The Black Sheep Gathering is an annual fiber and sheep show at the Lane County Fairgrounds. If you know Kim, then you know it's one of her favorite events. She went when it opened on Friday to grab the best of the yarn bargains, then again with me on Saturday to walk through and look at the sheep. On Sunday, she went to a spinning class that was part of the fun.
Pictured is Moses, a champion Shetland ram. We were lucky enough to talk to Moses' owner who told us how wonderful Shetland sheep are. They produce wonderful fleece, good milk, and you can eat 'em, too. He also told us to pet sheep under their chins and not on their heads. If you pet them on their heads, it makes them more likely to butt.
The black sheep gathering is centered around less common breeds and colored sheep. This one lives up to that goal. I have no idea of the breed or sex of this sheep, but you have to admit those eyes are quite captivating.
In addition to colorful sheep/goats, you get some with strange characteristics, such as extra horns. This little devil has 4. Usually we see at least a few with 6 horns. I will skip the obvious jokes about amorous goats.
Life's not all grazing and hanging out in the pens. There was no dignity for this one.
There are various competitions for fiber arts. These include weaving, knitting of various categories, spinning, felting, and needle felting. This is a needle-felted alpaca which is not only charming, but a good segue into...
The Alpaca Marketplace is at the Fairgrounds the same weekend as the Black Sheep Gathering. It is sponsored by The Emerald Valley Alpaca Association.
We always enjoy seeing the alpacas. They are members of the camel family from South America, and are closely related to llamas. Their fleece is wonderful for spinning. This year we learned that adults reach about 200 pounds, the hair on top of their head is left after shearing for "vanity's sake", and if you have 3 spare acres, you can raise about 25 of them. Be prepared to spend about 2 hours a day scooping the manure, if you do, though. Conveniently, they tend to all poop in the same location.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Life is...
...A bowl of cherries of course! 4 or so years ago we planted a Ranier cherry tree in the back yard. In years past, we have harvested maybe a total of 6 cherries. Not six quarts or six pounds, but six cherries.
This year, we noticed a lot of fruit on the tree, but figured the birds would take care of it for us. I checked during last week and harvested about a quart and a half of cherries. The rest were not ripe yet.
Yesterday, I checked, and it was definitely time to harvest the rest. I was able to reach a lot of them from the ground, and a lot more from a step ladder. As I plucked those at the limit of my reach, I reminded myself that blogging about cherries is good but blogging about recovering from broken bones is bad.
So the conundrum was, what to do about all those sweet juicy cherries that were out of reach. I just couldn't bear to let them go to waste. We checked at the hardware store, but could not bring ourselves to purchase a fruit picker that probably would be able to grab anything as small as a cherry and that would take up most of the remaining cubic foot of space in our garage. "I will make one," I declared.
After about 30 minutes with an ACT mouthwash bottle, a pair of scissors, and a stick, I had crafted the extordinary instrument displayed in the picture. I managed to grab most of the out-of-reach cherries with it and left the rest for the birds.
This year, we noticed a lot of fruit on the tree, but figured the birds would take care of it for us. I checked during last week and harvested about a quart and a half of cherries. The rest were not ripe yet.
Yesterday, I checked, and it was definitely time to harvest the rest. I was able to reach a lot of them from the ground, and a lot more from a step ladder. As I plucked those at the limit of my reach, I reminded myself that blogging about cherries is good but blogging about recovering from broken bones is bad.
So the conundrum was, what to do about all those sweet juicy cherries that were out of reach. I just couldn't bear to let them go to waste. We checked at the hardware store, but could not bring ourselves to purchase a fruit picker that probably would be able to grab anything as small as a cherry and that would take up most of the remaining cubic foot of space in our garage. "I will make one," I declared.
After about 30 minutes with an ACT mouthwash bottle, a pair of scissors, and a stick, I had crafted the extordinary instrument displayed in the picture. I managed to grab most of the out-of-reach cherries with it and left the rest for the birds.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch. It sounds like the next big reality show on the Discovery Channel: Tonight on American Goldfinch, the boys get rambunctious when the feeder gets refilled with thistle seeds. Right after this episode of American Chopper.
I set up my camera on a tripod, zoomed in on the bird feeder in the front yard, then sat in the window with my camera remote. Sounds easy, but on the camera, the sensor for the remote is not very well exposed. I had to make quite a few trips out to the front yard to move the camera so that the remote would work from inside the house. Every trip out to the camera scared the birds away, of course. I think the end results turned out pretty well, but you can judge for yourself.
As with many birds, the males are more colorful than the females. This is how they show off their virility. If this carried over into the world of humans, women would be attracted to men who wear Hawaiian shirts. As someone who wears Hawaiian shirts, I can testify that this does not carry over into our world
I set up my camera on a tripod, zoomed in on the bird feeder in the front yard, then sat in the window with my camera remote. Sounds easy, but on the camera, the sensor for the remote is not very well exposed. I had to make quite a few trips out to the front yard to move the camera so that the remote would work from inside the house. Every trip out to the camera scared the birds away, of course. I think the end results turned out pretty well, but you can judge for yourself.
As with many birds, the males are more colorful than the females. This is how they show off their virility. If this carried over into the world of humans, women would be attracted to men who wear Hawaiian shirts. As someone who wears Hawaiian shirts, I can testify that this does not carry over into our world
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Minute Movie Review - Match Point
An Irish tennis pro, Chris Wilton, falls in with the rich British Hewitt family. The daughter falls for Chris, the father takes Chris into the business empire, and Chris starts an affair with the fiancee of the son. Therein lies the thick of the plot.
While the movie has very little in the way of action, it manages to hold the viewer just enough on edge to keep things interesting and, at times, uncomfortable. The theme of luck vs talent, or luck vs caution for that matter, runs through the movie pretty explicitly.
Woody Allen is back on his game with this one. The plot develops steadily and logically, but not obviously. The conclusion has a bit of suspense and the movie makes it point well. Similarities to Crimes and Misdemeanors, are too much to call it original, however.
3 stars out of 5.
While the movie has very little in the way of action, it manages to hold the viewer just enough on edge to keep things interesting and, at times, uncomfortable. The theme of luck vs talent, or luck vs caution for that matter, runs through the movie pretty explicitly.
Woody Allen is back on his game with this one. The plot develops steadily and logically, but not obviously. The conclusion has a bit of suspense and the movie makes it point well. Similarities to Crimes and Misdemeanors, are too much to call it original, however.
3 stars out of 5.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
On Rollerblading with a 16-Year-Old
Before one enters into any endeavor in which injury or death are possible, one should make an evaluation of the facts in order to determine the risks and predict likelihoods of the bad outcomes, weigh these against possible benefits of the endeavor, and make a well-considered decision.
This was the thought that entered my mind as I sat on the side of the bikepath with bruised butt and bruised ego, watching the wheels on my rollerblades spin to a stop. Stephen, my 16-year-old nephew was patiently waiting for me at the bottom of the hill. I limped a few more steps along the side of the path, then stepped back onto the asphalt and trusted my meager skating abilities and fate. As we continued we talked about a variety of topics and I constructed a list of factors I should have considered before going rollerblading with a 16-year-old. To wit:
Risks
As a 16-year-old, Stephen is fearless, still has cartilage in his joints, has excellent balance, good eyesight, and is flexible. In addition, he is on a rollerblade hockey team. His musculature is not yet fully developed. He doesn't know how to drive a stickshift.
As a 46-year-old (not quite 3 times his age), I have fear but lack sense. Most of my cartilage has petrified. My balance and eyesight are not what they once were. I am as flexible as a dry-rotted pine board. I rollerblade once in a while, and my musculature is primarily around my waist and padding my butt. I can drive a stickshift.
Bad Outcomes
Outcome 1
I will fall and break or mutilate some part of my body, Stephen will be unable to haul my carcass back to the car, and if he somehow manages to do so, will be unable to drive me to the hospital because we took my car, which is a stickshift.
Likelihood: High
Outcome 2
Stephen will fall and hurt himself. I will hurt my back carrying him back to the car, and barely be able to drive us both to the hospital.
Likelihood: As if he would ever fall when he is on skates.
Benefits of the endeavor
Are you kidding? I get to go rollerblading with my nephew!
So to make a long story short, the only times I fell were when I was stepping down a couple of hills in order to avoid skating out of control. I mildly twisted my knee on one of the falls. On the way home, we stopped off at a parking lot where I taught Stephen how to drive a stickshift. Needless to say, the positives far outweighed the negatives. And I can rest easier knowing that next time, need be, he can drive me to the hospital.
This was the thought that entered my mind as I sat on the side of the bikepath with bruised butt and bruised ego, watching the wheels on my rollerblades spin to a stop. Stephen, my 16-year-old nephew was patiently waiting for me at the bottom of the hill. I limped a few more steps along the side of the path, then stepped back onto the asphalt and trusted my meager skating abilities and fate. As we continued we talked about a variety of topics and I constructed a list of factors I should have considered before going rollerblading with a 16-year-old. To wit:
Risks
As a 16-year-old, Stephen is fearless, still has cartilage in his joints, has excellent balance, good eyesight, and is flexible. In addition, he is on a rollerblade hockey team. His musculature is not yet fully developed. He doesn't know how to drive a stickshift.
As a 46-year-old (not quite 3 times his age), I have fear but lack sense. Most of my cartilage has petrified. My balance and eyesight are not what they once were. I am as flexible as a dry-rotted pine board. I rollerblade once in a while, and my musculature is primarily around my waist and padding my butt. I can drive a stickshift.
Bad Outcomes
Outcome 1
I will fall and break or mutilate some part of my body, Stephen will be unable to haul my carcass back to the car, and if he somehow manages to do so, will be unable to drive me to the hospital because we took my car, which is a stickshift.
Likelihood: High
Outcome 2
Stephen will fall and hurt himself. I will hurt my back carrying him back to the car, and barely be able to drive us both to the hospital.
Likelihood: As if he would ever fall when he is on skates.
Benefits of the endeavor
Are you kidding? I get to go rollerblading with my nephew!
So to make a long story short, the only times I fell were when I was stepping down a couple of hills in order to avoid skating out of control. I mildly twisted my knee on one of the falls. On the way home, we stopped off at a parking lot where I taught Stephen how to drive a stickshift. Needless to say, the positives far outweighed the negatives. And I can rest easier knowing that next time, need be, he can drive me to the hospital.
Friday, June 02, 2006
To San Jose for My Niece Jean's High School Graduation
I'm in the middle of trip to San Jose for my niece's high school graduation. I left Thursday p.m., overnighted in Redding, and arrived yesterday. The drive down was good and uneventful. The Miata, surprisingly enough, is a comfortable road trip car.
For the trip down, I bought the audio version of John Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven ( NY Times review, LDS response to book). I have found it, and the events portrayed in it, interesting and a little disturbing. I can definitely recommend it.
One nice thing about the trip from OR to CA is Mt. Shasta. It was its usual photogenic self. I am a bit perturbed with myself for forgetting to use the polarizer, however.
My parents and brothers, along with my bro-in-law's stepmother and stepsister have rendezvoused in San Jose for my niece's graduation. My niece scored an extra 4 tickets so my brothers and I and my brother Kevin's wife could all attend. This was especially exciting as my niece was salutatorian and spoke brilliantly at the ceremony.
Last night the family partied it up, tonight, more celebration for a broader audience.
For the trip down, I bought the audio version of John Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven ( NY Times review, LDS response to book). I have found it, and the events portrayed in it, interesting and a little disturbing. I can definitely recommend it.
One nice thing about the trip from OR to CA is Mt. Shasta. It was its usual photogenic self. I am a bit perturbed with myself for forgetting to use the polarizer, however.
My parents and brothers, along with my bro-in-law's stepmother and stepsister have rendezvoused in San Jose for my niece's graduation. My niece scored an extra 4 tickets so my brothers and I and my brother Kevin's wife could all attend. This was especially exciting as my niece was salutatorian and spoke brilliantly at the ceremony.
Last night the family partied it up, tonight, more celebration for a broader audience.
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