Sheep and Wool and Toys

How do you like this face?

What about this one?

Personally I like this one with the hair hanging in it's face.

This year was my third going to MDS&W. The first year I was like a kid in a candy shop and I just bought whatever caught my eye. I'm not even sure I had a shopping list. It was great fun but you can only be a goggle-eyed newbie once so the second year I had purpose and a plan. My wheel was new so I focused on the fiber. Much of the purchases made in those first 2 years is still in my stash so I didn't need anything this year. Looking at my queue on Ravelry, I actually have the yarn for most of my to do list.

This year I went with a short wish list and a plan not to bring home too much because I'm running out of places to put it. There was so much gorgeous stuff there - wonderful colors and soft yarns - but much of it is similar to stuff that's already in my stash so it wasn't so hard to put it down. I did buy some top from Cloverleaf Farm. This is 50/50 silk/merino blend and it is sinfully soft and has an amazing lustre. Doesn't it look golden or coppery? I cannot wait to spin it up.

Since DQ claimed the socks I made with my first skein from Dancing Leaf Farm, I checked out their booth to see if Dalis had anything fun. Boy did she ever! She has such beautiful colors and this one called my name loud and clear. It's hard to see in this picture but there are blues, greens and soft browns in there. It looks like a day in the park to me. I'd tell you the name of the color but Dalis said it's one of a kind and unnamed. She's playing with a new shade of blue.

That is all of the prepared yarn and fiber I bought. I was so proud of my restraint. I resisted Tess, Brooks Farm, and Shelridge Farm. I resisted alpaca and Koigu. I even resisted an amazingly gorgeous skein of sock yarn from Ellen's Half Pint Farm even though Risa was right there, very helpfully pointing out that need was not an issue when buying sock yarn.

There was one thing that I Just. Could. Not. Resist. I bought a drum carder.

Here's my new toy. It's a Strauch Petite. Once I bought this I did have to go get a little bit of fiber to break it in with. I got a little angora, some Tussah silk, a gorgeous garnet batt, a little shiny stuff to add sparkle. I am going to have so much fun playing with this and hubbo is happy because it's relatively small and easily stored.

So much for not spending too much at MDS&W! I'll try again next year.

I am so late posting today because after a weekend as full and fabulous as this one was it's nearly impossible to figure out where to start. Last time I posted it was Thursday and I was so excited that I could barely sit still. I was looking forward to Carole's arrival and all the stuff we'd see together. Today I'm tired in the best kind of way because the weather cooperated and I have just spent the most wonderful weekend laughing and talking, taking pictures and playing with yarn. It doesn't get much better than that.

On Friday, Carole and I saw DC from the one end to another. Having a visitor who'd never seen the city before was a great excuse to pretend I was a tourist and ride the tourmobile. It's nearly impossible to see everything in one day but we gave it our best shot. With cameras in hand we strolled the grounds of the Capital (where we saw a cat on a leash - so weird!), saw gorgeous flowers at the US Botanic Gardens, and appreciated the many memorials found throughout DC. We had so much fun that we went back on Sunday with Stinkerbelle to get a better look at the Jefferson and the FDR memorials.

Saturday we rose bright and early to drive up to Maryland Sheep and Wool with my buddy Felicia and her daughter, Miss B. Upon arrival we promptly got on line and waited over and hour and a half for the privilege of buying t-shirts. So crazy!

We saw Risa, Jessica, Mama-E, and Lolly and I don't have pictures of any of them so you'll just have to take my word for it. Normally, when I say I saw someone, I mean just that. For example - I saw Lolly at the Homespun Yarn Party and, being a total geek, I ducked out the back of the room without saying hello. Even worse, I fessed up to her in an email the next day although she would never have know otherwise. No excuse other than wicked lameness. I know these people are nice and I'm sure I'd love'em in person but the older I get the more dorky I get. Thankfully, Carole is not a dork at all so we said hello and everyone was very nice and I'm so happy I met them.

The shopping part of the excursion was pretty good although I now know why Felicia and I usually go on Sunday. It was CROWDED! There were booths I couldn't even get close to at all and we gave up on the Ravelry meet up after hearing that it was totally packed. (I was bummed about that 'cuz I really wanted a ravelry button) We each bought some yarn or fiber or both and I would say that we were quite restrained if you don't count the *cough* new toy that followed me home. I'd rather show you than tell you so stay tuned for details on that. Trust me - it's awesome!

This week will be a super busy one because Stinkerbelle is turning 9 on Wednesday and we'll celebrate it with cupcakes at school, cupcakes for her team at the softball game she plays on her birthday, and a cake at her party next weekend. Kind of a lousy time for my microwave to die isn't it? It's an even worse time for my disposal to croak and cause a flood under my kitchen sink. Yup! I'm happy to say that both of these situations ought to be fixed this afternoon. Unfortunately I can't get out of the chorus production at school on Tuesday night. Oh, yes, I have to cook for that too.

Promises of Things To Come

I took this picture last night when I got home. The light was just so nice and warm just before sunset. It's not the best shot but you can see the red petals peeking from the peony about to pop and the deep dark purple of and iris just about to bloom. Not to be outdone, my grass is greening up nicely - aided, no doubt, by the copious amounts of rain we've had recently.

Carole arrives later today for a whirlwind weekend full of fun. We'll be site-seeing in DC before heading up to Maryland Sheep and Wool to play with fiber and meet up with everyone. I was really worried about the weather but my favorite weather guy says that Friday will be beautiful and the rain should hold off until Saturday night. I'm A-OK with that. I don't want my wool to get wet!

I don't expect to post tomorrow so have a great weekend and I'll catch you all on Monday.