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!