The fires of creation -

 Here is The Shepherd out standing in his field - a field of Bellingham Lillies- a relatively rare plant, that seems to like our yard.

The weekend has just flown by - I worked until noon on Wednesday, the day of my surgery - we didn't have to be at the surgery center in Mt. Vernon until 2:30 - so we both worked 1/2 day.  Kept my mind off of things, I think.  The rest of the weekend was spent napping and spinning and napping and trying to ignore the piteous cries of 9 lambs who had been taken away from their mamas (that is enough to send you straight to the freezer for that pint of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream!!) and napping and  practicing my guitar.


 You see, after 47 years of playing guitar, I decided that I needed to learn how to play open tuning so I could learn a song by my friend Tracy Spring - in fact, I'm taking lessons from her.  It's been fun, but it is such a different technique from what I know.  Even though I've learned the song I wanted to learn, I'm not sure if it's for me.

I am, however, in awe of Tracy's songwriting ability.  I think I've told you before about MY song writing ability - sadly, it pretty much amounts to drivel.




I like to write (ie my blog), I just have no talent to put it to music. 


"Do I , Gracie? "

"Nope, not so much - here Mummy, why don't you just stop and smell the flowers?"

 Speaking of flowers - here is one of The Shepherd's favorite "mini" bonsai plants - a dwarf astilbe.  Pretty cute huh?

Anyhow, getting back to the music thing -

Luckily, I know lots of talented musical people - another person whose music I like is Unitarian Universalist musician, Jim Scott - he's going to be on the west coast next month - we're hoping to get down to the Seattle area to hear his concert.

"May the dance take me lightly in its arms
May the song lift me gently on its wings,
May the fires of creation burn brightly in my heart,
That I might so briefly touch the magic of all things."

From "The Fires of Creation" by our friend Jim Scott





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I'm doing a Happy Dance today

"Pretty fireworks from the garden" 

Hey - just a quick note to thank you all for your good wishes & prayers - (Dr. Saipco thanks you too) - my surgery went better than expected and I got a good bill of health this morning from him.  He's so confident that he released me to my regular Bellingham eye doc for the rest of my post op care. 

I guess I was pretty out of it last night - kind of scared The Shepherd - he woke me up from "a nap" to get me to go to bed, and I was not making much sense - but I think he realized that I was still "sleeping" and just pointed me in the right direction.

So, everything is still kind of blurry, but it's a different kind of blurry, if you know what I mean?  I'll have  a day or two of "careful convalescing" and then I'm pretty much good to go.

 

Happy 4th of July! 

HOW WE'LL BE WATCHING THE FIREWORKS :-) 

Ya got-ta have friends.....

Well, this post has been a while in the making - first, I watched a video on "Dear Prudence" where a woman's IRL (In Real Life) family berated her for having real relationships her on line friends (ie - "They are just "on-line" people, you don't even know them)  So, I was ready to write something about all the wonderful "on-line" friends that I have, when my modem stopped working.   - Well, let's say it stopped working consistently - If I saw the "on line" light working, if I hurried, I might be able to read an email or two, but that was about it...

Well, thinking that this might be a good time to do the computer upgrade I had in the works for a couple of months - I started that process, but then I realized that my Carbonite backup could not do it's job, BECAUSE MY MODEM KEPT STOPPING - and it didn't download any of my files INCLUDING ALL of my PICTURES!  OK, I'm freaking out now - 

(And then on top of all this computer stuff,  it was time to get ready for vacation & our trip to Eugene Oregon for the Black Sheep Gathering.  NEWSFLASH!! We didn't bring any 4 legged's home - however I did buy some nice BFL/Tussa Silk blend wool to spin :-) 

So, I froze my Carbonite so it wouldn't back-up over my empty files (although I found out that they keep your recent back-ups separate, or something like that, so you do have access to them - I love Carbonite - it is always there, working in the background - Best $70 a year I've ever spent - And after I got my NEW Comcast modem (that includes it's own WI-FI  router so my new printer will work (once I get THAT hooked up) with a little help from the "Oh-so-nice" tech guy from Carbonite - all my files are back where they are supposed to be- etc, etc.  This is the second time I've used my Carbonite restore program - and other than the modem problems, which were outside of it's realm, it is just "easy-peasy" as the old saying goes.  

Miss Gracie

So, here I am, over a month later since I posted the last time - And the other problem has been my inability to see clearly what I'm typing, etc. on the screen.  I finally got fed up with not being able to see out of my left eye and made the decision to raid my 401k and have the cataract surgery done.  This is happening tomorrow (July 2)  in Mt. Vernon, WA with a cataract specialist recommended by my regular eye doc.  It is not happening without an element of risk as there are issues with my cornea and with the shape of my eye in general.  But this young Dr.'s passion is doing mission trips all over the world to bring vision to the poor and he has literally done thousands of cataract surgeries.  He said my eye was "bad" but not the worst he'd ever seen - I will be his last patient of the day, so he doesn't feel rushed and can take his time - If you are reading this and it is before my surgery (supposed to happen sometime around 3-3:30 Pacific Daylight Time) send good thoughts out to Dr. Saipco - we want him to do the best job he's ever done, right? Wish me luck...


So, getting back to my original thoughts about friends -
Thanks to my loyal readers who I do consider my friends -

I've included a very nice poem/prayer that was in a recent "Angel" newsletter authoredby my friend Mary Ellen  "Angel Scribe"   If you are in need of comfort, I hope it brings you comfort, if you are in need of being buoyed up, I hope it brings you joy.  

Hopefully I'll be back on the computer in a day or two with a "report" on my surgery - Til then, have a safe & happy 4th of July! 

- Friends -

by Mary Ellen "Angel Scribe" and her Angels

Friends touch the heart
in such a special way!

It is as if they open a secret little door
and move into your heart.

Nestled inside of you,
they create warmth and love
and cause your heart to expand.

Your attitude melts and softens
as snow on a warm sunny day.

Friends enrich your life and give it
a greater meaning...
they give you support
they give you honesty
and they give you courage
when yours is lacking.

Friends to
walk with
talk with
laugh with
cry with.

Friends are your cheerleaders
through life.

Friends are the rays to your sun,
the treasure in your jewelry chest,
they are the sparkle on the ocean waves.

They ground you when you need it
and they guide you when you want to fly.

Friends are a rare and special find,
a gift from God.

Treasure your moments
together.
AMEN



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Memorial Day 2014

A time for memorial it is,
a time for remembering
the human loss in human wars, the silence of voices, the bending of hearts forever.










We remember, we do not deny all these things happened,
We remember, and join our silence to the silence of those who perished in wars,
in skirmishes,
in revolutions, in revolts,
in assaults, in riots,
be they civilians or soldiers,
or human beings of any sort
caught up in the tangle of the years.

For all losses are real losses
to those whose love has not grown thin and sour.
And may all those who live be deepened
by their remembering in this silence.




Excerpt from War Requiem"
by Mark Belletini
From "Sonata for Voice and Silence"
Skinner House Books, 2008




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What's growin?

The Shepherd has an amazingly GREEN thumb

Seedlings turn into bedding plants, seemingly overnight...














The bonsai collection comes outside for the
summer. 

Ok, so he didn't plant this one, but, I thought she kind of fit in with the train of thought...












Our wedding rhododendron bloomed it's little heart out this year.  Did it realize it was our 20th anniversary?











This picture from Vikki is a couple of weeks old - she is growing like a weed - but her spots are still brown!












And what is this interesting thing?


It's a SNAIL!

These scourges have quietly moved up the coast, hitchhiking in plants brought into the area from southern growers. 

Kind of a pretty thing, but quickly crunched under the boot of The Shepher  Gardner.  Snails are not something that he wants to be growin' in his garden. 








And finally - a couple of pictures and a short video of our FAVORITE band of all time, Pearl D'Jango - They were playing at Bellwood Acres - Not the best sound but a fun venue, and GREAT crowd. - The sax player was just sitting in with the band - but he proved to be a fantastic addition!

Our table was only a few feet from the stage - it was a fun concert -

Enjoy the music - (it takes a minute to buffer - be patient )    I'll be back later this week with some updated lamb pictures - WOW, they are really growing fast!




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A long ago promised post...

Oh me, oh my... it seems like eons ago that we promised you a Caturday report on the 2014 Wonderful Woolies Farm Sale - in fact the sale was a WHOLE MONTH AGO!

But, you see, I have a good 'scuse - Mummy came down with a bad case of "The Mizzries"  She said on a scale of 1-10, her pain was a 15!! (pain from the right side of her neck down to her fingers & back!)  Her kiropraktor said he thought it was a pinched nerve in her neck - and when his ministrations didn't work Mummy even went to her GP doktor, (and if you know Mummy, you know she praktikally has to be dying before she'll go to her GP doktor)  He said - "oh, yeah, it could be a pinched nerve.  Here, take these good drugs and maybe they will help."  She actually missed two days of work at the Salt Mine - probably only the 4th or 5th time in 20 years that she has missed days for being "sick" - Poor Mummy.  (but we had lots of cuddle time on the big bed.  I made it a practice to lay down on her middle so she couldn't get up and go anywhere)

But I promised to tell you about the farm sale that she and The Shepherd took part in - That happened B/4 the Mizzries, thank heavens)                             

Their friends Yvonne & Dr. Doug invite about a dozen or so other "wool farmers" to join them for a day and people are invited from far and near to come & buy the fiber that they have to sell. 

Set up was Friday afternoon - Here are The Shepherd, Dr. Doug and another Shepherd called Rocky pushing racks form the house to the barn, where everything is getting set up for customers to come on Saturday morning.  We have people come from as far away as Seattle (90 miles or so) because they know that the fiber we offer will be top notch. 

Here is The Shepherd getting his booth set up in the barn. 

 Meanwhile Mummy was in the house helping Yvonne tag bags of roving.  That's Niki with Miss Daisy.

Over the years, one of Mummy's favorite spinning fiber sources has beem Kathy Green Roving - She buys bulk fine micron white wool, dyes it and processes the roving into 6 & 8 ounce bumps - Kathy has announced that she is retiring from the wool processing business & selling her mill.  Darn.

There were lots of choices for people to make -
batts, bumps, colored or natural fibers. 

Yvonne has CVM Romeldale sheep.  She sends some of her fleeces off to be mill spun. 

Sadly, the one thing that they didn't take a picture of was Mummy's yarn display.  She had eleven skeins of yarn to sell and sold 5 of them, including the one of Blue faced Leicester/silk for $69!!

Here was the happy sales desk crew.  There was ONE check out counter - that way the different vendors didn't have to worry about keeping track of money separately. 

Vikki (with her back to you in the beautiful hand made vest) was making her annual deal with The Shepherd for her annual Shetland Fleece.











The finished booth.

Mummy thought that the 4 oz packages of white roving would be very popular, but only a couple of them sold.  She's hoping she can tempt some of her spinner guild buddies into buying them. 

Mummy here -


So this is what I did with the money I earned from selling my yarn - bought a stash ahead of Kathy Green Roving. 










These fun little 4 oz. bags of mystery colors spin up quickly and make pretty yarn.  I've already got plans to make presents for the ladies that I work with out of some of the blue/green (Seahawks colors, you know)

The Wonderful Woollies sale is always fun and it is nice to see so many people come and buy our local fiber.  I can't wait for next years!! 

Sigh

Beautiful tulips in The Shepherd's garden

Sigh –

I’m sitting at the kitchen counter, eating a bowl of tomato soup with tuna fish on crackers (is that the oldest lunch in the book, or what?).

Sitting at the kitchen counter because it is the only open counter space in the house (have I ever mentioned that my housekeeping methods leave a little to be desired?) and sighing because it is my last day of "my" spring vacation.

Lambs first day outside!

My Staycation – as they are called – little bits of time carved out so you can just stay home and nourish your soul - - - man, I had a lot of things planned – but with lambs, general exhaustion, gosh, they just didn’t get done.

So,  I’m trying to decide if I should go finish cleaning the living room or make these yummy looking cookies I found on the Land ‘O Lakes web site - maybe if I get off the computer and get busy, I could do both…


But first, a few pictures from around the farm -




Everything in The Shepherd's greenhouse is reaching for the sky.  This stuff is only a week or so old - spring is so marvelous...










And here is some of the pretty stuff I bought on Saturday at the Wonderful Woollies Farm Sale that we participated in.  "Oh," you say, "the object of being in that sale was to sell, not to buy..."

Huh - coulda fooled me...

I did sell five skeins of yarn (one of which was priced at $69!  Yay me. 

And this is the view from the barn.  In the chair where I spend a bit of time waiting this week.

Waiting for lambs to be born....

Waiting for The Shepherd to get home and check on the lambs that were being born...

But generally enjoying one of my favorite views in our garden -

Maybe I can get Gracie to tell you about the Wool Sale in her Caturday report.

No doubt she'll be bummed out because her Mummy had to go back to The Salt Mine tomorrow - but not as bummed as her Mummy is. 

See ya Saturday. 




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Oh, my - lookie what I found in the barn this morning!

Well, I got kind of a late start this morning - I was supposed to run a fan motor into town "early" but, you know, it IS my vacation this week -

But I did agree to go out and check on Wendy a couple of times - when I got out there at about 10:30 - look what I found!

Wendy had her babies.  All by herself, thank god.

I did get them settled in a jug (small pen for mom & lambs for my non sheepy friends)  -







There are two little ewes, both around 3 3/4 pounds (The Shepherd weighed them when he stopped in after lunch to "check on them"

They are both "moorit" or brown, and by looking at the amount of white on their heads and tails, they will probably turn and be fawn colored. 

Like I said, Wendy was a very good mom and had them all cleaned off in no time. 
















Here is Donna & Django - it is amazing what a difference even 24 hours makes as far as the little ones getting around -

He seems like he is pretty mellow and laid back - that is a good thing for a ram. 









Here is Vikki & Wether #2 - they are hopping around and head butting each other already! 

Here is also a little video so you can hear the mamma talk to the babies.  (and them talk back)

Four down, one to go - the lamb count is 7 - 4 ewes, 1 ram and two wethers.  (or at least they will be as soon as they are big enough!)