I may have been responsible for the disappearance of two of these. Maybe three.

So much more than just your run-of-the-mill glazed doughnut… on Fat Tuesday, they’re the epitome of decadence and pre-Lenten extravagance.  All of the calories, none of the drunken dancing bead-throwing nudity.

Much to my delight, it’s also Pancake Day.  Shame on me for not knowing about this annual event until today, but I’ll be happy to celebrate it this weekend when I have time to make some.

Finally, it’s only appropriate to Skew for Mardi Gras.

I'm skewing left... and I'm loving this pattern!

I started Skew a few days ago, after re-reading The Magic Loop by Bev Galeskas, which I had bought at Knitter’s Day Out.  It took me a few tries to get the cast-on and the first few rounds of the toe going, and then it took me a couple of days to convince myself that what I was doing was actually correct.  Because if you look at the work, it looks kinda… off.

Ummmmmmm... what IS this?

But then you try it on, and you realize that you’re actually getting it:

Well look at that... ! And it fits!

As for the Magic Loop method… I admit, I kinda like it.  But I’m not sure if I like it enough to give up my DPNs.  We’ll see what happens after I finish this project.

Meanwhile, I’m waiting for my Cider House Rules Vest pattern to arrive.  I’d be thrilled if it came today, but not surprised if it comes next week.

Busy day ahead of me today… among my Things To Do:  spend a little time watching (and counting) birds. Why, you ask?  That’s a blog post for another day, but mainly, this weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count, a great way to spend some time away from the TV, computer, and all things indoors.  Betcha didn’t know I had other interests besides yarn… ?

My friend and fellow blogger Karen suggested that I use the down time to plan upcoming projects, and that’s exactly what I did.

1.  A Vest For My Husband
Last year was spent knitting either socks or incredibly intricate pullovers and lace jackets.  There was no in-between – it was either one side of the knitting spectrum or the other.  In December, I said to my very patient husband that I hadn’t knit him anything other than socks in a while, and before I could finish the thought he blurted, “A VEST!  I want a tweedy, button-front vest!”

So I started trolling Ravelry for a tweedy, button-front vest, and chose about 5 patterns that I thought he’d like.  After showing him each one, he chose The Cider House Rules Vest, by Linda Daniels, owner of Northampton Wools in Northampton, MA.  But… the pattern isn’t offered as a download.  The pattern also isn’t offered on the shop’s website.  The pattern is offered through Interweave Knits Fall 2000 issue… which I don’t have.  Now what?

The Cider House Rules Vest. Picture by Ravelry user purlingswine.

Problem easily solved:  I emailed Linda Daniels to ask about buying the pattern.  She emailed me back the next day – all I have to do (and you can do the same, if you want the pattern) is send $6.00 to the store, and she’ll mail the pattern out.  And so, with the proverbial check in the mail and a satisfied, Cheshire Cat smile plastered across my  husband’s face, I await said pattern.  Next challenge:  choosing the yarn.

2.  Socks For Me
I was certain that I was going to take a well-deserved holiday from sock-knitting this year.  After all the pairs I made last year (5, plus learning how to darn), I thought I’d concentrate on other knitted items, like cowls and shawls and vests, etc.  But then Dori gave me a skein of Lorna’s Laces Solemate for Hanukkah, in my very favorite colors.  Yes, I could use it to make something other than socks.  But no.  I must… make… socks.  I must.

Pretty sock yarn = pretty socks.

But which socks?   This amazing yarn needs an equally amazing pattern, and there are, like, a gajillion of ‘em out on Ravelry alone.  After multiple searches and many days, I’ve decided on these:

This is Skew, designed by Lana Holden, picture by Richard Layton. How insane are these???

So not only am I knitting socks again, but I’m knitting socks from the toe up (which I’ve never done), using a cast-on I’ve never heard of, using the Magic Loop method (which I’ve never done), with many design features that will demand my full concentration, every step of the way.  But hey… if mine turn out like the picture, it’ll be SO worth it, right?

3.  More Socks For Me
Seriously???  Remind me never to say things like, “This year, I’m taking a break from socks.”  So futile.

As I searched and searched for the perfect pattern to use for my Solemate sock yarn, my daughter sweetly asked, “Why do you need a pattern?  Why don’t you just make one up?”

Why, indeed.

Flashback to The 2012 PA Farm Show Fleece To Shawl Contest.  As the teams were setting up, I went over to chat with my friends from Sugar Valley Rural Charter School, The Sugar Valley Shepherds.  They proceeded to bowl me over with a gift of sock yarn and a card that I’ll keep forever, for coming out to their school to interview them.  So unnecessary, but SO appreciated!

This is Regia 4-fädig (4-ply) sock yarn, given to me by The Sugar Valley Shepherds.

I can’t knit just any sock pattern with this.  I think the only thing I can do to honor the spirit of this gift is… to design my first sock pattern.  The name of the pattern will be Sugar Valley.  But you’ll have to tune in to see what they look like.

… and that’s not all.  I’ve got more planned, like knitting 10 pairs of Welted Fingerless Gloves for my “eldest daughter” (aka our babysitter) to give as gifts for Christmas 2012.  But that’s enough planning for now… time to watch some backlogged episodes of The Big Bang Theory.  And dream about socks.

For 3 days following the 2012 PA Farm Show, I endured one of the worst headaches ever.  I get headaches a lot, and they usually last 2-3 days, because no medicine ever helps.  They’re not fun, but they’re tolerable… until this last one.  For 3 days, I came home from work, briefly thought about blogging… then went straight to bed.

After the headache finally subsided, I endured one of the worst head colds ever.  It was something between a really bad cold and a really bad allergy attack – something that I don’t typically suffer from on a seasonal basis.  I think my friend and weaver extraordinaire Libby Beiler had it right when she diagnosed me with Farm Show Flu – an ailment that attacks those who spend an inordinate amount of time among the throngs of spectators, animals, hay, and dust.  For 5 days, I came home from work, briefly thought about blogging… then went straight to bed.

Yesterday morning, I endured one of the worst burns that I ever had, ever.  The doctor diagnosed it as a borderline 3rd degree.  This is what happens when you try to carry a too-full pot of boiling water outside to your garden to de-ice the birdbath, hoping that you’ll attract a flock of something other than the adorable dark-eyed juncos that frequent your yard:

Truly, I have a knack for maiming myself spectacularly.

It’ll take a lot of ointment and sterile dressing, but this will heal.  So before I send myself straight to bed, I thought I’d get back to the blog, just for a few minutes.  More yarny adventures coming soon (c’mon, did you think a borderline 3rd degree burn was going to keep me from knitting?).  But for now…

Time to rest the hand.

Coming To The Blog In The Near Future:  A trip to Penn State’s Pasto Agricultural Museum, and tales of a desperate search for an out-of-print knitting pattern (anyone have a copy of Interweave Knits Fall 2000 issue they’re willing to part with or let me borrow?).

6:55 pm
… and that’s all she wrote, folks.  Gotta pack up now… I’ll try to update a few things when I get home later.  Hope you had as much fun as I did today… see ya soon!

6:53 pm
$1,300 – Time Warp
$1,850 -  Friends Thru Fiber
$1,400 – Fort Freeland Flickers
$1,000 – Just A Little Twisted
$900 – Dream Weavers
$700 – Butler County Pedalers 

6:39 pm
Auction time!!!

$550 – Treadling Lambs and a Ram
$600 – Surfin’ Ewe S. A.
$400 – Bountiful Bobbins 
$275 –  Fibering Five
$325 – Sugar Valley Shepherds 

6:25 pm
I’m getting cold again.  Ironically, no one has a shawl that I can borrow.

6:23 pm
Ok… get ready for the shawl auction, coming up next… !

6:22 pm
Here they are… Team Time Warp, our 2012 Sheep To Shawl champs!

They heckled me as I took their pic... I love them anyway!

6:15 pm
Champion Shearer Award – Time Warp’s Carl Geisinger
Fleece Award – Just A Little Twisted
Team’s Choice Award – Dream Weavers
Weaver’s Award – Friends Thru Fiber’s Michelle Lushbaugh
Spinning Award – Friends Thru Fiber

7th Place – 2 Rams, 2 Lambs, Ewe & Me
6th Place – Butler County Pedalers
5th Place – Dream Weavers
4th Place – Just A Little Twisted
3rd Place – Fort Freeland Flickers
2nd Place – Friends Thru Fiber
1st Place – Time Warp

6:05 pm
We’re about to start announcing the winners… keep it here!

6:00 pm
Faces in the crowd… I couldn’t make this up if I tried.

5:54 pm
A sheep in sheep’s clothing… ?  A sheep in people’s clothing… ?

5:51 pm
Francie Appleman just brought me 3 mini 3 Musketeer bars.  I think it’s safe to say that everyone from Loganton, PA is as awesome as her… wouldn’t you agree?

5:48 pm
Finished shawls… and an unfinished milkshake.

5:45 pm
Knitting and jewelry-making going on… it’s not live yet, but check out Arline Janison‘s beaded jewelry website soon.  Just Google her – she’ll be there!

5:39 pm
Not that he’ll see this, but let me stop to give a happy birthday shout-out to my brother Gary, who unbelievably turned 39 today.  I still see him as a little kid…  I think I always will.

5:36 pm
Ok… the judges are now tallying up the scores, the teams are starting to pack up their gear, and everyone’s goin’ for milkshakes.  Everyone except me.  I’m here typing.  Why am I here typing when I could be goin’ for milkshakes… ?

5:34 pm
Team 2R2LU&M delivered their shawl to the judges… only to find that it wasn’t long enough.  I believe that’s a disqualification…

5:32 pm
… and the 2012 Sheep To Shawl Contest is OVER!!!

Butler County Pedalers, with 2 minutes to go... !

Done!!! Whew!!!

5:30 pm
Butler County Pedalers, almost done…

Team 2R2Lu&M, off the loom:

5:24 pm
Dream Weavers are finished!

Closeup of Team Dream Weavers' shawl.

5:22 pm
Dream Weavers are off the loom:

5:21 pm
Fort Freeland Flickers are finished!

Closeup of Fort Freeland Flickers' shawl.

5:16 pm
Here’s Just A Little Twisted’s finished shawl:

5:13 pm
Dream Weavers are almost off the loom… !

5:10 pm
Team Just A Little Twisted is off the loom and finishing up… !

5:08 pm
Team 2R2LU&M:

Team Dream Weavers:

5:03 pm
And here it is… Friends Thru Fiber‘s finished shawl!

4:59 pm
Team Just A Little Twisted will be off the loom shortly:

Team Friends Thru Fiber is off the loom and sooooooo close to done…

… and Team Fort Freeland Flickers is at the beginning of the end…

4:53 pm
Hey!  Where’s the Fleece and Wool Princess this year???  Anyone seen her?

4:52 pm
Closeup of Time Warp’s shawl… how gorgeous is this???

4:50 pm
Team Just A Little Twisted:

David Weaver and his huge pile ‘o fleece:

Team Fort Freeland Flickers.

The ladies of Friends Thru Fiber are almost done…

A team meeting ensues around the almost-finished shawl.

4:46  pm
Team Time Warp has delivered their shawl to the judges!

4:43 pm
Finishing the shawl…

Team Time Warp's off the loom and just about done... !

4:41 pm
Team Dream Weavers:

Team Butler County Pedalers:

4:37 pm
Whoa… Team Time Warp‘s almost off the loom!

Libby Beiler's finishing the shawl... !

4:34 pm
I’ve been fleeced!!!  Get it????  Fleeced???  *wince*  Yeah, I know… it’s been a long day.

4:30 pm
More knitting goin’ on…

She's knitting a scarf from wool she bought at the Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Festival. How I long to go to Rhinebeck...

Team Just A Little Twisted gets a bobbin of newly-spun yarn ready for the weaver.

Team Time Warp's shawl...

Spinning for 2R2LU&M.

4:20 pm
Team Butler County Pedalers with their moonshine… just in case I have more technical difficulties.  They must’ve read my Rules of Engagement last night…

That'll taste good *after* the competition...

Jeff Johnstonbaugh, carder for Team Time Warp:

4:09 pm
Fort Freeland Flickers:

This woman should look familiar to you... it's Abby Schrack, spinner and Social Studies teacher extraordinnaire for Team Sugar Valley Shepherds!

4:04 pm
Wayne Appleman of Team Dream Weavers:

"Are you saying good things about us?" Of course I am!!!

Team Friends Thru Fiber and I compared our knitted socks and remarked about how warm it’s gotten in the arena.  Michelle Lushbaugh is busy at the loom:

3:57 pm
Whenever I look up from my laptop, I can see a haze of dust over the arena.  Dust that’s getting all up in my nose and throat now.  Not one of my favorite things about spending 15 hours at The Farm Show… but it’s worth it, right?  Right?  Right??? 

3:55 pm
Team Just A Little Twisted…

… and Team Fort Freeland Flickers:

3:51 pm
My once-fuzzy neighbors are quite silent now…

3:48 pm
Butler County Pedalers‘ weaver, Donna Fike… not weaving yet, but will be soon.

Friends Thru Fiber.

3:41 pm

Ashley Shaw, weaver for Just A Little Twisted.

2R2LU&M spinners.

3:35 pm

Libby Beiler, weaver of Team Time Warp, being watched by PCN... and me.

Emma Olshefski, weaver for Team Fort Freeland Flickers. She's moving a lot faster than it seems.

Francie Appleman, like most of the contestants, is multi-talented. She's weaving for Dream Weavers today, but, as you already saw, can spin and card with the best of 'em.

3:29 pm
Dream Weaver women…

This is Christine Flanagan, weaver for 2R2LU&M. She taught me how to use a drop spindle!

3:24 pm
Butler County Pedalers carding away…

And here’s Two Rams, Two Lambs, Ewe & Me, which will now be known as 2R2LU&M.  Actually, I don’t think that’s any easier to type.

3:19 pm
The teams are being introduced to the audience while the teams get started carding…

Team Just A Little Twisted.

Team Time Warp.

Team Friends Thru Fiber.

Team Fort Freeland Flickers.

3:12 pm
Heh… look at my neighbor now… !

3:09 pm
More shearing…

3:05 pm
The crowd counts it down… and off we go!  The sheep are being shorn:

2:56 pm
5 minutes ’til start time… tons of  people are lining up now around the perimeter of the arena.  We’ll be starting with the shearing of my neighbors.  The sheep, that is.  What did you think I meant?

2:54 pm
Team Just A Little Twisted‘s warp…

2:52 pm
Oh goody, my absolutely favorite part of the contest is starting – photographers and other press people are taking over the arena.  You know, I’m a big fan of the press, but not when they think they’re so much better than everyone else that they can put their gear wherever they want… like right in front of my work station.

2:49 pm

Team Time Warp's... warp.

Team Dream Weaver's warp.

Francie Appleman of Team Dream Weavers, and her awesome wheel.

2:38 pm
The teams are milling about as the first 2 stands of seats fill with spectators.  I see PCN‘s camera at the top of one of the stands, unsupervised, just capturing everything in front of it, I suppose…

2:33 pm
Team Just A Little Twisted‘s shawl display:

"Spring Garden". Truly.

2:30 pm
More neighbors move in…

Team Two Rams, Two Lambs, Ewe & Me's sheep.

Team Butler County Pedalers' sheep.

2:24 pm
More shawl displays:

Team Time Warp's "A Walk In The Woods: A Pennsylvania Palindrome".

Two Rams, Two Lambs, Ewe & Me.

Fort Freeland Flickers and their Blue Butterfly.

2:18 pm
Here are some of the team shawl displays:

Team Butler County Pedalers with "Moonshine".

Team Dream Weavers with their Pennsylvania Brook Trout.

This could be mistaken for a museum exhibit. Team Friends Thru Fiber and their Gettysburg Battle Commemorative Shawl.

2:02 pm
The Sheep To Shawl teams are setting up and a larger crowd is gathering in the arena stands.  And my sheepy neighbor will not stop bahhhhhh-ing.

1:59 pm
Oh glorious batter-dipped vegetables, fried to within an inch of your lives and served with horseradish sauce… I am not worthy.  No one is.  But I’ll eat you anyway.

1:42 pm
FOOD!!!!!  Be back soon…

1:41 pm
And here they are… Team Treadling Lambs and a Ram!

Congrats to the Grand Champion Fleece To Shawl team!

1:35 pm
Time to announce the winners!

Fleece Award – Treadling Lambs and a Ram
Team’s Choice Award – Surfin’ Ewe S. A.
Weaver’s Award – Bountiful Bobbins
Spinning Award – Treadling Lambs and a Ram

5th Place – Sugar Valley Shepherds
4th Place – The Fibering Five
3rd Place – Bountiful Bobbins
2nd Place – Surfin’ Ewe S. A.
1st Place – Treadling Lambs and a Ram

1:30 pm
The Fleece to Shawl teams are beginning to gather… it’s almost time for the awards ceremony.  I want to mention, Team Wooly Workers didn’t finish their shawl within the 3-hour time period, so I think they’ve been disqualified.  But the fact that they made it here to the Farm Show competition in the first place is a big deal… well, there’s always next year.  Great effort from a great team!

1:21 pm

I have really noisy neighbors.

1:14 pm
I’m… so… hungry.  Need… fried… vegetables…

1:11 pm
… and this one’s part of the Just A Little Twisted team…

1:08 pm
Look at this face!  This beauty belongs to Team Dream Weavers:

"BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

1:04 pm
Donovan’s in da HOUSE!  This is Team Time Warp‘s sheep.

1:02 pm
And the contest is OVER!  Awards will be given in just a bit… stay tuned… !

12:57 pm

Here's the finished Bountiful Bobbins shawl...

Per reader request, a closeup of Team Treadling Lambs and a Ram's shawl. It's hard to do this one justice, it's sooooooo pretty!

12:48 pm

The Mardi Gras shawl.

Team Bountiful Bobbins is DONE!

12:40 pm

Team Fibering Five's shawl, at the judges' table.

Team Bountiful Bobbins are almost off the loom...

12:33 pm
Down to the wire now… Team Surfin’ Ewe S. A.‘s off the loom, while Team Fibering Five delivers their shawl to the judges.

12:31 pm
Team Fibering Five‘s off the loom… almost there…

12:27 pm
And it’s official… Team Sugar Valley Shepherds are DONE!  Their shawl is in the judges hands now…

12:21 pm
Team Fibering Five is very close now…

So is Team Surfin’ Ewe S. A.…

12:19 pm
Nope… it’s Team Sugar Valley Shepherds, 2nd off the loom!  Go go go!!!

This is an amazing moment for the teams... so much goes into these shawls. Go kids go!

Meanwhile, the judges doing their judge-y thing with Treadling Lambs and a Ram's shawl.

12:13 pm

Will Team Surfin’ Ewe S. A. be next off the loom… ?

Here's their shawl, sans weaver... must be close to done!

Team Wooly Workers weaver, with almost-done shawl.

12:08 pm
A few final touches, and it’s off to the Judges’ Table…

12:03 pm
Team Treadling Lambs and a Ram are first off the loom!

12:00 pm
I feel like I can’t move fast enough to grab pictures and upload them to the website, and the Wi-Fi is slow… how am I doing?  Need some encouragement right around now… !

11:58 am

Carding isn't as easy as it looks. You really have to know your fleece, and the kind of yarn you want to spin, to do this well.

Team Fibering Five's spinners.

Team Bountiful Bobbins.

11:50 am
Team Surfin’ Ewe S. A. are sporting tails today…

Team Treadling Lambs and a Ram.

The Sugar Valley Shepherds spinning away.

11:43 am
Wow, Farm Show Wi-Fi really isn’t very reliable.  Back up network engaged…

11:32 am
If I weren’t a blogger, I’d still be here today, doing this:

Knitting. A great way to watch F/S2S!

11:30 am
Want to join The Bountiful Bobbins team?  See below…

11:25 am

The Spinners of Team Wooly Workers.

A long shot of Team Surfin' Ewe S. A.

11:18 am
Another sheep has arrived – this is Team Fort Freeland Flickers‘ sheep, who absolutely refused to stay still.

See what I mean?

Ah, got one!

11:10 am

Great pic of Team Fibering Five, from their shawl display. Part of the team's score is based on these displays, which explain the theme, shawl, etc.

'Nuff said.

11:04 am

Spinner Tyler Shaw of The Fibering Five.

Here are the "cooks" from Team Wooly Workers.

Doesn't this look like fun? Team Treadling Lambs and a Ram are laughing and chatting it up.

10:59 am
These offices overlook the arena.  I bet it’s warm in there.  I bet they have a coffee machine, too.  Just sayin’.

But they'll still have to walk to the Food Court for potato donuts. Hah!

10:51 am
Closeup of Team Fibering Five‘s shawl:

10:47 am

Team Wooly Workers at the wheel.

And here come the sheep!  This is Sajani (sai -AH- nee), of Team Friends Thru Fiber, for the Sheep To Shawl competition later today.  ”Sajani” means “beloved”, or “well-loved”.

So chic!

10:43 am
The other teams are starting to weave now…

Here's Alex Norris, the Ram of Treadling Lambs and a Ram.

Weaver Lia Schmittel of Surfin' Ewe S. A.

Love the encouraging signs on the back of Team Sugar Valley Shepherds' chairs!

10:34 am
The crowds are starting to gather around the perimeter of the arena…

I'm sure you remember David McFeely, superhero weaver of The Sugar Valley Shepherds. He's goin' strong!

Judge Susan Keslar Simpson is being... judge-y. I just made that word up.

10:26 am
The weaving begins… remember, these teams have 3 hours to complete their shawl.  Sounds like a lot of time, but it’s really not.

Team Bountiful Bobbins' weaver, Leah Martin.

Team Fibering Five's weaver, Jennifer Bauer.

Team Wooly Workers' weaver, Angela Villanueva.

10:20 am
I gotta say, watching these kids spin and card, and in a little while, weave, is really amazing.  What do you think?

Team Wooly Workers.

Team Surfin' Ewe S. A.

10:13 am
Bacon.  I smell bacon.  I already ate 2 potato donuts… but now I want bacon.

10:12 am

Team Bountiful Bobbins are starting to spin...

... and so are the Sugar Valley Shepherds.

10:07 am
The teams are being introduced to the spectators as they all begin carding their fleeces…

Treadling Lambs and a Ram carding their fleece.

Team Surfin' Ewe S. A.

10:02 am
“5… 4… 3… 2… 1… GO FOR IT!”  And they’re off!

10:01 am
The judges are making the rounds to the team displays…

This is Suzanne Fry, one of the 4 judges.

9:55 am
A view from the top:

... the top of the Small Arena, that is. It's nice and WARM up here!

A view from the bottom:

I took this from the stage... the closest I'll ever get to being seen on the Small Arena stage, for sure!

9:48 am
14 minutes to go until the competition starts.  If these kids are nervous at all, you wouldn’t know it by watching them.  They’re mingling with each other, chatting, viewing each other’s displays, laughing.  A very friendly atmosphere in the Small Arena today.

9:45 am
Ooooooooohhh… fleecy goodness…

Specifically, this is Team Wooly Workers' fleecy goodness.

A Mardi Gras spinning wheel:

A Team Fibering Five wheel.

9:38 am
The team captains have been called to the judges’ area for the Team Meeting.  This is when they get their last-minute instructions and all.

A few spectators have taken up the first rows of seats here in the arena… 20 minutes until show time!

9:35 am
The Bountiful Bobbins‘ theme is well realized in their display:

"Under The Deep Blue Sea"

A closeup of their shawl:

And here’s Team Wooly Workers… ready for bed!

9:30 am
The Sugar Valley Shepherds with their display:

9:16 am
How about some Breakfast in Bed with the Wooly Workers?  Gotta love that theme!

Eggs, bacon, waffles with whipped cream and berries... it's all here, in their shawl!!!

9:14 am
Team Treadling Lambs and a Ram‘s display is dedicated to their mentor Tina, who’s battling bladder cancer.  The shawl they’re weaving today is gorgeous, isn’t it?

And here’s their display – hard to get the whole thing, it’s so tall!

More of their display:

8:59 am

Welcome, Team Bountiful Bobbins! Here's their warp.

2 members of Team Surfin' Ewe S. A.

The Sugar Valley Shepherds pose with their practice shawl. Our heroes!

8:52  am
AAARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH… I’m having serious issues with video.  I may not be able to post what I’m getting during the contests, but I’ll do what I can to load them tomorrow.  My apologies.  More pictures on the way…

8:48 am

Here's the warp for Team Treadling Lambs and a Ram.

Mardi Gras!

Surfin' Ewe S. A.'s entire area is decorated with safari animals and pith helmets.

8:34 am
Just spoke to Tom Knisely, co-coordinator of today’s events.  He is truly one of Central PA’s MVPs when it comes to fiber arts – visit him and/or take his classes at The Mannings.  Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

8:28 am
Welcome the 4-H Wooly Workers of Lebanon County!  Set up begins…

8:20 am
Team Fibering Five‘s warp – in Mardi Gras colors:

Beautiful!

Surfin’ Ewe S. A.’s shawl display is almost ready:

They've gone with a Safari theme for their shawl.

8:11 am
I’m experiencing some technical difficulties with my pictures and videos… but meanwhile, The Sugar Valley Shepherds have arrived:

7:47 am
Team Fibering Five warms up with some balloon volleyball.  The team is wearing shorts.  Shorts.  I’ll stop complaining now about the cold.

7:36 am
Well, here I am, in the Small Arena (it used to be the Sale Arena… when did that change?), setting up for the Fleece and Sheep To Shawl contests.  F2S team The Fibering Five are already here with their spinning wheels and looms.  And… I’m freezing.  As usual, the garage door directly in front of me is wide open and blowing cold air all over me.  Please, someone take pity on a poor blogger and have The Powers That Be close that door… please!!!

Remember, keep it here all day and hit that Refresh button every few minutes for the latest in F/S2S action.  It’s gonna be a great day!

yarnyMarni’s Rules of Engagement

1. Keeping up with the Fleece and Sheep To Shawl contests here on yarnyMarni is very easy (if you’re not yarnyMarni).  All you have to do is go to the Home page, and every few minutes or so, hit your browser’s Refresh button to see the updates.
2. I will also post updates to Twitter (@yarnyMarni), but not as often.  These posts will include the “#farmshow” hashtag, for easy searching.
3. I’ve heard rumors that the free Wi-Fi at The Farm Show has been spotty the last few days.  I have attempted to secure a back-up Wi-Fi network for myself if that continues to be the case, but if that should fail as well, please bear with me as I try to remedy the situation without resorting to alcohol.
4. All comments are welcome, and encouraged, as long as
   a.  they’re not spam;
   b.  they’re written with respect for your fellow readers.
   Comments that are not in compliance with these 2 simple rules will not be published.

And finally…

Chicks were hatching...

... and turkeys gobbled.

Alpacas were very popular... and quite fuzzy.

Another alpaca.

And even more alpacas. Yes, I'm biased. Deal.

We visited a Butterfly House, where we got to feed butterflies a sweet drink from Q-Tips:

My daughter's new friend.

Not to be outdone, my husband proved irresistible to the locals:

In your FACE!!!

My daughter was presented to Her Royal Highnesses:

Daughter and Dairy Princess Alternate #1.

Daughter and Her Royal Highness, The Pennsylvania Dairy Princess.

Then it was off to see the crafts.  Sadly, most of them were behind glass cases and couldn’t be photographed clearly due to all the glare (even without a flash, I couldn’t get a single decent picture).  But here’s a small sample:

This quilt took 1st Prize. Easy to see why.

How cool is this quilt? Nice trompe l'oeil going on here.

This one was really beautiful, too. And so large I couldn't get the whole thing into the picture.

We take our Gingerbread House Competition very, VERY seriously here in PA. Just try to beat this.

I'm not kidding. Gingerbread as Art reigns supreme here.

I’ll try to get a few more shots of the handspun yarn and knitted/crocheted contest entries another day.  As the evening drew to a close and our feet started to ache, we made sure to end our pilgrimage at…

... The Butter Sculpture! It depicts The Dairy Princess giving a Farm Show ribbon to a young contestant. This whole thing will be turned into biodiesel next week.

A very, very fun night was had by all.  Can’t wait ’til Wednesday!

A few miles later:  Sugar Valley Rural Charter School (SVRCS).  Composed of several buildings, the school currently has more than 280 children enrolled, from kindergarten through Grade 12.  Among its many strengths, the school prides itself with its mission to give the students every opportunity to learn by doing.  Which is part of the reason why I was there.

Weeks earlier, I received an email from Abigail Schrack, a Social Studies teacher at SVRCS, inviting me to meet their resident Fleece To Shawl team:

“Sugar Valley Rural Charter School is a small school in Loganton, PA. Our students come from a multi-county area, and in the high school we have begun a social studies course centered around fleece to shawl. The students choose to take this class, and it is quite a commitment: learning social studies to meet Pennsylvania State Standards while learning to card a raw fleece, spin the carded wool into yarn, and weave that yarn into a wearable shawl (or practice scarf). This year we have another phenomenal group of students up for the challenge of the competition at the PA Farm Show. Our team is known as the Sugar Valley Shepherds, and our theme this year is all about superheroes. The Shepherds will be donating the proceeds from the shawl auction to the Bixler family, a local father and son who were badly burned in a farm accident.*”

Abby met me soon after I arrived, and I recognized her immediately as one of the many competitors from the last Sheep To Shawl competition I attended (2010).  After a quick stop at the classroom, she led me to the building’s back porch and pointed to the field beyond:  ”Those are our sheep.”

SVRCS's sheep, cared for year-round by the students. The fleece that will be used in the competition is from Mary, the sheep on the right.

We went back to the classroom to wait for the students to arrive.  Looking around the room, the word “typical” was definitely not among the adjectives going through my head.  A giant time line of dates and events stretched across the back wall, just above the room-length wooden workbench on which sat six (six!) spinning wheels.

Schacht spinning wheels. I know you were wondering.

The bookshelves contained typical Social Studies texts, many modern fiction titles, and… yarn.

Textbooks + yarn = a class I wish I could take

A couple of looms stood against the wall.  One will be used on Friday, January 6th during a school-wide demonstration of the team’s skills, while the other will accompany the team to the Farm Show next week.

This is the one that's going to Harrisburg next week.

The students arrived, I turned my nifty iPod recorder on, and the interview began.

(A few notes about the recording:  1) Yes, I was sitting right next to the recorder; 2) The questions asked came either from me or from Abby; 3) my apologies for the variable volume.)

Interview With Sugar Valley Shepherds

Superheroes, indeed.  It became clear to me that this story was equally about the incredible generosity and selflessness these kids demonstrate, as well as a team interview.

The team’s costumes arrived while I was there:

Shanin B. models the mask, which will be painted green, the school color, for the competition.

What would a superhero be without her trusty cape? And yes... she's sporting a tail.

While we talked, we were joined by Wayne and Francie Appleman, veteran Sheep To Shawl competitors, class mentors… and Abby’s parents.  Just as I had recognized Abby, I immediately recognized her parents from years past.  As we chatted, the kids quickly set the room up to practice.  Three of the six spinning wheels, the loom, and the carder’s seat made a compact square next to the classroom entrance, and as soon as team weaver David M. was ready, they began their time trial – a shortened one, since the actual competition is 3 hours long.

Matthew S. carding. "Don't brush. Flick."

Kaeleigh K., Leah M., and Shanin B. - makin' it look easy.

Bobbins were flying...

Team captain/weaver David M.

As the students practiced, Wayne and I chatted about the school, when he asked if I had ever spun before.  Just a little, I said… on a drop spindle.  Then suddenly…

... I was spinning! Not very well, for sure, but after about 10 minutes, I completely understood how people get hooked on this.

Before I knew it, class had ended, the wheels and the loom were back in their places and the students left for the day.  Abby, her parents and I chatted a little while longer, although truth be told I could’ve stood there all evening.  The 2 hour drive back to Harrisburg was as uneventful as the drive up to Loganton, and I started to mentally compose this interview for the blog.  One thing I know I can’t capture accurately, though, is how lucky these kids are to be able to use their skills to help a family in need… and how lucky the rest of us are to be in their company.

* Click here if you’d like to learn a little more about the Bixler Family.
The Turbotville National Bank currently has a fund set up to collect donations that are used towards the Bixler Family’s medical needs.