Aftermath (Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival) - picture heavy

Autumn Breeze and I had our date night Tuesday and we decided what to do for our trip. She's been the recipient of some culls and purges recently so she wasn't looking for much. Still, it's a good idea to get an idea of trends, etc.

it's a caterpillar, very fuzzy

Thursday, the Deadlands GM revealed he thinks we're coming to the end of the game. He's not certain how many sessions, somewhere between 2 and 20. The question, what to play next? At this point, he's torn between Dresden Files and Blue Rose. Dresden Files is a Fate game and thanks to the Shadows of the Century game I ran, SR is familiar with it. Blue Rose is a new (to us) system, but it's romantic fantasy (think Mercedes Lackey or Diane Duane or Tamora Pearce).

coloring at lunch

Friday morning, I packed up my clothes, etc. I grabbed my sock loom and a skein of yarn, my Loom Knitting Primer, some tatting supplies, and some coloring pages (in case I had some time to do so). One of my friends called as I was packing and put me half hour behind. Autumn Breeze was running behind, too but we were on the road in a fairly timely manner.

We took secondary highways so it was a scenic trip. I was missing sleep so I took a nap part of the way. And I found out my yarn was the wrong size for the loom, so no knitting. The primer is really good though. Autumn Breeze had given me some red linen thread so I tatted a heart for her. She wants a bracelet from the same thread.

we stopped at a roadside produce store

Saturday, we had breakfast at the hotel and then off to the festival. I had my Ravelry pin but didn't see any names I recognized. It's a big festival after all.
This is where we parked on Saturday.

We were really close the drive/road farthest from the gate.

More scenes from the Festival

his shawl is FAB, he's working on the pattern

There were so many lovely handknits, hand crochets, and woven garments.

shorn alpaca

so cute

French bunnies

sheep!

He has horns

not sure of the breed, but cute

unshorn alpaca

Here are a few purchases; the dk yarn (wool/cotton blend) to use with my sock loom.We ended up spending most of Saturday (in the cold and wet) at the auction. She bought 4 looms, and this is one is with a 2-liter bottle for size comparison. Mom said she wanted to buy something for me, so I got this tunic.

On the way we saw this car. I think it's been in an accident.

And today, this arrived. Yay!

Yes, It was a very nasty cold

And I was pretty wiped out for the week. I'm still coughing occasionally and last week I had a lot of trouble sleeping.

 Here are both the ice drops in size 10 Spice Cake

There was a fire alarm at work, while I was at lunch. So I went to the stress relief snack time at the nearby store. I colored two pages.

 this broken root reminds me of something. If could just remember what.

 Yarn bomb!

I'm in the Employee Forum again, for a one-year appointment. The next meeting is tomorrow. On Friday, I leave for Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

Mom and I had to sign some papers for stuff so I went to see her last Friday to get them done. Then we did some shopping and generally spent time together. I still can't get her DVD player to work.

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.