The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck) came and went this last weekend. In the world of a knitter, it is a HUGE deal.  We look forward to and save up for it all year.  Tons of vendors with tons of yarn and tons of roving and tons of whatever a knitter could want or need and tons of things a knitter doesn’t know they want or need.  Paul and I were there at 8:30.  Gates open at 9:00.   I like to be very prepared and early so that we don’t have to wait on this:

Or this:

…which formed as we waited somewhere near the front.  It would kill me to be way back there and watch all the people going in and getting all the things and then there would be none left. (I know, I’m nuts.  Seriously? ALL the things are going to get taken before I get there?? I have said it before:  Paul is a very patient husband.)

It was pretty chilly when we first arrived but then it warmed up nicely and it was the perfect fall day.  We browsed the festival and ate our usual treats.  I got fried artichokes and Paul got a pretzel and we got kettle corn.  We saw some sheep:

We people watched:

(That is well-known knitwear designer Stephen West.  Wearing knitted pants.)

And took a selfie:

And I took a picture of Paul in his most awesome vest with the hand sewn zipper and ribbon:

He likes it and wants another.  But blue.  And with pockets.  We bargained that it would have buttons and not a zipper this time, though.

We did all the shopping:

Project bag and stitch markers from The Spinning Room; dryer ball, felted coasters, felted aromatherapy ball, and roving from Weston Hill Farm; and two skeins of Atlantic yarn in the limited edition Blue Moon color from North Light Fibers which is on Block Island.  Notice the blue-not-purple theme going on? (What is wrong with me?)

Then, when we were all done, it was lunchtime, and I went to get my newest favorite:

But… the line.  It was long:

(It goes out of my picture to the right.)  See aforementioned comment about the entry line.  I just don’t have the patience.  So we walked around the town of Rhinebeck and found:

Great panini’s!

In the car I knitted a little Spice Pumpkin:

A fun and beautiful day!