Eli Didn't Make The Calendar This Year

The 2018 calendars have already "gone to print", but I think I'll save this picture for next year.  

Tall Grass Or Pretty Sheep?

This could be the farm version of "Is the glass half full or half empty?"

Are these pretty sheep in the evening sunlight or is this a field that needs to be mowed?

Walking Up To Let The Chickens Out

I usually just take my iPhone with me when I walk up to the barn at dawn to let the chickens out.  It died though just after I snapped my "letting the dogs out view from the porch" picture and the sunrise was looking spectacular so I grabbed the big camera.

When you hear "up with the chickens", that's the truth.  The chickens go to bed before it gets dark and are complaining mightily if I get out there after the sun has crested Stella's hill.  I could have set the camera exposure so the pictures appeared "brighter", but I decided I wanted to record what it actually looked like.  

This is my morning walk.  It's not always this colorful and foggy, but it's always beautiful.  The first group of sheep like to get up with the chickens as well and I usually can just hear them (Andy's bell), not see them.  Want to walk with me?

"Y'all stay here.  I'll be back in a minute."

You can just barely see Hank (look at the top fence plank).  Everyone stood at the gate and waited.

This is pretty close to the right amount of light.

This is too light.  It makes a difference if you are metering off a white sheep or a black one.  Your camera wants to take the best picture possible so if you aren't watching, it will brighten things up for you.  The easiest thing to do before coffee is adjust your exposure compensation.  

Hank's made it all the way out and is headed back to the sheep.

Double checking something.  The sheep are all still waiting for his "all clear".

The not quite as early riser group.  Again, a little too bright.

"All clear."  And a little bit too dark.

This exposure is just right.

Part of the Nistock contingency.  Not the earliest of risers haha ;-).

But when you do get up early, it's always a good trade.  That's a bit of an inside joke...although, since she put it on her blog I guess it's actually more outside :-). 

Good morning!

That Andy

That Andy...  In case you don't remember back to when and why Andy came to our farm, he was "the rogue lamb" at Final Frontier Farm.  He wouldn't stay with the other weaned lambs and Kathy was constantly having to pull him out of the ram field, the young ewes field, the older ewes field...  I was there for one break out and I didn't see how he did it either.

I figured that would stop when he got here because we have four plank fence.  Pretty hard to slip through that.  He did.  I figured it would stop when he got bigger and, um, fluffier.  It didn't.  He's been here almost two years now and it would be hard to get much bigger or fluffier.  I haven't seen him out by himself in awhile.  Turns out that was only because I hadn't locked him out of anywhere in awhile.

I've locked the sheep out of the front field for a bit this fall to give it a rest.  I leave a gap in the gate by the barn so Hank can come and go.  It's just big enough for Hank.  Even tiny Tavia can't get through there.  The fences are all in good repair since the painters were here last month.  There is nowhere for Fat That Andy to get out.

Dingalingalingalingalingalinga...  The helpful bell.

Oh for crying out loud!  Why are the sheep out in the front field?  Did I leave a gate open last night?   

Nope. 

Just one sheep.

I knew it was Andy, but zoomed in just to...oh, I don't know why.  I knew it was "the rogue lamb".

Do you see Hank having to pull double duty watching both fields?  You'll have to click to biggify. Sigh...

It sure was a beautiful sunrise this morning though.  And I don't really care that Andy is out there.  I'd just like to know how he does it.

There's a new puzzle :-).  

Enjoy!

The Return Of Summer

We are headed back to the upper (!) eighties for the next several days.  Trying to not be crabby think positive.  1. I do like the flowers that bloom in the summer.  2. Maybe the cotton will have a better chance at finishing out.  3.

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Two things.  That's all Weaslie and I can come up with.

My first baby cotton boll!!! #cotton #cottonboll #homegrowncotton

A post shared by Sara Dunham (@thecrazysheeplady) on Sep 11, 2017 at 10:08am PDT

Chicken Flip Book

These would be better if I'd taken the time to crop them down, but it's late and I need to be staring at the inside of my eyelids rather than a computer screen. Still, I think they are funny. But of course it's late and I'm tired...

How could you look at tiny chickens trying to drink from a half full tiny bucket of water and not laugh?  It's like a tiny chicken flip book :-D.

Knitting With Muffin

These were actually taken last week, but it's been a blur around here.  I'm now actually on the fifth and final section of this pattern and I'm hopeful to finish it this week so I can start the Elizabeth shawl and have two new wearable items for the Kentucky Wool Festival next month.  

Even though the pictures are a week old, you gotta love a sheep who's interested in knitting ;-).

"This doesn't smell anything like Count Chocula, but it IS pretty."

This is the Starshower Cowl/Shawl.

Biscuit was more interested in eating.

Still side by side.  And, of course, a new puzzle :-).  

Enjoy!

Hug A Sheep - Preseason Party

"Why do we have this new pen?  What's a Hug a Sheep party?

We had an impromptu neighborhood party this afternoon.  Auntie Monica let me know she was bringing her usual bag(s) of treats for everyone, along with her mom, so I decided to set up a practice Hug a Sheep party.  Like preseason football!

"Oh!  A cookie party!"

Biscuit:  "Hey, where are you going?"  Muffin: "I think she's getting some of those nasty apples out."

"Um, ladies?  Isn't this supposed to be a hug a SHEEP party?"

"Hey, new cookie lady?  Can you help me?  That other lady is trying to make me eat apples."

I wish this picture more clearly showed Muffin's disgust about switching from cookies to apples, even after watching Biscuit and Mrs. Pepperpot gobble them up for weeks now.  She actually makes a face just like a little kid being forced to eat broccoli. No health food for her!  It's sugar all the way.  

Mrs. Pepperpot LOVES apples.

And parties!  

I wasn't sure what she'd think about all the attention and commotion. She thought it was great fun :-).

Luckily someone had the good sense to save some extra cookies for Muffin.

And now she has a new friend for life!  Biscuit was the first to bug out when the cookies ran out. Muffin stayed to visit for a good while.  She really is very sweet.  I guess it's all the cookies ;-).

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We are once again hosting a Hug a Sheep Day farm party this year.  National Hug a Sheep Day is October 28th.  Our farm will be open from 1:00 to 4:00 that afternoon and it looks like Biscuit, Muffin and Mrs. Pepperpot are ready!  

Not Something You See Every Sunday

I play the piano every Sunday for a small country church in neighboring Paris, Kentucky. Hopewell Presbyterian is one of the oldest churches in Bourbon County, since the late 1700's.  I'm betting it's seen many, many things over the years, but I'm guessing this particular thing is a first.  Do you see it?

 

This is where I sit, at my beloved old 1907 Kurtzmann piano that is still going strong.  And the lamb in the picture is Lila.  Almost all of our lambs have attended church with me.  Some stay longer than other (Lila, Liddy, Bullwinkle, Biscuit).  Some spend more time outside (Keebler, Maisie, Baaxter). I'd link to all their church stories, but it's getting late.  You can use the search box for "church" "piano" "Easter" or "Hopewell" and probably find most of them.  Or scroll back through each lamb's name in the labels.  That's a fun rainy afternoon activity :-).

A little closer view.  Look out the window.  Do you see it?

Yep, that's a four leaf clover.  Stuck in a spider web.  On the outside of the window.  Next to my piano.  It looks like it has been pressed.  It's flat and brown.  Where on earth did it come from?