Relationships

I have noticed that the ewes sometimes stand at the chain link fence of the corner pen and look in on the chicks - especially Annabelle. I've thought perhaps chickens were something familiar to her and therefore comforting somehow, since the Chastains have free-range hens. Last night after I brought the girls in I noticed Annabelle standing there again, looking like the "chicken whisperer." As I watched, one of the Speckled Sussex girls reached through the fence and gently pecked at something in Annabelle's poll wool - and Annabelle wagged her tail in response! I find it strange and wonderful to have a sheep who loves chickens - and chickens who groom sheep.

I wish Tippy and Oreo would become buddies; they would certainly be warmer if they snuggled together like Sara's cats do.

Tippy likes to claim the sheep fold once I turn the girls out in the morning. Tonight it's cold and wet, and he begged to be allowed in the tack room. Since the litterbox is still in there, I went ahead and let him in and brought in his food and water dishes. He promptly curled up on a saddle pad. He doesn't have the fur or fat that Oreo has, so I suspect he IS cold. Poor kitty, he ended up in a "no housecat zone." Even though I've never had a housecat (my mom is allergic to cats) I could be tempted, but Rick has no such weakness. Tippy is a good soul and doesn't hold it against him. :-)

That's it for now from . . .

Dance like no one is watching

It was meant to be, although I didn't know it at the time. For the very next day, this was on my desk calendar -

and this came from Zelda -

So what did Mary and Zelda know that I didn't?

Last Thursday night Rick, Brian and I went to a Ceili! Brian's fiddle teacher and his group, Roughly Hewn, were playing for it and Brian really wanted to go, so after Brian's violin lesson we killed some time, ate supper, and went. The Ceili was a benefit for a local private school, so the majority of the crowd (well over 100) packed in the little grange hall were kids of various ages. There was lots of noise and chaos and very few who knew what they were doing, so we fit right in when "we" (Brian and I dragged Rick in just short of kicking and screaming) decided to try our feet at hopping and skipping around. It was a hoot and a half, and a good work-out to boot!

Sorry, Zelda; I don't think I was born to dance OR look good in the outfit, but this old dog doesn't mind trying to learn some new tricks!

That's it for now from . . .

Ready for the home stretch!

This morning I finished spinning the last 12 ounces (of 2.75 POUNDS) of white alpaca singles. YAY! (And look at that Louet bobbin. I could easily get another two ounces on there.) Not that I'm done with the alpaca; it still needs to be plied into three four-ounce skeins, washed and dried – but the end is in sight! Then I lift my self-imposed ban and get to play with my miniSpinner. Perhaps the mS will convince me to take on other spinning commissions, but for now I'm thinking the alpaca will be my first - and last.

There has been knitting, too. Finished gift-knit (Ravelry pattern link):
I think this, paired with a striking silver-tone horse pin, will be my contribution to my dressage chapter's Christmas party.

Another gift-knit at least halfway complete:
This is a cotton hat for my Nebraska nephew who can't wear acrylic, polyester or animal fibers. I made him a stocking cap out of really heavy cotton yarn a few years ago, and his mother says he wears it a lot. Figured it was time for a new, more stylish one to keep his ears warm on his distance runs (he's into cross-country and now triathlons). This is also from Ravelry. The instructions didn't make sense until I read the comments, and even then I didn't start the pattern when I was supposed to, but I still like it a lot.

Now if I would get busy sewing on buttons, I would have three other gift knits ready to wrap!

That's it for now from . . .

Converts, all

And I had photographic evidence of the "all" part, but inadvertently deleted Browning's and Bramble's dining pix!







That's it for now from . . .