And I didn't even get to take off, though I was tempted to.  No, it wasn't real snow.  It was glorious cotton... everywhere I went.  It was being harvested all over the place.  It was lying by the side of the highway where it had blown off trucks.  There were ripe fields of it still to be conquered.  I wanted to stop and gather and gather and gather.  However, I waited until I got back to the motel where all the field there had been gone over by the mechanical cotton picker.  There was still plenty left to gather.  Those pickers do not do a very thorough job.  So, the upshot of the whole thing is that I was able to gather 2 motel laundry bags full (you know, the little vinyl bags they leave in your room - how considerate!!)

Now, you may be wondering what I am going to make with this "found treasure".  Well, considering I got it from a motel and started to process it here, and considering I am just feeling too cotton picking silly...  What else?  Washcloths!!

Okay, I don't know about you, but here is what I do when I am out travelling on business:

I am staying in a really "full service" motel - you know, HBO, free DSL internet and a whole field full of cotton.  Yep, you have it right.  There is a cotton field surrounding this motel.  And... today, just happened to be the day they are harvesting it...  and... there is plenty still left on the plants and on the ground after the picker goes over it.  So, this enterprising gal went out and picked a bunch of it up this evening.  And... just so happens, I brought my cotton carders and new Bosworth book charkha.  I had brought some of my own cotton from home to card and spin, but with all this bounty, who could resist.  So, cotton that was growing in the field earlier today is already in various states of being...  fluffy bits with the seeds picked out, nice little round punis for spinning AND even some yarn already.  Can you tell I'm excited?