Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Oops, lost track of time

Sorry, (to all 3 of my readers) I lost track of time and didn't post. The Friday after I came back from Md Sheep and Wool, mom totaled her car. She was completely unhurt and well, it was an old van. Takes less to total it. I drove to see her the following Saturday. I was going to help her get stuff out of her van; except the place where it had been towed was only open Monday - Friday, 9-5. Yeah.

She bought a new Honda (2013) on Monday. And she has declared that if anything happens to that car, she's stealing mine. So I'll have to go car shopping and not her.

I did stuff the weekend after, but cannot remember. I finally took the hand/wrist brace off today, for more than a brief span of time. I'm still going to wear it at night, and not type as much, and not tat....she types. 

For my birthday, I went and volunteered at a charity golf tournament; Chancellors' Cup, to benefit the Janet P. Royster scholarship. This year it was at Tobacco Road Golf Course, in Sanford. I was taking a table so we got a minivan from motor pool. I drove it down there, and got there at 7:30 am, with a golfer, too. Ramses came for a visit and was a big hit. Even people who aren't UNC fans had fun; like the guy who said, 'I can't have my picture taken with him, I'll get thrown out of the family; we're all State fans.' Ramses did a little golfing, too. Until we sent him back to the clubhouse. It was really hot and he'd been in the sun most of an hour and a half. He came back again for a short time.



sometimes it was rough







After, CD took me out to supper. We had a lovely supper. He had left my birthday presents waiting for me when I got up in the morning. He left balloons, too.
And this is one of my presents:
 There is also a couple coloring books, a novel, and another nonfiction. Oh, and a gift cert to B&N.

Then this past weekend, I went to see Mom again. Her car is nice, newer than mine, and has a backup camera. We got stuff ready for Aunt S's visit. Mom was to meet cousin AJ, who was bringing her from the coast, in Efland.

Oh, and my latest Kumihimo project.

I've done a necklace length and I'm working on a bracelet length.

Mom's present to me was to pay for my bids on the Tatting Corner auction. I bought some thread, beads and books. I'll need to take pictures of those to add to my Pinterest board (thread I own, books I own).






Monday, May 09, 2016

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

Autumn Breeze is looking for some more sheep to increase her tiny flock. She decided to look at actual sheep before deciding on breed and the best place (this spring) to see lots of different breeds in one place is the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in Howard County, MD. I took pictures of sheep. Lots of pictures.

this breed sheds hair


lambs

more lambs

Dorset horned, I think

Trio of Dorset horned? (like Ramses)

shorn, I think

almost ringlets

border leicester, maybe


definitely border Leicester

another border Leicester

Jacob sheep, male and female

Jacob lambs

Finnsheep, I think

No idea, but they look like life-size plush

another Jacob

another breed that sheds hair
And a few videos



And I finished the 2nd tatted cross. But oh, my left wrist is really hurting. I called my mom and asked her advice. She said to get a brace and take some anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen. The brace is helping.

Sunday, I made some purchases and took pictures of yarn (after asking). #TheBuffaloWoolCo (American bison), yak, alpaca, angora, and Gotland sheep. There's also Peavine Hollow Farm angora goats.

Their wool is so soft
this is a display piece







here's one of the yarn mixes





















                                                                                
shorn alpaca
and here's some alpaca yarn
                                                                                                      
yak yarn
more yak mixed yarn
display made from yak yarn
home of the angora goats I took pictures of



1 nanny and 2 kids


no live sheep here
they had full fleeces, though


and yarn

    
and sheepskin              














There were also a bit of a crowd (I waited until no one was facing me). This is from the lower corral. 

I made a few purchases on Sunday. I bought some hair sticks (aka shawl pins), a couple of music cds, some soap, and a kumihimo kit (black and royal satin cord, bead, and end caps). I restrained myself and bought only one skein of yarn, for socks. I made good progress on the kumihimo braid because tatting is awkward with the brace. I have a bracelet in Lizbeth Fruity Fizz started. 

I don't know what went wrong with the trip home, but it took 8.5 hours, without a meal stop and without going through DC. I was so tired. Luckily, I was able to get some sleep in the car.

I called Mom on Sunday and she said she would like part of a goat for her present. Dad said K likes the earrings I sent her (I bought them at the Scottish shop in Williamsburg).

The 1st of the tatted crosses is on the blocking square. As soon as it dries, I'll block the other one.

Tuesday, May 03, 2016

RavenCon etc

The trip to Ravencon went well. The drive down was not particularly heinous and we made good time.
Signs around the Con
MM met us at the con Friday afternoon. We played a couple games that night and finished up as scheduled and got back to the hotel around 1 am. The morning slot started at 8:30 am. We played the morning slot and then the battle interactive in the afternoon. Saturday night we went out to supper.

We got the Sunday morning slot wrong, and showed up late for We Be Goblins, Too. The GM was at another table but generously got up to run our game. The Goblins adventures are massively fun, and often run short on time. We had time to go to the Dealers' room and see Artist Alley. I was going to buy a Con shirt but after walking back and forth, looking at the shirts, and then making my decision, and then waiting for another minute or so and being ignored, I decided not to. The person at the table was in a conversation and I'm too Southern polite to interrupt. A couple dealers had some very nice pocket watches. I want a small silver(tone) one and apparently one of them had one, but I missed them.

They had a kid in the right one
I did buy a new (silk) fan stamped with foxes, and a present for someone else. CD bought a t-shirt for me and a necklace. There were more things I really liked, but well, funds.

steampunk R2D2

Market Square, new since my last visit
We found some new restaurants in Williamsburg. We went back to the Sal's Ristorante, a place CD and RG tried years ago. The food was still great and so was the service. We also tried Emerald Thai, The Cheese Shop, DoGs Street Pub, and The Whaling Company. We also tried Capital Pancake for a change from Mama Steve's.

mussels bowl leftovers, soooo good




bracelet based on edging