Creature comforts

We fired up the wood stove this week for the first time, and it sure felt good. Dozer jumped up on the hearth and laid down right in front of the fan. :-)

Yesterday I tried out a recipe my neighbor gave a year or more ago for canned apple pie filling (recipe in the comments). I rarely make pies, but enjoy fruit crisps and have an abundance of apples this year. The recipe is supposed to fill a canner, but I had more than a quart left over plus a quart that didn't seal, so I made two apple crisps in addition to the six quarts put on the pantry shelf. One is for potluck after church tomorrow; we're having the other for supper tonight. I snuck a taste so I could report to you that it's mmm, mmm good! I'm going to make another batch after I get back from the dressage show on Sunday, and am thinking of using stevia instead of sugar.

I had to reassure Sarai with a little loving when she found out that no one has committed to come out and hug her tomorrow (for National Hug A Sheep Day). I guess after the big story hit, everyone that is anyone is headed to Punkin's Patch to hug the famous sheep!

One big, happy 'ramily' – L-R: Blake, Bunker, wether Browning, and Cadbury

Remember that damaged panel in the Ram-ada Inn? Well, the boys finished the job yesterday, so we removed the wreckage and let them run together. To my relief they seem to be getting along fine. I had kept them separated because Cadbury is smaller than Bunker and Blake, but so far, so good. Rick did a lot of grumbling; I think telling him that I am not breeding anyone this year was our (me and the rams) only saving grace!

That's it for today from . . .

'Tis the season for warm, woolly hugs

You can keep your hot summer months; give me cool and cold any day! I can always add another layer, but there's only so much I'm willing to take OFF.

One of my layers, blocking. That's my my handspun Melpomene finally getting proper treatment, even though I wore it several times prior to this.

Another layer, which will be awhile (a long while!) in the making. My blogpal and 'twin-sister-separated-at-birth' Melanie gave me this yarn some time ago, and I'm finally using it to make socks for a KAL (knit along). The pattern suggests size 2 needles, but that gave me a very airy fabric – totally unsuitable for socks. So with coaching from Laura I am using my smallest Addi Turbos – size 0! – for the very first time . . . when I have good light . . . and rested eyes . . . . Oy; I've been knitting for hours and can't even cover my toes yet.

If you see similarities between this and the art at the bottom of my blog,
it's because both were created by Sara

On to more relaxing subjects! Did you know that sheep are certified seratonin supplements? Well, maybe not certified, but they certainly are soothing to be around. Especially sweet Shetland sheep who like to be stroked, and wag their little tails to tell you so. In honor of their therapeutic benefits, October 27 is National Hug a Sheep Day, and Boulderneigh invites you to come hug a sheep that afternoon between 2:00 and 4:00, or any other time we can mutually arrange. I have an eager crew of therapists ready and willing to assist!

To see who else is participating around the country, check out the National Hug A Sheep Day blog.

That's it for today, from . . .