Sometime after lunch, Saturday, after listening to others tell of making numbers of trips to their respective cars to deposit fibery purchases, I believe I bragged commented as to the fact that I had not bought anything.  I.did.not.need.anything.  Yep, that was me.  It was easy to say that BEFORE I walked through the buildings.  I had absolutely no intention of buying much, if anything.  It is the beginning, after all, of the fair season and there are many opportunities to find just about anything you can dream of, so why hurry into the spending frenzy.  I had a bit less than an hour to give everything a quick once over.  At 2pm I’d promised to watch a friend’s booth for 1 1/2 hrs.  Time was runnning out.  I sort of hurried through the red barn, stopping to talk to friends judging the Sheep to Shawl, scanning the bags of fleece, noticing the breeds, that sort of thing.  And there it was, the last thing I would have thought I’d buy, another fleece.  "Bess" is still waiting, after all.  I’ve had Montadale in the back of my mind for a while.  It just seemed like a fleece I’d enjoy working with.  This beautiful white 5 1/2 lb fleece is from Christopher Hall.  It’s soft and clean and well skirted.  There weren’t any apparent second cuts.  Mine!

Sunday morning, after breakfast and a hike, I decided to see how it would clean up.  It had so little lanolin in it to begin with, I only gave it two soapy soaks, one clearing rinse, and then the final clear water rinse.  I didn’t want it to dry out too much.  Lovely.  It dried quickly.  I carded one large handful and test spun it on the Dixon.  I love it.  There are some nubs, not many and not a problem.  It is soft enough to make me wonder if I should give it a bit more twist.  I had the dye pot going at the same time but resisted the urge to through some in, maybe tomorrow.   I’ll bet it takes dye beautifully.

picnic lunch,  12 noon.  moblogging from my phone is not sharp, just fast.

I wanted to make this a click on the red ball and see the next picture, but I couldn’t quite remember how it is done and I have to get moving this morning.  I’m making a Birthday Weekend out of this.  C and I are heading over to The CT Sheep & Wool to hang out, visit, eat.  Sunday, if the weather is what is promised, I’m walking on the beach.

Oh yeah.. here’s the next picture.  I read, knit, had lunch and bird watched on a beautiful sunny day, all afternoon. 

And since it WAS Friday, off we went.  Who knew, my Friday for Fish at the Diner friends made me a party.  We had tequila, and champaign and cake with candles, and the usual…fish.  What else.  After a winter of friends scattered around, we were all together again.  What could be better than that?