Isn’t there a song with that title? I think there is – if there isn’t, there should be. The last two weeks have been spectacular here with brilliant colors everywhere. My sister left today after visiting for a few days and I miss her already. We went to Woodstock for the day on Friday and had a great time. The sun was warm and golden as we walked through the streets and visited all the shops. Since my sister lives in Florida, she needs to get her dose of fall weather. We were raised in Michigan and grew up with fall = football games, back to school, and crisp leaves on the ground. I really missed this time of year when I was living in Southern California. It is our favorite season. It was so great to spend time with her, talking, knitting, sitting on the front porch, playing with the dogs (they love her) and going to our favorite event – The New York Sheep and Wool Festival!!! This annual event is held in Rhinebeck, NY, which just happens to be across the Hudson River from our little cottage. It attracts thousands of fiber artists from all over and is often just called “Rhinebeck” by knitters. I first discovered this mecca of yarn 3 years ago when I saw an article in the paper talking about it. I talked my husband into going with me and when we arrived late in the afternoon on Saturday my jaw dropped open when I saw how huge it was! We covered as much of the area as we could in the time we had and I immediately went home and called my sister and said “You have to come next year!” And she did! We thought she wouldn’t be able to come this year, but her plans changed and she came. The Dutchess County Fairground is filled with yarns, sheep, llamas, alpacas, looms, knitting needles, knitting supplies, rug hookers, hand-dyed yarns, you name it – its there. It is simply fantastic. I didn’t buy any yarn this year because I already have too much on hand that I haven’t used, but I did get a few treasures which I will share with you in another post. My sister got some great yarn and lots of treasures.
Autumn in New York
I have to say that I have never seen the Festival as crowded as it was this year! There was a several mile long back-up of cars traveling the road to the Fairground, and a long delay trying to leave at the end of the day. There were so many people that it became an athletic event trying to edge one’s way into and out of booths. But knitters are friendly, happy people and we struck up conversations with several people that we met. We emerged from the Festival after 5 hours of shopping, petting animals and eating to drive home and watch the Rays and the Red Sox play Game 6 of the ALCS. You see the problem, don’t you? The Rays are from Tampa (and my sister lives in a suburb of Tampa) and we are die-hard Red Sox fans. I have to hand it to my sister – she sat there cheering her Rays on, relatively quietly – while Don and I screamed for the Sox. The Sox won and we are ready for game 7 – tonight. May the best team win!
Today we had wireless installed so I can be online when Don is online. Now I can use the laptop at home – even on the porch. It will make life much simpler here at the cottage. The cottage is moving firmly into the 21st century, don’t you think?
