Euro Style

Since our flight left so early in the morning, we decided to stay at a hotel near the airport plus we can leave our car there and not pay for airport parking. I must be just a little country girl because I was so impressed with this Euro-style hotel, Aloft, way cool for the US. The lobby was not large by any means, but was so well laid out there was room for 5 different seating areas, a pool table, a bar, computer area and eating area. The four large screen tv's showed aerial views of various cities around the world.


My tastes have really changed over the years (acchh remember country style?!) and I used to hate modern (glass, chrome, straight lines). But now I love retro 50's mid-century modern meets 21st century coolness. I like the crisp lines, the funky Jetson like graphics and pointy legged furniture.


Instead of the common counter against the wall, the reception desk was a circular space right in the middle. Much more welcoming.


The bar had a colorful frosted glass cabinet creating a kaleidescope background. But the winning feature was the countertop where thousands of tiny LED lights were embedded in the resin, with the lights changing color from blue to pink to yellow. With a couple glasses of wine, I'd probably become hypnotized.


I took these pics at 3:30 in the morning so of course there was no one at the bar. The stainless steel bar stools were lined up at an angle. The little things.


But the whacky award goes to the glass enclosed cabinet that had things for sale that you just might need....


...like for "Aches & Pains or


"Just in Case", a clever concept and when have you seen feminine hygiene products displayed so well?

Wool & Sheep & Yarn & Color & Fiber & Crowds & Madness!

I survived the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival (about a week ago). My biggest show of the year, it's also the largest of its kind. Over 100,000 people attended in the 93 degree heat. I really do like this festival with its farminess, sheep, crafts and more fiber related items in one place.


This is what greeted me at the festival, a large void to fill. My tent was perfectly placed as the second tent in from the entrance. Whatever I did to get this spot, I want to do that again. It was a primo location with a nice green lawn out front.


I unloaded the trailer of my 75 crates of yarn, over 100 pounds of loose yarn and roving, patterns, mannequins and other stuff.


It took my over 6 hours to get it all set up and fussed with. I didn't want to leave much for the next day as people start streaming in at 7:00 a.m. even though it doesn't officially open until 9:00.


At 6:00 on Friday I took a break to attend the vendor's dinner. It's held in the big sheep showing ring with tables of picnic food laid out, drinks and even a bluegrass band to entertain us.


The crowds descended (that's my tent on the right)


and I was packed from 8:00 until around 4:00 when they started to clear out, probably due to the heat. It was over 90 degrees which does not bode well for selling wool. But the serious buyers (addicts) came early and bought. I had to keep combining yarn into bins and removing the empties.


I had my amazing helpers, Natalie, Suzanne and my son, Garrett working and that wasn't even enough. We ran out of bags, change and receipt books. I thought I came supplied but I'll know better next time. The customers are really nice though and they help each other with finding yarn or saying, "yeah, that color looks good on you." But there are some baddies in the crowds too. I had a few things stolen this time, as did many other vendors. What's up with that?! I hope they break out in itchy hives.


Here is my front 'lawn' where I was able to spill out on to. I had my pay station out there until Garrett and Suzanne were too red (bad me!) and I whisked them in under the tent to be in the shade.


Always an attention getter.


My Slubby Nubby scarves, all lined up ready for a neck. Garrett took some of these photos. Next year he should just spend a couple hours going around the festival taking pix. He has an amazing eye and an amazing camera.


Slubby is my best selling yarn. It has a whimsical character and is really easy to knit. Fast and gratifying.

This lovely customer picked out a 'yarn bouquet' to make an afghan.


The S&W Fest hosts over 1000 sheep. It is common to see folks out walking them, even though some lambs are more reluctant than others.


Grooming stanchions are set up to clip those coats close.


The sheep barn reminds me of a big lodge, woody and wonderful.


This is one of the fair princesses.


and another princess.


Alpacas are just too cute, like cartoon animals.


Food vendors keep up a brisk business, selling out sometimes.




and yarn isn't the only color here. Sprinkle madness!


Adorable!


and after many hours of selling our hearts out, we get to drive home past our own sheep and fields.


Another Sheep & Wool Fest past. Now to take a break (almost) and try to relax.

Shear Madness!

A few days before Maryland Sheep & Wool Fest, we arranged to have the sheep sheared of their heavy coats. It's great to be able to take the fleeces to the large trailer that Frankenmuth Woolen Mill brings to the festival and save all that money (like $80) on shipping it to Michigan (where their mill is). This photo is the before pic, where they're laden with pounds and pounds of gorgeous locks. This is the longest it's ever been as I usually shear in April and October, but have not sheared since last April. And were they ever happy to get their coats off as the temps soared to the 90's on the weekend.


Farmer Anne comes to the farm to shear and we love her. She talks to the girls, calms them down and is very gentle. Except when my sheep turn into demon sheep. I did hear a few words that weren't too calming but hey, I said them too. It really isn't fun to be kicked in the face with pointy hooves.


She puts the sheep into contorted poses.




One of our farm cats (although he'd rather be referred to as a 'house cat') took in the scene from the grandstands.


...and caught a little shut eye. Either that or he had to shut his eyes when the sheep were showing a bit too much on the underside.


One very funny (to me anyway) tendency for sheep to do after they've been sheared is to butt heads to establish the pecking (butting) order again. Sheep get used to the way they look in their wool but once they're naked, they don't recognize each other and have to show who is dominant. For years it was Mocha, my old ewe who died recently so I was curious to see who would be "Queen of the Field" in 2010.


After a few playful butts, then looking away, then back to a more aggressive skull knocking, the superior (best head butterer) ewe walked away with the prize. I don't know what the prize is, maybe just the reigning title of Supreme Ewe. This year's title goes to Mochacinno, Mocha's daughter. Go figure. It's in the genes. (no photo of the queen, sorry)




And this is Brambles, my oldest ewe (going on 19 years). She did not participate in any head butting (smart girl!) as she'd probably become airborne as she weighs less than a nickle. I just love to see her sheared as she is now a puzzle of "what objects can you see in those spots?"


One of my fleeces weighed in at 16 lbs.!!!! Now that's a heavy coat to be carrying around on those days where it's been high 80's. That's a large coffee can to give you an idea of how big the fleece is. All the wool is skirted (taking off all the dingle berries, the poop that clings on to their behinds, although a couple of my ewes have award-winning dingle melons that sound like those wooden wind chimes when they run!), the belly wool thrown off (the dirty underside), sorted by color, and all stuffed into multiple bags and on its way to Michigan to be washed and carded into delightful soft roving for me to turn into yarn. Happy day!

Clown Barf?!

How can my studio go from this......


to THIS?!!!!! in such a short time?


Some folks (not MY customers though) have described variegated colored yarn as 'Clown Barf'. Well, I don't think my yarns usually look like clown barf, but laying all over the floor like this, they sorta do resemble clown barf. But once my yarns are all nicely and neatly packed into crates and hung orderly on racks, they will look like the rainbow of colors (unicorns, kitties, puppies, cinnamon, flowers and all things happy) and people will come from miles around just to buy them. Yep, packing up for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Fest which takes place at the Howard County Fairgrounds this weekend. Yay! I and my clown barf yarn will be there. (outside tent, S6). Cya

My Legs Hurt and Other Parts Too!

In spite of the terrible forecast, (gloom and doom, rain, thunder and lightning) Sue, Houston and I took off for Confluence, PA along the Great Allegheny Passage. This trail begins at Cumberland and meanders 150 to Pittsburg. I've only done stretches from Cumberland up to Meyersdale so was excited to see more of the trail. This was a trial run to see if the new bikes and various gear would work out for Sue and Houston who, along with Bruce (a friend who lives in Alaska) are riding from Missoula, MT to Talkeetna, Alaska (where Bruce lives) over 7 weeks this summer. Both Sue and Houston just got new bikes (I was riding my trusty steed of 11 years) and wanted to make sure that 1. the bike fit 2. that the gear would stay put and 3. that they could actually pedal all that weight. I was just going along for fun (whoopee!) Fun being described as 45 miles uphill to camp in the rain and 45 miles uphill (how is THAT possible?) back to the comforts of home.


But boy oh boy was this trail beautiful. It's a rail to trail that some geniuses sunk some major cash into. 150 miles of gorgeousness that connects with the 184 miles of the C&O Canal so one can ride from Pittsburg to DC without the worry of being hit by a car.


Our bikes needed a rest now and then so we usually stopped at great views.

We saw many creeks and rivers, the main rivers being the Casselman and the Youghiogheny. Miles and miles of the trail ramble along the Casselman and the path was wide enough that you could safely look down at the water. Both rivers are la-de-da calm in places and kick-your-ass-silly in others. We saw mostly calm and crossed over them on bridges a few times. A kayak trip down the Casselman may be next!


This trail was similar to the woods we would go backpacking in, but we are going a lot faster and can travel many more miles in a day. Cascading creeks were plentiful...


...as were wildflowers. This is trillium, a showy, girly flower that invites a closer look.


This is a gathering of the adorable and aptly named, Dutchmen's Breeches.


See how these cute little flowers resemble Dutchman's breeches?
We saw spring beauties, wild phlox, and lots of others I couldn't identify. I was surprised to see how far behind the Laurel Highlands (this part of the trail goes through the Laurel Highlands) were, about 3 weeks behind. The further north we got, the less leaves were on the trees and in Confluence, the leaves were still tiny buds. Spring is my favorite season so I was thrilled to have another one.


Along the trail are many ridges which are studded with wind turbines. At times we could see the massive blades turning in the breeze. As you can see, I was always in the back (GIB: Girl in Back) which was fine with me. I listened to my Ipod (thanks Chemical Brothers and U2 for keeping me going!) and just looked at the beautiful scenery with an ear to ear grin.


I know that the bridges have been in existence as long as the rail road, which is the early 1900's. People have been working on this trail for 30 years and I think they've made a nice transition from large trains passing over to having bikes travel across.


And this very long span traverses Highway 219.



This is the highest point along the trail, the Eastern Continental Divide. The western waterways travel to the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern waterways empty in the Atlantic Seaboard. No matter which way we traveled on the trail, it was uphill to this spot.


The trail passes through 'trail towns' which boast amenities to the bicyclists, like bike shops, delis and taverns (!). Since this is a rails to trails, a metal sculpture combines the train and bike theme.


We also passed a few homes along the way and a few car graveyards.


We arrived at our destination of Confluence, set up our camp in drizzle before the real rains set in. We hightailed it to the Lucky Dog Cafe (we were the lucky dogs!) where we had yummy portabella fajitas, wine and beer and gratefully hung out in the warm and dry cafe until dark thirty when it was time to crawl into the tents for a restful night of sleep.


It rained bunches during the night and we woke to dense fog but the promise of a sunny, dry day. The forecast was worse for Sunday but it was proved wrong by a day full of pleasant riding in the sun (except for that darn uphill stuff!). We rode back to our starting point just as the first few drops of rain were falling. Lucky us! The Allegheny Passage Trail is simply a delight and I highly recommend it to everyone. It really is an easy ride, with many put ins so one doesn't have to ride very far. I see kids on bikes with training wheels so it's meant for all levels of riding. Get out there!