Oh, sorry.  Was I yelling?  But, what a fun experience!!  My family and I attended the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck this past weekend.  (Major thank you to DH for such a wonderful anniversary surprise!)
Despite reading about the mythical Rhinebeck on blogs for years, I had no idea that this is such an event, that there are so many people that passionate about fiber.  Well, enough of the small talk how about a few pictures.

First off, we sat in traffic for well over an hour waiting to travel the last mile to get into the fairgrounds.  They really should have 2 entrances open, one for each direction of traffic rather than making opposing directions take turns getting through the gates.



I was highly amused by this sign for the Phantom Gardener.  I had a long time to look at it and be amused.    Sounds like they should sell venus fly traps and lilies rather than mums and pumpkins.

The first order of business after arrival was lunch and letting the kids release some of the energy built up from sitting in the car for such a long time.



Some leaf piles near the herding oval took care of that.  (See the sheep in the background?)

After lunch Megan (my 9 yo) and I headed off to explore the vendors' barns.



Along with everyone else.  Notice, every single person is heading the same direction -- no big surprise that the vendors' barns were mobbed.  With a bit of patience and wiggling, we were able to get into the booths that caught our interest.  I actually didn't have a plan, unusual for me, we just walked around admiring all the fiber eye-candy.  And letting whims lead us, we found some things I never saw before...



Including the biggest freakin' knitting needle I've ever seen.  (Megan was quite amused.)  And, yes, they were meant for knitting not for some kind of oversize knitting wall ornamentation.  This booth had some of the thickest yarn I've ever seen too -- easily as thick as my thumb. 

And, oh, the yarn! 



I wish I had made a point of remembering the name of this vendor.  Their solar dyed yarn was just stunning!

There were, of course, sheep, alpacas and llamas. 

 



That one was my favorite.  She just looks like she has something withering to say to all of us looking at her.




This ambitious llama appears to have mastered reading to pass the long hours standing around in his stall.    Hope his owner changes the poster periodically.



DH later communed with the well-read friendly llama.  (Have I mentioned, I have a wonderful DH?)



There were even 5 foot tall fake sheep.  On a warm day wandering around in that costume must make the wearer sympathize with sheep on a sunny day in a treeless field but for a chilly Saturday in mid-October, the wearer was envied by more than a few passers-by.

Hey, guess what?!



I kinneared the Yarn Harlot as she walked by!!!  I would have run up and (hopefully) said something amusing original coherent but I was wrangling my busy 3 yo and 6 yo outside the haunted barn.



Sunday dawned quite cold but we brought our warm snugglies.  Thank you DH for taking a picture of me to prove I was actually in attendance.




First thing Sunday, we went to the sheep shows.  I had no idea that there are sheep shows like there are dog shows.  Actually the sheep shows seem to have a bit more purpose.  At least there is a reason to breed a uniformly brown sheep with an excellent fleece.  I'm not so sure there is a good reason to breed a dog with such a broad head and shoulders that puppies have to all be born by C-section. (Bull dogs.)


Megan and Erin consider the tortoise. The tortoise considers Megan and Erin.



As the tortoise wandered off into the sunset, we left Rhinebeck tired, happy, and carting home some beautiful fiber.



Here is what came home with us.  Starting at top center and going clockwise:
- Coopworth wool in grey from Fiber Kingdom
- Merino and Tencel in purple/orange/magenta from The Sheep Shed
- Purple/green sock yarn from Australian Sox
- White BFL wool from to try dyeing myself from Fiber Kingdom
- Fall colors BFL wool from Clover Leaf Farms
- Purple wool and mohair from Kid Hollow Farm
- Calypso BFL wool also from Clover Leaf Farms
- Merino and Tencel in lime and magenta from The Sheep Shed
Various critters in the middle for kids.