The Queen Is Dead, Long Live The Queen

1998 (?) - November 5, 2014

I no longer remember who started everyone calling Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth, but it's been a long enough time that when she passed this morning that was the first thing that came to mind and was corroborated by a friend as well.  

Being from the US, I don't have a firm grasp on the history of royalty and had to look that interesting sentence up.  

"The [Queen] is dead" is the announcement of a monarch who has just died.  "Love live The [Queeen]" refers to the heir who immediately succeeds to a throne upon the death of the preceding monarch.  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Elizabeth was the second sheep I ever owned. Or maybe it was Jester who was second. Or Crazy Esther or Joshua or Jacob.  Those five Jacob sheep came together and I don't remember much about picking them out that day, but apparently we did a good job.

Those fine sheep were kindly given to me by a shepherd from Indiana who wanted them to have a good home.  She'd probably be amazed that Elizabeth lived so long...but we can't let her know because Elizabeth outlived her!

Jester is currently out with the rest of the flock, but knowing him, he'll want to go back in the small paddock this evening.  I think I'm going to see if Ford and Henri would like to move in with him as both are getting up there in years and not moving around as well as they used to.

Elizabeth was quite a character and I'm sure going to miss getting yelled at even as late as last night. I am honored she was a part of my story here and her stories will live on as all the good ones do. Petunia is heir to the throne and that's a good story as well.

Maisie The Monster

For anyone who doesn't remember, know or understand the number one rule of Halloween, Maisie. does. not. dress. up. Rule number two? No one ELSE gets to dress up (and get more attention) either!

You can see that at no time during the Tricks or Treats party was Maisie ignored.  Auntie Reg handed out lots of treats and ear scritches. Maisie is her special girl.  If anything, she gets more attention and treats.  Remember that for later.

"You think you're so cute with that hat on?"

"We'll just see about that!"

"Your Indian headdress looks like someone tried to make a construction paper turkey and stuck it on your head!"

"I don't care if they're free.  I don't want a hug from some stupid sheep!"

Even 20 looks like he knows this is a Really Bad Idea.

And Auntie Reg's payback for showing attention to other sheep besides Maisie?

"I'll punch you in the ankle!"

"And kick you in the shin!"

"And I'll punch you in the kneecap!"

"And bite you too!"

I think next year for Halloween, Maisie is going to wear all of the costumes.  At the same time! She's be a ghost/ballerina/pumpkin/dinner table complete with wine glasses/sunshine/supersheep/hershey kiss/Daniel Boone/wizard/Count Chocula/cowboy/Indian and Baaxter Black, with hat and mustache!

Tricks Or Treats

Since sheep can't read the calendar, we decided that they could celebrate Halloween today rather than in the miserable cold rain of Friday :-o.

Baaxter Black

"What's wrong with Baaxter's hat?"

"I think there's something wrong with that mustache!"

Maisie gets her own post tomorrow.  And it's not exceptionally flattering :-o.  

Murphy and Spud wore cowboy wild rags.  Maisie wore No Costume...but ate treats like she did.

"Whaddya mean I'm dressing up as a wild Indian?" (Please excuse the politically incorrectness :-/)

Woody loved his "feathered" headdress (I channeled my best inner kindergartner to design that - obviously).  Part of the time he wore it behind his ears, part in front.  He'd probably still be wearing it if we'd have left it on him.  It suits him ;-).

Update - It dawned on me this morning that the headdress thing I'm remembering from kindergarten was actually a TURKEY made with your hand outline.  Still fitting for that crazy, goofball sheep I think! :-D

Lots of Treats!

Hershey, Daniel and Chocula came over and were quite disappointed that they didn't get to dress up again this year eat lots of treats.  I'm afraid there may be some Tricks tonight.  We are sleeping with one eye open!

This is at least the 8th year Stella and I have made sheep costumes.  The hot glue queens!

Poor Spud missed out on most of the pictures.  You've got to be pretty assertive to fight your way in with this bunch of cowboys...and an Indian ;-).

Sunday Stills - Fall Foliage

We really have had a gorgeous fall. One of the very best I can remember.

The pumpkins are from a friend's farm.  She set them out for us for the Hug A Sheep party.  I love beautiful pumpkins as much as I love beautiful leaves.  Thank you, Jessica!

We planted these two trees the first fall we lived here.  They came together from the same nursery and we were told that they were the same variety.  One stays green (on the left) while the other turns bright red.  Are there male and female trees?  

We just can't believe how big they've gotten.

Time flies!

I thought I was recording longer than 18 seconds, but 18 seconds is better than nothing.  While I was lining up different views for Ed's challenge, a silly mockingbird was singing his heart out. Probably not for me, but it sure made it a fun few minutes...or 18 seconds :-).

For more Sunday Stills...

Of Warm Weather Past

From two evenings ago...

Today...