(This post was written in an airport over a margarita on my way to California, so before the post below. This whole travel thing makes me a little discombobulated.)
Ahhhh. Did I finally get off the screw-up bus? Because, you know what? Things are looking up.
The shawl did not self-destruct when I tried to wear it to a festival. Thanks for all the kudos—it’s nothing spectacular, but I made it and I like it. And I appreciate hearing the kind words, especially those that were S-P-E-L-L-E-D out. For those who asked, it’s the Shoalwater Shawl pattern by Evelyn A. Clark, published by Fiber Trends. I believe it was also in the October 2000 Piecework magazine as well. I was inspired by CeCe and Greta who had two very different versions of this shawl on at Maryland. The yarn is handspun by moi from fiber purchased at Maryland from Persimmon Tree Farm. They’ll be at Rhinebeck. You’ve been warned.
Not only did the shawl not self-destruct, but the sun actually shined on Saturday and the rain held off for the better part of the day Sunday. The way the weather in New England has been, this alone is a small miracle.
It was truly a wonderful weekend, at least in my estimation. My house was full of bloggers and fibery folk and short people of varying stature, there was hollering and chaos and food being smeared around—and then there were the kids! I was a little nervous about the number of people that I was trying to stuff into my tiny house, but aside from everyone being woken up by Eleanor hollering in the middle of the night, I think we had a pretty darned good time. The kids all got along wonderfully, and when they went to bed we sat around and spun and talked and just had a blast.
I have to admit that I’m going to have a hard time conveying in words how much I enjoyed the company. For one thing, Sara is one of my best friends of all time, and I just love her and her kids. It makes me sad that she lives so far away but I am so glad that there are festivals that give us an excuse to hang out together. And who knows, maybe someday we won’t live so far apart anymore.
It was simply wonderful to spend time with new friends Risa and Kristen as well. Risa and her kids, well, they’re just fabulous. You know, she is the picture of strength and unflappability (is that a word?), and her kids are wonderfully well-behaved and equally poised, but having twins is grindingly hard work when you have a partner. She does it solo every day. All I can say is “wow.” But it’s not just the mom-thing—she’s a fabulously knowledgeable fiber lady, and Sara and I hit her up for information at every turn. She helped me get started on my new Louet drum carder with a Border Leicester lamb fleece I bought at Rhinebeck last fall. (I know a lot of people who hate drum carding, and I can understand that, but wow, do you get a big ol’ hunk of beautiful fiber when you’re done! I’m a convert.)
Kristen, what can I say? She is just as sweet and wonderful and smart as you’d expect from reading her blog. The kids would really like to have her move in but I think we’d have to fight Risa for the right to house her for as long as we can make her stay. She’s a sweet, quiet soul and I loved having her there, talking fiber and enabling a new spinning habit hobby. We tried VERY hard to corrupt her and make her stay Saturday night as well, but I made the mistake of giving her iced coffee, which woke her up enough to make her feel up to the drive. If only I had known—there would have been no caffeine for her!
The breakfast party was a small gathering, but some great friends got to come including Marcy (who has now realized that if she keeps getting mentioned on blogs she’s going to have to scare up something to link to), Helen of the NETA list, and Lynn from Mindful Moderation along with her very lovely daughter. Everyone was itching to get to the fair, so it was a short affair, but we were all well-fed and ready to shop and that was the goal, after all. At the fest itself we met up with Amysue (a wheel changed hands, hooray, and I believe some carded wool made its way to her house as well), Laurie and her very nice DH, Deana from Sheep Thrills, Dave Paul (who complained that he didn’t get a personal invitation to breakfast—next year it will be engraved), all-too-short meetings with Katy and Teresa (nap-deprived children do not facilitate good conversation, I'm sad to say) and found out that Sara and I know people in common from completely different parts of life. A good time was had by all.
For those who think that Cummington is a cult, I don’t know what to tell you. All I can say is that at the potluck dinner on Saturday night, this was served. You can draw your own conclusions.
Sounds like a fabulous time Cate! All the chaos sounds wonderful.
Sheepy cards go out tomorrow. ;-)
Posted by: Cara | May 30, 2005 at 07:47 PM
Warning for Marcy. DON'T DO IT. they don't really need to link to you. and a blog will entail all kinds of time spent taking photos and working out how to get them on your blog, not to mention how to link to other folks....
Sounds like the festibal was good.
Posted by: Jo in Ottawa | May 30, 2005 at 10:35 PM
I don't. I mean, I do. I mean, you aren't really.... and ..... and....
damn, I wish I could have been there.
Posted by: Cassie | May 30, 2005 at 10:53 PM
Cate, I had a fabulous time! Thank you ever so much for the invite. You put together a great group of women for a gathering at your house. I was inspired, entertained and just damn happy to be apart of it. The way you handle the chaos was a relief. It was nice to be around someone who understands the pressure of twin-momhood and the chaos that the little people rain down. I loved how you and Rhys didn't bat an eye as my kids rearranged by moving the toys and books about. Thank you! I can't wait for the rental house in Rhinebeck ;)
Posted by: Risa | May 31, 2005 at 03:30 PM
oh, this sounds like it was SO much fun!
I blushed at the idea that i inspired YOU to knit something,
but the shawl is wunnerful, isn't it?
Hope to see you at Rhinebeck...
xoxoxo
Posted by: greta | June 01, 2005 at 09:43 AM
Uh oh spiked cool aid!! LOL! Sounds like you had a wonderful time. I think that is awesome! I bet you can't wait to do it again next year :)
Posted by: Stacie | June 01, 2005 at 08:02 PM
Hey Cate! I wish I could have stayed for the potluck, but I was so tired and had a long drive. We'll definitely meet up somewhere else along the way. And all of those kids were so cute. I didn't get to hang around long enough to figure out who belonged to whom, but a great looking (and from what I saw, pretty well behaved) group.
Posted by: Teresa C | June 01, 2005 at 10:25 PM
I keep seeing pictures of you on everyone's blog, and I just keep thinking that you are the cutest momma around! Henry and Miss Eleanor are lucky as can be.
Posted by: suz | June 02, 2005 at 02:47 PM