295. New York Soap and Jam Festival

I do tend to march to the beat of my own drummer from time to time, but you would be forgiven for thinking I'm a bit "off" based on my purchases at the New York Sheep & Wool Festival.

Soap:

Scrumptious soap and a soap dish from Got Soap. Go here for YOUR free bar of soap! (just mention my blog at checkout)

And jam:

The jam came from My Father's Kitchen. They had such interesting varieties I couldn't pass them up.  Blueberry Sambucca, Scotch Marmalade (not Scotch as in "from Scotland," or "in the Scottish way," but Scotch likker), Apricot Comfort, Pinot Noir.  Etcetera. I stopped myself at four jars. 

And then there was a very special homemade Fig-Ginger jam from Anj that was left at the Spirit Trail booth for me, because we never were able to catch up with each other.  I'm enjoying it on an English muffin with a nice mug of coffee as we speak. 

DeLISHous, Anj!  This jam is not just any jam; it is a celebratory jam.  I was not able to make it to the wedding, but I'm toasting you now, Anj and Sue. Congratulations and thank you!   

Ruby also brought Sandy and I jars of Apple-Crab Jelly. (I usually see it called Crabapple Jelly, but I think there was a joke in there somewhere that went over my head. Or maybe in Hardwick the apples have crabs, or they say it backwards in Hardwick. Not gonna go there. No crabs were harmed in the making of the jam -- at least I don't think so.) So I guess it's the year of the jam.  Or the crab.  Either of which suit me just fine. 

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Oh HAI!  There was also a little bit of yarn purchased.  At a yarn festival; imagine that! Not a lot, but what I did get is special.

Lyra, from The Spirit Trail, 50% Alpaca / 30% Merino / 20% Silk, in an Eggplanty colorway that is not haggy at all. I bought one skein, together with Jennifer's cowl pattern. 

and Fox Sox (tm) from Foxfire Fiber & Designs, in the colors Sumac and Acorn.  That skein of sumac was the only one there, and I picked it up, put it back down, picked it up, put it back down.  I simply could not walk away from it.  It is a gorgeous color, and there was only one there.  Not sure what I'm going to do with it, but I'll think of something.  Maybe just use it as a table decoration. 

Comments

[Mel]

Foxfire has some nice stuff. We actually didn't buy any soap this year, 'cause we've sort of stocked up over the late summer/early fall. We also didn't buy jam, but Ted brought us some of his apple butter, which is quite tasty.

[gayle]

Not much yarn - but the colors are so gorgeous, who needs more?
And the jams really set one to thinking, eh? It would take some pretty special toast to live up to those.

[margene]

You shop better than anyone I know!!

[Jenn C,]

I bought a total of ONE skein of yarn this year.

I spent far more on jam and wine than I did on yarn or fiber, but I couldn't be happier with my purchases.

Glad to see you bought the gorgeous sumac yarn!

[maryse]

i didn't buy soap (like mel i have enough for now) but i did buy cheese and fudge and chocolate.

[Ruby]

Norma Norma Norma....If we labeled the jelly as "crabapple" you'd think it was made with only crabapples......but "apple crab" designated that there was both apples AND crabapples within, all harvested from our own trees I might add. If crabs were included (or sullen apples for that matter), the label would have read "crabby apple crab jelly". And quit the hometown jokes.... Hardwick has had more positive coverage in the New York Times AND Gourmet magazine in the last month due to the innovative agricultural activites behind the funding of Claire's (http://www.clairesvt.com/), our new little gourmet bistro than anywhere else in the state! Check out the reviews (http://www.gourmet.com/travel/2008/10/hardwick-revival).....and then come and dine with me here.

[marianne]

"crabby apple crab jelly"...sullen apples, how funny!
Fabulous purchases, Norma, this coming from someone who does the soap and jam thing also. Gorgeous yarns, those colours are outstanding!

[scoutj]

I didn't even look at a single skein of yarn. And since I don't spin there was no fiber looking either. The only thing I bought?

http://www.jenniethepotter.com/products/3_knitting_mug.htm#

Yep! A MUG!!!

[anj]

So glad that you got and like the jam!!! Hope to see you soon.

[Marcia]

You will love Barb's sock yarn....I'm working on a pair for the husband as we speak! (Soap, huh...I buy that at MDSW.) I used to buy great cotton woven blankets from a guy in Building 21, but they stopped bringing them. Again, sorry we never connected....maybe next year!

[Cheryl S.]

Food! MMmmm. I likes me some good food.

[Seanna Lea]

I looked at the soap and jam, but the only food I bought was one of the soup mixes (for those plentiful nights coming up when food has to be quick or just won't happen).

The Spirit Trail booth was full of amazing stuff!

[Lucia]

There is much to be said for soap. I did not buy any, but I did buy other things. I fear I was far less restrained than I intended. But really, when you see 100g/1200m of angora/silk laceweight, what exactly are you supposed to do? Yes, I typed that right. I will have to work with coarser laceweights for seven years before I find myself worthy.

*Sigh* way too short. Back to work.

[Cathy-Cate]

My very first purchase at my very first Rhinebeck (evah!) was a skein of that scrumptious Lyra! I was going to wait -- but it seduced me. I was actually looking at that same dark wine color, but my friend was too, so I picked the lovely green skein. And a few bits and bobs out of the sale basket.

Besides, Lyra is my favorite constellation. It's so small and pretty and almost symmetric. And it has the brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere in it. I point it out to my children every summer. (I considered naming one of them Lyra, but a) they never would have forgiven me and b) no one could have spelled or pronounced it correctly.)

I did go on to buy significantly more yarn, however, and no soap or jam. What was I thinking?

[Manise]

Kathy picked me up some Got Soap.... a bag of slivers (samples) that I use as handsoap for the downstairs bathroom. A whole bag lasts me almost a year. It's fun to get a different sample every 2 weeks or so. Other one's I love are their Honey Ginger - it may be an LE Goatsmilk - and Basil regular sized bars.

[Sheila]

Lovely purchases, Norma. I tend to buy yarn that way, a certain shade will whisper sweet nothings in my ear and next thing I know we're cohabitating.

[Cookie]

All around yummy.

[sandy]

Well, see? I did not even know that you got all that jam! I love the surprises!
:D
xo

[Angel]

Norma- you are one hot mama! Your sweater looks awesome and I love the color that you picked- funny that, I never considered knitting that sweater before but now you have me thinking......

[Danielle]

Oh, I'm glad you got the Fox Fire in the sumac and acorn colors -- they're perfect for you!

[Alarming Female]

soap ho'