museum – My Favorite Museum!! (I think I could live here *laugh*)
The Empress – You might not be able to afford to stay here, but the building is gorgeous and it is the jewel of the city. A lot of tourists like to have Afternoon Tea at the Empress.
Miniature World – If you like miniatures, this museum is the place for you.
Make sure you start at the corner of Humboldt and Government and head North to catch all the neat shops.
Including Merchie’s, especially if you like tea.
The Bay Centre Shopping Mall – Maybe its because they saved the facade of several old historic building but I love this mall. I just like walking through it when heading towards Old Town.
Old Town
Victoria Chinatown
Vancouver Island Brewery - Three Words: Hermann’s Dark Lager. I would buy stock in this company if I could. Or just buy all the Hermann’s.
Craigdarroch Castle – Beautiful old mansion.

Pacific Undersea Garden – I have yet to make this but it sounds fascinating.
The Wax Museum is fun too, but its closed until they finish the new location. Not sure how long that could take.

Delta Victoria Hotel – I stayed here once for my Mother’s birthday (back when my sister worked for the Victoria Clipper and got discounts on all things Victoria). Its pricey but VERY nice. We ate at both restaurants, one very formal with a limited, every changing, menu and the other a bit more low key with a decent menu selection. Everything was good, including the wine. The view of The Empress Hotel lit up at night is the main reason for staying at the Delta. If you don’t care about having a harbor view, the basic rooms during the Off-Season are fairly affordable.

I made a separate page for the full trip itinerary:
http://acatandheryarn.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/portland-loop/

Current Projects
Knitting:
On the Side Scarf for the Red Scarf Project (Scarves for Foster Kids going to College due Dec 15th) – 34″ done, 60″ needed.
Persephone Cable Fingerless Mitts - swatching cable in the round.

Scarf Portion of Dragon Tail Hood – Done with chart 1 (dragon tail tip) for 1st of two scarf pieces to be grafted onto hood piece.

Wheel Spinning Projects:
Undyed Faux Cashmere (100% Nylon) – Halfway through Navajo Plying, many breaks in the single
CJ Kopec Creations Sparkly SW BFL – 1oz spun 2 years ago, 3 oz to go, Currently spinning yellow

Fiber Processing: Hand Carding Mohair Locks

Crochet: Ripple Socks

Drop Spindle Project: Yellow and Green Bamboo
Spindle Spinning Project: Cotton on Support Spindle
Dye Project: Alpaca Pi Dye – Pindrafted Alpaca to be dyed for gradient rainbow pi shawl – Silver Grey section is done, now onto Purple!

Currently Reading:
A Dance with Dragons (Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R R Martin
Claymore – A Japanese Manga (ie Comic Book) available online

You can find me on Plurk and Ravelry as Kiarapanther
You can also find me on Shelfari and GoodReads (GoodReads currently only shows what books Ive been reading since joining GoodReads. Shelfari has a more complete reading list, though I will be slowly updating GoodReads as well)

Find me on Google+ as kiarapanther@gmail.com and join the Google+ Knitters Database

There is now a Ravelry Group! A Cat and Her Yarn - Let me know what you think of the episodes!

Feed to Subscribe via iTunes: http://blip.tv/acatandheryarn/rss/itunes/ Or now find me directly through the iTunes store

First off, Happy Anniversary to my Darling of 4 years!

I got my entries back from the Puyallup Fair and I have read the judges comments. They were a lot more useful than the judges comments I got from the Kitsap fair.

Hand Carding Fiber:
If you can’t afford wool cards or wool cards are too big for your damaged wrists (such as mine), then rectangular dog slicker brushes are the way to go. For about $10 you can have a functional set of fiber cards. The main drawback is that it will take you longer to process your raw fiber, but if you have damaged wrists like mine, it ends up being quicker even with the smaller batches, as you don’t have to rest as often. I do recommend borrowing some full size wool cards to see if you like them and then saving up for them (or save up for a drum carder). Until you can purchase more traditional equipment, the dog slickers work just fine to prep raw fiber for basic spinning.

If you get dog slicker brushes that have tines that have an angle to them, then you can use the same technique used in these instruction videos:
Wool Carding with Sue Macniven Pt 1
Wool Carding with Sue Macniven Pt 2

More on Trip Itinerary Next Week (when I have a shorter episode and can devote the time it deserves)

Current Projects
Knitting:
On the Side Scarf for the Red Scarf Project (Scarves for Foster Kids going to College due Dec 15th) – 27″ done, 60″ needed.
Persephone Cable Fingerless Mitts – Gauge swatch done, now cable swatch in the round in progress

Wheel Spinning Projects:
Undyed Faux Cashmere (100% Nylon) – Singles spun, now to Navajo-ply
CJ Kopec Creations Sparkly SW BFL – 1oz spun 2 years ago, 3 ounces to spin up and ply.

Crochet: Ripple Socks

Drop Spindle Project: Yellow and Green Bamboo
Spindle Spinning Project: Cotton on Support Spindle
Dye Project: Alpaca Pi Dye – Pindrafted Alpaca to be dyed for gradient rainbow pi shawl – Silver Grey section is done, now onto Purple!

Currently Reading:
A Dance with Dragons (Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R R Martin
Claymore – A Japanese Manga (ie Comic Book) available online

You can find me on Plurk and Ravelry as Kiarapanther
You can also find me on Shelfari and GoodReads (GoodReads currently only shows what books Ive been reading since joining GoodReads. Shelfari has a more complete reading list, though I will be slowly updating GoodReads as well)

Find me on Google+ as kiarapanther@gmail.com and join the Google+ Knitters Database

There is now a Ravelry Group! A Cat and Her Yarn - Let me know what you think of the episodes!

Feed to Subscribe via iTunes: http://blip.tv/acatandheryarn/rss/itunes/ Or now find me directly through the iTunes store

Emmy Nominations for HBO’s Game of Thrones – Peter Dinklage won for Best Supporting Actor..

An Indepth look at HBO’s A Game of Thrones – A really well put together fan site that goes into a lot of detail.

Movie Review:
Two Movies with Peter Dinklage, one the remake of the other and using about 80% of the same script.
Death at a Funeral (2007) – Original British Version directed by Frank Oz (and a hilarious performance by Alan Tudyk)

Death at a Funeral (2010) – American Version starring Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Zoe Saldana, James Marsden (doing a very good version of the same character Alan Tudyk played), Danny Glover, Tracy Morgan, Luke Wilson, etc and so forth.

Blog Spotlight: 
Oregon Fall Foliage

Trip Itinerary – Portland to Canada Loop:
Things to do in Vancouver, B.C.
Gastown Downtown Vancouver
Vancouver Chinatown
Saree Distract/Punjabi Market/Little India District
Vancouver Lookout – 360 degree view of the city. If you like the Space Needle, give the Lookout a try.
Vancouver Aquarium
Greater Vancouver Zoo
Brockton Point Lighthouse
Bloedel Conservatory
Vancouver Brew Pubs
Vancouver Area Wineries

I made a separate page for the full trip itinerary: http://acatandheryarn.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/portland-loop/

Current Projects
Knitting: On the Side Scarf for the Red Scarf Project (Scarves for Foster Kids going to College due Dec 15th)
Crochet: Ripple Socks
Wheel Spinning Project: Undyed Faux Cashmere (100% Nylon) to use as heels and toes for my Emotion Socks
Drop Spindle Project: Yellow and Green Bamboo
Spindle Spinning Project: Cotton on Support Spindle
Dye Project: Alpaca Pi Dye – Pindrafted Alpaca to be dyed for gradient rainbow pi shawl – Silver Grey section is done, now onto Purple!

Future Projects:
Knitting:Persephone Cable Fingerless Mitts
Spinning: Sparkly Superwash BFL in yellow, teal and purple

Currently Reading: A Feast of Crows (Book 4 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R R Martin

You can find me on Plurk and Ravelry as Kiarapanther
You can also find me on Shelfari and GoodReads (GoodReads currently only shows what books Ive been reading since joining GoodReads. Shelfari has a more complete reading list, though I will be slowly updating GoodReads as well)

There is now a Ravelry Group! A Cat and Her Yarn - Let me know what you think of the episodes!

Feed to Subscribe via iTunes: http://blip.tv/acatandheryarn/rss/itunes/ Or now find me directly through the iTunes store
Find me on Google+ as kiarapanther@gmail.com and join the Google+ Knitters Database

Puyallup Fair

Draft Horse Breeds

Red Scarf Project:

The Red Scarf Project is a program by Foster Care to Success that sends scarves to Foster kids who are going to college. Most of these young adults have aged out of foster care and will have no family to send them care packages while they are at college.  The deadline for this year is December 15th, 2011, so that the scarves can be given to the kids on Valentine’s Day 2012.  If you can’t participate this year, please consider throwing some red yarn in your “On the Go” bag and knitting or crocheting a scarf throughout the year and submitting it for next year.
Red Scarf Project Thread on A Cat and Her Yarn Ravelry Group
Red Scarf Project Group on Ravelry
Red Scarf Project Main Page and Scarf Requirements at Foster Care to Success – America’s College Fund for Foster Youth

Trip Itinerary – Portland to Canada Loop:

Travel to Vancouver, Canada

You need a passport to enter Canada. Some states now offer a Passport Card which is cheaper than a Passport Book and will allow you to enter and return from Canada and Mexico. A Passport Card will not allow you to go Overseas, so if you plan on making any International flights in the near future, I suggest you go ahead and pay the full fee and get a Passport Book. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get a Passport.

If any of your party was ever convicted of a DUI/DWI, they will not be allowed into Canada. DUIs are considered a Felony in Canada and they will not allow anyone convicted of a Felony to enter Canada. If any member of your party, over the age of 16, does not have a driver’s license, be prepared to explain right away what the reason is (ie, you’ve never learned to drive), should they ask for a driver’s license, or you may be detained for over an hour before being allowed to clear up the situation. In other words, when asked about a driver’s license, immediately say “I have never learned to drive”. If you only answer that you don’t have one, you may not be given a chance to say more before being sent to an inspection room to wait. They are very nice once they have time to hear your explanation, but why waste even one hour of your trip?

Things to Do Between Seattle and Vancouver:

Make sure you allow yourself more time than the “driving time” on your online map of choice. The traffic beginning just South of Bellingham and on towards the border can be congested and slow at all times of the day. In the past I have had to add an hour to the estimated time given by Google, Yahoo and Mapquest.

Deception Pass Bridge to Whidbey Island: The Deception Pass Bridge is on HWY 20, West of Interstate 5, connecting Fidalgo Island and Whidbey Island. There is a State Park on both sides of the Pass that features camping and interpretive trails. I usually just drive to one of the parking lots on either side of the bridge, then walk across and take in the scenery. Sometimes I will return my car and continue on into Whidbey Island and sometimes I will head directly back to Interstate 5. The Pass is so pretty I consider it a destination in and of itself.

Alpaca Farms:
Countrytime Alpacas
Genesis Alpacas
Graydown Alpaca Ranch

Washington State Wineries
Washington State Breweries

I made a separate page for the full trip itinerary: http://acatandheryarn.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/portland-loop/

Current Projects

Knitting: On the Side Scarf for the Red Scarf Project (Scarves for Foster Kids going to College due Dec 15th)

Crochet: Ripple Socks

Wheel Spinning Project: Undyed Faux Cashmere (100% Nylon) to use as heels and toes for my Emotion Socks

Drop Spindle Project: Yellow and Green Bamboo

Spindle Spinning Project: Cotton on Support Spindle

Dye Project: Alpaca Pi Dye – Pindrafted Alpaca to be dyed for gradient rainbow pi shawl – Silver Grey section is done, now onto Purple!

Currently Reading: A Feast of Crows (Book 4 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R R Martin

You can find me on Plurk and Ravelry as Kiarapanther

You can also find me on Shelfari and GoodReads (GoodReads currently only shows what books Ive been reading since joining GoodReads. Shelfari has a more complete reading list, though I will be slowly updating GoodReads as well)

There is now a Ravelry Group! A Cat and Her Yarn - Let me know what you think of the episodes!

Feed to Subscribe via iTunes: http://blip.tv/acatandheryarn/rss/itunes/
Or now find me directly through the iTunes store

Find me on Google+ as kiarapanther@gmail.com and join the Google+ Knitters Database