Hey kid...did you have fun?
We did, we did! Anne and I left bright an early on Friday morning. Well, maybe I wasn't very 'bright'. A party at the condo across they way resulted in my having 3 hours of sleep. Smith, my hero, went over and with a veiled threat, was able to empty the house in nothing flat of about 30 noisy teens. 
We hope the threat was enough that they will not try to party there again. (The house is usually empty and owned by one of their momsters mothers.) Anyway, Anne and I were on the road, heading up I-80, by 6:30 a.m. We shared the driving, gabbed the whole way and arrived in Windsor 8 hours later. We surprised Cathy, who had expected us later in the day and who was in the process of entertaining others with a tea party. Cathy is so sweet and generous. The first thing she did was hand both Anne and I a gift. Mine was some beautiful roving and a spindle that M made just the night before! It's wonderful and makes me even more determined to learn to spin.
The ever fantastic and wonderful Snow fetched me for dinner after her long work day and we headed off to meet Kristi and other fiber freaks members of their Stitch 'n Bitch. It was a ball to be with them and to eat ourselves silly at a great Italian restaurant. Snow is a true 'hostest with the mostest' and Kristi was as sweet as people can be. It felt like being with long time pals, which seems to happen often in Blogland. Snow made sure I had a good nights sleep so I was ready for fun the next day.
Saturday morning Kristi, Snow and I set off for the Estes Park Wool Market and became total immersed in fiber thrill. The market building was packed inside and out with fiber seeking maniacs. Estes Park is so beautiful and nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The Big Thompson River flows through the canyon (which is breath taking) and while I've heard the song about the 1976 flood
, I never realized where the river was. It was flowing high, as all rivers in the west are at the moment, but nothing like that tragic day.
There is nothing like going to a wool market to bring you 'back' to Woolcentricity. Sadly, I didn't meet up with any of the Denver bloggers, as I think we all had our noses to the wool. There were so many wonderful vendors! Grayce, of Plain & Fancy Sheep & Wool Co., had left a comment so I had to search her out right away. It was great to meet her and see the beautiful wool that is 'to live for'! It was so hard to choose. I could have come home with a dozen of her sport and lace weight yarns as the colors were so gorgeous. She was nearly out of yarn by the end of the day. If you are going to Taos for the Wool Festival make sure you run by her booth early in the day for the best selection.
Ha, ha! I fool you all! That is not MY wheel it is the 'Knitting Fool' Kristi's. Go congratulate her on a fabulous find! The roving isn't mine either! I did buy a very nice Greensleeves spindle from Bountiful and will be trying my hand at spinning (again) soon. You'll see the spindle and 'yarn porn' in tomorrow's post. Yes, I did buy yarn (oh yes, lots of gorgeous yarn), but yarn is not a step into the 'dark side'.
Loveland and Windsor are in the high plains of Colorado. The area is mostly agricultural and beautifully green with the mountains off in the distance. Early Sunday morning, while driving to Cathy's to pick up Anne I snapped this picture. It was so peaceful, so beautiful and had full accompaniment from a symphony of bird song...a very nice memory, indeed.
So, who's coming next year?!
Better watch those spindles. They lead to unmentionable activities.
It sounds like you had a wonderful time! We need pictures of yarn and colourways now.
Posted by: Laurie | June 21, 2005 at 04:20 AM
It looks like Estes has all the other festivals beat just for scenic views at every turn.
It sounds like the trip and the festival were wonderful. I'm just trying to figure out why you keep mentioning all that YARN as if to negate the spindle purchase. Hmmm....
Posted by: Cassie | June 21, 2005 at 05:29 AM
What a lovely time--thanks for sharing your trip with us, Margene! Seeing all of your pics makes me miss the West so much--I love it out there!
Have a great Tuesday :)
Posted by: Lolly | June 21, 2005 at 05:34 AM
Thanks for the great pics. That is an awesome view for a festival...wow...and that clear blue sky. Looks like a heavenly trip! :-)
Posted by: Eilene | June 21, 2005 at 06:11 AM
What wonderful restraint you have, writing so beautifully about the whole experience while anticipation builds out here for the yarn shots. Thanks, as always, for including your scenic photos. I've never been out west...your posts make me want to pack my bags!
Posted by: Jan | June 21, 2005 at 06:16 AM
Love your post..the pictures confirm your lovely description of your weekend. Just wishing I could be there...looking forward to more tomorrow :)
Posted by: michele | June 21, 2005 at 06:27 AM
Seriously aggreeing with Cassie here. I might not have bought so much if there were mountains like THAT at Maryland. Almost tantalizing enough to NOT think about yarn.
Glad you had such a wonderful trip - can't wait to see what you bought!
Posted by: Cara | June 21, 2005 at 06:32 AM
I might have to combine a trip home with the festival next year! Looks like it was a nice one.
Posted by: Bridget | June 21, 2005 at 06:32 AM
C'mon already...quit the teasing and show us the stuff!
Posted by: Kathleen | June 21, 2005 at 06:44 AM
Maybe we will inspire more bloggers to gather together next year for brunch... you certainly are doing a great job of tempting them :-) And of course, I will figure out a way to get to SLC and harass both you and Anne.
Posted by: Cathy | June 21, 2005 at 06:49 AM
Sounds like a great time--maybe I'll have to make the trek from Denver to Estes next summer :)
Posted by: Kim | June 21, 2005 at 07:01 AM
I can't wait to see some of your "goodies!" ;)
Posted by: Teri | June 21, 2005 at 07:02 AM
Looks like you had an excellent time, and how could you not with that breathtaking scenery? Need...to...come...out....West.....
Posted by: Liz | June 21, 2005 at 07:25 AM
Hey, what's an 8 hour drive when there's yarn to be had? Maybe I'll have to check it out next year too!
Posted by: Andrea | June 21, 2005 at 07:31 AM
Margene, you sure know how to live! I hand you a virtual glass of something bubbly. (not Diet Coke, hee)
Posted by: Norma | June 21, 2005 at 09:19 AM
Gorgeous! I loved Cathy's tea party the other day! Looking forward to the porn portion of the program...
Posted by: Vicki | June 21, 2005 at 09:50 AM
Lynette and I would love to join you!
Posted by: monica | June 21, 2005 at 09:55 AM
Me! Me! Me! Oh, Me! I'm going next year...even if I have to bind and gag the Dh and lock him in a closet!
Posted by: La | June 21, 2005 at 10:16 AM
You're going to spin today and show us the handspun yarn tomorrow?
;-)
Posted by: Lee Ann | June 21, 2005 at 10:23 AM
Woot! What fun!
Posted by: Bliss | June 21, 2005 at 10:40 AM
Looks and sounds dee-lightful! And I definitely got the squeals at the photo of the cute little kid...!
Posted by: christina b. | June 21, 2005 at 11:10 AM
So you'll all come out and stay with me next year? Wheeeeee! This should be fun!
Posted by: Snowball | June 21, 2005 at 12:07 PM
Sounds like an absolute blast. Love the pictures!
Posted by: st. carrie | June 21, 2005 at 01:26 PM
Sounds like you had a great time! I've so been itching for a girl road trip!
And glad to hear you haven't crossed COMPLETELY to the dark side. ;)
Posted by: Kim | June 21, 2005 at 02:48 PM
If you have other Utah girls that want to come next year we have room at our house as well. A guest bed and two futons!
Posted by: Kristi | June 21, 2005 at 03:01 PM