One Big Cabbage

As I was coming home from work today I noticed Mr. Maxson's vegetable stand was stocked with newly harvested produce. I got a huge cabbage for $1.50 and made this cole slaw. It's delicious, and, fortunately, I have enough cabbage left over for another four or five big bowls of cole slaw. I suspect the chickens might be enjoying it before then.

Love Those Colored Fleeces

I found this fleece in last year's pile. There is no name on the bag, but the fleece is just wonderful. I think I have an idea who it is...maybe Frodo or Bilbo, two older wethers. I adore the colored fleeces with all the variations of black/brown/tan throughout. This fleece is huge and I'm dyeing it in two batches. What color? Teal blue...and it's coming out fantastically. I'm going to blend the teal with wool I've dyed spruce. I might add some purple and magenta. This is fiber art...

Luke Wants a Cow

Luke kept telling me we should get a cow. I would love to have a cow, but they cost a LOT of money to buy. Then they have to give birth in order to make milk. With my luck I would have my arms inside a laboring mother up to my armpits, instead of up to my elbows the way I sometimes am with my sheep. And what if she had a boy instead of a girl? How would I explain to Luke that our cow's baby would very likely become hamburger someday? I would love to have all that milk to feed my dogs and cats, and make cheese with. I think I will have to solve my hay debacle before I can have any more hay-burning critters.

Sneaky Sheep

While I was babysitting Chris and his gang, another group of sheep sneaked across the road higher up the hill. I found them eating the beautiful second cut grass belonging to the cattle farmer, Mr. Plows (no kidding). I tried to sneak onto his field and shoo my sheep back to my side of the road before anyone saw us, but his dogs went crazy. There I was, running for cover with my flock. They were grabbing mouthfuls of the lush greens as they ran. Naughty girls!

Llama Mischief

When I let the flock out after work (the part of the flock I managed to lock up before leaving for work - the rest were hiding in the fog and I couldn't find them) I thought I had some time to do other chores before driving up the hill to babysit. Weellll, look who I saw leading the pack of runaways. Chris looked at me like, Who? Me? What did I do? I got them running back to where they are supposed to graze, and they were perfectly happy. The grass is always greener across the road.

Stoop Kitties

Until some proper steps into the apartment can be built, the milk room steps are where I enter my "house." There are several kitties who like to live around the steps. I had a neat shelf system filled with wool for them to sleep in last winter. I'll have to build them another one soon.

Another Lovely Afternoon

The morning rain gave way to a lovely, breezy afternoon. If the wet weather continues into winter we are going to have a lot of snow to deal with. The flock never comes up this high on the hill when it snows.

Barn Raising, Continued

Jan's barn is coming along nicely. The outside walls went up today and the roof is almost finished. There is a nip in the air tonight and the temps might be going down to the 40's. I noticed some leaves changing today. That, and the fact that I have to go into work for the next two days, signals the end of my vacation drawing near. I so love staying home with my friends who can't speak but who love my company and demand so much attention. Humans are so complicated and frustrating, and very tedious at times. Animals are so simple and honest and give me so much pleasure. Jan and Dave will be living in a local bed and breakfast within a couple of weeks, until the pole barn is done. It will be so nice to have Jan to help me pick fleeces and hold goats by the horns while I shear them. I got three fleeces picked, washed, dyed and almost dried today. If I don't do it while the weather is hot it will take weeks for a fleece to dry. Protecting it from cats and wind during that time is difficult. A few hours under a hot sun gets the job done quickly and safely.

Back on the Farm

Lovely, hot summer day here on the farm. I miss My Mia and Morristown but fall into my routine easily, despite the urge to lie down every once in a while. I resist and get to picking fleeces. The weather over the next three days promises to be dry and sunny. When a storm rolled over the farm and a brief rain came down the power went out - perfect opportunity to take a little nap. When I came back to life and let the sheep out to graze, I couldn't help but notice the beautiful flowers, berries and thistles that abound on the roadside and the fields. Years ago I dug up a Queen Anne's Lace plant on the roadside in New Jersey, brought it home and planted it in my back yard. One day I was on the phone and glanced outside to see a ground hog eat the white lacey flower. Here in CNY, those white flowers that I love are everywhere.

Party's Over

Mia readied the party bags for the departing guests while we packed up the food and washed dishes. I went back to Mia's apartment and the girls took a nap. A party bus picked them up and they drank champagne while being transported to a restaurant in Hoboken. Then it was on to a club in Manhattan to party until dawn. Lisa said she didn't want it to end.

Gathered Together

Finally the gifts! Lisa received many lovely things, including a pearl necklace to wear on her wedding day, several sets of her chosen dishes, a bridal doll to add to her collection, and the token sexy night gown.

Good Friends

Friends flew in from California and joined local life-long friends and family to celebrate Lisa's coming marriage to Regi. His mother and sister also attended. The youngest guest, Lisa's month-old nephew, enjoyed all the attention.

Hostess With the Mostess

Mia found these colorful Marguerita glasses that matched Lisa's favorite flowers. The drinks tasted as good as the containers looked. Mia wanted the food to be as colorful as possible, and she succeeded. She replaced all the pictures in the house with pics of Lisa and Regi as little kids. It was a neat touch. The table looked great and the guests loved the food. Mia's enchiladas were a big hit.