It's shameful that I haven't posted since August! It was a busy summer and it's been a busy fall, too. I wait all year for fall and this one, while balmy, contained enough cool days and nights to finally give us some great local color.

I was up in Rhinebeck, New York, for the Sheep & Wool Festival in mid-October, and we were blessed with a fabulous weather weekend with gorgeous foliage.

If you haven't been to one of these festivals, and I hadn't, until last year, I recommend it for the whole family. There is a petting area for various animals - sheep, lambs, goats - an actual competition for sheep that's fun to watch, and more fiber to buy than you can imagine. PLUS they have workshops for felting, weaving, knitting and other textile arts, which we did this year. I learned to knit (again) this year and recently completed my first scarf. Of course, I bought tons of yarn last year and this year that I'd better use, but I need some more skills first. I'll be practicing this winter!

Rhinebeck is a charming town and a lovely, if tiring, weekend can be spent antiquing, hiking, eating, drinking and buying, and enjoying the scenery in this most picturesque area of New York State.