Of course, the downside of not posting about Rhinebeck immediately following the event is that so many other bloggers beat you to all the good stuff. Nevertheless, I have stuff to say, even if you have heard it all before.
There are loads of things I could tell you about why the weekend was so special. Here are just a few:
Most important, it was FUN. Frankly, I have a hangover from all the fun. Shut up. It’s not from the wine.
Blogless Sharon is a wonderful traveling companion. She drives through rain without complaint. She stops for coffee at a moment’s notice. And she doesn’t even get mad when the co-pilot screws up the directions. I wouldn’t want to travel to a fiber festival without her!
I also want to say that Manise makes a great roommate. She sleeps on a sofa bed and doesn’t whine about it. She cleans up after a mega-party and still manages to crack jokes and smile. And she’s always ready to hold your bags or give you a hug. Or both.
I got to meet my “ring sister” Vicki. See, Vicki hooked me up with Dixie so I could get one of these oh-so-special-cable-knit-rings as a birthday present from Dale. I was so excited to simply sit at Vicki’s feet on Friday night in the hotel lobby. We chatted and gabbed like old friends. Must be the power of the ring.
There was hanging with my peeps – all Rhinebeck first-timers like me. Despite our lack of knowledge about the festival we still managed to find our way around.
We visited Norm Hall’s booth. No, Cheryl didn’t buy this wheel. Touching it had to be enough.
The blogger meet up was out-of-control! There were bloggers everywhere. Cara organized and Stitchy facilitated with the ingenious Blogger Bingo. I was a bit of a Blogger Bingo Slacker as I left my bingo card in the hotel room. But I wore my “I’m A Square” button proudly and did have a few people check me off on their cards.
I got a picture of Margene with Kate Gilbert and Tadpole. Too bad Tadpole looked down just as I snapped because she has the sweetest face – she looks just like her mama.
We also had a mini-Estes-Park-reunion while at the Blogger Meet Up. This is a lousy picture of me but I had to post it just because it’s cool to see Bakerina and Ann and Margene and me all together in New York instead of Colorado.
Manise is holding just some of the haul. And that’s Linda, sister of Judy, hiding behind her. Linda is just as fun and charming and smart as her sister and really needs to get a blog. Just sayin’.
Kathy and Martha bought this, their first fleece, together. Of course a first fleece has to be documented. I hope it’s the first of many, ladies.
After the close of the festival, there was a bit of a, errrr, gathering in my room. Laurie and I hosted this and we affectionately termed it “Winebeck” because there was a bit of wine.
And quite a few guests, as well. And cheese and crackers and snacks. Eventually there was even pizza, thanks to the organizational skills of Beth. We talked and laughed and knit and spun until quite late. I was completely flattered that so many people took time out to hang with us. And I was over-the-moon to meet Lee Ann and her family and the darling Julia of Vesper Sock Yarn fame as well as the eternally clever Anne, designer of Wing of the Moth. Of course I can’t list everyone but I am really glad all of you were there.
Had enough for today? Tomorrow I’ll show you the haul.
Knit people are GOOD people.
Now show me the STUFF!
Martha and I don’t look too excited, do we? 🙂 It *was* fun — thanks!!
Holy Crap that’s a lot of wine 🙂
Looks like a good time; I am a bit (a lot) jealous!
DANG!
i wish i would have known about ‘whinebeck’. i would have tried to convince my travleing companion to get a room. (ha!)
[i admit, i stayed a bit too long in the wine tasting building. hahaha.]
I guess you had fun! I can’t wait to see the haul.
You were lucky to have such beautiful weather! Sunshiney! Looks like fun 😉
Looks like so much fun, Carole! I don’t know how I ran into Manise like 7 times and not you once!
Great pictures!! You can almost see Cheryl drooling over that wheel…LOL!
Loved the pictures, can’t wait to see what you got!
Great pictures. And excellent summary. It was a remarkable experience. And then, the confessions to follow.
I am SO JEALOUS. I can’t believe you hooked up with so many great people!!
Don’t you just love Vicki!! I just met her at a Harlot event and she’s the REAL reason I went.
Holy shit, that’s a lot of wine.
Looks like you had a ton of fun!!!!!! I love the ring…..I need to add one of those to my wish list….beautiful.
For sure, next year I get a room. That’s just too much fun to miss. Looking forward to seeing your loot.
Sigh:miss,miss:Sigh.
how funny that you have a cable ring and yet, you’re afraid of cables (maybe not anymore? the ring has given you courge?)
it was good seeing you. i’m going to come and hang with you without 30,000 other bloggers. what do you say?
Sounds like so much fun. And holy crap, what a lot of wine!!
OMG! All five of you were VIRGINS!!??!!?!??? I wish I’d known. We could have had a mass ritual deflowering or something. 😀 Thanks for Winebeck–it was great fun!
There is nothing better than wine with friends. It looks like you had a great time, now show us the loot!
Looks like a lot of fun! I especially love the winebeck idea…right up my alley :o)
You had a great time! Lucky knitter, you!
I, for one, am always thrilled to see another Rhinebeck post so I can re-live the glory!! Thanks for sharing all your fun. I’ll come back tomorrow to see THE HAUL!! 🙂
It was an absolutely glorious time indeed. However, there was a lot more wine than that as the party went on- just saying. Don’t forget the Vodka 😉
Ahh, if only I could have bought that wheel. . . Too bad it was worth more than my car.
Thanks for the post- I’m so happy you guys had a blast, and a bit of partying too? Next year you’re all in trouble, because I WILL BE THERE, and I will bring it on!
Looks like a total blast! Aren’t Kate and the wee one the cutest?
Thank goodness we didn’t tell Marcy we’d never been to Rhinebeck before! 😉
Great pics and summary. Man, I can still hear the echoes of the Winebeck din. What fun.
Awesome pictures! Can’t wait to see the haul!
always good to see you! Glad you had a great time.
Carole, glad you had a good time. It was fabulous finaly meeting you in person!
Sorry that picture didn’t come out so great… :o\
Great pictures (the ones I didn’t take, that is) ;o)
Great pictures! Lots of happy wool people!
Glad you had a great time.
By the way, you really can never have too much wine–or too much yarn, roving, fleece…
Sounds like a great time! I believe the hangover too as I know Estes pales in comparison!
It was SO much fun, even if Liz and I didn’t get to attend Winebeck . . . it was great meeting you at last!
That’s it! I gotta go next time! Can’t wait to see the haul!
Oh, it sounds absolutely wonderful…
That picture of you and Jen and Anne and Margene makes me SO jealous that I wasn’t there! I haven’t been jealous up until now, but now I am… damn you! 😀
Wow, the wine……………….next year for sure………Thanks for the pictures!!!
Okies…
Now I really want to go next year. *L*
That IS a lot of wine. I wish I was staying in your hotel!
I can’t really speak for other knitters/spinners, but this one (who couldn’t go to Rhinebeck) can never get enough of Rhinebeck (and Winebeck…Love it). Thanks for sharing.
For the record, Sharon and I decided over the weekend that Blogfree would be a better term for our current state. None of the work, all of the fun. It is good to leach off the talents of others. *grin*
So nice to see you in person this weekend. I was sad about the lack of pink cowboy hat though…
Delighted with the photos… and yes, I can imagine “needing” that much wine.
It was fun to hang with you, Carole, but you know what? I’m pissed… there wasn’t enough hangin’ with you!! Next year or next time or next event — we’ve GOT to make better plans and exchange phone numbers. I cannot believe I didn’t see you even once on the fairgrounds except for the short while at the meet-up. That happened WAY too much. There are some people I wanted to see and never even caught a glimpse.
It was great to see you again! Can’t wait to see the haul!
Oh wow, looks like you all had a fabulous time!
After being there, the best thing about Rhinebeck is reading all the posts about it. Everyone saw something just a bit different, and it was all great. Thanks again for the party!
(No, I haven’t posted yet, yes, much of it will be repetitive, and yes, you have to read it anyway.)
You have the Best. Smile. Ever. And I was so happy to finally meet you and hang out. I hear Security wasn’t so happy later on, though…
Thank you for being there, for hosting Winebeck, and for welcoming us in so warmly. My husband wants to come back next year!