These are what I saw outdoors here in Howard County flowering today - black locust trees are everywhere on the roadsides with their dangling white flowers ... and azaleas are the most notice-worthy plantings in yards right now, with glorious colors galore ... and yellow honeysuckle is growing along the verges of walking paths and fields. Lovely!
I took advantage of the shop's being closed today to go to the MD Sheep & Wool Festival (yes, I had intended to go on Saturday but ended up being lazy at home instead:). I spent three wonderful hours walking the length of the fairgrounds, enjoying the animals and displays of wool, music, crafted items and many kinds of tools I only half recognized (hand made wooden hand spindles and shuttles, looms, carding machines, on and on). What fun! :)
I managed to get away with only two purchases - no, three if I count the hand squeezed strawberry lemonade. :) I bought a skein of 70% yak/30% bamboo yarn from Bijou Basin - its a variegated soft yarn in autumnal colors. I want to make a cowl for winter using it - yak is supposed to be warm and light. :)
The other thing I bought was two new albums by Maggie Sansone. Maggie is one of our family's favorite things to see and hear every year at sheep & wool -- she plays hammered dulcimer and is well known in the Celtic music world. I bought her two most recent albums - Wind Drift and Dance Upon The Shore. I've bought a lot of her music from iTunes, too. I think her Christmas music is amongst the most beautiful ever recorded! :)
Otherwise, today is a good day for lazing about. Wishing all you moms out there a happy, happy day!! I got my great start to the day by talking to my beloved daughter for almost an hour on the telephone this morning. :)
:) Linda
PS. If you want to see photos and read more about the festival, you can go here.
Hey, Mama Pea! Good to hear from you. :)
As far as resisting tempation at Sheep & Wool Festival ... I carefully wore blinders while there. LOL Also I am having troubles with my back right now and can't walk to far at a time - that cuts down on my desire to linger around on concrete floors. LOL
LInda
Posted by: LindaSchiffer | May 12, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Oh, a Sheep/Wool festival. I would LOVE to go to something like that. I've always dreamed of raising sheep or alpaca, shearing them, and spinning my own wool. But I am thinking I like the idea of it better than than actually doing it! LOL! I would have spent wayyy to much time at that festival, and I'm impressed that you got away with only two or three purchase. Good for you!
Posted by: Mama Pea | May 12, 2011 at 04:05 PM
beautiful, beautiful images!!
Posted by: karen ruane | May 11, 2011 at 08:49 AM
I'm glad you are enjoying my posts, Donna. :) The azaleas were one of the first spring surprises for me when I moved to MD in the late 70's from WI. Such glorious colors and such great springtime beauty!
:) Linda
Posted by: LindaSchiffer | May 10, 2011 at 09:48 PM
Since we've moved to Ohio, one thing I've really missed about the Bowie/D.C. area has been the show put on by the azaleas every spring. Thanks for posting the photos. It's a delight to see East Coast flowers in bloom!
Posted by: Donna Becker | May 10, 2011 at 05:35 PM