Yoga and Knitting Retreat ~ Stowell Lake Farm

 

I attended a 5 day Yoga and Knitting Retreat at

Stowell Lake Farm located on Salt Spring Island.

The Farmstand is full of fresh farm grown produce, plants, herbs, fresh soups,

and teas.

I bought some tea and a canvas tote bag.

We had the option to practice 90 minute Yoga sessions twice a day.

There was a 30 minute morning meditation before breakfast.

During the day there were opportunities to walk the property.

  Afternoons had knitting workshops and a knitting circle.

The meals were served buffet style 

with vegetarian dishes using veggies grown on the farm.

It was a wonderful venue and there were comfy cozy rooms.

There were yurts with rooms and a communal bath house.

I stayed in The Village Building just across from the modernized Barn.

Fountain and fire pit with chairs...

reminded me a bit of Provence...

the periwinkle blue chairs and the sound of the water.

The barn is spacious and warmed by a wood burning fireplace.

These tables were where we ate our meals and had our workshops.

There were many cozy couches and chairs...

foot stools and side tables.

Perfect for making connections while knitting

Tea, chats and knitting...all go so well together.

Books, projects, an emotional support chicken...

I had never heard of these emotional support chickens.

Apparently they started during Covid and people are knitting them to give away to people who could use a little bit of comfort.

One of the participants has made over 80 of these chicken and has randomly given them to people she meets.

There were 30 women in attendance as guests.

Several knitting instructors and our Yoga teacher and her assistant.

Two women made the trek from Whitehorse.

Several came from Alberta and the rest of us were from Victoria, Vancouver and the lower mainland.

Lighting was excellent in the evenings.

 Most of us wore our knitting 

neck lights.

I finished Alexandra's Airplane Scarf on the last evening.

I now need a new project :-))

There was a local pop up shop from Salt String Wool Shop

a guest from the Weavers Guild

and 

a felting workshop.

The cloth is laid atop a foam block and you use fuzzy wool

and a straight needle ~ poke up and down to secure the yarn to the cloth.

It was a new thing for me...my little scene is rather loose

but I got the idea behind the craft.

~ Bowls on display ~ 

Nature focused 

 shells, rocks, dried flowers, antlers.

~ The Farm Stand ~

~ Rock Walls ~

Sunshine was welcomed as most of the weather was rainy.

I took the opportunity to go and explore the farm.

Several families live on the vast acreage...

 The Seven Seasons of Stowell Lake Farm,

a book

which has the history and the story of how the families came to the farm.

It goes into detail of how the farm functions... the animals and the crops they grow.

Recipes from the various seasons are published.

It was published in 2018 and many of the younger children are now adults.

The retreats are offered from March to November

Yoga is a popular retreat as there is a large Yoga studio on site.

This was my first retreat and I plan to attend next year.

The Farm is incredibly peaceful, the food is yummy and the beds are cozy.

Meeting 30 women who share the love of knitting and practise Yoga 

makes for an easy introduction and the formulation of friendship flows.

I am slowly getting back to my routine...

been reading a LOT 

Broken Country is one of the best books I have read in the last few months...

I read a wide variety of books and am always impressed by a page turner.

This story had and held my attention from the first page.

I think it's a winner!!

Works that are resonating with me...

As I breathe deeply

embracing

Gratitude, Peace, Contentment.

A few days away practising Yoga in a warm sun filled studio

has worked it's magic.

I'm ready to start some festive decorating, 

do some baking 

get together with friends and family 

to celebrate The Joys of the Season.

Hope that you are doing well.

Thank you for stopping by to read my Humble Blog.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~