Novel Knits NY: Bah, Ram, Ewe...

I kept thinking of Babe, the sheep-herding pig, and the helpful words of his sheepy friends when the Spiders and I went to Rhinebeck's Sheep and Wool Festival last Saturday. No famous pigs, but lots of lovely yarn and poufy sheep.

I must admit I was a bit disappointed that I didn't see any llamas, as I used to be convinced one would make the perfect pet. If you watched Sesame Street in the mid-eighties, you might remember the particular storyline about a girl who lived in a city and walked her llama down crowded sidewalks to take him to the dentist, while "Going to the Dentist Today" played in the background. I didn't understand why I couldn't have one. So I consoled myself 20 years later by buying lots of yarn.

I am now the happy owner of Brooks Farm Four Play in a colorway best described as Valentine - deep reds with hints of pink - that is begging to be made into a Lara cardigan. The two blues are for a felted bag, and just when my wallet said I'd spent enough, we headed for Morehouse for even more tempting skeins. The green and coral-pink will be two scarves, and the red/orange/purple is on its way to becoming baby booties and a hat for an expectant friend in Colorado.

As we were leaving, the rain that had held off all day made a brief appearance and we sprinted to the car while protecting our wares from accidental felting. This rainbow was a perfect ending to our day of yarn.