The Wool Show -

Quite frankly, in the number of times that I've been to Black Sheep, I've never really paid any mind to the wool show. I wasn't spinning then, we didn't have any fleeces entered, and it really didn't interest me much.

That all changed this year.







The judge this year was Lettie Kline from Kalamazoo, MI. Lettie has over 25 years experience raising Karakul sheep and has co-authored a book about making braided wool rugs called "The Shepherd's Rug" that is available on her web site. She also writes wonderful stories for the Black Sheep Newsletter. She pretty much knows her stuff when it comes to wool - and she is, admittedly, fond of Shetlands.


The Pavillion where the Wool Show was held is about twice the size of this picture - there were 31 divisions and about 15 fleeces (three of them ours) entered in the "Shetland Yearling and Younger" fleece division.









The judging had started on Friday morning. We had heard that the Shetland fleeces were to be judged Friday afternoon. We stopped in to check on it but the "fleece crew" decided to start again on Saturday morning, with the Shetland young fleeces being first. All the fleeces in our class were out on the front table waiting for the next a.m. event. You can bet that we checked them all out before we went to dinner.





Lettie was wearing a microphone and evaluates each fleece as she goes along, so you know what her thinking is. First off, she went through all the fleeces, looking and touching, moving some around. When she picked up Luna's fleece and took it to the "head" of the table, we (The Shepherd and myself and our friend Donna)
held our collective breaths.

Lettie explained that one thing she looks for in Shetland fleeces is denseness in the locks, and Luna's fleece is indeed dense. It is also very soft and passed the "rub" test when she rubbed the locks on the side of her arm and along her neck. The fleece has good staple length and is very "strong" when you pull on it.

Several times she went back & forth between first and second place fleeces - The Shepherd is chanting (in his mind, of course) "Pick mine, pick mine, pick mine" And she did!

Luna's fleece got The Blue Ribbon for Shetland "Yearling and Younger" fleeces. Moni's fleece was 7th and, for reasons we now understand, because of her descriptions of fleece qualities, Jewell's fleece was at the very bottom of the batch. It's not a bad fleece, it just didn't have the denseness that she was looking for.

Clicking on Lettie's name in the second paragraph will take you to her web site. I highly recommend her articles on fleeces and wool judging - you will learn a lot from them.




The Shepherd's Pride and Joy. Already slated for a couple of additional fairs - hope she does as well there.










Someone asked me if we won any money.

Nope, just braging rights.

And hopefully this will help to sell this handsome little dude - her half "brother" from this year. He's well on his way to having just as nice, if not nicer, fleece! Any takers?

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programing..

They are ripe!

What you Really came to see -

Eugene, Oregon is a lovely town. It's streets are lined with lots of large trees and there are "rivers running through it" (the McKenzie and the Willamettte) creating beautiful green belts. Founden in 1846, Eugene is now the second largest city in Oregon. With neighboring Springfield, the metro area has a population of over 200,000.


Eugene is also home to the University of Oregon. This week, they are holding Olympic trials there - and there supposedly won't be a cubby to be found. Glad BSG was last weekend. It was predicted to be "crazy" this week. The Lane County Fairgrounds, where BSG is held, is right smack dab in the middle of the city.


Sorry these are so dark - guess I was trying to take too big an area with this picture.

The sights and sounds are just incredibly fun - like the Asian mom who was terrified that her children would "walk in it" and kept moving them from one side of the aisle to the other - what she didn't know was the "it" she was trying to keep her children out of was dried paint on the floor - or the gal with bright orange hair and black fishnet stockings...The Shepherd said she had a booth, but I don't know what she was selling...

Many of the lambs at BSG are being weaned at the time of the show - creating quite a ruckus - and you can recognize that plaintive little "bah" anywhere.

Many of the breeders have tables set up with beautiful examples of what can be made from Shetland wool.









I love these skeins of wool that Susie Sizemore has in her exhibit.

Moving the lambs from one end of the barn to the other is not always the easiest thing. Oops here's one pretending it's dead - "Maybe they will all go away and leave me alone"...





Lynne Deschler from Cedar Haven Farms is organizing her show ring pen.








One of the best parts of BSG is catching up with old freinds and making new ones.

NW Breeders Joyce Thomas from Thistledown Shetlandsof Edwall, WA, Michelle McMillan from Boulderneigh in Amity, OR, Franna Pitt from Everranch in Auburn, WA and Terry Niles from Windy Valley Sheep Ranch in Ellensburg, WA take a moment before the judging to chat.

And a few minutes later, Franna is exchanging ideas with Judy Colvin, from Bitterroot Ranch in Montana













All I will say about this judge is that he didn't really like Shetlands and didn't seem to be up on the breed standards. Very frustrating for many in the ring.


And of course, there are many, many breeds of sheep besides Shetland at the Gathering. I believe that this handsome fellow is the Wensleydale Longwool sheep who won best of show.

A little Road Music

The Shepherd surprised me on Wednesday night by asking what CD's I wanted to take along to listen to on the road. Generally we have this pattern - he drives and I sleep. Since he was feeling a little sickly, maybe he thought if we played music, I'd stay awake and that would keep him company.

We started out with Eric Clapton's album Reptile. It always surprises me that I like this album - old "folkie" that I am. The first time I played it was for a dinner party that included our church's 80 year old piano player. Even she liked it. Go figure...

Our plans were to leave at 7:00 a.m. so we could meet our neice Jennifer and son, along with my Sister, for lunch at the Country Cousin's Restaurant in Centralia.

Someone, who shall remain nameless, wasn't quite moving her buns fast enough and we didn't get off until 7:45 - (still leaving us enough time to meet Jen , Parker & Wisten IF traffic was moving along) - fortunately (for me) we breezed right thru Everett, right thru Seattle/Tacoma & right thru Olympia! How lucky was that! We like the Country Cousin's because they make their own mashed potatoes, so their pot roast/hot beef sandwich is one of The Shepherd's favorite "travelin' meals". (I am partial to their Ruben Sandwich - yum.)

Our visit with family was short, but sweet and we were off, this time to the dulcet sounds of Loreena McKennitt and the fun, jazzy tunes of Pearl Django.

The freeways through Portland, Oregon have these beautiful roses blooming right now. It is about an 8 or 9 hour drive from our home to Eugene. There was no time for stopping at plant nurseries, which abound down the Oregon I-5 corridor. This year we needed to get our fleeces to the Wool Show and check in to see who was at the barns so we could meet our friends Kathy & Mike for dinner. All was accomplished - we had a great dinner with our friends and heard all about their upcoming wedding.

Off to bed we went with visions of sheep barns and vendor fairs dancing in our heads. Tomorrow? The Shetland Sheep Show, of course.

Black Sheep Gathering!

"We're going on vacation" - I'd say to my friends.
"Oh, where are you going?" they'd ask.

"To Eugene for the Black Sheep Gathering, of course" I answer.

The third weekend in June has been our traditional vacation for the past 8 or so years. It is the Black Sheep Festival in Eugene Oregon.

Last year, because of John's surgery, we had to miss it, but there was no way we were missing this year. The Shepherd had been working on fleeces all spring to take to the Wool Show.




The Gathering has 4 main parts -


The Sheep Show





The Wool Show




The Fiber Arts Show

(This Felted "Boa" scarf was made by Deb L. of B'ham - she got a blue ribbon!)





And, who doesn't love to shop?

The Vendor Fair has anything and everything to do with fiber arts ! (see that basket in the bottom right hand corner - it had my name written all over it)





I have lots to show and tell - come back tomorrow for a little "Road Music"

And The Winner Is........

I know, it's a little blurry- but we are pleased to announce that the 2008 WINNER of FIRST PLACE for the yearling and younger SHETLAND FLEECE was John Park (and Luna, of course) of Marietta Shetlands in Bellingham.

Why, that would be US! (we beat out the "big" guys!) More tomorrow about the 2008 BLACK SHEEP FESTIVAL

Spindrifters

Our spinner guild meets on the 2nd Saturday of the month.












It's always interesting to see the different kinds of spinning wheels that people have.

Fancy or homemade, they all are treated with love and care.






Every time I go, I watch how each person spins - there is a different method for each person, it seems.









In October we will have our second annual "Spin In"! Our guest speaker will be Celia Quinn from Homer, Alaska. She will give a talk on spinning with spindles and a class the next day on spinning novelty yarns (yum) -

Guess who volunteered to be on the committee?

Some "farmer trueisms"

…Letting the cat out of bag is whole lot easier than getting it back in...


…If you think you’re a person of influence, try bossing someone elses dog around…


...Bloom where you are planted...

10,000 AND STILL COUNTING!

Thank you to everyone who visits my blog - we went over the 10,000 visitor mark on Site Meter this week! (I downloaded Site Meter in late May 2007) I find it very interesting to look at the Site Meter map of the world and see where you all come from.

You never know what you'll find here - maybe the rhubarb - or maybe the rhubarb pie






The cats and the sheep are living in harmony - like ebony and ivory.









And the flowers come and go with the seasons.

Thanks again for visiting. Hope you'll leave a note now and again, so I can stop by and visit you too.

Click to biggify

Looks like snow, doesn't it? It's cottonwood. As I'm not allergic to it, I love this time of year - big fluffy dust bunnies rolling around everywhere. The sun came out yesterday - it got over 60 degrees! I think Mother Nature is teasing us...

Never a dull moment -

Well things have quieted down in the little boy's pasture - now the concern has been for Jewell. Last week The Shepherd noticed that she was having trouble with "urine elimination" - she would squat, but nothing would come out (been there, done that!). So after talking to the V.E.T. (we'll spell it out so any kitties reading my blog don't get frightened) they decided that she probably had a urinary tract infection and the rest of the penecillin that had been going to Buddy for his "injury" now went to Jewell. The problem was, even after 5 days of penecillin, she wasn't getting any better!

Saturday morning, he loaded her up in the trailer and off they went to Lynden (about 35 miles) to the V.E.T. - they did tests, did an ultrasound, gave her IV fluids (she was dehydrated) and changed her medicine, including some pain meds. This a.m. was three days and things had not appreciably changed! So off they went to Lynden this a.m. (Remember that we are leaving Thursday for the Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Oregon, so we kind of had to get this resolved!)

Well, today, they did more tests, and finally decided that she had passed a kidney stone. Ouch - no wonder she was grinding her teeth! The V.E.T. said she could go a couple of days between shots now since the blockage seems to have passed, so we are OK and our poor house/farm sitter will only have to deal with Neelix's medicine. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

A LOUD Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth

Heavy on the Wailing -

What's the old phrase? Easy like Sunday? -

Not when it's weaning day -

Notice anything about this picture? (I'll give you a hint - the lambs all have horns - and there are no ewes in the picture...)



Yes, the day that's worse than the 4th of July -

Do you know how much racket 5 ram/wether lambs can make? LOTS - (Plus their moms are calling and calling from the other side of the barn.)

Maybe I could go put some valium in their water...

Maybe I could put some valium in MY water...

Constant snoopervision

I am playing for church tomorrow (I actually volunteered) - The theme is Father's Day - the songs are "Cat's in the Cradle" by Jim Croce and "My Father" by Judy Colins. Both kind of sad, melancholy songs, I guess, but I think they will work out OK.

When I used to sing at Dos Padres, I was always surprised at the number of young adults who would request "Cat's In the Cradle" - or, after I would randomly sing it, would remark that it was one of their favorite songs.

I have the words typed out, but I noticed that I didn't have the chords written in. Hope I can remember them!

Better go practice.

Ur LOL Cat of the Day -or- "Martha are you sure you have that recipe right?"

more cat pictures

Neelix News Up Date or - Kitty Hide and go Seekey

Catch me if you can, Mom........

The official diagnosis ($109 in tests later) is kitty hyperthyroidism -

There is no "cure" but pills will reduce the symptoms and allow him to start gaining some of the 6 or 7 pounds that he has lost. He's not a very good pill taker, but so far, I THINK they've gone down the hatch - they are ITTY BITTY pills - think 1/4 of your little fingernail and he gets 1/2 in the morning and the other 1/2 at night. The pills will cost $9 a month. If it doesn't work giving him pills, there is now a way to make kitty medicines into a tuna, chicken or beef flavored liquid. That type of medicine, unfortunately, is $25 a month. We'll see how it goes. He definately knows that I'm up to something when he comes in the house for breakfast & dinner. I'm going to have to stop visualizing giving him his pill - I think he can read my mind...



Buddy is back to normal - thanks to those who have asked - But, if it's not one thing, it's another - now Jewell seems to have a bladder infection - I'm hoping that Regina, who has been very grumpy lately didn't bash her kidneys or something. The Shepherd has been giving her penecillin shots every evening (which we conveniently had on hand from Buddy's ordeal). As you can see by the sweet look on her face, The Shepherd is her favorite guy (even if he does stick her with needles)

A quiet weekend around the farm -

It was a quiet weekend around the farm - Buddy is better, Neelis is checking out the Kiwi plants in the arbor













This is the flower bed right outside our front door -

If you click on the picture to biggify it you can see a black cylindrical bell hanging on a post. John had it in the front of the church and was rung during our wedding to celebrate! Now it has it's own little "zen garden".









Yup, it was a quiet weekend around the farm....















But, SOMEBODY was busy - hopefully this was the (now dead) mole that The Shepherd found on the back porch this a.m.

Neelix is a very good hunter.

The GOOD news, and the "no news"

The (extremely) good news is that the blood screen on Neelix's liver and kidneys came back "clean" - no liver or kidney problems. Yay!

The "no news" is that his thyroid was up a point from normal, but Dr. Perry had ordered several other thyroid screens and they are not back until Monday. I'll keep you posted.

Buddy is doing OK - not as "chipper" as The Shepherd would like, but he seems to be healing.



And now a commercial break from our regularly scheduled programming -


This is Marietta's Lewis.

He is handsome, isn't he? Under those light brown tips is the most beautiful moosket wool (silvery fawn color).

He is for sale. If you are interested, let us know.




















Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming -

Be thinking of Neelix (and Buddy too)

Neelix isn't feeling well and we are going to the V.E.T. this afternoon - they are being nice enough to fit us in. He knows something is up because the PTU (prisoner transport unit) is out on the couch.

I will update this when I get home. Please purray for him, OK.

6:30 p.m. UPDATE - Well, I guess I kind of over-reacted - last night Neelix actually came IN to use the potty box - this is a cat who will only use a cat box in a full blizzard and then, under duress - and when he was "going" he seemed to be grunting, not exactly crying, but enough to make me notice. I've had a cat die from kidney disease before, so I freaked - He also has lost a lot of weight - he is down from 15# last year to 11 # today - (2 1/2# down in six weeks ) - Dr. Todd Perry (or Dr. Todd) and his dad Dr. Max Perry (or Dr. Perry) have been Neelix's vets since he was a baby and when Dr. Todd picked him up today, he said "Wow, he's lost weight - Lets do some blood work." Other than some "impacted feces" (probably from eating two mice the other night) which Dr. Todd "loosened up" we are thinking (hoping) that the blood work show hyper-thyroid, which is better than some of the alternatives - and will require medicine every day.

There is really a lot to be said for having the same vet over the life of a kitty. I did take Neelix in about 6 weeks ago because he was having a problem with diarrhea. They have a third vet in their practice, Dr. Curtis, who wasn't concerned that Neelix only weighed 12# - that's a lot of cat in most circles - but he had never seen Neelix before and had never picked him up when he was in his prime and weighed 17# - now THAT was a lot of cat - So I didn't press him to do any other tests than the fecal samples to see what was going on with his "messy poops" - guess I should have - There's that old word - "should" We could do a whole blog entry on SHOULD couldn't we? Anyhow, Dr. Todd said he'd call me tomorrow when they get the results. Think good thoughts...

And Buddy? Poor Buddy (the one in the foreground with the white nose) got "banded" (turned into a wether - if you really want to know how it's done, email me) on Saturday. Plus everybody in the barn got their CDT shots and Sunday everyone got worm medicine. Tuesday night John noticed that Buddy was kind of "stumbling" - not able to coordinate correctly - Wednesday a.m. he whisked him into our sheep vet and turns out that when they banded the little guy, they didn't get both of the testicles up in side the band - oops - he had a huge infection and so they did surgery, took off the offending parts and he's on antibiotics for a week. Luckily everyone else seems to be OK out in the barn. What a week.

Flowers that bloom in the spring, tra la...

This rhododendron is called "Unique" - it actually was in full bloom for our wedding 14 years ago - it starts out kind of peachy pink, then turns to yellow then to creamy pinky white -





The word bonsai literally means plant in pot. Our friend Richard maintains it means plants in bondage. Ha, ha.


John has a big collection of Japanese maples that have been trained to pots.




I really like the pretty faces on these bright sunshine yellow pansies. They are cheerful and The Shepherd needs that right now.








The Japanese iris will be blooming soon. I'm going to take a big bouquet for my desk this year. This one reminds me of a very pretty batik.