Today we enjoyed a nearly perfect September day at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival in Jefferson, Wisconsin. It was Mr. Ether and me accompanied by my lovely sister (and soon to be first-time grandma) Lisa, as well as the always-delightful Sparkly Seacow and her friend Violet. While Mr. Ether went to watch the sheep dog demonstrations, and Sparkly and Violet did whatever it is that they do (it usually involves a lot of wrestling like puppies), Lisa and I shopped in the 2 barns-full of vendors.I am usually very frugal at these events. I tell myself I have enough yarn and take vendors' business cards instead. I don't know what got into me today! I bought a pattern for a sweater and a pattern for a shawl, plus angora yarn to make the shawl. I bought some beautiful variegated merino and cashmere yarn to make socks. ($28.00 socks!) I really debated on the sock yarn. I must have gone by the booth 4 times. When I finally went back to buy it, the vendor said, "Oh, I wrote up your receipt half an hour ago. I knew you'd be back." I also bought not one, but two handwoven rag rugs.
Hey, Sen. Gramm is right: our economic woes are all in our heads! We just have to quit whining, get out there and stimulate the economy! (Incidentally, my sister shared the shocking news that her husband was recently "let go" from the tax accounting firm where he has worked for more than two decades. So that's my cabinet-maker husband, my brother with a Master's degree in urban planning, my auto mechanic nephew, and my CPA brother-in-law who have all lost their jobs in the last year. But we're a nation of whiners.)
But I digress into the sordid world of politics. Back to sheep and wool. I love these sheep and wool festivals. A number of years ago I talked a new friend into going with me to the Michigan Wool Festival (before we had our own here.) It was around Kalamazoo when she turned to me and said, "You mean you're really serious about going to this thing?" She thought I was just looking for an excuse to get away from my family for the weekend. Ha! (I think that was the first time I left Sparkly Seacow. Wool is very compelling.) I think I might even go back tomorrow!
