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Della and Lucy! I always wanted to name a ewe Lucy after my grandmother! What does the name Della conjure up in your mind?
Jack and I drove west today to central NY state to meet another truck coming east so we could pick up these lovely Romeldale ewes we bought to add to our flock. I am soooo excited to have them here!
They rode like champs, having been in transport a total of 13 hours today. We pulled in at 4:30PM, off loaded them to the big barn, did a good physical check, a few meds, filled the hay rack, water bucket and salt feeder and they are nicely settled here at Long Ridge Farm.
Both sheep hail from the largest flock of Romeldales in the country and I am delighted to have this line of genetics a part of our flock.
Three cheers for Della and Lucy!
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Seattle was fabulous. On many fronts from the work I did at Earthues with Michele and also the second week which eight of us gathered and worked on some other topics regarding mordant variables and how they affect the individual natural dyes. I haven’t got any show and tell presently as it is all shipping from Seattle so that will have to wait. The weather was the best the country had to offer. I was there 12 days and every one of the 12 days was blue sky, no humidity, 70-80 degrees by day and the 50’s overnight. I ate great food, drank some wonderful wines and enjoyed visiting with good friends I get to see only when I am in Seattle. I rode in cabs or buses to get around, walked otherwise and never left the city limits. Such a difference to my regular life in the country here.
I arrived home to high humidity, beating sun, thunderstorms (this one brewing)and overall sticky weather.
Sunday Jack and I put 157 bales of hay in the barn (yes I counted every last one!) and then we mowed and reset temporary fencing in the near field (about 2 acres of it) as the grass had started to drag down the electrical voltage which then puts the sheep at risk for predators. I don’t remember when I was last that hot, ever!
And finally we put up 5# of broccoli from our garden into the freezer, part of which is pictured.
The chickens are growing leaps and bounds and settled into the big barn quite nicely. We let them outside for the first time Saturday and they now enjoy coming and going as they please.
It was a great trip west and it’s great to be back home!
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Seattle has plenty of dogs in all shapes and sizes. Travelling back and forth to the studio each day and around Ballard I met a few.
This weimeraner keeps watch over a shoe repair store.
This little one models in a store window.
I met this greyhound on a walk one evening.
These dogs are on my bus route at one stop. This is not a good situation. I wish I good unlatch the gate and rescue them.
This little one is Jack. He was sitting outside a restaurant waiting for his owner and he loved treats from passersby.
These two terriers are mother and daughter visiting from the east.
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Now is this the coolest bicycle or what!?
I was leaving the studio for the day and had seen these women riding it up and down Ballard Ave, not really knowing what the gig was. But as I was grabbing a camera to get a photo they asked me to come on along for a ride. Too hard to resist! It carries 7 people and each has peddles and there are the classic bells to ring. One person is the navigator and runs the brakes and that seat always faces forward. It is easiest and most fun with a full bike and because we all faced the center it offered a great way to communicate as we peddled. in the center is a big basket type area to put whatever. We all thought a knitting group would be a hoot! All the projects go in the center basket and anyone (except the navigator!) can knit, visit and travel all at once! But whatever you do on it, it is great fun and simply creates happiness just being onboard.
As we peddled up Ballard Ave with two empty seats, we’d call out “Come on, jump on. You know you want to!”. Some stared, but wouldn’t take the time, others ran to get on. Too much fun, especially in the flat city streets.
It hails from Amsterdam and costs somewhere around $13,000 You can see the particulars at www.dutchbikeseattle.com (darn links arent cooperating)
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While here in Seattle, I have been taking a walk every day which can be a challenge in itself with the hills. Streets run level across the hills and cross with the streets that run straight up and down. There are great views with the mountains in the background, the Ballard canal, freight trains coming and going.These are pictures of views along the walk.
