Speechless...And Pretty Much Photoless

I (sort of) have an excuse. Everything was right on schedule Saturday morning...until the wind blew in. And blew away the tent we'd set up for Flat Creek Wool and Pottery. Blew it away and into several pieces. We'd set that tent up because it's a quick set up. The other tent is not...but wouldn't have blown away. Sigh. Luckily no pottery was harmed, but it did throw everything off as we re-grouped and re-set.

Everyone who came early was put to work. Everyone else seemed to show up right at 1:00. Before I knew it we were in full party mode and Tim thought I was taking pictures, I thought my father was taking pictures, even Tonya only got two pictures... There were some other people with cameras. If you have any pictures to share, I need a bail out here.

We had a beautiful day. Around 50 wonderful old friends, new friends and family friends came out to enjoy the sunshine and sheep. I think Hank even has his own fan club. Cathy from IL would be the president. Not only did she bring him a huge mailman shaped dog cookie (I'm glad our mail lady had already left at that point!), but this as well.



I was speechless. I still am. I pick it up, feel the fabulous wool texture, look at the twinkle in his eye...and carefully set it back down. Wow. Thank you, Cathy. We can count on you to teach a workshop at the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival next spring, right?

At the end of the day, it was the best kick off for the wool house I could ever imagine. Thank you so much everyone. Please come out any time. It's there for us all to enjoy. Bring your wheel or borrow one of mine. Bring a current project or a fleece to wash... Hank would like to you bring more cookies.



This was one tired pup at the end of the day.

Thanks Jim for sharing these photos!

Here's Your Sign

Finally, after being welcomed here at Equinox Farm for over six years, we have a farm sign. See, while the ultimate reason to have an open house is to enjoy the company of fellow fiber friends (and scarf up Tonya's darling sheep pottery ;-), a side benefit is the much needed kick in the pants to get some stuff finished. Finally.



The Jotul stove is here as well. Is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen? Well, besides Keebler...and Graham Lamb...and Woolliam...and, well you get the idea. Luckily though we aren't going to need it. Here's what the weather channel says: Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 67F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph.

Could there be a better forecast for spending the afternoon sitting on the wool house porch or out in the green grass spinning or knitting or rug hooking or just relaxing? Heck, it's so nice this afternoon I'm having trouble finishing up last minute stuff like sealing that sign (I doubt we will get it hung, but we'll have it out front at least - baby steps, baby steps).

Please join us Saturday. Everyone is welcome. Even non-fiber people. Farm life is fun when it's sunny and 67 degrees. Of course, if you don't at least look like you are interested in what everyone's doing, we may stick you on a tractor or hand you a pitch fork.

Just kidding.

Sort of.

Email thecrazysheeplady at gmail dot com for directions (I'll try to check at least twice in the morning). Bring a chair if you can. Bring an extra chair.

See you tomorrow!

House Cleaning...Or Scratching

Comby. Seriously. That's not actually helping. Even though it is color coordinated.



There are still a few flowers blooming around the wool house.



And the roving boxes will be full (and the carpet vacuumed ;-).



The felted sheep are getting ready.



And the un-felted sheep are out back catching up on the mowing.

Everyone is pitching in, including the weather. Hope you can join us this Saturday!

Jungle Cat

There's nothing like a cat to make you feel like it's a good thing you didn't make your bed this morning or left the butter out on the counter...or never cleaned up the greenhouse all summer (or pulled out the grapevine).

In my defense, I decided I wanted to use that vine to make a wreath this fall...

...or winter ;-).

Boo-dreaux, The Rest Of The Story

Stella and I always get ourselves into these messes. We had been planning Boudreaux's Trick or Treat for weeks...or longer. The weather was not cooperating. It's Halloween afternoon; time was ticking. The rain had stopped, but the wind was still blowing. To top that, Saint Tim and I were hosting a neighborhood barn party (What sort of crazy person tries to host two parties in two weeks? Don't answer that!) that evening.

We were hurrying. And what we were wanting to do involved animals. Never a good combination, especially with sheep. We knew that and were trying to keep everyone calm, cool and collected.

Hank was a basket case. Growling, running around, scaring the sheep.

We decided to lock him in the small stall. The sheep settled down. Hank didn't. In fact, he got worse.

"What do you think he's so upset about?"

"I don't know, maybe because he can't see his sheep...and he doesn't understand why we are putting a complete table setting on one of them." (Saint Tim never fails to point out the obvious.)

Out of the corner of my eye I finally see them. Two furry, four legged trick or treaters running through the back of the farm. Neighbor dogs (luckily not the mean dog that Iris chased away). How stupid could we be.

"TURN HANK LOOSE!"

Just as Iris and I ran after the dog the previous day (she's faster, but I may be louder), Hank and I ran out towards the pond. He knew he was supposed to do something, but wasn't exactly sure what (for a few seconds, I was faster and louder). About half way out there, he figured it out and those dogs took off. Perfect training moment. After a near miss.

Poor Hank...succeeding in spite of us.



On duty yesterday evening. Hank likes to sit on his "hill" and I love to see him there.



The moon was glorious.



The Hunter's Moon.