Post #150, where the blogger goes to Germany

To start from the very beginning: I went to Germany from October 21 to 31 to see my family. It was my parents' 50th wedding anniversary on October 24th. I had not seen them in over 2 years.

October 22nd: I wake up to a first frost. This is my parents'  backyard. Dew had fallen overnight and frozen, creating a white veil over everything.

I grew up in a small town outside of Schweinfurt. If you click on that link, you can also get to the English version of the site by clicking on the little British flag at the top of the page.  It will tell you how the city got its name and some of the history.
Schweinfurt is where I went to school grades 4-13, and where I worked my summer job in the ball bearing factory where my dad worked for 42 years as an engineer.

Schweinfurt is experiencing a kind of a renaissance. Old structures such as this watch tower and old city wall are getting restored. Old buildings and modern ones co-exist quite nicely.

 Every year since I can remember, there is a  'Herbstmesse', a fall market that comes to town for a week. I love how the vendors, who migrate from city to city bring wares that one could get in stores, but also  rare finds and curious merchandise. This red sign advertises Notions and Suspenders. I got some cookie cutters there! Well at first I wasn't going to, but then the guy started to haggle, and I went for it. 3 for 5 euros.

 Next stop: lingerie. Perhaps these are brands that you can't get anywhere else? Not sure they have a changing room...I didn't inquire.

I remember the pan man from when I was a kid. Here he  (or his incarnation) is doing a presentation on the non-stick surface of his pans. The housewives are listenting intently.

He also has lots and lots of silicone untensils and bakeware!

Schweinfurt's city hall, being renovated (again). There is a permanent farmers market on the square.

We kept wandering, decided to try and find a new yarn shop that opened recently. On the way, I spotted this. Halloween is catching on!

Found the new yarn shop. Didn't know what to expect from the "Wollsisters".
Turns out they ply and wind all their own yarn! No brands here.

 Everything was pre-wound into cakes, which were weighed and priced. Most of the yarns were textured, and I wasn't sure how much a stitch pattern would show. I wanted to at least get a knitting magazine that was on the coffee table, but was told it was only for display and inspiration.
Well.

Off we went to the yarn shop down the street. Where I obtained said magazine and also some sock yarn. Me : happy.

This shop was cozy and friendly. I heard lots of advice cheerily offered while I was in there. You can bet if I lived there? This would be "my" yarn shop.

Last stop before heading home: my folks buying some very delicious Italian goat cheese.

That was my first full day back in Germany. I had visited my sister the night before, she was still in the hospital after her hysterectomy. Soon she would come home and feel much better!

Rhinebeck in 90 minutes

Rhinebeck as I got to see it on Sunday afternoon, starting with the 4H building. Yes I did get to shop, too, just as much as I wanted to.

Ellen's Half Pint Farm

Waldorf craft supplies

Crippenworks

an unfortunate choice of display heads for the most gorgeous cashmere

Featured breed Oxford

Ulster County Spinning Guild

Best of Show

VW bus sighting after the crowds have left - packing up.

what the general public doesn't get to see - cleaning the stables

ready to go home after a long weekend!

Rhinebeck 2010: neighbors, friends, visitors

I have so many blogposts yet to write I barely know where to start. Let me begin with where I left off before I went to Germany. Rhinebeck 2010. These are pictures from the first day. We usually never get to leave the booth on the Saturday except for potty breaks, which is the kind of problem you want to have as a vendor. This year marked the 5th anniversary of Sliver Moon Farm at Rhinebeck, and I was glad to be part of it. 

The weather cleared up from a wet and windy Nor'easter just in time. We love our outdoor spot because it affords us more aisle space, but we are always glad when it doesn't rain down on us.

First thing in the morning, before they opened the gates, I took a look at our neighbors. 

Briar Rose

these baskets were all gone at the end of the day

my piece of real estate in our booth



Creatively Dyed



the natural beauty of Hope Spinnery yarns

May all the knitting gods and this wonderful knitter please forgive me, but I don't recall her name!! She came by special to show me her Traveling Woman shawl, made from the Rhinebeck 2009 colorway. I can't wait to see what she will make from the 2010 colorway!

my friends Leah and Abi

the Rochester, NY contingent.

Tina with her Traveling Woman shawl from the Rhinebeck 2009 colorway!

Jody and her daughter Amanda - a Rhinebeck first timer!

Angela designed this lovely shawl and knitted it up in the Avocado colorway.

La Reine Shawl

a wee visitor, decked out in knits, of course!

Tomorrow, I'll report on my 90 minute walk through the entire festival!

back

I'm back from Germany, jetlagged in all kinds of ways; catching up with a really full email inbox and lots of lovely messages on ravelry. I am getting the warm fuzzies just from reading!

Of course you all saw Anne Hanson's Rhinebeck report...but I hadn't because I was nowhere near a computer for 10 days.

I have lots to report, it will take several posts this week to get caught up, but I just really wanted to thank Anne for her lovely mention of my yarn. Anne, I hope you have fun knitting with it!