Fall!

As seems to be usual this year, we've had a lot going on lately. Fall is fully underway.. complete with a visit from Mom, apple picking, sweater knitting, trail rides, yard work (sometimes), fiber festivals, comfort food, and Christmas knitting.



Mom's visit was jam-packed. Saturday we drove to Virginia for the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Fest. There were bunnies, llamas, and alpaca galore, as well as lots of fantastic local fibers. It wasn't nearly as huge and nutty as MD Sheep and Wool. The vendors all had time to talk about their animals, their dyeing, and their spinning. I was a little sad to see that people weren't buying as voraciously as they do at Sheep and Wool, but I hope that sales picked up on (less rainy) Sunday.




I picked up the last/only 2 skeins of rust-colored sport weight 100% Romney wool from Day Spring Farm. I was able to (barely) resist its calls the first 3 times I went by, but only because there wasn't enough for a sweater. I finally decided that I could find *something* to do with it, and happily made it mine. My only other purchase that day was a skein of luminescent silver 80% baby alpaca, 20% bamboo fingering weight from Maple Creek Yarn. Should make a perfect scarf or shawl. Had I had more money on hand, and no Christmas-yarn-buying to do, I would have purchased much, much more. Most of the vendors don't sell (or don't sell much) online, so it was a great opportunity to support small local farms/artists.




After the fiber fest, we stopped at Harper's Ferry. I hadn't known that there was so much there to see. I highly recommend a visit.



Sunday began with the requisite visit with Mom's favorite fuzzy grandkid, Miss Adventure.



From the barn, we went to Larriland Farm for some apple picking. Unfortunately, so did the rest of Howard and the surrounding counties!



Then it was off to Frederick, for some strolling, yummy Italian food, and more yarn. Whew!

**Thanks to Mom for the majority of the photos in the post....