new yarn

my lys knitter's kove,  has started carrying malabrigo and i couldn't be happier. i bought this ball to celebrate:

i am going to knit it into thorpe, a simple yet beautiful earflap hat pattern.  i am making it for one of the boys in the neighborhood who recently shaved his head and now needs something to keep his poor head warm.

while i was sick last week a nice suprise came for me in the mail from jen.  it had this:

and these:

the yarn jen got for me at the rhinebeck sheep and wool festival.  i love the colors, as jen knew i would and i cannot wait to knit something out of it.  i am going to wait a bit so i have time to think about it and find the perfect pattern for this super bulky wool.  any ideas?