Warm Fuzzies

I have a mental list of things I would like to do in my life. It isn't fancy and the list sometimes changes as I change. This past weekend I was able to check one of the items off my list. I went to the Maryland Wool and Sheep Festival. This may seem like a funny item to have on your list, but I have wanted to go for several years. This mythical event would pop up from time to time in my blog reading or ravelry searches. It sounded like such fun and possibly a bit dangerous for my wallet.

A couple weeks ago, I randomly checked to see when it is held. I think I squeaked a bit when I realized it was in just two weeks. EEeeeek! I could go. It is only an hour from where we live. I could go! I read all I could about preparing for the festival and decided to go on Sunday. Then I realized it was on our anniversary. Dave loves me to bits, but a fiber festival is not high on his mental bucket list. I stewed for a bit and with his encouragement, decided to go.

I dressed early on Sunday and set off. Of course, my outfit had to include a hand knit (my Multnomah shawl in TIG). I was lucky that the day was overcast with a bit of intermittent drizzle - perfect for wool. When I arrived, I was amazed. The event is huge. It is the size of a state fair devoted entirely to a single theme. I roamed the outdoor vendor stalls first looking at and touching all the yarn. I watched spinners and knitters enjoying their craft (not as many crocheters for some reason). I toyed with the idea of a drop spindle and then remembered my yarn stash. I don't need another obsession hobby, although the vendor and I joked that it could feed my current one.

I thought of my dad as I walked through sheep barns. He always took me to the Hillsdale County Fair as a kid, and we traditionally went to the barns first before all else. Inside the barns, there were so many different breeds both shorn and unshorn. I watched a reluctant sheep get shorn as well as a nonchalant one. The latter just let his handler shave away. She didn't bother with the sheep stand and strap to hold him. She just flopped him around as she quickly clipped. It was cool.

I even watched the sheepdog contest for a bit. Those dogs really know their stuff. I thought of Jacqui (a fellow Yarn Alonger) at home in her croft in Scotland with her husband training their sheepdog. The sheep would huddle together and move as one as the dog approached. They warily eyed each other. Those five sheep moved fluidly as a unit spurred by the dog's movements and the man's commands. It was interesting and gave me a greater appreciation of the word sheeple.

I did end up buying a couple items. I knew I didn't need any yarn, but a certain nine year old asked for green socks. I bought a gorgeous skein of Bugga in Greater Arid-Land Katydid from the Verdant Gryphon. I also stopped by the booth of Jenny the Potter. I have admired her yarn bowls and recognized her work immediately. I talked with her a bit and ended up with a beautiful yarn bowl and two sets of buttons.

Fiber enthusiasts are an amazing group of people. This event gave me such warm fuzzies. Everyone was kind and helpful. There were so many beautiful hand knits being worn. I saw patterns I want to knit, and those I have already made. I pet gorgeous yarn and touched new to me fibers. People exchanged compliments admiring each others' hand knits both the work and color. It was truly a hyacinth to my soul. I am so glad I went and hope to attend again soon.

(Oh, and in Yarn Along fashion, I am finishing up The Paris Wife. It is a bit slow, but I find the subject intriguing. It is more historical fiction. This time the subject is Ernest Hemingway's first wife Hadley. I have already begun googling to know more about this woman and the man to whom she was married)