MDS$W

I went to my first Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival yesterday in West Friendship, Maryland at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Why, you may ask, would I go to such a thing? Apparently, it is the place to be if you are into any/all fiber arts -- anything involving wool, yarn, creating your own yarn, raising animals (sheep, llamas, cute alpacas) to make your own yarns, etc... John agreed to take me there in hopes there would be more than just sheep & wool. Bad luck for him... the only non-fiber related items were soaps, silver cutlery bent into jewelery, mobiles, pottery and various artsy items.

You wouldn't think this festival was a big deal... but every Subaru Forrester driving knitter up and down the east cost was there (LOL... we saw a lot of Subarus). I have to say this festival was quite overwhelming for a first-timer and fairly new knitter. I saw all kinds of wool, mohair, and cotton fiber. There was newly shorn wool off the sheep waiting to be washed, spun and dyed into beautiful yarns and finished skeins ready to be purchased. Most of the yarns were wool, of course, which I find to be a little itchy. I prefer cotton. The stalls with soft wool blends were too expensive for my budget or were jam packed with people and I could barely get in. Gotta love online shopping! It was good to be able to see and touch the yarn and think about buying some at a later date.

I did manage to buy myself a nostepinne, which is used to wind yarn into balls. No more PVC pipe for that, although it will still serve as a rolling pin until I can dig mine out of the moving boxes. And I bought a sample bag of soap. They smell really herby. We ate Ribbon Chips (potatoes cut into spirals and fried) topped with cheese and jalepenos, and we had some lemonade. There were also lamb-related foods, but I'm not a big lamb fan. Great if you love it 'cuz there were lamb burgers, lamb kabobs and lamb sausage along with your usual festival fare (cotton candy, kettle corn, caramel apples, fries, corn dogs, etc...)

As John and I were half way through our yummy ribbon chips and making our way out of the festival, we ran into my nieces, my brother and a friend of theirs, who also knits, and her kids. Glad to know I'm not the only one in the family who was able to enjoy the Sheep & Wool Festival!

Wait, don't go yet... my exciting day isn't over! In the afternoon, John and I attended another Moreno family function at Robert & Pokey's to celebrate little Natalya's birthday. Lots of food, fun, friends and family... and a moon bounce! The BEST part was the Kentucky Derby. We put in $10 per couple or family to randomly pick a horse. John and I picked a horse whose odds were 71-1. You horse racing fans know that Giacomo, another longshot, won the derby. And who came in second??? Closing Argument!!! Our 71-1 horse! $50 to me and John! YEA!

Happy Mother's Day to those celebrating. My mom is out golfing, of course. I'm glad she's enjoying her Sunday with Dad and all their golfing buddies. Till next time, have a good one!