I guess I've slipped a cog...I forgot to tell you about Black Sheep!

Well, you've probably read everyone else's stories about their experiences at this year's Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene Oregon, but humor me as I share my favorite things about the event.

#1 Favorite thing - seeing blogger friends -

MIchelle from Boulderneigh and Denise from "In Sheep's Clothing" (who, by the way, both have several splendid posts about their experiences at BSG) Denise kindly helped Michelle show her lambs.



And then there was Yvonne from Lavender Sheep's Fiber Garden. I have been reading her blog for a couple of years and it was nice to finally meet her - she was very busy in her vendor booth. She is one talented lady!









Isn't she pretty? Luckily, she was already sold or she would have had an all expense paid trip back to Bellingham with us!









I loved the markings on this little Jacob's sheep.












These Teesdale sheep have INCREDIBLY long fleeces - sometimes 12 - 15 inches - I don't know how you would even process that? But they seemed to be sweet sheep. (one would hope, 'cause they are ginormous!)








I didn't have a very good view of the ring, as I was sitting on the bottom rung of the bleachers. Going up in bleachers makes me dizzy and since I am not very steady on my feet anyhow, I just stay on the bottom rung - so you see a lot of sheep butts....









If you get tired of looking at sheep behinds, there is always shopping...











and visiting with more friends, like our fellow Shetland breeder, Donna from Schoonover Farmsin Skagit County.

















and watching the crowds of people flowing by - these folks were meeting some Shetland lambs.













We went out and had some lunch - sharing a visit with fellow "Bellinghamster" Yvonne











who raises CVM sheep - (that stands for California Variegated Mutant - don't ask me...) but her sheep are very handsome and had just finished winning all kinds of awards at Estes Park. Both she and her sheep were ready to go home -










and there's ALWAYS more shopping..........














And yet more friends from Bellingham - Doug and Roberta from Breezy Meadows Cashmere Farm.









Last but not least, was the Wool Judging on Saturday. We really liked the judge - he was very knowledgeable about fleece - although he needed a little bit of education about the fact that Shetland fleeces are very likely to change colors as the lamb gets older.






We convinced him that this black & white fleece was not the result of dietary deficiency or stress that it was "just Shetland for -


And here is Mary Beth, the proud owner of that blue ribbon lamb fleece. Just wait til next year, MB, we'll be back!

Word on the street is that the North American Shetland Sheep Association Annual General Meeting (that would be the NASSA AGM) will be at next year's BSG.

Yippee - there will be friends from ALL over for that one!