The new crew

Yesterday morning the up-and-coming egg-providers were lined up at the fence waiting for me. They aren't tame, but they know who brings breakfast!

Tippy-tat, on the other hand, is the most affectionate cat I have ever had. I love his white whiskers and "eyebrows," and the few white hairs on the bridge of his nose. Hopefully he will prove to be an effective addition to the rodent-eradication crew at Boulderneigh.

Yesterday's evening color was fleeting; since then it's turned cold, wet and blustery - the perfect "indoor" day. We've got a fire going and I'm going to make bread and granola this afternoon, if Brian cooperates (this morning wasn't so great, or they'd be done by now). I bound-off a gift knit, and plan to cast on another tonight.


That's it for now from . . .

Goodies

First, a new, darker background for Pacific Standard time. I am so glad for more light in the mornings; it helps me get up and at 'em much easier. And I don't mind dark evenings; it's a good excuse for candles and knitting and homemade stews - "these are a few of my favorite things."

Speaking of knitting, last night I finished these fraternal-twin socks, a Christmas present for a friend. I'm planning to see her Thursday, so she will get them early and hopefully have longer to enjoy them.

Friday I finally picked our winter squash, since the vines are dead or dying and they aren't going to get any bigger. I don't have anything in the photo for scale, but these are all very small for winter squash. They will still be tasty additions to the table - as will the 15-pound Sweet Meat squash a friend brought us yesterday!

I did throw a pumpkin in the boys’ lot, but other than initial curiosity, they have left it alone.

The girls, however, are working on theirs:
Bronwen seems the most fond of it, but I have also seen Bramble working on it. And this morning:

Inky is restless. This morning, once I got the ewes directed into their lot (Inky tried to lead them all the other way), she went down to the corner nearest the rams and BAAAed. I think a certain arthritic little old lady still feels hormonal surges!

Off to can more applesauce. I've put up 42 quarts so far, from maybe 1/2 to 2/3rds of the apples we picked. I'm afraid I'm going to run out of jars!

That's it for now from . . .

I spy, from my window high...

...(my very dirty window) a pumpkin-eater!

And great news; Rick passed his stress test today with flying colors, and gets to cut the dosage on two of his four medications in half! Yippee!

I think that's it for today from . . .

Trick, or treat?

I know, I know; Halloween was last weekend, but....

Yesterday on my way home, I stopped to buy a couple more butternut squash (two for $1) at the place I bought the $2.50 pumpkin. There were still a couple big bins of pumpkins left but no sign, so I drove up to the house to see if they were still for sale. The lady made a call and confirmed that they are, but told me I could take the four big bruisers she had at the house so she didn't have to move them.

Now I can't say that I have any faith in pumpkins as an anthelminic, but am all for giving the sheepies a treat, so I loaded them up in my trunk and took them home. Drove up next to the ewes' lot and heaved one ho, hoping it would shatter on impact.

Instead, the top popped off - and the rest of the pumpkin rolled towards the sheep, scattering them in terror!
I went in and opened it up for them, but they were having none of that scary squash. Bronwen may have gotten courageous enough to sniff it before I put the girls in for the night, but I don't think anyone ventured a taste. Sigh. Good thing they were free! Do you think I'll have to bake the others and serve them up with butter and brown sugar to get the girls to eat them? Or perhaps they prefer pie; oh my.

You may recall that Katie was slow to grow fleece after shearing and lambing, but she has finally "bloomed" and was in need of a bigger sheep suit. So after bringing the girls in last night, I got my treat - a brief wallow in her gorgeous wool - and then covered it back up again.
(Katie looks like she still hasn't recovered from the predatory pumpkin - ha!) I haven't gotten to spin any of Katie's fleece yet, because the processor misplaced this spring's clip and I haven't gotten her roving back. This glimpse made me want to shear and spin on the spot!

That's it for now from . . .