Happy Halloween

I couldn't come up with a good sheep costume this year, but that sure doesn't mean everyone has to skip the pumpkin party!  

"Sure looks like we're going to have to skip the party!"

Just give me a minute, guys.

Stellaluna helped me pick out a few pumpkins this afternoon.

And Baaxter and Thelma got first dibs before the crowd got too unruly.

Pumpkins have become a favorite treat.  Maybe not as universally loved as Vanilla Wafers, but the fans are big fans.

Big Moose is a big fan.

And wasn't afraid to let everyone know!

Pinto had to think about it for a minute, but he quickly remembered.

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Remember the little swallowtail caterpillar?  He/she is still here, munching away on the carrot tops, showing no signs of turning into a chrysalis (!).  I decided to carve a butterfly pumpkin as a little encouragement.  And now, looking at the picture, the makeshift greenhouse almost looks like a ghost costume :-D.

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By The Way

That was Nistock Farms yesterday.  Probably most of you already knew that, but for anyone who doesn't know about their award winning sheep and beautiful wool and wood products, here's a link.

"I heard you used to be better at this blogging thing!"

A New York Flock Walk

I've been working on the 2026 calendar this week and was doing okay scrolling through months and months of pictures of Maisie and then got to the picture of her standing next to a big dangerous trench and an excavator, giving me one of "those looks" and it was so classic Maisie that...

I tried to keep it together and move on, but I just couldn't.  I kept staring back into her coal black eyes that always seemed to look straight into my soul and finally realized I needed to go do the evening chores...and fix dinner...and watch some "baking show"...and go to bed...and this morning I still couldn't get back to it so I decided to take a short vacation back to New York and share some pictures of sheep who aren't Maisie.

I also made three new puzzles!

Robin and I had been busy with all sorts of fun things that Saturday and as she and Andy started prepping evening feed, I headed out to the big field with my camera.  The leaves were just starting to turn and the light was starting to fade, but I still had a great time taking pictures of all her beautiful sheep.  Well, most of them.  There is also a ram barn and a group of retirement home sheep.  This is the main flock.  

It was a great vacation, then and today.  I hope you enjoy it as well :-). 

I did a post on Instagram this morning talking about counting sheep.  Does this picture make you want to start counting as well?

And dinner was served.

Hug A Sheep Day Fun

The sheep started their day before dawn so I missed walking out in the back field with them and had to punt on the flock walk and ended up opening the arena to talk them into a second breakfast.  The arena is a big treat for them and they were happy to comply. 

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Hopefully you can just click the above picture to watch if you'd like.

There were plenty of cookies and crackers and everyone mostly took turns trying to trick everyone into sneaking them an extra or two ;-).

After 15 years of farm parties that were too warm to wear a wool sweater, I knit not one, but two vests over the summer and fall in hopes of being able to wear a farm sweater to our farm party...and it was too cold.  I wore my Lamb Camp poncho for awhile, but was glad to switch to my B. Willard sweater to warm back up.

All the party pictures were taken by my friend Amy (more to come about that) except this one of Naughty Bea having to be carried up the driveway in a car so she didn't get run over by a car...

...and this sweet picture of Bullseye sleeping on the swing with his favorite party guest.  I tried to get a video of him swinging, but that was when Naughty Bea drove up and he woke up and jumped away.

Even the chickens got some cookies.  Zelda is in the middle of her fall molt so she needed the extra calories to help stay warm.

In the afternoon several of us headed over to the Heavenly Hilltop Railroad and rode the trains.  

It was the perfect way to end a really fun day.

 

Real Quick

Hug A Sheep Day was chilly, but very fun and I have pictures and stories to share from that, but they are on my phone, so an extra step to share, but not to worry...I will get that done, hopefully tomorrow.  In the meantime, here is a quick post to update everyone on the swallowtail caterpillar in the garden.

Last week I found a swallowtail caterpillar still eating away on some leftover carrot tops out in my messy garden.  I'm glad the garden was messy because, by accident, there was still some food for a late to the party caterpillar.

We had two medium freezes and a hard freeze last week and I worried about what was going to happen, so I built a makeshift greenhouse using some picket fence pieces and clear plastic and on the coldest nights I draped a cotton sheet over the top, tucking it in the edges to hold as much heat in as I could. 

It worked!

Each morning I walk out and check on it and this morning he/she was in a good spot for a photo so I grabbed my big camera.  Cell phone cameras are nice, but no comparison to a good DSLR.  I not only prefer those pictures, but they are also easier to get inspired to post a quick blog.  

Monarch caterpillars can not make it through the winter, but swallowtail caterpillars can overwinter if they make it into a chrysalis.  I'm not sure if I would need to try to move it into the garage or something, but if we make it that far, I'll do a little more research. 

In the meantime, we'll all do our best and be grateful there to have made it this far.  Those carrots have got to be confused for sure!  

Speaking of messy gardens, it's best to leave them messy all winter!  The birds will eat all sorts of leftover seeds and any insects they find there and there are insect of all sorts living in the mess and eggs that would hatch next spring if they are given a chance.  Embrace the mess and leave your leaves, too!

Are You Ready To Hug Some Sheep?

(Inter)National Hug a Sheep Day is this Saturday, October 25th (always the last Saturday in October), and we are planning our usual shenanigans here on the farm and virtually on Instagram.

We'll start the day with an early morning virtual Flock Walk on Instagram.  I've done these for several years now and each time I think it's going to be boring and silly and they always turn out really special.  I'll try to save the live video to publish other places so everyone can enjoy walking out with the sheep at a more reasonable time if you live elsewhere ;-).

In the afternoon we are hosting our usual On the Farm Party complete with sheep, horses, chickens, cats, Bea and Pinot.  It's looking like it's going to be cool enough for wool wearing, so that's exciting.  It may be too cool for wool spinning, but bring your wheel or current project just in case.  We'll have a fire going!

Since we are bumping up the time an hour this year, Auntie Reg is going to be cooking up our favorite October wool festival snack, Artichoke French, and we'll have fresh bread, hot coffee, cider, pumpkin donuts...

The sheep are hoping you'll bring lots of cookies and crackers.  Gato will eat most anything too and he's heard some stories about Hug a Sheep/Feed a Pony day and is looking forward to his first farm party ;-).  Pinot loves treats too, but rabbits really shouldn't have many treats, so don't let him trick you.  

We have changed the time a little so that anyone who'd like to go over the Don and Rebecca Saager's fall train run afterwards can caravan over there from here.  It's a bit of a drive (40 minutes), but well worth the trip.  

As always, there is no admission and everyone is welcome here.  I know I'm late getting this posted, but most of the "regulars" know the drill and if you would like to come in from out of town and need some accommodation suggestions or travel direction, just drop me an email.

Are you ready to hug some sheep?  Or a ball of yarn or a squishy warm wool sweater or blanket?  :-D

But First, This...

Before I share the weekend's pictures, I need to share information about Hug a Sheep Day...which is this Saturday!  But before I share that, I want to share a super interesting thing that happened yesterday.  I'll add some farm party info at the bottom of this post.

* * * * *

Do you remember the night before Hank died, Maisie standing out behind the barn, up on the hill, watching out back...and watching over me and Hank as we sat together one last time?  And do you remember Big Moose standing out with her?  Here's a link to a blog post that shares several IG posts and tells more of the story. 

If you want to watch the post dates, it looks like you'll have to click on each IG post picture in that post.  It's really interesting to watch everything develop.  The posts range from 2020 to 2021.  To be honest, I'd forgotten about this.

Yesterday the barn cameras picked up a fox messing around in the barn lot in the early hours of the morning, around 4:00 a.m.  As I watched I saw a sheep walk into the frame and get between the fox and the barn.  

The fox would make a move and the sheep would move to stay with it.  This dance went on for several minutes and finally the fox left.  The sheep stayed out there for a few minutes more before it went back into the barn.

I could tell it was a big sheep...with all black legs...maybe a clean (not wooly) head... Was it Murphy?  Maybe Levi?  It wouldn't be Muffin.  Big Moose?  The face looked solid black though, which was throwing me off.

As I watched, the sheep finally moved into a position that the barn lot camera spotlight caught a better look and sure enough there was some color on the face.  It was Big Moose...and that triggered the memory above.

Big Moose!

I recorded a short video clip of this and will go post it over to IG so I can then come back here to update this post.  I don't know how people keep up with how to use social media more efficiently, but there you have it.  Old people trying to use technology...  

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I just find this so interesting (the sheep/fox interaction, not the SM) and since most of you probably remember the history of Hank and Maisie and then Big Moose joining the security staff, I knew you would as well.  You know that fox was moving quietly.  Did Hank or Maisie wake Big Moose up to let him know or was he already watching, on duty.  Either scenario is comforting for sure.

* * * * *

Yes, there's a Hug a Sheep farm party this weekend.  I hope there are parties all over the world again like there have been the last few years.  I do love that part of social media - watching the #hugasheepday hashtag.  Here we are following the usual format with sheep hugging, cookie feeding, horse petting, picture taking, yarn fun, people treats, wool wearing...with one change.  

The hours this year are 12:00 to 3:00.  We've bumped everything up one hour so that anyone who would like to go over to the train run at The Heavenly Hilltop Railroad can caravan over and ride the amazing hand machined coal fired steam trains around 1 1/2 miles of track with an incredible tunnel and trestle and more good company.  There are also some sheep there, too ;-).

Fun With Friends And Family

Chocula Chip, Merino...and of course Saint Tim and Naughty Bea...went on a short vacation over the weekend.  Of course it involved sheep :-).  Can you guess where we went?  Would you like to see more pictures?  Maybe some new puzzles?

Finally Fall

Fall finally arrived and we got one good rain that has helped regrow a little grass, but not what we really need going into late fall and winter.  We definitely could have used some more rain, but we are grateful for what we did get. The hay stash is going to be important again this year.  At least it's cooled off.

I can't type between the pictures for some reason, so you'll have to identify everyone by heart and memory.  

How about a new puzzle.  This is a fun and easy one :-).

September

I must remember there was still a lot of good in the month...

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August

I know this is really late, but as the month progressed, I knew what was coming and I just couldn't bring myself to go through pictures and videos.  I decided to put it off until the end of September and just get all the heartbreak done on one day.  

Even though life was still pretty good in August...  

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