Quick Party Foods

Cheese Assortment Tray

Need a couple of quick and easy appetizer ideas for a party? In my mind you can never, ever go wrong with a cheese tray! Hey, and if they don't clean it out, think of all that yummy cheese you can munch on for the next week. Definitely a win-win situation. We are fortunate around here to have a cheese outlet store, which has an endless variety of cheese flavors in small packages. They also let you try samples of each type. So that tomato and basil herb flavor that looks really good can be taste tested first. Sweet Pepper Pickle? Yep, throw that one in the basket too. And of course 1 Year Aged cheddar.... You get the idea. After I cut up and arrange the cheeses on a platter, I cut out and tape the flavor label to the edge of the dish, so folks can decided how brave they want to be. Pretty isn't it?

My next old holiday 'stand-by' is the easy "Vegetable Pizza". There are dozens of recipes for this on the Internet, but its so easy, I can just pull it right out of my old (figure of speech of course) brain here. This is my version of veggie pizza, when you want something to offset all those sweets. Veggie Pizza

1 Can Crescent Rolls (any brand)
2 packages cream cheese (or lowfat variant)
1/2 cup Miracle Whip
1 Pkg Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing Mix(you can add to taste preference)
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Bacon Bits (real bacon is better--but either works)

Lay crescent rolls flat in a greased 9 x 13 pan, joining them at the seams. Bake until just lightly golden. This forms your crust. After the crust cools, soften to mix cream cheese--add mayo and Ranch Dressing. Mix well and spread over cooled crust. In the meantime you can chop up your cauliflower and broccoli into bite sized pieces. You can also add other veggies of choice--carrots are good. Just make sure they will keep well and compliment the taste. Sprinkle veggies over cream cheese filling. Just before serving I add the layer of shredded cheese on top and a few light sprinkles of bacon. That's it! Keep refrigerated. This is usually a well liked snack and well its kind of pretty too.

A few Kitty Christmas Pictures......

Why it takes so long to write cards, and wrap presents.......

Meshach
(Sorry this one was an innocent bystander......)

Boone Again

Here's looking at you kid!

Thank you everyone for your kind comments on "Boone's Story". He is quite a dog, and I'm happy I was able to give him a 'second chance' at life.

Yesterday he went to the vet for his shots, much to his dismay. Ariel also got hers, so both of them are rather subdued today. I did discover I really need to work with Boone in learning to get in and out of the truck! He hasn't been on any trips since he was a regular customer at the vet's months back. Loading him up at home was difficult, and he suddenly decided he wasn't going. Nope! Usually I lift his front feet up, and then with him helping me, lift in his rear. While difficult this works okay, but not when he decides he ain't gonna help. Getting him back in the truck at the vet's was even worse. Lift front feet up, front feet go down. Etc. etc. Finally get front feet up and rear feet are firmly planted and unmovable. Much to my consternation, we were evidently providing a show for the vet techs inside, as suddenly one appeared behind me and asked if I needed help. Oh sure! Boone was unceremoniously lifted up and deposited into the front seat, much to his consternation! I took my flustered and winded self and got in the truck with as much dignity as I could muster. Yep, definitely time for some lessons. Whew.

Boone and a Christmas Treat--yummmm

Boone loved going into the vet's. He is a 'star' there and has his own fan club. It'd been awhile since he had been in, so when I came in, one of the gal's asked me if 'this' dog had been in before. She was behind the reception desk and couldn't see. I said, 'oh yeah' and the vet says 'oh yeah'. Then the gal asks, do I know it? And I again say, 'oh yeah, I think you do'. She bursts out, 'it's not Boone is it?' Yep, it is! I replied and with that she nearly ran down one of the other techs in her desire to see the big Boone. She and Boone had a sweet little reunion and he enjoyed every minute of it. When I first took him to the vet, when he was such a horrible looking and stinking mess, I'll never forget one of the lady techs out there came over to him, kneeled down, put her arms around him and hugged him so gently. Then she told him how beautiful he was and he weakly wagged his tail at her. Now almost two years later, we are all proud and happy of how Boone has made it 'back'. Boone loves everyone, and got his share of pets from everyone in the office. He didn't even hardly notice the shots, since he was getting multiple pets at the same time!

Boone weighed in at 127 pounds! (Now do you understand why loading him in the truck has the potential to be an ordeal??) The first time I took him to the vet, he weighed 60 pounds. Yep, 60 pounds. So he has doubled his weight and then some. He isn't overweight, but I suspect that much more weight would put him in that category. He is pretty active right now, so it's not a problem yet. Which is good, because he is a four legged chow hound.

The second time I took Boone into the vet, several weeks after the initial visit, I had him scanned. He did indeed have a chip, and we were all desperately upset about this. (The reason I say this is because of the type of dog he is, and the condition he was in, we felt he might have not had a good 'home situation' to begin with) The vet techs reluctantly but correctly contacted the manufacturer, but they were closed for the day. So we all had to wait until the next day. Shortly after the vet opened the next day, they called me with the news. The chip had never been registered by his breeder or owner, and even better the people who sold the chip had not kept records and had an ownership change in the meantime. Whew. We were all pretty glad about this. I searched back issues of local papers for months back, looking for lost ads and never found anything.

So it looked like I, Collie person, had a new dog. What an adjustment! As Boone began to feel better his energy levels sky rocketed, and I had to take him for a walk everyday just to keep him from going off the charts. He chased cats and I sure didn't want to see what would ever happen if he caught one, so he was confined to a large pen with a large shed when I wasn't around. He still has to stay in his pen when I'm not home, because he still wants to run the cats off (especially the grey ones!), and I'm afraid in his exuberance he will accidentally hurt Ariel. (At almost eleven she is a bit fragile--stubborn though). However when I'm home he gets free run of the fenced yard, we still take long walks when I can, and he gets to come in the house for about five hours in the evenings. Most of my place has woven wire parameter fencing so once the sheepies are up at night, I can take the dogs for a nice run if I want. It's the best I can do and he seems pretty content with everything. Of course he would rather be with me all the time, but that isn't realistic!

When I got Boone, I contacted a breed rescue group to find out as much as I could about his breed. They were very helpful, but I came away being a little afraid of what he was capable of. High prey drive was top of the list. While this is true, and I'm very careful with him, I'm afraid it made me harder on him than I would have been on a normal dog that chased cats. In that I mean I was on his case all allot, and everything was a big deal (in my mind) if I caught him misbehaving. Since then I've settled down! ;-) I work with him allot on clicker training for 'come', since that is his weakness. He has learned wonderful basic manners and got lots of kudos from the vet people about that. He sits, lays, and never jumps on people. However if he takes off running (lets say to chase sheep along the fence) and I yell and scream, no, no, no! He looks over his shoulder and runs harder---weighing the fun against the punishment no doubt. If on the other hand he takes off running and I yell, Boone Come Here!, he will usually plow to a stop and happily run back. So I've been trained. Don't just say 'no', offer an alternative to bad behavior. Works so much better on him.

So, while Boonie was a 'free dog' he has not turned out to be cost-free. Large vet bills for surgeries and treatments, as well as food and medication quickly added up. (For the first month I fed him seven times a day, with my Mom's help during the day! These smaller meals helped him gain weight and regain strength without overloading his system.) Now he eats a more 'normal' six cups of dry and a can of dog food a day. Once he was recovered from the demodex, he was neutered. This turned out to be major as one testicle was located practically in his belly---he had about a 15 inch incision for that! However he quickly recovered and seemed to really regain his health once that was done.

Boone also has another 'friend' who I met while posting on the rescue list. For a long time she would send him dog food--very nice expensive dog food on a regular basis. Unfortunately Boone got to where he would eat it less and less, so I switched him to another brand and let her know that he just didn't want to eat it anymore! She has sent him toys and treats off and on ever since. On Christmas eve there was a package down by the gate where the postal carrier left it. Much to my surprise it wasn't to me but to Boone! ,-) Boone was thrilled with his new alligator toy and is enjoying the chewy bone. I smuggled some treats in there so Ariel would think she was getting something too!

Lastly, some people wonder why I named him "Boone". It took awhile before I ever named him. He was initially listed as 'stray dog' at the vet's and finally I had to pick a name for him after a month or two, just to get them off my back!;-)

Boone has connotations of bones in French, so it seemed to fit. But mostly I liked the strong sound of the name and of course Daniel Boone was a tough mountain man as well. It seems to fit him.

Ariel with one of her Christmas presents

(1) she hates her picture taken & (2) she doesn't want anyone to ever see her eat anything--hence 'the look')

For I Was Hungry

Warning--there are a couple of graphic pictures in this post... but I promise it has a happy ending! Italics represent Boone's 'thoughts' and regular type would be mine.


I still don't know how it happened. It was just another day of me being a rambunctious half grown puppy, then all of sudden, I was all by myself in the middle of nowhere. I mean nowhere, just a stream, rocks and trees, and me. I was scared, but I figured They would come back for me soon. So I played. I jumped in the water, and I chased imaginary fish. I dug in the leaves and splashed in the water. And I waited. I ran and I napped. And I waited. I waited so long. I tried to be a good boy. The sky got dark and got light many, many times. I was hungry and lonely. I would hear cars and I would run and look, but they just drove by me. Finally I started walking along the road. I wanted to stay and wait where They left me so They would find me when They came back, but I was so hungry. I got in trouble pretty quick when I went walking. There was a pack of dogs at one house and they tried to attack me. I fought my way through them, but there were so many and I wasn't very strong. Finally I just ran and ran. Now I knew I couldn't go back and wait for my People anymore. I saw another house and I went to ask for some food. People had always been good to me. Nobody ever hurt me, even if they did leave me on my own alot. I knew these people would help me. I was so shocked when they started screaming and ran from me! I didn't know what to do. Was this a new game? Then suddenly one of them had a long stick and pointed it at me. I just stood there wondering what was wrong. What did I do? The stick made a loud bang and I jumped. It banged again, and I felt an awful pain in my shoulder. I ran. I didn't stop running for a long time. I didn't understand anything anymore. I was so tired and hungry. Finally I found a place besides the road. There was tall grass I could lay in and watch for Their car in case it came. One day I was in the road and a car came roaring by. I tried to jump out of the way but I was feeling sick and slow. The car caught me on the shoulder and threw me in the ditch. I didn't get up for a long time. I wondered if I would ever get up, but finally I shakily stood up. I limped to my bed of grass and slowly collapsed with a painful sigh. I could barely remember the days when I was healthy and happy and my tummy was full. Now I was weak, covered with sores and wounds and most of my hair was gone. I didn't think it would be many more days before I closed my eyes the final time and I didn't care anymore.Somehow though I kept getting up and looking around for food. More days and nights passed. Some person would stop once in awhile and leave me a bite to eat and some water, but they didn't wait for me to come up to them, before they drove off. Then one day when I was almost done in, it happened. I was out in the road again, nosing around in the mud, looking for something to fill my belly. I heard a car coming and I moved over to the edge of the road and tried to pretend like I wasn't there. It was a truck and it slowed way down and then stopped. I rolled my eyes up and looked at the shocked face looking out the window. We stared at each other for minutes. Then she pulled off the road and just sat there. Finally she got out and poured a bunch of catfood in a pile in the ditch. I came slowly toward her, trying to look friendly and happy, but I couldn't manage much. She was talking, but I couldn't understand. Then she got back in the truck and left. No. Please.I hadn't planned on going to town that January day, but something came up that I needed. I couldn't even tell you what now. On the way home, I came over a hill and started down into a long valley. Up ahead I saw what I thought was a young red Angus calf loose in the road, so I slowed down. At a crawl I pulled up even with the animal and got a good look at it. To my horror I was looking at a half starved big red dog. I had never seen an animal so skinny, so abject in my life. His back was arched from malnutrition. He had big raw sores on his chest and face. Much of his hair was gone and later I would find little sores all over him. My truck was crammed with groceries and other flotsam and jetsam of shopping. I didn't know what to do. To my everlasting shame I did not want to become involved with this big animal. I already had two dogs, and well, this boy was just scary looking, especially when you are used to pointy nosed, shaggy collies. I quickly found something for him to eat and poured out a huge pile of catfood. I did not know what was wrong with him, and he looked so desperate. I got in my truck and drove off. I cried all the way home. I was sick. It felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. I didn't get very far before I knew I wasn't going to be able to forget this dog and leave him. I got home and tried to think of what to do. How would I load him in the truck? Did he bite? Finally I called my folks and a short time later my Dad called back and said he would go with me and we could get him. We took their van as it sits much lower to the ground and he could ride in the back.I felt so defeated. I tried to eat some of the catfood, but I didn't each much before I went and curled up in the grass. I was so tired. I was ready. I didn't want to get up anymore. I sighed and big watery drops leaked out the corners of my eyes, as I curled into a tight ball.

When we drove by where the dog was, I didn't see him anywhere. I was even more heartsick, if that could be. We drove on and turned around and drove back down into the hollow. Then there---a brown face popped up from the grass. There he was! Would he run? Would he protest being caught, loaded? I had an old collar and some rope. Dad carefully put the collar around his neck while the dog stood there patiently. He didn't know about walking on a leash, so Dad ended up carrying him. He was quickly stowed in the back and we were on our way home. The stench from his infected body quickly filled the van.

I saw a van drive by slowly. I didn't even bother to raise my head. Pretty soon it came back, even more slowly and I couldn't help it--I raised my head up just a little. Maybe.... The van stopped. Two people got out. I just laid there. As they got closer I recognized the one as the person who stopped and gave me some catfood. As they came closer, I painfully sat up and watched them. They talked quietly and sounded friendly. I was too tired and worn to care anymore. Soon they had a stiff thing around my neck and the one person gently picked me up and put me in the back of the van. I was getting worried. I wrinkled my brows and rolled my eyes around trying to figure this out. We didn't drive very far before we stopped. I thought, well this is where I get off, but they didn't let me out. I sat in the van and looked sadly out the window as they scurried around. I didn't know what was going on or what they were going to do to me.

Once we got him to my house, I had to quickly come up with a 'plan'. I didn't want to expose my two collie girls to any potentially harmful disease since the poor fellow looked like a walking infection factory. I was also pretty sure that he had a severe case of mange, but was unsure which kind. He was in such bad condition I felt like he wouldn't be trying to escape, but I still wanted a secure pen for him. I hurriedly came up with a plan of several cattle panels wired together in the garage. This way he would be in a pen where he could move around freely and be in the covered garage. Once the pen was up, I put a huge pile of hay in one corner and laid an old blanket over it. Now to get the dog out of the van.They came for me. I was scared and worried. I didn't want to get out, but I finally did. After we were several feet from the van the back lid fell down and banged and it really scared me. I jumped and ran a little and looked for the long stick. The person told me it would be okay, that I was okay. She took me over to a building and opened up a little pen for me. She led me in there and showed me a pile of straw with a blanket. And some warm food. And water. I wrinkled my brows some more. I wouldn't look up at her, I was so ashamed and scared that it all would be taken away from me. Finally I stepped up on the pile of straw, and I lay down. I sighed, I rolled my eyes, and I lay on my side, and stretched out. I wagged my tail just a little to show her how very happy I was. Then I closed my eyes, and I felt hope in my heart. Maybe things were going to be okay now. Just maybe.Once I convinced the sad dog that the bed was his he climbed on it, and heaved a huge sigh of relief. You could see his tense pain filled body finally relax. He didn't move much for about three days. He would get up and eat, potty and when I made him, walk around a little. Mostly he would just lay there, and wag his tail. It took him several days before he would even look up at me. After a trip to the vet, he was wormed, and started on antibiotics and treatment for demodectic mange. It took months for him to be where he should, but he rapidly improved and gained weight. After about a week and half, the sadness rolled off his shoulders and he began to be the happy go lucky dog he was meant to be. It took about a year for him to completely overcome everything. The mange cleared up within about 5 months, but he had reoccurring infections in his shoulder wounds, and finally had to endure exploratory surgery. After that he healed up and hasn't looked back. Sometimes when its cold he still limps on that side, but once he is limbered up he is fine. Boone is a unique dog--unlike any I've ever had the pleasure of being owned by. We've had our differences of opinion but he has taught me much--in doggie psychology and patience! He is big, goofy and stubborn, but his love of life brings such a smile to my face. Sometimes I look at his picture of that first day he was here, and I can't even believe that is him and that he endured so much. He has almost doubled his weight, loves everybody and doesn't think badly of any one. He does get concerned when he hears loud vehicles, shots or sees someone wearing a hat. While I will never know just what he did go through during his period of abandonment, I can guess. I have pieced together just a little of it, from things I've heard and saw.

This isn't exactly a Christmas story, but perhaps in a way it is. Because Christmas is much about love and caring for others. I sometimes think of him out there, trying to live on his own, and know that during Christmas he was well on his way to starving to death. You could title this story--The Year Christmas Came Late---and I think both Boone and I would both agree.

So here is to you and yours--Merry Christmas from Boone and all of us here at Fairlight Farm.

When saw we thee hungry?...When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in?......And the King shall answer and say unto them..inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.... Matt 25:37--40 (paraphrased) From the Lord who knows when a sparrow falls.....

..And the Light shineth in the darkness........

....and there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around about them: and they were very afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying with was told them concerning this child. And all those that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Luke 2: 8-20

Merry Christmas and God bless you in the New Year!

It's All About Eating

Rouen hunkered down and serious about her grain

Early morning grain time--the highlight of a Sheepie day

Jeff, picking out the best stuff first

Hope & Gracie putting on their cutest faces on the chance I might give them a treat --after all those silly chickens don't need all that food!
Well, fine, if you aren't gonna give us anything better we'll just eat
this ol' hay.

Scenes from Winter

Well Stocked Wood box in the Breezeway....

..... enough wood in the house for the night

Gloves drying by the stove...

....Taking out the Ashes

Two Sheep Size Melted Water Holes....

...Busting up the Ice for the Sheep

And so winter goes. Each season has its own rhythm filled with day to day tasks that have to be done. Sometimes you get a good break, the troughs and hoses thaw, the sheep are eager to head out on the pasture, the house stays warmer and you feel more relaxed and have more time. Then winter tightens its grip again, and everyday becomes a battle with the elements. Hauling water in buckets, busting out ice, carrying in load after load of wood, re-securing a wayward tarp that has exposed your wood supply to the winter weather, keeping the livestock safe, and well fed. However there is nothing quite like the feeling of seeing your stock contentedly munching on their hay, then heading into your home where a roaring fire in the stove battles to warm the house. You peel off the layers of clothes, coat, boots, scarf and gloves and feel thankful as you finally relax and warm yourself next to the stove. Another day done.

Dodging the Bullet

This time we were lucky. Forty miles and a few degrees kept us from getting the ice that has devastated many counties across Oklahoma, Missouri and Iowa. I sure feel for those who are in the midst of it, and hope they can get their power restored quickly. I'm also very thankful that we did not have to experience our second catastrophic ice storm of the year! Once was enough--thank you. In the top picture you can see how we were delicately balanced on the edge of ice and rain. It was cold enough that the rain was freezing to the trees and fences, but warm enough that it didn't freeze on the ground. A shift of a few degrees..... You can also see the trees that still bear the damage from the January Ice Storm. Many of them have sheared off limbs and tops and it will take several years for them to overcome that damage. The stump with sprouts at the right was my twenty year old Mulberry tree, before it shattered to the ground in January. In an aside note the Mulberry provided some much appreciated green treats for the sheep during the summer drought. It consistently pushed up sprouts of six of seven foot. I would lop them off for the sheepies and a few weeks later--more treats had grown!

Snow is forecast for this weekend, but so far we've only gotten a skiff of ice and snow. They were calling for up to ten inches, but have since revised that to a couple of inches. Now I'm really worried! ;-)

How to Pass a Rainy Icy Day

Boone & Ariel (Notice who is hogging the blanket)

Well, so far we still have power. The temperature is hovering right around the freezing mark, and the rains just keep coming. We had heavy rains overnight with thunder and lightening, but the temps were warm enough to keep it at rain. Today it's starting to freeze on the fences and trees, but not anything too alarming yet.

I've done up all the laundry, have about 4-5 days worth of water in buckets for the sheepies and water in other various containers for house use. And I've got the soup on. Cell phone and camera batteries are charged. I took a shower. Now just waiting it out. I'm praying this is just going to be a minor storm, but time will tell. It's suppose to extend into Tuesday, so it's hard to say how much accumulation of ice we will get.

The sheep have been hanging out in their barn most of the time, they will come out when the rain lets up to a mist and eat at the hay bale, but when it comes a downpour they dash back to the shed. They will happily lay out in a snowstorm, with snow piled up on their backs, and a little melted sheep size outline under them. However when it comes to rain they stick to the shelter. Especially a cold driving rain.

Meshach in Front of the Fire

The dogs are bored, but snuggled up in their bed--actually sharing it for a change. I went out earlier and Boone sat up and he was sitting on Ariel who was still laying down. What's up with that? Ariel looked like she had a few things she wanted to tell the big baboon. Can't blame her either.

I myself am holed up in the house, occasionally sticking my head out to check on the sheep to make sure they are behaving themselves. I got in enough wood this morning to last the day and cleaned out the ashes, so the fire is going really good right now. I have this wool thingy-scarf-shawl that I found at a thrift store, and I put it over my shoulders and it helps keep me pretty warm, but I can still move around in it. My gloves, boots and coat are all draped or sitting near the stove to dry out, so they will be ready for round two at chore time tonight.

I left the chickens up much to their fowl dismay. I didn't want to be chasing chickens through an ice storm if things went sour fast.

So far so good. Maybe I'll get out some Christmas things here after awhile and see who I still need to get presents for.... or maybe I'll read or work on a project or.....

Meshach

Is there anything that can look as content as a cat?

For Kathy---Bobbin pictures!

For those of you not interested in the guts of a spinning wheel, you might just want to skip this post! ;-)

For Kathy, who is a very delightful and helpful lady--here are a couple pictures of the bobbin and how I have the belt loaded onto the bobbin and wheel. I know that the pictures leave allot to be desired, but hopefully you can make out the important parts. I really enjoyed our conversation the other night. I know modern technology is wonderful and around every corner, but I still find it rather mind boggling that I can talk to a new friend from Arizona, and try and pull up an email from her at the same time. It's pretty cool to find like minded sheepie people who you have no trouble at all talking to for an hour or so! Thanks again for your insights and for taking the time to help me out with this!

What To Do When 'They' Say Another Ice Storm Is Coming...

Go out and buy forty-seven eleven bags of groceries that you don't need and won't eat if the electricity goes out. But be very virtuous and make sure its things that can be warmed up on the wood stove and non-perishable. Also make sure that you stock up on chocolate and dry roasted peanuts.

Make a big pot of soup. Cook up any perishable food that you can.

Put out big bales of hay for the sheep, and fill their water troughs. Make sure the two wheeler cart is somewhere it won't freeze to the ground in case the sheep can't walk to the round bales and you have to feed square bales. (The fact that you have to crawl and slide around is besides the point)

Make sure there is a shovel and pick in the hallway, and not safely tucked away way out in the garage, in case you have to hack your way out the yard gates.

Fill up the wood box, inside and in the hall way. Cram as much wood in there are as you can without causing a wood avalanche.

Put sandbags for weight in the back of your truck.

Get out your winter insulated chore boots, so your toes will quit freezing off.

Fill every bucket and container you own with water, 'just-in-case-the-electricity-goes-out-for-thirteen-days-or-so'.

Drape plastic sacks over gate latches so you might be able to open them in the morning.

Check your 'getting stranded at home survival kit'.
Know in the back of your mind that you are forgetting to do something crucial.

Fix more cat boxes in the hallway, because heaven forbid one cat would have to share it's sleeping quarters with another.

Turn all the lights on and enjoy them, just in case.

Eat chocolate donuts and drink coffee, so you already nervous nerves can get even worse.

Find a warm place as close to the fire as you can, and snuggle down and go into denial.
Get depressed, because even if it doesn't happen, it might.

Spinner People---I need help!!

Okay, so I have all these new blogger friends --some who raise sheep, some who spin, some that knit and crochet..and SOME who do it all. So where of course do I turn when I need some Spinning Wheel help? To you, my lucky friends! :-)

Here's the deal---remember the 'new' spinning wheel I got? (Refer to previous post for pictures and story) It seems like it's going to be nice workable wheel, as I took it over to Allena's and she looked it over. It's going to need a little modification but it appears to all be there and in working order. Allena gave me a lesson on her own wheel and by controlling the wheel made me feel like I was really a spinning whiz. ;-) I think I've got the basics in mind now, and besides Allena giving me some tips, a lesson and a bunch of 'easy to spin' fiber, she sent me home with a book that covers some of the basics. The only big hurdle at this time seems to be that it is double drive wheel. Well, did I not only not have a belt, (a belt ???...oh) Allena is not sure how to thread it on there, since she has only had single drive wheels. So, today I got some stuff to use as a belt, but I need someone to tell me how to load that belt thingie on that wheel thingie. Pictures would be nice, or just real detailed, real simple directions since I'm directionally challenged... or something along those lines.

So, dear readers and friends--can you help? If you can't, can you find someone that can? Maybe I'll join the ranks of sheepie raisers who can also casually say--oh sure, I spin. Oh what ? This scarf (read vest, shawl, gloves, hat)? Oh yes, I helped this little particular baby lamb be born, and when she was a year old I sheared her, washed and spun her wool and knitted this little old scarf (etc. etc.).

Thanks guys!