From: LORI BENNARD


               What I did on my Summer Vacation, by Lori B.

        On a mostly sunny Saturday morning, I drove down to
Eugene to spend the afternoon at the 20th Anniversary of the Black
Sheep Gathering, and my fifth visit.  There was a good sized crowd
when I arrived about noon.  With my checkbook at the ready, and no
husband or son to slow me down, I swooped down on the trade show, and
touched and looked and sniffed and pondered and petted virtually
every merchant's wares. After that, I spent time in the live
exhibits, and momentarily lost my wits over a month old black
Shetland ram lamb...(Really - it's a dog!  Here, Rex, here boy!  The
horns and cloven hooves?  Uh, his mother watched "Rosemary's Baby"
too many times, that's all!)  But, reality won out, he stayed where
he belonged.  Shetlands are very popular here in the maritime
Northwest, which makes a lot of sense now that I think about their
native habitat.  I saw llamas, alpacas, angoras, and many Jacobs (one
of my personal favorites, some of them have 4 horns instead of two).
And of course, lovely Lincolns and Corriedales and Romneys and
Border Leicesters, and even a few Icelandic sheep!
       I spent some time listening and watching the handspun and
knitted clothing contest being judged, and it was very educational.
ALWAYS darn your loose ends in... The judge explained exactly why
she was scoring what she did.  Some of her scoring down seemed to be
personal - maybe _she_ would be too warm wearing a 100% angora
shawl, but perhaps it was going to be a gift for someone in Alaska?
Still, it was enjoyable watching someone familiar with handspun - I
recall some of the posts here last summer, dealing with judges who
hadn't a clue!
       I saw a sign for the fleece show and sale, and wandered
around to that end of the building. Just as they chased us viewers
out, to prepare for the sale, I found a nice true black Shetland
fleece.  I went out, watched the judge for another 30 minutes, then
got in line for the sale. We were lined neatly up, and when the door
opened, several people cut for the front.  (Grr!  It's _their_ Karma
they're gambling with, I guess.)  But, my black fleece was still
there, so I was satisfied.
       I also found a new magazine there, called Fiberfest, and I'm
really impressed.  I got the first two issues, but wish I'd gotten
all 4, and a subscription, too!  It has some good how-to articles, on
animals, fiber prep & dyeing, home-business management, and recipes,
too! :-) Anyone else seen it?  (Fiberfest Magazine, PO Box 112,
Hastings, MI, 49058)  (Chuck, maybe we could try raising
cashmere?....)
       The fleece washes up nicely, and goes through the drum carder
like cotton candy, and is waiting to spin up.  I committed the
almost-cardinal sin of not having a project in mind, but I think
it'll talk to me.  I'm hearing whispers of "hat, scarf, maybe
mittens..." already.  ("WOMAN ADMITS FLEECE TALKS TO HER - Local
Officials Suspect Alien Involvement!"  Oooh! Will they let me call
Fibernet from the state hospital?...)
       Well, summer vacation isn't quite over, but BSG is always one
of the highlights! Now, how are YOU spending your summer?