Wind and Rain Festival

In spite of the weather, there was a large turnout at the New York Sheep & Wool Festival. I was tripping over knitbloggers everywhere I went.

I felt a bit odd about approaching strangers to introduce myself with my real and blog name, so I didn't meet everyone that I would have liked to. However, there were two ladies that I had to meet, Carrie and Ann Marie. Can I tell you how adorable the two of them are? Sadly, their group kept losing one member or another, so I didn't get to meet Frecklegirl.

True to form, I focused on the food and wine over the sheep and wool. My loot consists of all manner of venison, one bottle of a local reisling, some goodies from Taste Budd's Chocolates, condiments from Bittersweet Herb Farm, and a few bars of handmade soap.

My knitting-related loot is considerably less: a pair of Brittany needles and a hank of mohair boucle from Persimmon Tree Farm.

The highlight? An Orenburg Lace Shawl I bought from a vendor. I know it's cheating to buy a shawl when you are capable of knitting one. This is precisely the sort of easy-way-out/quick-knits mentality that sets the teeth of long-time knitters on edge. Indeed, pride goeth before the shawl.

But me? I'm not all that keen on shawls. Frankly, it's just one more thing to hold or to lose. I like something that will stay on my body -- without assistance from me -- and keep me warm. But this Orenburg shawl is my chance to give the whole shawl a whirl; see if I can't be converted. Who knows, maybe I'll even knit my own when the winter freeze sets in.