Happy Halloween

Halloween just doesn't seem the same when your kids outgrow dressing up and trick or treating. Although my daughter did dress up for the local haunted house her class put on as a lady named Betsy Reed who is believed to have been hung where our High School now stands for poisoning her husband. Nice. It was actually very cool. That is her in the wedding dress poisoning her "husband".

My daughter who is in college mentioned missing the Fall decorations and pumpkins so I found this University of Illinois flannel fabric at Wal-Mart and made her a pumpkin. It was super easy and I know it made her smile.

I thought by now I would be able to post a picture of what Halloween becomes when your kids turn into teenagers...having your yard and trees decorated with toilet paper. So far, only one group showed up and my son and a friend were waiting for them and scared them off before they got the job done.

Have a Happy Halloween!

National Anthem

I have sat through more games than I could possibly count. My oldest daughter was a cheerleader from 3rd through 12th grade. I went to almost every football game and basketball game she cheered at. My middle daughter cheered from 3rd through 8th grade and then played volleyball 9-11th ( one year to go). I went to almost every football, basketball and volleyball game. My son has played football, basketball and baseball since he was 6 years old. I have been to almost all of his games as well. My point? Well, at every game, the national anthem is sung. That is a lot of games. Some years ago, I found myself looking at the flag and wondering how many people even think about the flag or our country while they stand. Don't get me wrong. I'm not judging. When you attend that many games, it is easy to stand there and wonder what time you'll get home and how many things you can get accomplished before you get to bed.

I decided that every time they play the national anthem and I stand and look at our flag, I would say a prayer for our soldiers, their families, the leaders of our nation (regardless which party is in control). I am so thankful to live in such a great nation and I am especially thankful for all those who VOLUNTEER to serve this country.

I dread the upcoming elections. The bickering has already begun. Most of what they say has no substance and they never really answer any question asked them anyway.

That is why I decided to pray for the leaders of our nation (regardless of who has power). They all need it. Our country needs God...politically correct or not. We need a leader who knows he needs God.

Here is the verse of the week...hope you enjoy

Psalm33:8-15

Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth--he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

Help!!

I am hoping someone out there can help or tell me where to look for instruction on dyeing my wool roving. I purchased this kit which includes various cushing dyes, citric acid crystals, pre-wetting solution and a measure cup. It also came with a book but it deals only with dyeing wool fabric. I'm sure parts of the process are the same but I'm just unsure and don't want to destroy any of my roving. Any dye experts out there?

Verse of the week

Finally, I have started a new project on my loom. It has sat empty since last winter. I have only just learned to weave so I had a hard time remembering exactly how to dress the loom. It took me 3 tries to wind the warp correctly on the warping board. Once I finally mastered that, I got as far as inserting the lease sticks and just went blank. I sat and stared at the loom for about an hour, trying this and trying that, looking at my books. I finally conceeded defeat and called the lady who taught me how last Fall. She was very nice and walked me through it. I took thses pictures so I would remember the steps next time. It is the largest thing I have attempted so far. It will be a cotton, silk 24 x 72 shawl. I wanted to do something larger than the scarves I have done previously. I'm waiting now for help winding it onto the back beam. I need someone to hold it tight in the front while I wind it. Hopefully one of the kids will help me out this evening. Here is the verse of week...hope you enjoy.

Verse of the week:

Psalm 37:3-6

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

YUCK!!

Not a pretty picture I know, but this is a perfect example of what the cows are doing to my run out stall in my barn!! I like cows, I really do. They are pretty in their own way, fun to have around and actually they deter coyotes. I love having a freezer full of beef and knowing what that beef was fed before it reached my freezer. But they are destroying my run out stall!!!

I tried convincing my husband this weekend that we don't need more cows after these are gone. He says he likes the cows...I say WHY? He says he just likes having them. Well, how do I argue with that when I have my sheep and want more sheep? I can't. He has always been so good about helping me get things done with the sheep and encouraging me to do the things I enjoy. So more cows will come..but.....how about we build the cows their very own shelter...IN THE PASTURE...where they can't get into the barn? That of course would leave more room for my sheep! That sounds like a great idea to me. I'm working on it..wish me luck.

We think that is a great idea!!

Mass chaos!!

Can somebody tell me where I am suppose to be? The storm that went through last night messed everything up!! We were all in our nice little breeding groups and the next thing I know, everyone is all mixed up!! HELP!! Everyone just stop right there! Back to your breeding groups right this minute!

I think I am suppose to be in there!

Ok...this is better...everyone is back in their right pens. UM...are we suppose to know which ram that was last night?

Sheep are so complicated...I don't care where any of them are as long as they stay out of my pen!

Verse of the week

I am very excited that tomorrow is the day I get to go to the Covered Bridge Festival! I look forward to this day all year. Many of the shops and booths carry crafts that you can find in many other shops but you always have those few places that have unique, homemade items you can't find anywhere else. Those are my favorites. Of course, I'll be on the lookout for any unique "sheep" collectibles...maybe I'll even find another weird tree.

My verse this week is not about sheep, lambs, shepherds or flocks but it is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. The preacher was using scripture from Titus this morning in his sermon and as I was reading over this scripture, I decided it would be the verse of the week...hope you enjoy

Verse of the week:
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Thank you Columbus for the 4 day weekend!

I don't recall ever getting out of school for Columbus Day but my kids have always had a 4 day weekend because of the great explorer. We had a busy but great 4 day weekend. We went to visit my daughter in college. It was Dad's weekend so she took her dad to the football game then we all went out to eat. Sunday I went and got this ram who I have leased from Gail. I was very tempted to buy him but leasing seemed like a great idea since I really don't NEED another ram.

I enjoyed a short visit with Gail and then back to the house to watch the Colts...GO COLTS!!

Today my son (and Lucy) helped me round up all the sheep. We wormed everyone and trimmed feet. It was an exhausting day but I am very glad to have it all done. I went ahead and put all the breeding groups together so I am set and ready to go. Tomorrow I sub for Kindergarten. That will probably be more exhausting than anything I did all weekend!

De-horned and De-maned..ouch

I had to take my ram lamb to get him cut today..both horns and well, you know. I was expecting blood and pain and any number of other unpleasant things but the horn cutting was actually painless, clean and basically no big deal. The vet used this gigli wire to saw the horns off. You can run your fingers up and down this wire and not cut yourself but it just zips those horns right off. He used the screws to hold onto the wire. Then he showed me how it would also cut through a wood post. He gave me one and told me "just do it yourself next time." So, now I can check off one more thing on my I have learned to do and don't need the vet for list For those veteran sheep owners out there, this is probably no news to you...but I thought it was pretty cool.

Verse of the week

I searched and searched and finally found a Bible verse that not only referenced sheep but the harvest as well.

The fields around us have all been cut...the harvest is in. It makes me kind of sad to see all the corn cut. It is kind of like my own big fence. When it is gone, the prarie looks deserted to me, the winds blow more freely and it feels less private than before. I am however thankful for the different seasons. What an awsome creation God made for us. Each season has its own beauty to look forward to. Fall seems to be the most vibrant to me. I am always amazed by the colors, especially when the sun hits a maple tree just right.....amazing. My God is an awsome God..(one of my favorite songs).

Here is the verse of the week...hope you enjoy it.

Verse of the week:

Mattew 9: 35-38

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Another Weird Tree

Once a year, a friend of mine and I go to the Covered Bridge Festival in Indiana. It is a huge event in this area for anyone who loves crafts. There are several ( I forget how many) old covered bridges scattered throughout the area and the festival is scattered out as well. It is not possible to see it all in one day but I am grateful I am able to get away for a day and see as much of it as I can. Our day this year is coming up soon...Oct. 15th!!! It made me think of all the things I have purchased there over the years. I usually try to get a little Christmas shopping done while there but inevitably, I buy something for my house. It is simply too hard to resist.

I dug out my Fall decorations and thought I would share this picture of another one of my "weird trees" I brought home from there. It has pumpkins (not sheep) on a gnarled tree and I just love it.

I love Fall and am ready for some cooler temps here. We are still having mid 80's and absolutely NO rain. I think I have lost 3 trees this summer due to the lack of rain. It hasn't done much for my pastures either!