So, when Larry asked on sunday morning what I'd like to do for Mother's Day, I had a ready answer. The New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival!
He's such a good sport.
Dan was at work and Evan had a paper to work on, so just the two of us headed up to the fairgrounds, about 15 minutes from Concord, New Hampshire. Imagine hundreds of sheep farmers, wool producers, spinners, weavers, knitters, and their assorted companions milling around. Then add pens of sheep, goats, llamas, displays of freshly shorn wool, spun yarns, and the usual fried dough and hot dog stands. Oh, and sheepherding dogs.
I fell in love with an angora rabbit named Joe. Larry would not let me buy him.
We watched the dogs compete in sheepherding. Those dogs were amazing, how they work as a team, and carefully could separate out particular sheep from the herd; or convince a pack of sheep to go up a ramp.
I fingered a lot of wool, and talked to a lot of yarn producers. I was looking for some dark green merino yarn for a sweater for Dan, but didn't find what I was looking for. I bought some yarn for another sweater that came from a merino sheep named Linda. I am not kidding, I was told its common practice for small producers to mark a particular sheep's wool if its of excellent quality.
There was a sheep-to-shawl contest. Teams sheared, spun, and then knit a shawl.
Some sheep give their all. I enjoyed my shish kabob.
Shorn llamas are even odder looking than usual. They also make this weird whining noise.
I bought some merino/silk for a lacy shawl
And Lucy's checking out the cashmere/silk I bought for a scarf.
Comments (7)
That wool looks delicious. I'm not touching the shish kabobs, though!
Posted by Terry (teaberry) | May 11, 2009 6:56 PM
Posted on May 11, 2009 18:56
Wow! I have never heard of such a festival, it sounds like a blast!Good buys! And the shorn llama does look weird.
Posted by candi | May 12, 2009 2:25 AM
Posted on May 12, 2009 02:25
What a fun event to go to!
Sounds like a great Mother's Day!
Posted by nancyhol | May 13, 2009 1:22 AM
Posted on May 13, 2009 01:22
Can't wait to see the Linda sweater; Larry is a good sport indeed, but it looks like you had a fun day.
Posted by Marcia | May 13, 2009 4:33 PM
Posted on May 13, 2009 16:33
I still say "sheep and wolves" festival sounded more interesting...
Posted by Laura Anne | May 13, 2009 8:09 PM
Posted on May 13, 2009 20:09
Sounds like you had a great time. Looks like a fun festival to go to. If I did still eat lamb, I don't think I could have eaten it with so many relatives looking on.
Posted by girasoli | May 16, 2009 6:20 PM
Posted on May 16, 2009 18:20
I have lots of wool (150 sheep). I would love to have blankets made in NH from NH grown wool. Any ideas?
Posted by Sheperdess | September 26, 2009 8:28 PM
Posted on September 26, 2009 20:28