Stolen one liner

Ok, I have stolen a one line quote from a fellow blogger.   But, it's from a blogger that I thoroughly enjoy, so I think that makes it ok, and I'm sure he won't mind in the least.

So, thank you to John and his blog Going Gently.  I simply love this.

Quality is never an accident.  It is always the result of intelligent effort~John Ruskin


Toodles for now.

Quiet reflection

I found this quote while looking for "something" that I can place close to my heart today.  I won't go into the reasons for my somber mood and post, but I thought the quote I found was a gentle reminder to myself.  It seems as if I find the gentle nudges I need, when I need them.  
So, when my heart aches over the loss of something that gave me great joy, I am reminded of the kind souls and good hearts that surround me every day of my life.  I am blessed and grateful for every single one of you. May I always remember that I need to be tolerant of others and their views.  My views are just that, mine and I shouldn't be so arrogant to think that they should be everyone's.  


Here's the quote:


"The key to peace in your life is to be tolerant of all others.
We can learn from each other, but when you have no tolerance,
you lose the ability to learn and advance as a human being.
If we are open to others beliefs, we make our own beliefs stronger.
If we are closed to what other knowledge is available,
then we are no better than hypocrits with closed minds."
~ Rion ~










That which angers us, controls us.

I hope you are sitting down

I have a group of ladies that I knit with on Wednesday nights at Argyle Fiber Mill.  Our group is lovingly referred to as the Argylian Society of Knitters, or ASK.  In an attempt to increase knitted entries at the Lafayette County Fair this year, we all contributed knitted, felted or crocheted items.  I entered in 4 categories and got a few ribbons, one was an award of merit for my collection of 3, which was a hat, scarf and mittens.  I was happy, but not being of a competitive nature, I was equally happy for the what the others in our group got for awards.
Now to the part that you are going to need to sit down for...........my awards check!!!!

And here it is!!!  Clicking to biggefy does NOT increase it's monetary value.  (ps-I tried it already)

Now I know what you are thinking......I should be grateful for any amount at all, and I am, but this made me  just bust out laughing.  And please notice that it took 3, that's right, 3 people to ok this check with their signature.  

I better get to the bank, I need to cash my check for a big shopping spree this weekend.  Look for me in the clearance aisles.  

Toodles for now. 

That which angers us, controls us.

Another "to do" item off my list

By now, you are all probably sick of hearing about the upcoming Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival in Jefferson WI on Sept. 9th, 10th and 11th.  The show is featuring some very special guests, Kate Sharp and Alan Hill, and they have agreed to judge for us this year as well as do a judges seminar and some ram/ewe inspections.  It's going to be like visiting the Shetland Islands without the long, pesky flight over there.  I may be exaggerating just a bit, but I sure am excited to be given this opportunity to have my sheep evaluated by the very folks that decide who is a Flock book Shetland and who is not.  This will assist me in evaluation of my own flock, as well as allowing me to meet such learned and experienced Shetland judges.
I'm ready to have my sheep graded, and not so ready for what they might tell me, but since it's so easy to be looking at my sheep with jaded eyes, I think the unbiased opinions will benefit my flock and give me more tools to use in achieving my goals.  

I just completed my entry form, paid the fees online and now all I have to do is get more halter training done.

I encourage anyone that has Shetland sheep to bring sheep to this event and if you can't bring sheep, simply bring yourself, we would love to have you.









That which angers us, controls us.

Madison goes to his new home...........

I got 2 really nice fawn katmoget rams from Lil County Meadow X Sheltering Pines Bug this spring.  A lovely couple from the Madison area, (interesting eh?) came yesterday and purchased this guy for their 6 ewes and I was pretty pleased that such a nice ram didn't have to go to the "other place".  They had picked out Sawyer, a black gulmoget, but their ewes were too closely related to him for them to take the chance.  I wasn't too upset that they had to pass on Sawyer, I think he's going to Jefferson this year for WSWF.

I also sold 3 of my mature ewes this week...Alanna, Maggie and Aster will be calling Iowa their new home this fall!!!  I really love Aster, but since I got 2 keeper ewes from her this year, I feel I can let her move to a new home.  I have to make room for the ones I'm keeping and the new girls that will be coming to WI to help bring new bloodlines to my flock.

I anyone needs me, I will be sitting in the pasture tonight trying to make the final decision on who is going to WSWF.  I've promised myself that I won't come back into the house until I've made up my mind.  Deadline for entries is this weekend, and I can't put it off any longer.  I have a ewe for ram/ewe inspections, but what ram???  I have some lambs for the show on Saturday, but how many do I really want to juggle?  But.......how often will I get a chance to have my sheep evaluated by such experienced judges?   These are the thought bouncing around in my head.

Even though a lot of this makes me a bit nervous, my first priority to is going to be to have fun with whatever happens.   Last year was so much fun, and there is so much to see and do there, I have no doubt it will be another year that will have me telling  stories over and over. ie: Remember when Garrett's sheep laid down in the ring?  Remember when we had all that food on Saturday night and we got to watch that spectacular sunset?  Remember the goofy pictures we took of the "campfire"?  Remember when I totally missed the turn off for the fairgrounds?  Oh, that's right, I was the only one that knew about that one.

Come join us, we would love to have you....there's a potluck on Saturday night that all Shetland lovers can attend.  Eat, drink, laugh and enjoy!  Now doesn't that sound fun?

Toodles for now.

Fleece questions

I know that most of you that see this already follow Corinne's Blog.  You probably remember that she had a wonderful ram, Crosswinds Thor, and that he was coming to my farm to have a little romance.  Thor has now officially been with me for 3 (ish) weeks and he's a great little ram with wonderful fleece.   Corinne had posted  on her blog that she was having issues with how to categorize the fleece from several of her lambs this year, and with that in mind, I am posting fleece sample pictures for all of you to inspect and give me some feedback.
Here is Thor's fleece, taken last night...please excuse the lack of professional equipment to give you a truly focused shot of the fleece, I need Corinne's camera very badly.  The black on the left is very crimpy even though it is a bit difficult to see it in this shot.  the white fleece on the right is from one of Thor's spots, the tip is white, the center is gray and the stuff next to the skin is white again..........what gives?  Has any one seen this before?  As you can see, this guy has crimp up the wazoo, and I love the luster, but what is the deal with the on again, off again color chang-a-roo?

click on any picture to biggify

Thor's fleece, the stuff on the right is from one of his spots.

As soon as I can get a decent shot of Thor, I'll get it on here and formally introduce him to you. Nice, respectful little ram and just the kind of great quality I've come to expect from Corinne.

This is a fleece sample from Sparta a mioget ram that will be going to live with  Kim Nikoli @ Kimberwood Shetlands

 

New floor

We live in a berm home, which means most of our house in built below ground and is incredibly energy efficient. One of the only things I've ever disliked (bordered on hate) about our home was the carpeting in the livingroom and dining area.  We had planned on replacing it in 2000 when we purchased the house, then again every year after that. One year, the well taking it's last gasping breath on Christmas Eve, in a blizzard, ate up the flooring money.  Another year we got enough money to replace the roof and a bit extra was set aside for the flooring, but the project went over budget (gasp) and no floor again that year.  You get the idea here......

Well, this year, I told my husband that if we didn't replace the carpeting, I was going to tear it out and walk on concrete, which would be a couple notches up in appearance from the current floor covering!!!  We set aside a portion of our tax refund and quickly made a trip to Menards to purchase the flooring before something catastrophic happened that would eat up our flooring project fund once again.  It only too us 10 years, but allow me to introduce you to my new floor!  

Tess and  camera shy Nikki under the table

Floor enhancements (ie: spinning wheels)  

My hubby's legs and the new kitchen/dining room flooring

Tess loves the new floor  & the moorit pelt in front of the tv.  The silly girl barely fits on it.  

Oops, misc. veggie picture.

The garden is kicking my rear the last week or so and I am praying the oppressive heat subsides so I can be outside in relative comfort once again.  We have some evil little chipmunks that find it necessary to nibble on all the low hanging tomatoes.  I wouldn't even mind if they ate one whole tomato, but is it really necessary to take one bit out of ALL of them?  I mean, come on you little striped monsters, give me a cotton pickin' break already.   War will be declared soon, so anyone that can help battle plans, let me know, I'm desperate!  

Countdown to WSWF, 39 days!!!  Trying to figure out who to take........gotta try to finish projects that are going........but, I did get my camping paid for today, lined up a dog sitter, and I'm pretty sure I have a critter sitter, so I'm getting closer to getting stuff done.