Day 245 - The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

(Clcik on any photo to enlarge it.)

Keeping Warm in the Hay

I'm a knitter, and I've amassed quite a collection of yarn (known amongst the fiber set as a stash), along with every knitting needle known to woman and a fair number of books and patterns.  I've made sweaters and socks and felted purses and afghans. But I have only been looking at the tip of the iceberg.  There is also the whole business of raising sheep, shearing them, cleaning and carding the wool, spinning the wool, dyeing the wool, and alongside knitting, there are crocheting and weaving. 

Braided Roving and other fibers

If you want to see it all, admire it all, and probably be overwhelmed by it all, then don't pass up an opportunity next year to go to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival held annually on the first full weekend in May at the Howard Country Fairgrounds.

Buttons and Wool

Norma and I arrived at the fairgrounds around 8:45 a.m., and ours was probably the 1000th car to arrive and be dispatched to a parking space by helpful Boy Scouts.

Horned Sheep and Curly Fleece

Once on the festival grounds, we began our walk by weaving in and out of the many animal barns.  There were so many kinds of sheep:  some big, some small; some curly, some not; some with horns, some without; some black, some white, some brown.  They were being fed or groomed or led to show arenas.  Most were just waiting their turn for one of those things to happen, lying in or munching on hay.

Then we started on the vendors of yarns, spinning wheels, knitting needles, sheep skins, sheep raising supplies, buttons, art work, rugs, sweaters, pottery, fresh plants and herbs, goat cheese, soaps, lotions, and jewelry.  There seemed to be acres of vendors, both within buildings and within white canopies and tents on the fairgrounds.   There was nearly every kind of carnival food one could want, as well.

Resting in the stall

After two and a half hours of wandering and admiring and getting a little overwhelmed by the sheer volumes of stuff and the myriad offerings, we stopped at the vendor selling fresh herbs, bought a few, and headed for home.  I had lusted over many of the yarns, but remembering the size of my still-unknitted stash waiting at home, I resisted.  Maybe my project next year, after this photo walking project comes to an end, should be to knit every day for a year.  Perhaps I would actually finish one or two of the sweaters I have in progress.

The Maryland Sheep and Wool festival offers something for everyone, and you certainly don't have to be a knitter or spinner to enjoy it.  Mark your calendars for it for next year; it's well worth a trip to the fairgrounds.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

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Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
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Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so