This morning I cannot detect a specific scent in the air, and alt text is not offering me any suggestions for the photograph associated with this blog! This seems to reflect the fact I was late getting up after a weekend away at a yarn show, and my gears are not yet fully oiled and cranking.
To describe this week’s photo I would say it is Kath in her pompom crown ready for day one at Yarndale. She is in a selfie with me, and I am ready to look after the stand so she can go and teach during the weekend. Also in the picture we have a beautiful alpaca who definitely seemed to be posing for a photo early one morning when I went to ask how its day had started.
I love the fact that a yarn show for me is a wonderful blend of work and curiosity and playfulness. When we were getting everything ready to take with us for the weekend I even referred to the patterns as “our patterns” which shows that I feel very invested in this creative world of yarn. I now know much more about knitting and yarn than I have ever done, and I have Kath’s patterns memorised in a Pokédex kind of way, so I am pretty helpful when it comes to looking after things for her. I still am not quite sure about what happens if you knit something in 4-ply instead of DK, and am therefore not confident offering an answer on any such question, but there are always plenty of experts around me at events who do know such things.
There were lots of lovely compliments for Kath’s work during conversations over the two days, and I always love hearing these. In fact it makes my heart sing.
For me there were lots of first this weekend… the early morning shepherding of some sheep back into their pen, Yarndale versions of #SwishOrWaft, some human galloping in the aisles, and some wonderfully relaxing colouring-in time, along with my first ever experience of not feeling cold at any point during the show. It’s good to experience new things alongside the bits that I am expecting.
I love making the little videos to find out whether there is a preference for swishing or wafting whilst wearing a large shawl and love the panache with which people will get involved. It’s good to play. In fact I thrive on play and humour, so I am very grateful for all these kinds of interactions during the show, especially when there is also time for a gallop and neigh in the aisles with a like-minded soul. This makes this non-knitter feel like they have found their own little place to be amongst all things woolly.
I also found time in the quiet of Sunday morning before the show day began to stand on my own in my assigned sheep/cattle pen and draft a poem. It feels rather lovely to come home with some words to work with, and when this poem finds its place in the world it will be fun to remember exactly where it began its shaping.
In honour of the fact that the Harvest Moon featured in the rear-view mirror on my journey home and was there waiting for me at the end of my road when I completed my journey, I offer this poem. It’s a found poem, which I found in the traditional hymn ‘We Plough the Fields and Scatter’ when I was writing poems for each full moon in 2022. And after it was found it was gifted its title.
Having just reread the title of this blog I realise I have not mentioned the two loose screws! I was entertained this weekend by finding a brass coloured, hollow screw in our stand on Saturday. And then on Sunday there was a black screw. I kept them both safe in case someone announced they had lost such things. When Kath asked me if they fitted together I discovered that they had become a fidget toy because they did indeed! They are now displayed in a jar alongside my two beach marbles.
Here’s the Harvest Moon poem from my coffee table book Vortex Over Wave…
STOP EATING THE LOVE HEARTS
We scatter snow warmth,
swell soft gifts.
Thank you, thank you.
Near wayside evening birds,
more bread.
Thank you.
Then all our food gifts –
love hearts.
Refrain.
