"My Mother Has An Aversion to Enemas" and Other Profound Things Norma Said at the Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival

Ahem. I think I've said quite enough, don't you?

So instead, I will give you some visuals and try to keep the commentary to a minimum, just adding words sparingly, as necessary for clarification. (ha! This is me, remember?!) Anyhoo, in random order, much like the randomness of the things I might say on any given day. (see above title)

My camera inadvertently stayed at home for the first part of the day, and joined me by the goodwill of my most excellent husband, so I give you what I can.

Juno, who is as enchanting as her blog title, wearing Cate's Birch. Gorgeous, dontcha think?

Juno, Lee Ann, Cate, Twinkletoes et moi, weary shoppers.

Fig balsamic vinegar and stunning seafoam natural-dyed Island Raised Romney. Thank you, Cate!

A new (to me) chair, for the grand price of $35. I now have a "collection" of Bosworths (2). This one is grenadilla wood with a bloodwood shaft. Oh my. And a two-minute conversation with Sheila Bosworth, and take a look at that spinning on that spindle. I spun that.

I highly recommend a two-minute conversation with Sheila. Worth its weight in gold. Speaking of gold (well, orange), that's Fantom Farm Romney. I'm a goner. Totally gonzo.

Jacob (on the left) and more Fantom Farm Romney.

Alpaca Lace Scarf kit (photo doctored to prevent copyright violations)

Cassie, please go get a Kleenex before looking at the next photo.

What?!  If I dusted, I would need one of these. Stop teasing.

Abigail is getting a new souvenir t-shirt. We had breakfast AND dinner at Libby's Diner. Convenience of location and reputation won out both times. We had enough home-cooked sausage on biscuit, corned beef hash and eggs, blueberry pancakes, hamburgers and fries, turkey club sandwiches, and apple- and blackberry pie to last us a lifetime. And on the way out, the most charming conversation EVER with a diner waitress. Falls under Stephanie's heading of, "Our plan for world domination continues apace." We're dumb, because we did not get a picture of this lovely woman. It was such an eminently bloggable moment, and we blew it. Well, except for the telling of it and the memory we share of the encounter.

Juno's uber-great boots. I want some.

And my most favoritest purchase of all. New edition, EXTREMELY LIMITED edition sock yarn from a sheep farm about a 1/2 hour away from where I live. (Juno got some, too - in natural grey.) This is the best part of going to festivals - special finds like this that you would not get anywhere else. Notice the names of the lamb and the goat from which the yarn came. And of course, all natural-dyed. The vendor was tickled 13 shades of pink that we liked her sock yarn. There was only one skein of the green, and that's not enough for a pair of socks, so I had to get the plum too. (oh, darn.) This will make heavy boot socks.  I await your guidance as to patterns for a woman's no-nonsense boot sock to be knit in sport-weight, or slightly heavier, yarn.  My intention is for these to be socks that I wear with my slippers at home when it's cold around here. Any patterns out there?  I think I'll make the cuff one color and the foot the other, rather than do stripes.

Next year, are you coming to Vermont Sheep & Wool?

Comments

[JoVE]

Sorry I missed it but my preferred timing was completely different from everyone elses and probably would have meant you spending SUNDAY shopping as well.

BTW, you can make a pair of children's socks with one skein of yarn. But maybe you don't know any appropriate age children who like wool socks. I live with one.

[Sibylle]

Hmm dont think I come next year, much to far to travel :) BTW I think to made a mistake when linking to Lee Ann. I thought she is the one with fuzzylogicknits?

Sibylle

[Lauren]

Claudia and Polly Anna look like they will be very good to you. What an interesting chair!

[cari]

So THAT'S what the spinning chair looks like. Lovely. And that is some very special sock yarn you've got there. Sigh. Next year.

[Jan]

That orange roving looks luscious! Sounds like a perfect day. And you're going to Rhinebeck, too. Aren't you. Pout.

[Judy]

Looks like a great time was had. NEFA usually has blue faced and / or border leicester that make for a really nice spining experience. But sounds like you bought some great and wonderful stuff.

[margene]

I'm sooooo envious of all your good finds and spending a day with great pals. Next year in VT!!!

[Katy]

Well, I HOPE to be at VT Sheep & Wool next year! But I'm sad I missed it this year...and I missed breakfast at Libby's to boot. Sigh.
The sock yarn is gorgeous and so is the roving.
Hope to see you at Rhinebeck!

[Kathy]

Sign me up for next year!

[Cassie]

I'm going to sit here and continue my pouting, if necessary, until Rhinebeck. Jealousy is ugly.

[Lee Ann]

I personally think Cassie should stop her pouting, since she gets to go to Rhinebeck with you all...and she should also start planning for Vermont next year RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE.

Norma, there aren't words to say how wonderful you are. And I haven't even taken any motherwort yet... ;-)

[Teresa C]

I knew you would make me regret not making the drive out for a visit. Is there any distance that Juno won't drive? :)

[Wanda]

Ooh, you really found some things there. I love that they had names of the animals that donated their fur for your sock yarn. It looks really soft too.

[Carole]

Sounds like a great time! I'm a tad jealous, although last weekend I did get you all to myself.
There's a lot of bags gathered round you all in that photo. You didn't buy too much did you?
And, what's up with more sock yarn? You don't knit socks. Remember?

[alison]

Sock yarn hand-dyed with flowers - I'm hyperventilating here!!

[Kim]

Love the sock yarn!!! Hmm.....maybe next year ;-)

[Laurie]

Where do I start? Gorgeous woods on the spindle, and yes, Sheila is magic. Nice singles! Nice chair! Scrumptious sock yarn. I thought I was done with sock yarn....I guess not. *sigh*

You keep excellent company.

[Margot]

Missed you!!!

I had the same camera problem, but since SO was already with me, I couldn't duplicate your graceful solution. Next year...

[claudia]

Excuse me, but I believe that would be *my* sock yarn.

YOU DON'T EVEN KNIT SOCKS!!! mostly.

[ann]

first you start off with talk of enemas then you threaten us with ..... visuals??!!

[Marie]

You're right, those are great boots. Did she tell you the brand and model names?

[adelaide]

Am I going to be able to find stuff like that at Rhinebeck? (Oh, please say yes.)

[Patti]

Oh, my, you go from having nothing to say, to . . . that.

You know what boots you'd like? John Fluevog boots. http://www.fluevog.com/
Wild wild shoes - they'be been around for years.

[Patti]

I have these: http://www.fluevog.com/code/?w%5B0%5D=attribute%3ABoot%2CWomens&pp=2&view=detail&p=11&colourID=30#zoom

(sorry for the double comment, I couldn't find them and I'm still sleepy and got woken up by the cat vomiting)

[Beth S.]

What a magnificent haul! The orange roving is almost enough to make me break out my thus-far-unused spindle. And oh, that sock yarn! Maybe this is the stuff that will turn you into a Sock Knitter once and for all. :-)

[Lene]

Wow. I want that chair.

[Vicki]

Did you see the commercial Ellen Degeneres did for the Emmys? Something about why she likes television in "two words" and then falls a small avalanche from her lips... Are you sisters?

; )

[Leslie]

So wanting a Bosworth, 'ceptin I keep dropping my drop spindles...

[Marcia]

It's a shame you had such CRAPPY weather this weekend, too. Snicker. If you've never spun Jacob, you'll like it, but you need to get a Golding spindle for your collection...he'll be at R'beck. And, I'm printing out your picture so I can find you!

[Rachel H]

Um, dare we ask how the words in your title ended up being spoken at the Sheep and Wool festival? (gotta say though, I think your mother's a very sensible woman just based on that.)

Very, Very jealous. Even of the roving, and I don't even spin (um, yet). Glad you had such a great time. Is that the FBS draping itself oh so gently across your shoulders?

[Libby]

I'm pouting in the corner Norma...you went to a place called Libby's, and didn't even think of me? :) (I'm kidding. I can't even get me own mother to remember me half the time...)

[sandy]

OH! That color roving, now yarn on your new Bosworth is stunning. STUN-NING. I am in love. Really. I am glad you are loving the spinning. I really need to learn to spin in my sleep, perhaps then I will get something done!
:)
It really IS good to have one of those new fangled dusting tools, you know, in case David ever gets the urge!
Looks like a fabulous time was had by all.
xo

[Kathleen]

sounds like fun...whatcha gonna say at Rhinebeck?

[Juno]

Well, I say again, your mother's a sensible woman - that is a perfectly reasonable position to take.

And the boots are Docs. I don't know the model - I've had them a long time - but they've got a zip running down each side of the zipper for easy on and off.

I love them.

Lovely to finally meet you....

[Rabbitch]

aaaaAAAaaahhhh! All the other bloggers are cuter than me and they all get to go places and waa waa waa waa!

Looks like you had a great time! I'll get over the self-pity soon, I promise.

waaaa ...

[susan]

I.need.that.romney!!!