The After Halloween Pumpkin Party

Pinto

Biscuit

Big Moose and Ellie

Ellie and Big Moose

Ellie...who's about as round as a pumpkin :-o.

Liddy, Pinto, Biscuit

Baaxter wasn't up to the big party outside, so we brought the party to him.

"Thanks for the pumpkin!"

You know it's been a good pumpkin party when you leave with your nose covered in orange :-).

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And there's a fun new puzzle.  Enjoy!

Darwin Award?

Murphy was already up and at it this morning when I walked out to open the gate.  He marched on through...and no one followed him.

The rest of the flock eventually started congregating in the barn lot, watching...but still, no one followed him.  Not even the chickens.

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I stood out there for several minutes trying to see if I could spot a problem, but even Bea was quiet.  Murphy made a couple circles down at the bridge, looking back up to see where his flock mates were.  He and I were both stumped.  

Eventually the rest of the sheep started down the hill and everyone headed out back to graze, but it was a bit of a head scratcher for sure.  

Interesting morning!

 

How I Spent My Summer Vacation...

 ...and other explanations from the last three month end video compilations that I finally put together.  And I can use that title because almost the entire fall felt like summer.

"...last seen near Lake Michigan."

First I'll post the three month ends (August, September, October) and then I'll do a short write up of what's going on that isn't super obvious.

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A post shared by Sara Dunham (@thecrazysheeplady)

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A post shared by Sara Dunham (@thecrazysheeplady)

August went pretty much according to, well, norm.  It was too hot, but the flowers were beautiful, the bees, birds and butterflies were busy.  The cats slept most of the time.  We hosted a few August fogs.  And did I mention how hot it was?  

Tim took me to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for my birthday.  For three days I wore a sweatshirt, sat on the beach, did some hiking, went to Kitch-iti-kipi (the brilliant green looking water that is actually crystal clear and the video clip is looking 40' deep.  It's definitely worth the trip, Kitch-iti-kipi and the whole UP.  

Chocula Chip went along and I made him a lifejacket so he could go paddling in Lake Michigan with me, Bea and Tim.  My sweet little kayak was extremely happy to get to go on a vacation as well.

September...was even hotter than August.  I was miserable, the sheep were miserable, the horses were miserable, but the flowers were outstanding.  At one point I had 20 blooms starting on the night blooming cereus.  Crazy!

As the month drug on, crazy began to take on a more personal grip.  As Tim was preparing to go back north for his birthday, I jokingly said I would go up the week before and he said "Do it!"  So I did.  

The day I left was crazy because we had already planned to do a summer barn clean out because we had a small window of a cool-ish morning to keep the sheep locked out.  We started the night before and finished up around noon on Friday and Bea and I jumped into the car and headed 10 hours north.

I was actually pretty excited about seeing the Mackinac Bridge at night and it did not disappoint.  After I turned, the clouds parted and the moon shone bright over the big lake as I headed west and I wish I'd thought to turn off the car so the brake lights didn't shine red in the picture I snapped from the side of the highway.

The next morning I went to The North American Hill Sheep Show and had such a good time watching the sheep shows, listening to the judges, attended a British wool lecture, made some fun friends at the tea, stopped by the book club meeting at a local bookstore and somewhat sadly headed back to the family farm where I was staying.  

Not too terribly sad though as Bea and I stopped at our favorite beach on the way home.  It was so cold that I was happy I had my Big J shawl as Bea and I walked the beach, waded in the shallow water and then sat and watched the tiny waves roll in...while Tim held down the farm in mid 90s.

October started to cool off, at least at night.  We had two hard freezes that took their toll on anything I forgot to cover...and then it warmed back up.  I had wool I needed to pick up in New York so I combined that with a quick trip to include visiting friends and meeting Murphy's mom.

We finished the month with Hug a Sheep Day and Halloween and I'm hoping fall is finally here to stay.  I was able to put one last farm calendar together and between reviewing the year that way and also by creating the month end compilations, it helped remind me that while much of the summer was really miserable, there was still a lot of good as well.

Happy Halloween

For many years we dressed up the newest lambs for Halloween.  It was always hilarious and frequently chaotic, but always fun.  Maisie had been the craziest costumed lamb and after watching her paw her wizard hat off and stomp it into the ground, we figured we'd never dress her up again.

Several years later the humane society hosted a Halloween fundraiser at the local Dairy Queen and I got the idea to bring her out of costume retirement and dress her up as The Devil Went To Dairy Queen.  

We trailered her to town and I'd recruited lots of help for what I was sure was going to complete carnage.  She marched off the trailer in her devil costume and walked right up on stage like she was meant to be there.

After that, she become the official Halloween sheep and we laughed until we cried at some of her crazy costumes.  She knew she was the star and every year we laughed about how much she hated her first Halloween and how much she loved Halloween after she "grew up".

Last year I couldn't bear to try to figure out who was going to replace Maisie for Tricks or Treats.  We just had a good pumpkin party and muddled through.   This year we were presented with the perfect scenario :-).

Remember how I changed Lily's name?

I'd tried to explain to her what a Sheep Detective was and how Lily in the movie was the star of the show, but I don't think she really understood until she read the book with me ;-).

"I get it now.  This is a pretty good story!"

I was pretty sure she had never been dressed up for Halloween before, but thought she'd probably not mind and I was right.  We tied her hat on and then the magnifying glass and she just happily stood by my side while everyone snapped pictures like she was a celebrity.

"Happy Halloween!"

Saturday Morning Flock Walk And More

Tomorrow (Saturday) is National Hug A Sheep Day...and Halloween.  We have plans for both :-).

For the last several years, I've done a Hug A Sheep Day morning Flock Walk live on Instagram.  I know not everyone uses Instagram and I'm sorry about that, but for the folks who can watch, it will start at 8:00 (eastern time) this year.  

I love watching Murphy, and now Lily sometimes too, lead the flock out to pasture and I think that's something everyone will enjoy.  Usually I stop for a few minutes and chat with everyone before I open the gate and think that might be fun to share as well.  

This picture is a screen capture from the barn cameras yesterday morning.  Everyone mills around, checking in with me, getting a drink, loosening up, staring out back and then once the gate is open, get to business "making the donuts".  It's a great way to start the day.  

If you can't watch it live, I think it will stay on the grid so you can watch at a later time.  I'll try to remember to share a link over here, just in case that helps.  

The farm party will start at 1:00 and run until 4:00.  If anyone needs directions, let me know!  

As it's also Halloween, there will be a costume this year.  It won't be quite the same without the little darlin', but it will still be fun - more sweet than exciting...probably.  I'm going to shoot for that to go off around 3:00 and I'll share pictures later for everyone not able to make it out.

Speaking of donuts, Auntie Reg is bringing the famous pumpkin donuts from Winchester and we'll have hot and cold cider from Stepping Stone Farm, too. 

The weather looks fabulous.  Not wool wearing weather, but bring it anyway.  We can all enjoy a show and tell...as we sit around in our t-shirts.  

How are you celebrating Hug A Sheep Day this year?