Here are a couple of views of what we saw on entering the warehouse area:

Bins full of wool

Way more than "three bags full"!

Wool expert Alex McClure explained how shipments arrive from all over this part of the country and are tracked for each individual grower, then graded for quality and sorted…

Our guide, Alex McClure

Where the grading is done

One of the grading criteria - staple length

Baler

… then baled and sent on to processors.  He was very patient, and answered all of our questions.

He had even set out a number of fleeces of varying fineness and quality for us to look at, handle, and ask even more questions about!

The whole happy group

Then, best of all, we were able to pick out and buy any fleeces we wanted!  Laura (Sugar Bunny Boulevard yarn shop proprietor) and Marsha scored the reserve champion fleece, splitting it 50/50.

A pair of happy fleece owners

One of the advantages of being the tour arranger was that I got dibs on the grand champion fleece!

My lovely, lovely wool

I think it would satisfyingly complete the cycle if I spun and knitted something from this fleece, then entered it in next year’s fair, don’t you?

* * * * *

So, since there isn’t much knitting-related content here, let’s move right on to the trip!

March 3, 2011 was the 100th anniversary of the birth of Harlean Carpenter, who would be known worldwide by her screen name Jean Harlow.  She was my first cousin twice removed (my grandfather’s cousin), and over the last 10 years or so, we have met a number of wonderful people through that connection.  One of those wonderful people is Darrell Rooney, co-author with Mark Vieira of the brand-new book, Harlow in Hollywood: the Blonde Bombshell in the Glamour Capital, 1928 – 1937.  If you are at all interested in this period of Hollywood history, buy this book!  It’s fascinating, readable, and filled with gorgeous photos.  The book’s release was timed to coincide with the anniversary,  a very special exhibition “Harlow at 100″ at the Hollywood Museum, and a presentation by the authors and screening of her movie “Bombshell” at the historic Egyptian Theater.  Jean Harlow is also the March 2011 Star of the Month on TCM.

As family members, we were invited to attend the festivities, including a book signing at one of Harlow’s homes and a visit to another home she shared briefly with husband Paul Bern.  One of the fascinating people we met at that book signing was Pauline Wagner, an actress who knew Jean Harlow.  She’s 101 years old, but no one would have guessed!

Other interesting and famous people that we met (and liked) included Holly Madison, Johnny Crawford who gifted us with a copy of his fabulous CD “Sweepin’ the Clouds Away” which features a picture of Harlow on the disc, and the gently humorous Rose Marie.

See a slide show of pictures from our adventures at my other site, “Jean Harlow, otherwise known as Harlean Carpenter“.  I’ll just share one picture here… if you look closely, you may recognize my Ithilien Brocade Jacket in this snapshot of my family with the authors at the beautiful Cliff’s Edge Restaurant.

After a lovely dinner with authors Darrell Rooney (left) and Mark Vieira (right)

The view from my balcony

… and …

A walk on the beach

… and …

Moonrise

I don’t think we’re in Kansas any more!  A conference in Myrtle Beach, SC has moved most of my good intentions straight to the back burner, but I think we’ll all survive the delay.  And yes, I AM attending conference sessions.  I have witnesses.

I am also getting some travel knitting done.  One sweater on circular needles for plane knitting, one sock on DPNs for hotel knitting.  (I have a horror of dropping a double-pointed needle on an airplane, losing it forever, and not even being able to knit what’s in my hands.)  The baby blanket that has a ‘due date’ deadline will be cast on as soon as I get back home.  I need uninterrupted time to focus on counting to 258, or whatever it is, correctly.  You know how that goes.

And now for today’s knitting content:

Sock and surf