A Wool Gathering Weekend

     Now that you've read the title of this story, you're thinking I spent my time daydreaming...or running around the field catching wool that had been blowing around in the wind again...but alas, you're wrong.  I know, sometimes it's hard to admit, but I've learned I'm wrong lots of times and it's okay to admit it when I really want to.
     Months ago I reserved this past weekend on the calendar for a day to myself to go visit A Wool Gathering festival at Young's Dairy in Yellow Springs.  The calendar is an important tool around here so everyone knows when the rare occasion comes up for me to do something sans family.  I've tried to go with the family, but quite honestly, they just don't understand the excitement I feel when I immerse myself in yarn, roving, loose fibers, and other fiber artist goodies.  Instead, they indulge me for about 10 minutes and then decide it's time to race through the festivities and then go play miniature golf and eat ice cream.  Basically, we're not on the same page...except for the ice cream part.
     Saturday morning my friend Cassie from knitting class, and her husband Dana, picked me up and we made our way over to Yellow Springs.  I was so happy to go with them because being the crocheters, knitters, weavers and beginning spinners that they are, they understand my need to go and take part in some fiber immersion.  I was also excited about finally meeting some of my friends from the Namaste Farms group on a website called Ravelry.  We message each other back and forth about things, but there's nothing like finally putting a name to a face.  That is important to me because I have a very vivid imagination and usually what I think a person looks like, even if I can squint to see their little avatar, is nothing like they actually look.

     Even with all of the fibery goodness scattered throughout four tents, the best part was going with friends and meeting others in person...finally.  Up there is a picture of me with some of my Namaste Farms Ravelry group friends.  There's me on the left, then with that totally rocking leopard print hat is pixieduncan, and on the right is beccasmom01.  Sitting down is Pixie's mom, mimi10knitter.  She reminds me of the glue that holds us together, sort of tries to keep us in line, but then can't help but join in.  Pixie is a carpenter...not to mention a very cool lady.  She's got a start-up business going where she's making hand combs and is working on a spinning wheel prototype.  Basically, her woodworking skills are much better than my using a hammer to put up curtain rods.  I can attest that her combs are primo A-1 and I feel privileged to have some here.  Becasmom is such a wonderful woman and I so enjoyed meeting her.  She's so nice and friendly, but also level headed and reminds me of someone that will work hard and go after what she wants and dreams for.  Another Ravelry friend, henpecker2, was there, but she escaped before the picture was taken.  She's another fabulous friend who has a neat fiber flock and I hope to spend more time with in the future.  All in all it was a fantastic day.  

     So, there you have it folks.  I spent time with wonderful friends, got to touch and smell (yes, I do that) all sorts of fibers, and even bought some roving and other goodies just for me to play around with and make something fabulous.  Oh, and of course, I ate.  What's a festival of any kind without food, hmmmm?  I tried fried cheese curds, which I'm still on the fence about, and homemade potato chips.  I ate a pulled pork sandwich, that was yummy, but some coleslaw on top would have made it over the top, and of course the ice cream.  It was a wonderful day and I'm already looking forward to A Wool Gathering next October.  Maybe I'll see you there.  Sm

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