I love the way the snow sticks to the tree branches and makes everything look frosted.
I'm going to heat the kettle for some ginger tea, put on a movie, and get my hooking project back on my frame! I love this time of year!
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Emma's fleece is growing back quickly. You would think that she'd be cold with snow on the ground but she never shows it, except for the fact that she likes to lay in the little shelter a lot. She's one tough "curly girl"!
"All The Trimmings" Show ~~~ Chelsea, Michigan
Well! As you can see, Emma decided that she didn't want to wear a sweatshirt anymore. She managed to pull both front legs out of the sleeves this morning and she was walking around with the sweatshirt hanging down from her neck (eek! strangulation hazard, for sure). With a small bribe of some hay, I was able to grab hold of the shirt and pull it over her head. Later (I'm sure she didn't realize that I was watching from the house), she ran around her pen, took a large "lamb-leap" straight up into the air, and kicked her back legs out...as if to say "Yippee! I'm free!"
Emma is in the trailer and ready to go to Liz's farm. She looks a little scared, doesn't she?
The next few pictures are of Doug, the sheep shearer, working his magic. He is really good at what he does and he's very patient with these struggling, freaked-out sheep. Talk about a tough job! Doug is like a "sheep-whisperer". He can handle any size sheep with ease and he works fast.
Yum, look at that gorgeous fleece...lots of curls...remember I've said before that I love looking at and touching a beautiful fleece...
Yeow! This picture made me nervous...zipping those clippers right down her neck....
So there's Emma's Big Day in pictures! Thanks to Liz for taking the pictures. I won't miss Emma's next shearing day in April 2009. 
You've probably heard of a "pig in a blanket" but have you ever seen a "sheep in a sweatshirt?" Emma was sheared on November 1st. Look at those big floppy ears and long legs! It's always a surprise to see what a sheep or goat really looks like after all the fleece has been removed. We put a sweatshirt on her because it was a little cool after the shearing and now she has to get used to not having a wooly coat for a while. I'll probably remove her sweatshirt in about 2 weeks. Emma doesn't seem to mind wearing her sweatshirt at all! It is a little big for her and it keeps riding up her back, so I just keep pulling it down!
Her curly locks are quite long so I've arranged to have her sheared on November 1st. If it's too cold afterward, I'll put a sweatshirt or a little sheep coat on her until her fleece starts to grow again. She is so friendly when I am around and she loves lots of attention ( but she is shy around people she doesn't know and usually runs away). Sometimes when I bend down to scratch her back, she will lick my chin! Sweet little lambie kisses!
Last night when I went out to feed the goats, I discovered a little visitor not far away. The deer was not afraid of me. Five more deer stepped out from the trees later in the darkening twilight. Even though we see deer quite frequently, I am always amazed at their grace and beauty.
We're shearing goats today! They seem so happy to be free from their long woolen coats. But it won't take long before they're growing more mohair for next spring.
I have three old black glass buttons that I'm going to sew in between the rows of beading...Lil Witchy-Poo will have such a fancy dress! Doesn't she look so pleased to be wearing her favorite Halloween finery?
"Tom" - adapted from Lori Brechlin Folk Art by Spruce Ridge Studios - - - (c) 2008 Kris Miller 
I am mixing three neutral textured wools for the background. The mixture gives so much more interest to the background than if I just used one. I like to work on the background because it doesn't require a lot of thinking...just cut up equal amounts of the three wools, toss them together in a plastic bag, and pull out strips randomly to hook. I hook round and round, echoing the shapes of the leaves and the animals....a great way to get a nice soft movement to the background.
This whole rug has nice soft neutral colors, just so restful and lovely to work on. Ahhhh....
Getting back to my rug hooking frame has made me take inventory of all the unfinished rugs that are waiting to be completed. I tried to count...not figuring in the rugs that were completed but not hemmed (hey, the hooking part is completed, right?)...I determined that I had 5 unfinished rugs. Oops! Then I ran across another one in my wool closet so that made 6! It's OK, I know I'll finish them at some point. I love them all and they are just waiting for me to come back to them.
Hurricane Ike (ok, "tropical depression Ike") has passed just to the south of us today and has given us torrential downpours and cold gusty winds. We have already had too much rain this week-end! Our pond has overflowed its banks and there is low-lying flooding. We lost power for 18 hours...and the lights just dimmed again a few minutes ago. Are we in for another dark night? Michiganders are not used to this hurricane stuff! The goats and sheep are hunkered down in their little shelters, trying to stay out of the worst of it. They are probably soaked to the skin.
My sister and I drove up to Michigan's Upper Peninsula at the beginning of the week. We came across this sign in a park at the Mackinaw Bridge and I just had to laugh! I think this picture needs a witty caption but I can't come up with anything appropriate. Leave me a comment with your captions and I'll pick the one that I like the best.
"Do goats really eat tin cans?"
That's Zack's twin brother, Zion, on the left. He's the Second Commander of the Chewing Brigade.
Ken and I went to a flea market in mid-July. We go to this particular flea market every year and I always find some sort of special antique treasure to drag home. This year, I did not find any antiques that spoke to my heart. But I did buy 4 little Moon Flower plants with the hope that I might nurture them along and enjoy the flowers. God may have given me a talent for raising animals but just about every plant that I touch is doomed. I can not get a plant to thrive unless it's a perennial like hostas or peonies, which come up every year and sort of take care of themselves without any fuss or effort on my part. I am always envious of other people's lush green gardens and colorful flower beds. I am a "green thumb-deficient" person.
Here's a pillow made from Not Forgotten Flowers, a Spruce Ridge Studios pattern adapted from Lori Brechlin folk art. I love the soft blue colors. I also love how this rug hooker hooked the little sunflower. I didn't get the name of the maker so if anyone knows, please leave me a comment and I will certainly give credit.
Here's the gang from Rug Hooking Magazine. They had a beautiful display! We all grabbed a copy of the newest Celebrations issue. What a treat to see some of the winning Celebrations rugs in the exhibit!
OK, now we have to shift our focus to the Michigan Fiber Festival! I was a vendor there this year and had a small booth. Thanks to all who visited and shopped!
Even though we were busy tending the booth, I still took a few moments to walk over to the animal barns to see the beautiful angora goats and sheep. Neil brought 18 Wensleydale sheep this year and won several awards (I'm sorry, I can't remember exactly, but I think he said "best ewe, best ram, best pen of lambs." I ought to check that out). Neil was primping and combing two ram lambs for the sheep show while I was visiting and chatting with him. I was scratching and petting one of the ram lambs and held his little chin in the palm of my hand. "Wow, Neil," I said, "this little guy is really sweet and has such a nice personality" and I looked down at the lamb's farm tag....you guessed it! It was Emma's brother!!! I wonder if the little ram knew I had a family connection to him?!?!
And here's Emma, caught in the act of taking a bite!
I guess I'm going to have to buy my fall pumpkins at the farmer's market this year!
Here's my honey feeding the goats some leafy treats. Today is our 33rd wedding anniversary. Yes, it's true....if you do the math, I was only 7 years old when I got married. You know, we did things different way back then...we were happy, we hardly had anything to call our own, and we didn't know any better!