For the Love of Fiber

Another Friday

Another week -- pfhht!  My parents went on a cruise to the Panama Canal and returned home late last Sunday.  Both were sick - Mom with respiratory stuff and Daddy with sinus / cold symptoms.  Plus, their ears were so stopped up from the flights, that they were deaf as posts!  Monday, I spent most of the day at their house in between my appointments.  Now, guess who has the crud!?  That's right --- ME!  My head feels like it should have a sign across my forehead that reads "EXPLOSIVE".  Feels like it could do just that at any moment!

This week has been very busy with work driving in all different directions withint the sams day.  I watched the odometer on my 2 year old vehicle turn 91,111 miles and keep on rolling.

The rosebushes are blooming inspite of my poor care of them over the winter.  I'm enjoying them prior to the Japanese beetles.   

All you kitty cat lovers --isn't this vase the cutest??  I got this at a craft show in 1993 and still love it!! 

Speaking of kitty cats, Earl Gray was in a fight last night and I had to take him to the vet this afternoon.  Recently, we've had two stray cats show up at night.  Oh, the moaning and howling of tomcats!!  I opened the door this morning and the porch was full of fur - Earl's and the other cat.  Poor Earl!  The vet shaved his head above his left eye, his neck on the left side, and his belly to get a better look at all the scratches.  I'll spare you pictures.  Poor poor Earl!  Now he's on antibiotic pills and eye ointment.  This is mean, but I hope the other cat got the worst of it and does NOT come back. 

I'm off to Richmond tomorrow morning for the River City Knitters' guild meeting.  I have a couple of soap deliveries to make - one order is for a  wedding reception.  Each guest will get a little box of my half size bars which are specially labeled for the occasion.  I'll show a picture of them after her wedding on the 24th.

Hope everyone has a great Saturday!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day was quiet at my house.  No children home this weekend and my parents were out of town. I made soap, worked, and did laundry today.  Hmmm -- what's wrong with all that!?!

Andy gave me one of his creations for Mother's Day.  Here it is as a card holder. 

Remember the first one he did??  Several weeks ago for the flower swap at the blacksmith meeting??  Well, he found out that the fellow who received it gave it away at the next meeting.  Hmph!

Here's an "aerial" view of a garden bouquet.  I love picking the roses before the Japanese beetles move in.  I'm sure they'll be here soon!

Look at these two rose close-ups.  How cool! 

See the swirls?

Mother Nature rocks!

Yesterday, I wrote about the delicious seafood casserole Jean served at the rug hooking meeting.  She just emailed me the recipe and I want to share it with you all.  It was yummy!!  Thanks, Jean for sharing!!

Seafood Casserole (serves 8)

1 lb. scallops, 1 lb. shrimp (peeled, deveined), 1/2 lb. white crabmeat

Combine and bring to a boil: 1 c. dry white wine, 1 Tbsp butter, 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, 1 tsp salt, 1 medium onion.  Add shrimp, scallops, and crabmeat.  Cook 3-5 minutes.  Drain.  Save 2/3 c. liquid.

3 Tbsp butter, 3 Tbsp flour, 1 c. half and half, 1/2 c. (2 oz.) shredded Swiss cheese, 2 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1 - 4 oz. can sliced mushrooms

Melt butter, add flour.  Cook and stir until smooth.  Add cream until thick.  Slowly stir in cheese.  Stir in the 2/3 c. saved liquid, lemon juice, and pepper.  Add shrimp mixture and drained mushrooms.  Spoon into buttered 11" x 7" dish.  At this point, mixture may be covered and chilled overnight if desired. 

Topping: 1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese, 1 c. soft breadcrumbs, paprika.

If seafood mixture has been refrigerated overnight, remove from refrigerator and bring to room temperature before baking.  Combine breadcrumbs and parmesan and spread over casserole, sprinkle with paprika.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Good served over Jasmine Rice. 

This stole in progress fits nicely below the purple recipe!  This is the beginning of the Spring Shawl Surprise - another beautiful design by Renee of Goddess Knits. She is giving us clues on the Spring Shawl Surprise and the Mystery Shawl 8 (MS8) on alternate Saturdays which gives us two  weeks to knit each shawl's clue.  I'm behind on this one because I've been concentrating on catching up on the MS8.  It's also a little more cumbersome to do - I would have to carry the beads everywhere.  I have this horror of knitting on this in a doctor's waiting room and then when I'm called back for the appointment, I knock over the little container of beads and they go flying across the waiting room.  Patients all over the orthopedic office's waiting room would be falling, breaking bones, etc.  That would NOT be good!  I think I should only work on this one at home!

Playing Hooky on Saturday

Today was our monthly rug hooking meeting.  This month it was held at the Presbyterian Church on Main Street in Danville, VA.  We had a small group of talented ladies today.  Jean and Nina served a delicious seafood casserole.  I'll post the recipe as soon as Jean emails it to me. 

I didn't get pictures of eveyone but here are the ones I took. 

Fran is working on an oval morning glory rug.  You can see a little of her background color in the lower right corner - an off white. 

Nancy is working on a rug with a pineapple in the center and vines of flowers on both sides.  Looks like she is almost through with this piece. 

Chloe is just about finished with this sweet floral.  I love the movement in her background.  See how the background is mottled - not solid.  This gives the rug movement and depth.  Gives it much more interest and keeps it from having a flat appearance. 

I love Brenda's colors in this garden rug.  Very rich.  Her rug shows you how a rug hooking pattern appears prior to hooking any woo l through the foundation.  It's a black-line drawing like a coloring book.  The rug hooker fills in the spaces with as-is off the bolt wool, hand-dyed wool, or recycled wool - textures and plaids.  See the design areas Brenda still has to fill in - the butterfly, the dragonfly, flowers, etc.??  Then, she'll work on filling in the background around the designs.  Can't wait to see this progress.  Very nice!

Our rug hooking group will be having a rug exhibit at the library in South Hill, VA the month of October so everyone is trying to finish as much as possible for the display.

Danville, VA is my hometown.  The city sits right on the Dan River where Highways 29 (N and S)  and 58 (E and W) intersect.  It borders North Carolina.  Known for Dan River Mills - the largest single-unit textile mill in the world, Danville was a thriving mill town back in the day.  It has been heavily hit by the exodus of t extiles from the United States.  (Other towns along the Dan River have also suffered as they have lost their main employers - all textile - J P Stevens, Tultex, Burlington, etc.)  It was also known for its tobacco.

Danville is a pretty city with lots of beautiful historic homes along Main Street.  It's sometimes called "The City of Churches".  It has more churches per square mile than any other city in the state of Virginia.

In 1903, the most famous wreck in American rail history occured in Danville - the  Wreck of the Old '97 - Southern Railways' express mail train. 

The Presbyterian Church, where the rug hookers met today, is right across the street from the Danville Museum.  The museum building was the home of Major W. T. Sutherlin and, in 1865, became the  last Capitol of the Confederant States of America.

The Dan River is sometimes referred to as "the Muddy Dan".  Wonder why???  HA!  This was a picture taken today.  With all the rain we've had, the Muddy Dan is over its banks and flooding any and all low-lying areas. 

Hope all you mothers out there have a wonderful day tomorrow!!

Friday --- Finally!

Finally, it's Friday!  This has been a busy week of traveling in all different directions for work.  Today, I had an appointment in Lynchburg, VA (about 1 hour 45 minutes northwest) and then an appointment in Durham, NC at Duke University Medical Center (about 1 hour 30 minutes southwest).  Some days I feel like I'm still moving when I get home! 

Last night's weather was horrible!  Tornado watches and warnings in our area.  Two touched down in Greensboro, NC and killed one person.  The news said they were also spotted within 30 minutes of us.  The thunder and lightning were horrible!!!  As soon as I thought the storm was subsiding, it would all start again!  Lots of rain - we're now having flooding - the Dan River is over it's banks. 

The sky was beautiful today.  It was as if Mother Nature was sending an apology for last night.   

On the way home, I stopped at a farm up the road and picked up these.  Every year, I can hardly wait until I see their sign up on the highway.  Their asparagus and strawberries are delicious!!!

Our peonies are blooming!  That's peonies pronounced pee-O-knees.  They are so pretty and their fragrance is just heavenly!  I think their fragrance is kind of lemony.  I've heard that they don't like to be moved but these haven't seemed to mind.  They were here when we bought the house in 1984 and are just gorgeous every year.  [In case you're wondering, the nest and eggs aren't real.]

I finished the Second Clue - Chart 3 of the Mystery Shawl 8.  Look closely.  I think I see baskets of flowers.  Do you?? 

Renee, of Goddess Knits, currently has two shawls going - this one, Mystery Shawl 8, and the Spring Shawl Surprise.  She is uploading a clue every other week - on alternate Saturdays - for each shawl.  I have ignored the Spring Shawl Surprise in order to catch up on the MS8.  So, now it's back to the Spring Shawl Surprise for a bit!

Spring Color

I braved the swarms of mosquitoes late this afternoon and picked the first bouquet of the summer.  Roses and other flowers plus fresh spearmint!  Heavenly scent!   

Paid for it by getting a tick!  They have been horrible!  I pulled five ticks off George the other night and have also gotten them off Gracie, Earl Gray, and Annie.  What in the world!?  Everyone says we haven't had a winter cold enough to kill anything.  Can't argue with that.  It's been several winters since we had enough snow to accumulate.  Hasn't even been cold enough to wear a winter coat in several years.  Well, there's always winter 2008!  Fingers crossed!

My garden desperately needs tending to.  Guess I will cover myself in OFF and get to it this weekend.  Why can't spring/summer be 75 degrees constantly, no humidity, and NO mosquitoes and ticks????

Here's a peek at my Mystery Shawl 8 by Renee of Goddess Knits.  I'm knitting it with Shaefer Yarn's Andrea in 100% silk on a size 6 needle.  On row 71 ------- a knot.  Yes, a knot!  How in the world do you hide tails when knitting with 100% silk laceweight?  It's so thin - even for a Russian join.  I don't like knots in lace or fingering weight!  ARGH!

This shawl looks like spring - love the color.  The shawl is not blocked in these photos.  So, once blocked, it will be even lacier than it appears here. 

This shawl is MUCH easier than MS7.  Much easier to keep track of where I am along the row with the stitch repeats. 

Did I mention that I have stilletos??  No, NOT heels!  Stilletos as in knitting needle tips on my new knitting needles from Signature Needle Arts I got at MD S&W.  Love the tips!  Nice and pointy!  AND, the best part --- they don't hurt my feet!

Maryland Weekend

I headed up Interstate 95 North towards Maryland last Thursday --- destination 35th Annual Maryland Sheep & Wool at Howard County Fairground.  I stopped at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC to pick up my friend, Sally, from Florida.  Then, the two of us set off for Edgewater, MD.  We had plans to stay with a friend of ours, Jane, and her husband.  It's always great to spend time with both Sally and Jane and this time would prove to be no exception. 

Friday, Jane took us for a visit to St. Michaels, MD.  Sally and I have both been before but each time, you see something new.  The weather was perfect for "doing" the town!

St. Michaels is a really cute town across the Chesapeake Bay from Annapolis.  We had a great time visiting all the unique little shops, including Chesapeake Bay Outfitters, A Wish Called Wanda, 3 Krazy Ladies, Flying Fred's and our favorite Artiste Locale & Frivolous Fibers.  After some vigorous shopping, we enjoyed lunch at the Key Lime Cafe.   

Frivolous Fibers is a great little knitting shop.  The front part is Artiste Locale with wonderful pottery, jewelry, and other unique items.  The back part features Frivolous Fibers - yarn, patterns, books, notions, and other different and neat things - including awesome jewelry by one of my favorite artists. 

Another draw for this yarn shop is the large assortment of Blue Heron Yarns.  Blue Heron Yarns are produced just a few miles from the shop in nearby Easton, MD.  They are absolutely gorgeous!  Such rich colors!  Two skeins, along with a free shawl pattern, made their way home with me!!  The one on the top in the picture is Cotton/Rayon Seed and the bottom skein is Beaded Rayon (no beads, just nubby). 

That night we went to get crabs!  We ate at Mike's Crab House - located right smack on the South River in Riva, MD.  Sally and Don went through a dozen large crabs - Don more that Sally!  Jane had the flounder and I had the broiled combo platter.  I love combo platters!  This one had a Maryland crabcake, shrimp, scallops, and a piece of orange roughy.  Yummy!!!!

Saturday morning, we were up and out to the Maryland Sheep & Wool.  We drove separate cars as Jane would have to leave early. 

This show continues to be a free event held annually, the first full weekend in May.  A wonderful event with approximately 300 vendors set up inside and out.  There are also 4H sheep shows, working sheep dog demos, various art contests (photography, poster, etc.), sheep shearing demos, sheep to shawl contests, skein and garment competition, parade of sheep breeds, grand lamb cookoffs, shepherding workshops, musical entertainment, etc. etc.  To learn more about individual events, click here. 

In my opinion, one of the most impressive things about the MD Sheep & Wool - in all the years I've attended, I've never found a stall in the women's restrooms without toilet paper!  This is no small feat with the thousands of women that attend the show.  Hey!  You've just gotta appreciate that!  Of course, those ginormous rolls help! 

After standing in the T-shirt/tote bag/etc. line for forever!, the shopping began.   

I bought two skeins of yarn from Brooks Farm from Lancaster, TX.  This booth had some of the most beautiful yarn of any I saw.  Plus, what a great display!  All of their yarn was arranged by stitches per inch.  They also had beautiful finished pieces on display.  (Unfortunately, one of their lovely shawls turned up "missing" Saturday morning.  I hate to think that a knitter would take something from a booth so I hope it was just misplaced after the person looked at it and it will turn up for them later.)  The red yarn is their Duet 8 oz./500 yds 50/50 kid-fine wool.  The combination blue, charcoal, olive green is their Mas Acero 5.9 oz./400 yds wool/silk/viscose.  They gave me the Bias Shawl pattern to go with the yarns.  They had the same shawl pattern made up in both of these yarns.  Beautiful!!  Easy pattern with beads on the fringe on the shawl ends. 

I was in a spindle mood this year - no thanks or thanks (whichever way you want to take this!) to Mary - and came home with spindles from Tom Golding from VT, the Bosworths from MA, and Woodchuck Products from NM. 

Mary has raved about how well the Golding spindles spin.  So, that booth was on the top of my list to visit at the show.  I purchased two spindles from Tom - a Tsunami and a very special spindle with a petit point ring.  I also took one of his wheels for a spin.  Of all the wheels I've tried in the past twenty years, the Golding wheel tops the list.  Treadling was absolutely effortless.  However, when I took my feet off the treadles, the wheel kept turning.  Don't know if that would be a problem or not.  I heard him say the waiting list for his wheels is up to 2011.  Yes, I think it would be worth the wait! 

I purchased one of the Bosworth spindles in the midi size made out of cedar (smells so good) and a maxi in  birdseye maple.  These spindles spin like a dream! 

I looked all over the show for a spindle inexpensive enough to teach Kathryn - a sister to Grace who tends my kitty cats when I'm away.  Kathryn is into knitting big time! and has issued a knitting challenge to members of her church to knit preemie caps.  Her mom says she is very much into how the yarn feels and the color, etc.  Well, seems like she would enjoy knowing / learning how to spindle.  Someone sent me to Woodchuck Products.  Sure enough, he had some for $13.00 each.  Well, he also had a sign up that he was going out of business after 26 years.  You should have seen the line!  He didn't have much left and still had part of Saturday and all day Sunday to go.  Needless to say, he wouldn't have much to pack up at the end of the show.  I also bought a diz and a wraps per inch gauge.  After standing in his line for close to an hour, I walked in the next booth and there was a learn to spin kit with a spindle and some roving for less than $10.00!  Ain't that always the way!?  Oh well!  I have three Woodchuck spindles and he's not making them anymore.  Another lady in line said they spin like tornadoes.  Can't wait to try them!

I couldn't resist the roving!  (No pictures of the roving - it's all in plastic bags and I'm too lazy tired to get it all out, snap pictures of it, and put it all away.  Just turn on your imaginations!!)  Such beautiful colors every direction I turned!  I purchased gorgeous celery green and cream with a little yellow roving from Spirit Trial Fiberworks of VA.  Also, two wonderfully rich colored wool/silk blends from Spinners Hill of NY - one in shades of teals and purples and the other in olive green with orange, gold, blue, and red.  From Good Shepherd Yarn of VT came 8 oz. of wool/silk blend in a gorgeous autumn color mix - deep olive green, rusty orange, burgundy, and purple.  The last roving purchase says it all!  8 oz. of "Party-In-A-Bag" from Pucker Brush Farm in PA.  This stuff is wild!  Hot pink, olive green, gold, turquoise, etc.  Can't wait to get to the wheel OR spindle!

OH, there was plenty more going on at the festival!  It wasn't all shopping! 

There was the Ravelry meet-up in the Rabbit Barn.  There were hundreds of people!  This picture was of the inside of the barn - there were more people outside.  In all this mix, there were four gals from the Tuesday night knitting group in Richmond, VA!  Robin, Jane, Cathy, and Donna in the back.  The Ravelry folks were a little late getting there and with all those people, we decided not to wait.  I was on the other side of the barns when I heard the roar of the Ravelry crowd when everyone arrived.  There was a Ravelry party planned for Saturday night in Columbia.  Maybe next year!

There were sheep ---

lots and lots of sheep. 

Sleepy sheep

Show sheep

Shorn Sheep

Brown Sheep

Black Sheep

Big Sheep

Little Sheep

Where there are sheep ----- there are bags and bags and bags of WOOL!  The fleece competition had lots of entries!  It was interesting walking around and seeing the difference in the wool from breed to breed.  The Cormo fleeces were just gorgeous with their fine crimp.  It was also interesting to note which ones had ribbons and try to figure out what made them winners. 

There were other animals at the festival besides sheep.  I didn't get any pictures of the Angora bunnies or goats but they were there!

I did get these two alpaca.  What gorgeous eyes!  Like pools of melted chocolate.

I also snapped this fresh llama.  What a ham!  This picture was taken up close and personal - VERY!

There was MORE!  Maggie Sansone is a master at the hammered dulcimer and has performed at the MD Sheep & Wool for as long  as I've been attending - almost 20 years.  I love her music and I LOVE watching her play.  In this picture, she was playing the hammered dulcimer and also tapping something with her foot that made this puppets dance.  The children were entranced!  A great performance!

There was a broom maker who makes brooms of all sizes.

The garden center was back this year with their beautiful plants.  They also had some very unusual plants that I don't see often other places. 

There was another musical group.  I didn't get the fellow who was clogging to the music with his tap shoes on.

In the main building, there was a basket weaver demonstrating his craft.  It was interesting watching him work and he drew quite a crowd.      

There was also a booth of blacksmithed items.  He had a little of everything.  His forged jewelry was definitely attracting a lot of attention.  It was really finished nicely. 

Sally and I gave up finished about 3:30 PM and felt like we had completely "done" the MD Sheep & Wool 2008!  Actually, it may have "DONE" us!  We were done at any rate and I needed a shower and something very COLD to drink. 

On our way back to the car, we found we were not the only ones who were just too pooped to pop!  This little fellow had the right idea!  He was FAST asleep behind his mother's booth.

It was great seeing Jane and Sally.  The two of them used to be within a two hour drive of me - Jane in Durham, NC and Sally in Midlothian, VA - and I saw them often.  Now, Jane has settled in Maryland and Sally splits her time between Maine and Florida.  So, it's special whenever I get to see either of them.  We had a great visit and I actually got a lot of knitting done on the Spring Shawl Surprise as we talked.  I'll miss them until we get together again.

This morning, Sally and I hugged Jane and Don and headed out.  I dropped her off at the airport and made my way home.  I arrived home before 3:00 PM.  Not bad! 

Now, it's back to real life -- laundry, work, groceries, etc.  Ahhhh!  It was great while it lasted!

   

Ready To Go!

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival!!!!!  I'm ready to go - well almost!  I still have to pack my knitting stuff.  I have laid out enough projects for a year's worth of knitting!  That should keep me busy for the weekend! 

I leave tomorrow and drive to DC to pick my friend up at the airport.  Then, we'll drive on to Edgewater, MD where we'll stay with our friend, Jane.  You may remember Jane -- Sally and I went up for her wedding last August. 

I wanted to take one more picture of the baby chickadees.  They look like real birds now but are still so tiny!  Getta load of those beaks??  They still look like they're smiling.  Wonder if they'll be gone when I return home on Sunday.

I peeped in the box to check on the bluebirds.  I still only saw two babies and they were peeping right back at me.  I guess they're late bloomers.

Speaking of bloomers ----

Here are clematis and azalea blooms pictures.  So colorful!

   

Weekend Continued

Well, I left you hanging - thinking about those yummy pumpkin pancakes!  Let's return to Staunton, VA for our Sunday happenings. 

Andy and I went to Mrs. Rowe's for breakfast Sunday morning.  As you can see, the restaurant was chosen "1 of 7 top breakfasts all across the South" by Southern Living Magazine.  I'm sure it was the pumpkin pancakes!  As you enter the restaurant, there are cases full of calorie filled baked goods (cinnamon twists, apple fritters, eclairs, etc.) and also a refrigerated case loaded with containers of precooked food to take home and warm up.  Don't know why the items I recall the fastest are the containers of bread pudding and rum sauce! 

After breakfast, we headed to the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia.  The museum is a living history museum and features four (almost five) historic, reconstructed working farms. 

We visited a 1690 English farm, a 1730 farm from Northern Ireland, a 1710 farm from Germany, a 1750 farm from Rockingham County, VA, and an Irish forge.  Next month, a farm dated 1850 from Botetourt County, VA will be ready to open.  Then, they plan to open an 1820's American farm.  The buildings have actually been moved from their respective areas in pieces.  They are renovated and reassembled.  You could often see where they numbered the rocks and beams, etc. as the structures were dismantled to make for easier and accurate assembly once they reached their destinations.  Another site was under constru ction.  The guide said it would represent the type of dwelling the first settlers of the area would have lived in.  Also, this summer a group from Nigeria are coming to help build a 1700's West African farm.  This will represent the area where slaves brought to this area would have come from.      

Being a living history museum, the people working there were all clothed in period dress.  Several  were cooking their lunches over the hearth fires. 

Andy was especially interested in all the forged hinges, latches, cooking utensils, candle holders, trivets, etc.  Above is the picture of the blacksmith hard at work making nails. 

I was interested in the spinning wheels and looms.  There was a lot of flax around.  The looms I saw all had linen work in progress.  At the German farm, they had been scutching flax in the barn.  Therer were hatchels hidden under protective wooden boxes. 

I was also interested in all the animals.  Each farm had a cat - a working cat since grain is kept.  Where there's grain, there are rodents!  All the kitties were very friendly and appeared to be very comfortable with their surroundings and with all the visitors.    

Here's Copper, the English cat, drinking from the bucket.  When we went upstairs, Copper ran ahead of us and made herself at home on the rope bed. 

The Irish kitty - I can't remember her name - was very comfortable and slept throughout our entire visit to her cottage. 

At the German farm, I spotted this chair.  Doesn't the design remind you of a beautiful Golding spinning wheel?  I also spotted Mitsa curled up in this basket.   

We'll have to go back to Staunton later this year to check out the museum's new additions. 

If you check out the museum's web site, you will find a calendar of events.  We just missed Three Bags Full Wool Days which runs from April 30th through May 3rd.  We did get to see the sheep but none were close enough for good pictures. 

Aren't these the most perfect scenes?  If you look up 'pastoral' in the dictionary --- these would be the example pictures you'd see. 

The paved walkway looped around a pond from farm to farm.  In distance, it was about 1.5 miles.  The lilacs and dogwoods were in full bloom.  Very tranquil. 

We left Staunton and stopped in Waynesboro at the Artisans Center of Virginia.  A fantastic variety of handcrafted items from Virginia craftsmen/women!! There was pottery, jewelry, furniture, forged items, fiber, soap, and much more.  Prices ranged from several dollars to thousands. 

I was surprised to find that five artists I know had their work on display - Robin Cage (pottery), Dani Cage (willow furniture), Christy Dunn (ceramic teapots), Syd Jeffrey (jewelry), and Mary Martin (jewelry).  The Cage sisters are from nearby Halifax, VA originally, Syd lives just 7 miles east of me in Clarksville, and Mary is one of the Richmond knitters!!

In fact, I just happened to be wearing a pair of earrings by Mary.  Actually, I have LOTS of her earrings and am wearing them most days.  They are perfectly beautiful!  She makes them out of watercolor paper and paint and sometimes adds beads, bits of grasses or fiber, etc. for texture.  They're light as a feather and I get compliments on them wherever I go -- people just love them! 

Just had to leave you with this gorgeous bloom from the garden behind Woodrow Wilson's home. 

Well, until the next adventure!!!  Won't be long, either!!!  Maryland Sheep & Wool here I come!!!  4 more days!!!

A Weekend Away

Andy and I left Friday headed for Churchville, VA and The Buckhorn Inn.  We attended the Cestari Wool Fair on Saturday. 

There were about two vendors with fiber stuff and the Cestari mill store to wander through.  We watched as they sheared one of the sheep.  They had a neat little ride called a sheep-go-round.  Have you seen the pony walk at the fair?   The ponies are attached to a center hub and children sit on them and the ponies walk around in a circle.  Well, the sheep-go-round had compartments a little up off the ground that the sheep are placed in.  Above, but not touching, each sheep is a metal saddle where the children sit.  Then, the ride would turn and the sheep and children would go round!  I wish we could have seen this in action but there were no children there to ride. 

They were also having a field demonstration by the Virginia Percheron Draft Horse Association and the Virginia Draft Horse and Mule Association.  There were several  teams of beautiful horses.  This seemed like a great way to get your field plowed! 

We had intended to return to The Buckhorn Inn and spend Saturday night, also.  Instead, we changed our plans and decided to spend more time in Staunton. 

We left Churchville and followed the signs to Historic Downtown Staunton.  There was a great Farmers' Market going on.  The first several booths we came to were selling knitted and felted it ems, angora fiber for spinning, and other goodies.  Also plentiful were tables of baked goods and beautiful plants for sale.  Next, we crossed the parking lot to where they were having a stone sculpture demonstration.  Then, on to Sunspots Studio for The Virginia Hot Glass Festival.  This was a terrific 3-story studio / gallery space --- full of light and great displays.  There were hand made glass beads, vases, paperweights, hanging glass balls, sun-catchers, etc. 

After grabbing a cup of coffee at Blue Mountain Coffees, we headed in search of On the Lamb.  I forgot to write the address or phone number down before leaving home so we asked a couple of people and then went on a hunt!  Wasn't long before we found it! 

What a fun visit!!!  It was GREAT to meet Joe and Carol.  Joe was so helpful giving me the tour of the shop and showing me the new items he's received.  I bought a couple skeins of Malabrigo laceweight in Hollyhock (raspberry color) and Amoroso (beautiful red!), a few Maggie's Rags patterns, and a couple other goodies.  Guess who is coming to On the Lamb this week to teach????  Lucy Neatby!!!!!  Man!  I wish I could've stayed for the class!  I stocked up on Lucy's DVD's so I can pretend.  They were having a GREAT sale on them.  After Joe fixed us up with lots of recommendations of things to check out in the area, we left with a soap order for the shop and a sample skein of Malabrigo Silky Merino in Rupestre.  Thanks, Joe!  It was a blast!

We headed to Shenandoah Pizza for lunch and it was every bit as good as Joe said it was.  We walked around - poking our heads into the shops along the street.  Later, we went to The Split Banana Co. for gelato.  BOY, was this good!!!!  I had two scoops - coconut and pineapple/basil.  The pineapple/basil was AWESOME!  Really really refreshing! 

We drove around Staunton and admired the architecture.  Again at  Joe's recommendation, we stopped at Woodrow Wilson's birthplace to see the gardens.  The presidential library was on the corner, then the foundation office building, and then his home on the corner nearest Mary Baldwin College.

With brick walkways and a smattering of jonquils, lily of the valley, and other flowers, the boxwood garden was so pretty! 

Everything in this garden and around Staunton was SO green! 

For dinner, we headed to Byers Street Bistro for dinner.  Delicious!  I had sunflower encrusted mahi-mahi with snap peas, cole slaw, and house salad with sliced almonds.  Andy had chicken piccata, which he said was also very good.

To end the evening, we made arrangements with Nancy (again, thanks to Joe!) to stay in her third floor guest room.  Nancy operates Gallery 234 in her beautiful Victorian home.   

After dinner, Andy and I headed up to our room.  See the tip-top up these back stairs???  That's where we stayed.  With the perfect view of the surrounding rooftops, I felt like Mary Poppins!   I sat right here on this couch and KNIT!  The ceiling fan was turning so there was a wonderfully cool breeze.  Lovely relaxing place to be!  Thanks, Nancy, for your hospitality!

Guess who Nancy's next third floor guest will be??  Lucy Neatby!

This morning, we headed to the Frontier Culture Museum.  We passed under this overpass.  These metal sculptures were cute - the gigantic watering can watering the tulips and, on the other side of the overpass, two huge "terra cotta" pots. 

I'm going to hold the Frontier Culture Museum visit until the next post.  I'll start you out with this morning's wonderfully tasty breakfast at Mrs. Rowe's -- pumpkin pancakes -- mmmmmmmm!

I did check the nests when I got home today.  The bluebirds have gotten too big for me to take the nest cup out of the box.  I stood on my tiptoes and took this picture.  Looks like there are only two babies left in the nest. 

The chickadees, on the other hand, are beginning to look like real birds - feathers and all!

Won't be long now until I'm emptying out both cups, placing them back in the boxes, and waiting for two new batches of eggs.

More tomorrow!

   

Progress and Not

Look at the baby birds!!!  They're growing fast!  Please click to see bigger pictures.

Here are the baby chickadees.  This picture on the far left was taken on 04/22/08.  The second picture on the right was taken on 04/24/08.  They are still sooo tiny!!!  I love their little beaks!  Look - they're smiling!

The bluebirds are getting bigger and bigger!  It's a nest full! 

The picture on the far left was taken 04/22/08 and the one on the right on 04/24/08.  Their feathers are really filling in.  Even in two days - what a difference.

Now, for the newest shawl - the Spring Shawl Surprise.  I haven't made much progress at all.  Horrible picture re: the true color of the yarn.  I'm dragging my feet on this because I still can't decide whether to use the larger or smaller beads.  Pictured here are the larger ones.  They show up so well and I like the matte color.  I did find a size 12 crochet hook but haven't had time to try it yet.  I think I will do a couple of rows with the smaller beads (IF the size 12 hook will work) and then decide. 

I have the yarn and the needles ready to go for the Mystery Shawl 8 but haven't started it yet.  Gotta get going!

Speaking of going ---- I'm going to Churchville, VA this weekend for the Cestari Wool Fair.  Should be interesting.  Will I see any of you there???