Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival

Or you could call it OFFF as I have been doing leading up to last weekend. I guess I kinda knew what season we were headed into but the leaves took off this weekend. I blinked last week and they turned, I blinked again and they fell off.

Anyways back to the yarny goodness, I attended my first OFFF. I'll just get this out of the way right now, it is not Rhinebeck. I never expected it to be so we're all good. It is smaller than Rhinebeck and I can honestly say I loved the less competitive feeling. I didn't once feel the urge to rip a skein of yarn from some strangers hands. (I'd still jump at the chance to go to Rhinebeck again, but I could breathe here.) OFFF has no entrance fee either, looks like I can add that money back into the yarn budget.

You know what else OFFF has in its favor? No Sales Tax! So much easier to not be counting out change. Even lunch is easier without tax. I represented for Punkin's Patch by wearing my T shirt. I of course had tea with Sara's sheep before I left for the festival too. What I had to keep my eyes on the prize anyway I could! Oh right it is less competitive here, OK I was just getting into the right frame of mind, sheepful not at all competitive.

As I hit the road I saw something a bit different here too. Boise State was headed down to play Oregon State. Oops, I just went over to check and make sure I had the right schools, looks like Boise won. College football is big here, something else I am adjusting to.

So I know you all love pictures of yarn as much as I love taking them. 

Shh...just act like it's true OK?

Five skeins of sock yarn, eight ounces of fiber to spin and a cute little sheep to love.

 Huckleberry Knits had many a tempting item, so I came home with one of each. 

 Fierce Fibers had a couple of great colorways. 

OK fine the name of this dyer (Boss Kitty) caught my eye but I stayed and paid for the yarn!

We were reminded on Ravelry to make sure we visited the barns to see the animals too, some of the farms had booths set up there so I had to bring home a new friend. Darn it I should have texted the Hubby to tell him I was bringing home a sheep to keep Burt company. Oh he would have realized it was an empty threat anyways.

The other nice thing about visiting the barns was being able to buy right from the farmer (Springsong Farm). Isn't that some lovely fiber? I need to email her and ask what the mix was again. I wasn't even going to buy more but the farmer was so enthusiastic and the fiber is so nice, and not a breed I've worked with...do I really need to keep making excuses? 

I'm afraid I may have intimidated Burt with his new job requirements. 

He did not know a knitter's cat is the official yarn inspector.

He took to his job as all new cats do...lying down.

It is hard to inspect yarn while the sun shines!

I just wanted to get another yarny picture in here. I do love yarn.

Introducing Burt

Oh I am so happy to be able to post kitty pictures again. 

This was the morning after his first night in his new home. He kept me awake from 1am to 3am. So many things to see, smell and do all night. He was so happy to go back to sleep after breakfast. Only one person poking and petting him. It is tough being the new guy.

Here he is winning over his new Daddy.

Oh yes he would like to convey how great DaBird is.

It flys like a real bird!!

Sunshine warms my fur quite nice! I think I will stay here for a while. 

I like my new name too. Burt, Burtie it is all good.

They named me after the guy they used to live next to. I hear he was really nice guy that likes birds too. Although I don't think he wanted to catch them.

I hope to live up to my namesake...right after this nap...and dinner...and breakfast.

Who's that hiding in my closet?

Well his shelter name was Rudy, but I'm thinking he maybe more of a Reggie or Willie or Eddie or...

I may just give him a day of settling in before we go changing names. It took two meetings before I was convinced that he should come live with us. He meowed a bit at the start of the trip but quickly settled down. I was almost convinced he had fallen asleep but I really don't think so.

He's had a couple of treats and poked his nose out once but right now we're simply adjusting.

More to come later.

Favor?

A few years ago my parents house burned down. While we were back there visiting I was surprised to see what a hard time my Mom was having accepting charity and help. I don't know if she would tell you the same thing but I saw it and was surprised. I would even venture to say I was shocked by her unwillingness to accept it.

I thought it was silly, people want to help you and you need help why would you have difficulty with that? Well now I know that I have a similar problem accepting offers of help. And I still don't know why I feel the way I do.

Since we announced our moving we had several generous offers to help us. Offers of anything and everything, food, advice, helping pack, helping with getting the house ready, and sympathetic ears to listen to our difficulties.

Sounds lovely right? Well it is, but it turns out I have no clue how to ask for help or accept help even when it is freely offered. D had a friend come over to help him move furniture and stage the house. The friend ended up doing that and helping paint an area, on the fly. I mean the decision to paint that day was made half an hour before the paint can was cracked open. Me? I need at least a month's notice. I mean it was awesome to have someone that can just jump in and do things that really needed to be done.

Honestly if I had been solely responsible for getting that place ready to show, I'd be looking at a move date of mid 2017. We did so much so quickly that I am astonished. Yeah I was overwhelmed.

Still I could not ask for help, I am astonished by that. Many hands make light work. I know it's true but somehow I could not be the one asking or organizing. I still figuring it out. Maybe I was still dealing with my life getting turned upside down. I just know I am thankful I have a great Hubby that knows how to get stuff done, regardless of whose hands are helping him.

Oddly enough the sermon the Sunday in the midst of all our turmoil was about the Good Samaritan. We were supposed to imagine ourselves as one of the people from the story, the Samaritan, the two people that chose not to help, the robbers, the innkeeper and finally the beaten man. I was amazed when someone said they would feel shame for having accepted help from the Samaritan. (Not like you have much choice when you're dying though.) But then the point was made that letting someone help you also can make the giver of help feel good, so in a way you're helping them right back.

So by denying people helping me I was making myself and others feel bad. They gave me honest willing offers of help all I had to do was accept them.

So I did. Once the movers packed up everything that they should have I called a friend and forced her to take all my food that I could not get into my car. I mean honestly why did I buy three bottles of olive oil?

I took time to see the people that wanted to say goodbye to me and get together one last time, usually over food. One couple even loaned me their GPS unit that helped me safely navigate here. I know I still need to get it back to you, I have not forgotten, I'm just not getting it done yet.

I also received three offers of a place to stay on my last nights in New York. I was blessed to accept a refuge from my stress. They took care of me when I dropped off my cat carriers at the shelter because they did not get packed and I had to let one of my last links to my beloved boys go. (I'm better now, it was a good way to let go.) They fed me, entertained me, gave me a comfortable place to sleep, and sympathy when I complained about the stress. She even made scones for me.

I could not have left New York on better terms. You all made it so hard to go, but I'm so thankful for our time with you.

Thank you to all that have helped us.