We thank you for your patience as we moved into our new location around the corner at 133 High St. at the beginning of April. We are almost 100% settled in and are now beginning to reorder our base stock. It was a lot of work, and we thank everyone who has helped, offered to help, and those of you who have made kind, supportive comments to us.

If you haven't stopped by already, we welcome you to do so and see our larger, street-level and lovely location.

The Maine Yarn Cruise is happening again this year. (This is a yarn crawl and NOT an adventure on the sea!) Participants seem to have had so much fun last year -- its first year -- and this year will be even better with some minor kinks worked out and a few new places to see yarn.

What we like best about this event is that it takes place over the course of more than three months, from May 25 to September 3. It allows you to visit yarn shops and explore the great state of Maine at a leisurely pace.

We will again be selling the totes, which are rumored to have some freebies from sponsors in them though we do not know the value of the freebies at this time. The tote with the passport sells for $9.50. Please let us know if you would like us to reserve a tote for you. If you don't want a tote, a passport (with a few things included) sells for $7.00. Please email us at [email protected] or phone the shop at 207- 338-8388. These totes and passports will be available sometime in late May.

We've gotten new yarns in, with more arriving this month. The new yarns already on the shelf are:

• Berroco's Medina -- a dk weight, cotton blend that gently changes color
• Kelbourne Woolens' Andorra -- a solid, sport weight wool/mohair blend
• Queensland's Great Barrier Reef -- a color-changing, mercerized sport weight cotton
• Sirdar's Eden -- a worsted weight cotton/wool blend that has very long color changes. One ball makes a scarf with a free pattern included
• Universal Yarn's Bella Cash -- a fingering weight wool/nylon/cashmere sock yarn in solid colors

Also, we have two new Maine yarns that we would like to bring to your attention.

The first is MaddFuzzy -- a sock yarn that is made with Maine wool, spun in Aroostook County and dyed in Knox. Marta Madden of MaddFuzzy is passionate about using East Friesian wool for the base of her sock yarn. (Actually, she is passionate about all things involving Maine yarn!) She combines the wool with 20% nylon, although she maintains that the East Friesian wool is a long, strong fiber on its own, making it very durable. She sells her sock yarn as a 100-gram hank or as a two-skein set where she has dyed 30 grams (of the 100-gram set) in a coordinating colorway that can be used for heels and toes. Don't let the label "sock yarn" mislead you; this yarn can be used for shawls, with the two-skein option providing some nice coordinating trim using a simple shawlette pattern.

To find MaddFuzzy's podcasts, posts and photos, follow them on Instagram or find them on Facebook.

	Handspun yarn from Windswept Farm in Searsmont (click to zoom)

The second is a new supply of hand-spun yarn from Windswept Farm in Searsmont. This handspun comes in an assortment of colors, spinning techniques and prices. Even just one skein is a visual treat to take home with you or send as a gift from Maine.

We have two table-model yarn swifts available for sale. These lovely swifts were made in Thomaston, Maine, and these will be the last available from the artisan. They each have a minor imperfection and so we are selling them at our cost of $120.00 each.

On Saturday, May 5. 10 am-3 pm, rain or shine, Northern Solstice Alpaca Farm will host Let's Talk Alpaca, a free event at their farm at 141 Crosby Brook Rd., Unity, Maine. From 10:30 am-noon, an Alpaca 101 session will cover husbandry, health care and facilities. Also enjoy fiber demonstrations, a farm tour (meet the alpacas!), learn about the Alpaca Lease 'n' Fleece program and the farm's boarding program, and shop at the Spring Alpaca Sale.

For more information, phone 207-356-2464 or email [email protected].

Join Belfast Flying Shoes on Friday, May 4, for an evening of contra dancing at American Legion Post #43, 143 Church St. in Belfast. The evening begins at 6:30 pm with a community dance called by Chrissy Fowler. The contra dance begins at 8 pm.

This month's caller is Belfast's own Chrissy Fowler. A founder and leading light of the Belfast Flying Shoes dance series, Chrissy spreads the joy of contra dancing also at schools, community gatherings and private events.

This month's band is Joy Compass, the Maine-based duo of Clara Stickney and Jamie Oshima, known for their expressive and groovy music for contra dancing. Jamie delights dancers with his genre-blending and dynamic use of rhythm instruments (guitar, piano, mandolin and foot percussion). Clara provides melody lines both playful and compelling on the fiddle and occasionally on the harp. Together they co-create a sound that dancers respond to with joy.

Sound provided by Eric Weest Johnson.

For more information, phone 207-338-0979, email [email protected], visit Belfast Flying Shoes or find them on Facebook.

Local Color Gallery is a new contemporary art gallery in downtown Belfast featuring 15 Maine artists working in a wide variety of mediums.

Please join in the Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, May 5, from 2-8 pm, an open house reception including refreshments, music and great art viewing.

Located at 135 High St., Belfast, Local Color is delighted to be joining the midcoast art community, and looks forward to participating in the Fourth Friday Art Walks and other special events that celebrate the local art scene.

Local Color's gallery artists: Sally Brophy, Sandi Cirillo, Judy Graebert, Conny Hatch, JoAnne Houlsen, Janake Howard, Deborah Jellison, John LeBlanc, Debbie Mitchell, MF Morison, Leecia Price, Suzanne G. Roberts, Betty Schopmeyer, James Toothaker and Peter Walls.

For more information, email [email protected] or find them on Facebook.

You're invited to a free Community Supper on Saturday, May 5 at 5 pm at the Belfast United Methodist Church, 23 Mill Lane, East Belfast (Mill Lane is beside the Big Apple across from Perry's Nut House). Enjoy spaghetti and sauce (meat or meatless), tossed salad, Italian bread, beverages and dessert.

Join them in their celebration of God's loving kindness. They want to pass it on! For more information, phone 207-338-5575.

On Sunday, May 6, 7:30-11 am, at the Waldo County Shrine Club on Northport Avenue, the Area Lions Clubs will host their annual spring breakfast. Celebrate the arrival of spring, and bring the whole family to enjoy eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, crepes, omelets made to order, home-baked beans, home fries, breakfast breads, coffee and juice. Profits will benefit Maine Lions Sight and Hearing.

On Tuesday, May 8, at 6:30 pm, Bowdoin College biologist Nathaniel T. Wheelwright will discuss his recent book The Naturalist's Notebook at the Belfast Free Library, 106 High St.

Wheelwright and best-selling author Bernd Heinrich co-wrote The Naturalist's Notebook to teach nature lovers of all ages to be more mindful, curious and knowledgeable about the natural world, using a calendar-journal format and Heinrich's classic illustrations as inspiration. The book's five-year calendar format helps you create a long-term record and point of comparison for memorable events, such as the first songbird you hear in spring, your first monarch butterfly sighting of summer, or the appearance of the northern lights. Professor Wheelwright's presentation will describe the origin of the project and the joys, challenges and fulfillment of keeping a systematic nature journal. Books will be available to purchase at the program.

For more information about the program, please call the library at 207-338-3884 ext.10.

Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition sponsors Cathy Morgan Bird Week, May 12-19. There will be six morning bird walks. Each starts at 7 am. Wear tick-repellent clothing. No pets, please.

Saturday, May 12: Sears Island
Sunday, May 13: Paddle and bird Upper Mason Pond, Swan Lake Avenue, Belfast
Monday, May 14: Head of Tide Preserve, Doak Road, Belfast
Tuesday, May 15: Thanhauser-Chunn Farm, 210 Oak Hill Rd., Swanville
Wednesday, May 16: Ducktrap River, Lincolnville
Thursday, May 17: In-Town Nature Trail. Meet at the Muck in Belfast.
Friday, May 18: Rocky Knoll Tract of Meadow Brook Preserve, Oak Hill Road, Swanville
Saturday, May 19: Hauk-Fry Tract of Meadow Brook Preserve, Oak Hill Road, Swanville

Woodcock Party
Monday, May 14, 7:30 pm: Woodcock Party at Thanhauser-Chunn Farm, 210 Oak Hill Rd., Swanville. Rain date: Tuesday, May 15, 7:30 pm. Mike Shannon will regale us with amazing facts and lore about woodcock over refreshments while we wait for the setting sunlight to be just right. Then we will walk out into a hayfield to watch the males do their courtship dance and flight, giving their best performance to impress females who watch from around the field edges. Dress warmly for a chilly evening.

On Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13, join the Treasured Tea Leaf Co. at 158 High St., Belfast, to celebrate with a special Mom in your life with afternoon tea. Enjoy a variety of sweet and savory bites with your choice of tea. Four seating times per day offered: 10 am, noon, 2 pm and 4 pm. Reservations are required. $25 per person. For more information and to reserve your space, phone 207-930-5534 or email [email protected].

The Belfast Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale on Saturday, May 19, from 9 am-noon at the Belfast Boathouse. This popular event features a wonderful assortment of Maine-grown annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables. The Gardener-to-Gardener area will offer extras, from tools to trellises. Tasty baked goods will also be on sale. For sale information, phone Bonnie Irwin at 207-703-9057 or email [email protected].