Off to Montana

Last week we took off for Missoula, Montana where our youngest, Forrest, is graduating from college. Yay!
Anyone flying into Denver knows this scene. It looks like a Cirque de Soleil training camp.


I was surprised to see so much snow still. We had a clear day so had nice views of the Rockies.


We knew we were out west when walking around town, we saw these two guys tanning, and I don't mean getting a tan.


Three rivers run through Missoula, the Blackfoot, Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers. The Clark Fork rushes through the downtown area and a few years ago, some boulders were strategically placed to form a nice wave for kayakers to play in.


Many competitions take place here, with kayakers doing spins, flips and moves like backstab, blunt and roundhouse. All can be viewed from the pedestrian bridge or from a platform overlooking the river.


There are many micro breweries in town which my boys all know. The names of the beers lean towards the funny....Olde Bongwater, different from Fresh Bongwater, Eddy Out, Moose Drool, Dancing Trout, Cold Smoke, Trout Slayer, Scape Goat, Dragon Breath, Hopnosis, Faceplant, Dumptruck. They know them all.


Graduation day dawned clear and cool. This was the University of Montana's first outdoor graduation and we couldn't have asked for a better day.


The ceremony included a Native American chant/song, performed by native elders.


My proud clan, although we were missing the oldest son, Aramin. Forrest is staying on in Missoula, working at a vineyard along the Clark Fork River then grad school at some point. Congrats Forrest!

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