Rhinebeck!

Each October brings the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival to the Rhinebeck Fair Grounds in Dutchess County. Fiber folk converge for a few days of wonderful workshops, animals, food, and fiber in a variety of shades and forms. The parking lot with the multitude of license plates confirm that this isn't a little local event. And the crowds also confirm that fact...
Walking through the vendor displays provides an opportunity to see amazing hand-crafted fiber items...on the other customers! I heard one vendor say to another, "I didn't realize I would have a front row seat for a fashion show when I agreed to help out!" Rhinebeck is definitely a place to be inspired to create new items with fiber.

The colors of the yarns and roving were beautiful and it took a great deal of self-control to keep the wallet and checkbook buried deep in the bottom of the purse.
And when I found myself overwhelmed by all the choices I walked to the animal barns to visit with the fiber on four legs
Then the ride home offers the beautiful views of the Catskill Mountains...

This year wasn't as crowded as previous years, but it was a wonderful time of bumping into (literally) like-minded fiber-fanatics and seeing people I knew from my 'neck of the woods'. Of course, when we see each other over the course of the next few months, we'll ask "what did you buy at Rhinebeck?!" Here's my answer...
I've started spinning the roving on the left (called Cathedral windows) and it's turning into a lovely yarn. I think I'm going to use it for color work on a black sweater. The roving on the right is going to be used in a project with cranberry colored yarn which I made with roving from a previous Rhinebeck experience. I'm thinking the middle roving will go well with a solid brown project. The skeins of yarn are for the girls to use on a small lap loom they have. I've made progress in my purchases--I actually have projects in mind and didn't just buy them because they called my name!

Fall Scenes from Buckhorn Lake

On top of the hill near us is a quiet little lake where I often take walks. Fall is an especially pretty time to visit the lake. I thought I'd share some of the views from my walk earlier in the month...

Syracuse Zoo

We've heard a lot of good things about the Syracuse Zoo and have wanted to take the family, but time, money, and pain levels have delayed the trip. Several weeks ago Marc had an appointment in Syracuse and we decided to try a trip to the zoo on the same day.

Wayne and the 3 youngest were dropped off to start exploring while Marc and I went onto his appointment. (Rachael was spending the day with a friend.)Marc and I found our way to the other side of the city for his appointment without getting lost. (I never thought this girl from Pownal, Maine would be maneuvering around so many cities!) Later we found our way back to the zoo and joined the fun.

This zoo is beautiful and the animals have really nice 'cages'. A neat feature is that there are windows which bring you 'up close and personal' with several of the animals. I like this picture as it looks like the lioness is whispering in Jon's ear...Of course, being a mom, I had to make my kids get behind this silly photo panel...

Here's Jon enjoying the penguin pool...The tigers were a lot of fun to watch. Mom Tiger and two of the three cubs were having a nice snooze on the rocks at the top of their hill. This was nice since the rocks were on the other side of the window by the walking trail. The third cub was relaxing in the forest at the bottom of the hillside amidst the trees.

There was a baby monkey which was the center of attention--not only for the people watching but for the other monkeys. The adults would grab the baby and run off to the other side of the cage and the mother would quickly go and retrieve it, only to have another adult grab it and run in another direction. It looked like a funny version of football.The elephants have a nice field to roam and a huge new barn for stormy Syracuse winters. I could have watched these guys for a long time.
God's creation is amazing!

Just some pictures...

I thought I'd post a few pictures that have been taken over the past few weeks...

Being 'buried under laundry' is a common thing in this house. Rach, with the 'help' of Jon and Captain, is folding yet another load of laundry...
Detective Jonathan on the trail of some mystery...Kate and Mom...