Oh, just a few more . . .

Couldn't help but post a few more scenes from recent wool-and-dog fun-and-games.

Here's Jeric with new-ish friend Beate in ME, and Jeric keeping an eye on our dye pot.

More sheep shots from the visit . . .

And, volunteer work at Worcester Animal Rescue League. Liz is a great dog adoption coordinator. Tulip and Zeus think so, too.

Ok, this is so bad . . .

My friend Sara's new blog The Salty Ewe is a wonderful read. Puts me to shame. Here it is AUGUST, and I actually have been fiber-busy, but who would know it? So, back to posting.

Some of my July and, now early August activities have included:

Meeting with the Guild women and experimenting with a new large drum carder, and a rather intimidating (think medieval!) wool picker. We made beautiful batts as you can see . . .


And, some nice mother-daughter time at the Hillsdale farmers' market . . . something we both enjoy doing together.


Of course, spending a few days a week volunteering at the Worcester Animal Rescue League remains important to me, and so rewarding. One of my favorite girls is Bobbie Lee, a banshee in her kennel and a doll on the leash. Just a gorgeous girl.


And,yes, time with dear friend Sara in ME last month was heavenly.Jeric and I slept in her camper, went for nice walks with Sara and Beate, and enjoyed the sights and sounds and smells of the sheep and their wool. Dyeing and washing on her porch in some the nicest summer weather we've had, was, in my opinion, a gift of a day.




Big plans for August include another dye day with Sara, giving a workshop with the Guild at NOFA/Mass' Summer Conference 2010, and much more picking and carding!

70 Degrees + at Overlook Farm/Heifer Project, Rutland MA

Oohhhh, definitely feel like I got my photo mojo back this afternoon. Who needs Easter Dinner when there are amazing shelter dogs to train in the morning, and highly animated sheep to photograph in the afternoon! And, with the temp reaching mid 70s, the day could not have been more beautiful. (Oh, I forgot the strawberry shortcake Ben & Jerry's ice cream at 4:30PM outside in the backyard, while discussing marketing WARL with Jeff -- he had plain 'ole chocolate.). Also took out the little video camera purchased a long time ago that I am still getting acquainted with. Will be crash training myself tonight and tomorrow to start filming the shelter dogs in need of video storytelling. Ahhh, why must I sleep! So much to do!

More Good Dogs

Spent more time training and teaching this week with the shelter dogs. Dreama, Bonanza, Cookies, Buddy, all require rules, boundries and limitations. I'm learning to use the Gentle Leader and the Easy Walk devices, and having success. Tuesday was a damp, miserably wet day and instead of walking we went out into the run at the back of the shelter. I with an umbrella and the dogs with, well, not an umbrella. Some of them played "Fetch the Tennis Ball" as I bounced if off the side of the building. Once inside they all seemed to like the towel drying they received.

Volunteer Time

(These photos courtesy of the WARL website!)




I am committing to giving hours each week to the dogs at the Worcester Animal Rescue League. I walked on Friday and again today for two+ hours each day. The dogs are so diverse, and so great. I wish more people would spend time with them.

Friday I was especially impressed with Sandy, a tall, long and elegant girl right out of an 18th Century European painting. Brindle colored and with one mangled ear, she is a real ball dog, and would catch snow or tennis balls expertly with every toss I made. And, today, it was the last dog I walked, Juan from Puerto Rico (Little Juan, I like to call him), a SATO rescue dog. He is a "noodle" dog, a mix of basset hound and maybe pointer or other bird dog. Cute and small and very shy but wanting to love and play. Had to coax his collar onto him, but then we had a nice walk.

I leave dripping in sweat from the exertion, but satisfied by the experience of helping.