And The Names Are...

Murphy and, in case you don't recognize the big lambie on the right...

Baaxter?  Is that you?!?

"Yep, that's me!"

Murphy

Woody

Woody, keeping Mr. Potato Head aka "Spud" warm.

"Yeah, that's a little better."

"I like to step on my brothers.  Actually walk on them.  With my little pointed feet.  I don't know why I do that, but I do.  Now I have to sit over here by myself."
 

I tried to call Murphy Sterling, but it just wasn't sticking even though he looks like an elder statesmen sort of sheep that would grow into that name.  This morning, when I was doctoring yet another freak and minor injury on him and I said, "Man, anything that can go wrong with you..." it hit me, Murphy ;-).

"Hey!  What the heck is going on over there!?!"

That's what we'd all like to know!  While nowhere near as brutally hot as some folks around the country have it, this has been an awfully hot summer. I'm miserable, the sheep are miserable...and I'm just going to shut up about it.

There's been minor Tour de Fleece spinning going on.  Had yet another scary "Baaxter is sick!" experience.  Of course on the weekend.  Of a holiday weekend.  He seems better now, but boy will I be happy when he's a little older and fully weaned.  All of his health issues have been eating related, whether eating too fast and aspirating milk, eating too much and getting a tummy ache...  Sadly, he probably fits right in here. 

Everyone doing okay?

We Haven't Had A Good Hank And Maisie Post In Awhile

Did you just yawn, too?

The 2014 Tour de Fleece

It's time for the Tour de Fleece!  Some information from the TdF page on Ravelry...

This year, the Tour de Fleece starts on Saturday July 5 and runs until Sunday July 27th, 2014.
Guidelines (NOT RULES):

• Spin every day the Tour rides, if possible. Saturday July 5 through Sunday July 27th. Days of rest: Tuesday, July 15th and Monday July 21st. (Just like the actual tour.)
• Spin something challenging on the challenge day (usually the toughest high mountain stage: this year, it’s Stage 14, on Saturday, July 19th, when they climb over 3,000m at grades from 4-6%).
• Wear yellow on Sunday July 27th to announce victory. Why not wear yellow on any day you feel particularly successful? (Yellow is the color of the race leader in the Tour - but here we are all ‘race leaders’) Other colors if desired: Green (sprinter - think FAST), Polka-dot (climber - as in uphill), and white (rookie).

 

The Captain for this year's Team My Favorite Sheep is Mia :-).  Our group is very laid back, very encouraging and not competitive.  Please feel free to join in even if all you'd like to do is cheer the spinners on.  Everyone welcome!

My  2014 "bicycle" basket - some treasures in a stash of old roving bundles. I also am hoping to spin some Miss Ewenice, but the way my days are going right now...  Sigh.

I think there are 20 mixed ounces of Peabody, Jester, Beanie Baby, Popcorn PeePee Pants and Henrietta.  I was happy to find the Peabody and PPPP because most of their wool has been sold over the years.  Mine, mine all mine :-).

It's important to have your porch cats at the ready.

Including Claire Bear.  What?  If CB is joining the team, it's looking like it's going to be an odd race for sure!

Note the tipped over bucket, potting soil, fern tears strewn about...  I woke this morning to sheep bells.  Outside the bedroom window.  There should not be sheep bells outside the bedroom window.  GRAHAM LAMB!!!

Add install flower protecting gate to Wool House porch to the TdF list.  While keeping the barn gate shut seems like a more logical solution, it's apparently not in my skill set >:-o. 

Doing It Her Way

I've had several requests for some Maisie pictures and updates. It's been a crazy couple of weeks around here and my cameras have been gathering dust (and rocks - don't ask), but I made a "date" for this morning and headed out. 

The morning sun was beautiful...but the sheep weren't in it.  And Maisie was just interested in eating, and just eating she looks a lot like every other sheep out there.  Which is nice, really.  I'm glad she fits right in with the flock and "is a sheep".  A successful graduation after months in the house as a baby :-).

As everyone started to head in, I trained the camera on Maisie and her silly long tail.  If she's walking or trotting, it swings back and forth like a metronome - bing bing bing bing...  When she runs, she still swings it around like a propeller :-D.

In they go.  That's Heidi and Chocula in front of her.

But she has to stop to see what Hank's into. 

"Hey, don't you like playing dog games with me anymore?"

Bing bing bing bing bing...

About The Cookies

We started with the cookies when Sunshine was a baby.  We are not really treat feeders and probably would never have started with the sheep treats unless we'd had to.  Now we have to keep treats on hand all the time because we are scared to run out they have us well trained.

Tilly was happy to demonstrate to the new kids what cookies were all about.  You can see that Baaxter was an early convert.  Actually, he got started on "cookies" in the house.  He loves baked corn chips.  I can't even remember how that got started.  Then it became Cheerios.  Don't try sneaking a bowl of cereal while he's around. I wish I'd gotten a picture of him standing up on the cabinet door stealing Cheerios from my bowl.  Tim's still trying to forget it ;-).

• The cookie of choice tends to be vanilla wafers.  Preferably not low fat and now Dr. Barron brings regular wafers because she's scared they have her well trained.  

• On days that vanilla wafers aren't the cookie of choice, you should offer graham crackers

• For the days that the sheep want salty treats rather than sweet, you need to keep butter crackers on hand (again because "they have us well trained").  

• Sometime saltines are best (and probably the healthiest of the choices, but I'm not sure that that isn't just relative ;-).

A few more important cookie feeding facts:

• If one sheep touches a cookie, no other sheep will eat it.  Well, except Graham.  He'll eat anything.

• Stale is better - leave the box open.

• Lila will act like she has zero personality until the cookies show up.  Then she begs like Weaslie.  

• Maisie does not like cookies.  She might eat a graham cracker.  She will always eat Cheerios.  From the box.  

I'm sure there are more "rules" and I'll add to this list as I think of them.  For now, signing off from the land of "living the dream" where it's incredibly hot and humid and the sheep have us, um, well trained.