Walk With Me Wednesday

On a Thursday. Of course ;-).



It is such a pretty morning and I am so happy the snow is lasting. We'd worked so hard over the weekend that I didn't get a chance take the time to take any pictures. I appreciate the second and third and fourth chances.



Hank's walking with us by the way.



The Frog Pond flowers.



Ice crystal bokeh. I love how sparkly everything looks when the sun shines. I wish I could take a picture of the sparkles at night walking back from the barn. Love it. Love the snow.



Lines upon lines upon lines. I enjoy knitting, but if there was one of those "what sort of fiber art would you be?" quizzes, I'd be weaving. I took a neat gate shadow shot too, but just remembered. It was early in the photo choosing review and I forgot to go back. I really need to connect with some work though, so I'm leaving this as is for now.



Definitely click to biggify. I'm not making my photo files as big anymore so I hope you can still see all the ice crystals on top of the snow. Stella's joined the world wide web, but she has dial up... 'Nuf said.



Some of Handy's tail hair stored on a tree branch for springtime. At least someone's gotten some Christmas decorations up around here ;-).

The simple beauty of common objects. Thanksgiving.

'Cause Christmas Can Be Every Day

When we first got Hank, I was very worried about what he would do once it got cold. We had been previously very well trained by every cat and dog on the farm. Heated beds are mandatory. Sleeping inside the kitchen is a given... Hank's job is to stay out with the sheep. No heated beds out there.



The first cold, snowy day I just knew he was going to be miserable, which would in turn make us miserable. I went out to the barn and couldn't find him. I looked in every possible sheltered spot. No Hank. And then I caught a glimpse of him - galloping around the paddocks, happy as a clam, completely oblivious to the weather. He loves the cold. Snow? Even better!



Lately I've been doing one last barn check before I go to bed. That started when Renny came and now has transferred to worrying about Esther in the cold. Last night was brutal. The walk to the barn almost hurt. I found Hank curled up in one of the outside run in stalls. Up high on the hill, near his sheep, but with a good view of everything. His favorite spot.

He came out to greet me and I noticed he'd made himself a little bed in one of the back corners. I grabbed a half a bale of straw and spread it out to give him a little more insulation. This morning I found a nice little round nest. I'd guess he did that by circling and circling until it suited him.



I'd had to run to the grocery to pick up a couple items this afternoon and got "suckered" by a dog bone display. Hank loves bones. He has stashes of bones (and other treasures) all over the farm. He know exactly where they are and he periodically moves them all around. One day you'll find a pile of treasures by a fence post; the next it might be out in the arena. I decided to surprise him.



I wish I'd thought to turn on the video camera. He was so excited!



He immediately had the perfect stash in mind, but unfortunately his bone wouldn't fit through his gate gap. It reminded me of that super cute commercial with the little terrier dog who's "troubled, troubled, troubled" about where to safely stash his bone. Can't remember what the ad is for, but love the dog and the perfect song accompanying his plight ;-).

Hope everyone is staying warm...and enjoying some holiday cheer!

Snow!

Popcorn PeePee Pants and Jester, the golden eyed sheep. I am about ready to start the patterning on his sweater, but have been too busy to concentrate enough. After Christmas!



Joshua, Rebecca Boone and Buddy.



Heidi, Sherman and Annabelly - trying to figure out what B. Willard is doing out eating snow.



I think Shermie has the cutest lil' tush. Don't you just want to sneak up and pinch him? Uncle Graham, in the background, has a more paddling style butt. Poor Grahamie ;-).



I don't want anyone to pinch MY butt! And I was trying to eat grass through the snow 'cause no one would share their hay with me.



Renny and Ewenice have had the run of the farm for two days. We are in the process of rotating the main flock into a fresh paddock and their little pen was blocked off so everyone could have access to the barn during the snow over the weekend.

Ewenice used to live in the yard. She had lived by herself for quite awhile before she came here and had no interest in our "scary" sheep. Now they are all good friends and I think she kind of misses them. You can see her looking through Hank's gate gap towards them. Or maybe it's their hay piles ;-).

Sunday Stills - Potluck

...the next challenge is whatever you find interesting during the week to share with us. :-)

A new toy tool! I got talked into selling my Patrick Green Supercard last month. I didn't use it very often anymore now that we send most of our wool off to Ohio Valley Natural Fibers and I'm glad it's with someone who will put it to better use.

There are just enough occasions though when having a finer clothed carder than my beloved Louet coarse cloth would be nice. I decided the Strauch Petite Carder would fill that spot.



Some of these shots are more educational than interesting...



Stephanie aka Lunabud Knits (a vendor at both the Kentucky Wool Festival and the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival) had been wanting to come out to the farm to meet the sheep. As a Strauch dealer, this was a perfect excuse and she was happy to bring along a Petite for me to try. We pulled out a few Keebler curls as a test.



She fluffed them out and fed them into the mouth of the carder, turning the hand crank so the drums would grab them as they turned.



The fiber transfers from the small knife like small drum onto the larger wire toothed drum. The black brush helps push the fiber down into the teeth.





She then pulled the brushed out fiber off the big drum, divided it up and ran it through one more time. Keebs is always beautiful ;-). That's the fluffy/fuzzy roll in the first picture. The smaller batt is some of Sherman's lamb fleece.

Here's a Mia shot for Ed. There are more meet the sheep shots (and a Renny update) on yesterday's post.



I had never really noticed that Mia's horns were so striped. I'm usually looking at her front view, which is not so distinct. Pretty interesting...and pretty.



Stephanie rides in style with a huge yarn ball on the side of her truck :-).

For more Sunday Stills...

Resilient Renny

At the risk of getting over-confident and jinxing things, I am reluctant, but happy to say Renny is doing really, really well. Yesterday I watched her actually starting to use her bad leg a little. The same leg I assumed (which I'm learning never to do with Renny) she'd never be able to put any weight on again.



She almost always keeps a piece of hay hanging out of her mouth. Very silly...and cute.



My friend Stephanie came out yesterday to bring me a drum carder to try (more on that tomorrow :-) and to meet the sheep.



She'd missed Hug A Sheep Day. Of course Miss Ewenice was happy to re-visit her new favorite holiday.



I hadn't noticed Weaslie underfoot. Apparently having company means not having to follow normal, never questioned rules like Stay Out of the Sheep Paddocks. Renny was curious and calm. I decided to let Weaslie stay.



You can see the wheels turning. She watches Ewenice (and most of the other sheep) interact with us and I think after all the doctoring is over, she'll happily become a friendly, ear scratching, cookie eating sheep.



In the meantime, she's happy to have Ewenice as her bodyguard.

What Happens When You Are Too Old And/Or Fat

What is Shermie up to now?



You know, Willard, it's been awhile since we snuck out back. Just stand here for a minute and look natural and then when no one is watching...



Hey! How did they get out there?!? Let US out there! The gate's shut! They're eating everything! DO SOMETHING!!!



Um, lady? Could you open the gate?

The four "lambs" can still fit under a section of fence just down the hill. I'm sure those days are drawing nigh ;-).

Not A Bit Shy

A Sherman flip book.



Notice he's running towards the camera while everyone else is running away.



Wheee!



What on earth is going on out there?



Boing!



Boing!



BOING! Great form, Shermie!

There's a wet weather creek running through there.



Wheee!



The shadows are a clue.



Company. With Cameras.



Sherman's no dummy. Any time there are Cameras, there are Cookies ;-).