C Is For...Cold

The Sunday Stills challenge for this week is the letter "C". The Cats are getting a head start by Complaining about the Cold.



Could Eli look any Colder, Crouched on the arm of the Chair?



Here I've added one of the heated pads and a Comforter and brought down the small insulated Cat box and set it on the swing. I'm not quite ready to slum up the porch with the lovely plastic and Boo's Cat Condo as it's supposed to be back in the upper 60's next week. I mean, they Could go up to the barn and snuggle into a Couple bales of hay.



In the meantime, I'm headed to the wool house to work on my actual "C" Challenge - Cotswolds. However, even though we finally have the ladder, we are still lacking the Cast iron Ceramic stove which should be in place behind it. It's been ordered and up until the Cold snap of the last Couple of days, the little electric heater has been just fine.

We'll "C". If it's too Cold, I may have to Come back to the house and Curl up on the Couch.

A New Sheep In The Wool House

While I realize that could easily mean a real live sheep around here, don't worry, the carpet is safe.



I have been wanting a more portable wheel and the Schacht Ladybug has been catching my eye. I tend to research stuff pretty heavily online and was pretty convinced that's what I wanted. Everyone seems to love it, it's lightweight (even though it doesn't actually fold up), spins nicely, sturdy...and comes with a ladybug hidden somewhere. In my little kid mind, you just. can't. beat. that.

Until I sat down with both that wheel and my second choice, the Ashford Joy.

Honestly, I really liked both wheels. I don't think I could have gone wrong with either one. In the end though, the Joy edged the Ladybug ever so slightly. It felt more like "me" spinning with it. It does fold up. It has a handy handle on the top. A built in lazy kate.



No hidden ladybug :-(.



But look what I found up at the checkout counter! A Gita Maria threading hook. I fell in love with her neat things at Rhinebeck last year. Since we (sadly) decided to sit this one out mostly due to the tropical weather forecast for that part of the country, I treated myself - retail therapy - and hung it on the new wheel.

Even better than a bug!

Thanks, Nancy, for staying late to help me make up my mind. I love having The Woolery so close. I had planned to try both wheels in New York this weekend, but it actually worked much better to be able to sit down with both wheels side by side in a relaxed, unhurried...and un-snowy environment.

Everyone stay warm out east! And have lots of fun for me. Even in bad weather the New York Sheep and Wool Festival is a blast.

The Graham Effect

Ah, what an idyllic life. Spending an afternoon sitting out in a lush green field, listening to the birds call, watching the beautiful horses grazing up on the hillside, a big white guardian dog napping next to you as you enjoy visiting with some of your best friends...

"Hey there, Rebecca Boone, love the new 'do! Petunia, how are ya, chubby cheeks? Do you need some face scratching? Ewen McTeagle, my big baby, you got any new poems for me? Look how fast your hair's growing back, Keebs. Those are some pretty white curls you got going on there. GRAHAM LAMB!!!!! PUT THAT DOWN!!!!!"



Is that slobber or sheep breath fogging up my favorite lens?



"Oh, geez louise, Graham!"

Like the trail of destruction that follows him everywhere he goes wasn't enough, he had to leave a pee trail as well?!?

"Hey Graham!"



"What."

"Whatcha' eatin'?"



"Nothing."

"Isn't that pretty spiky?"



"Yeah, maybe."

"You should spit that out."



"I will if I want to."

Um, okay then.

Graham Lamb. Keeping it real.

The Art Of Napping

According to Hank.



"Why yes, I do know how handsome I am."



The boys (Keebler and Graham Lamb) will indeed wear you out.



And make you really tired.



Really, really tired.



So tired you can barely stand it.



"Hmm, if I move over a little I can still see my sheep from this strange thing the crazy sheep lady is sitting on."



"Yeah, this is kinda nice."

Fall

I was feeling a little under the weather this afternoon so decided to take a blanket, some hot cider, my camera and the new issue of Handwoven out to the arena paddock and hang out with Hank and the sheep. Actually, I mowed a couple paddocks first and when that didn't perk me up, that's when I knew I'd better take it easy ;-).

This is a beautiful time of year to take sheep shots. That's what I'll post today. It's also a great time to take Hank shots, so that will be tomorrow. Then, Graham Lamb is getting his own whole post following that (Dianne has got to be excited about hearing more GL stories - and yes, he did pee on me...again!).



Looks like we all had the same idea.



Boudreaux, Buddy (in back) and Woolliam



Rebecca Boone, sporting a stylish 'do, eh? Her top notch is sun bleached.



Can I get my dreads done like that too?

"Um, no, Woolliam."



Miss Emily



The ever lovely Miss Ewenice



Some big sky and changing clouds moving in.

"Wake up Hank. Time to head in."