I’ve not had all three of my kids in my house since I got divorced. It’s been a bit of an adjustment for all of us. And I’m so excited that I’m going to have all three of them (and my grand-dog) for two nights and almost two days.

I won’t be knitting … for now I’m simply waiting for their arrival!

Summer has arrived. It was cool enough to have the wood stove on this morning but now, five hours later, it’s summer in Maine.

It’s been a busy, productive day here. New feet are on dining “room” chairs, the downstairs is vacuumed and two of the three upstairs bedrooms are clean with beds made. We still have to put back all of “Grandma’s” rugs and put the furniture back, but that’s easy enough.

With that, I’m going to finish up and get to my knitting!

I went to Windsor today to volunteer at the Fiber Frolic. This is the 11th year for the Frolic and my virgin foray … and Oh. My. God. I’m so sad that I didn’t got yesterday too.

Wonderful people, great exhibits … both fleece, fiber, supplies, animals, and what you can do with them. We watched a sheep and an alpaca being shorn. I’d rather be a sheep because they bound the feet of the alpaca. He (or she) didn’t appear to be particularly happy about it and was quite vocal. We saw a shepherd and his four Border Collies (and a Bernese Mountain dog named Sadie that he was caring for) demonstrate good, and not so good, sheep herding. It’s simply amazing what those dogs and their master can do. The “better trained” dogs can pick out white or brown sheep and know the difference between sheep and goats. He did have one dog who was young and green. She was very naughty but absolutely hilarious to watch. The vendors were plentiful and had lots of stock for day two of the Frolic. And I was in yarn heaven. It also humbles me because despite the fact that I’ve been knitting for twenty plus years, I know so little about where the fibers come from. I’d love, one day, to shear an animal, process the fleece, spin the wool and knit a garment.

I learned that there are several varieties of alpaca fleece. The youngest “Cria” alpaca provide the softest fleeces. It’s not unusual to have different quality fleece from different animals (obviously the thicker the fleece, the more valuable the animal.) One vendor had fleece blankets on display; not only could you purchase them but it enabled this relative novice to feel and learn. And crave!

Fiber people are such lovely people and are happy to share their knowledge. I spoke with a woman who has a Cashmere goat farm in Washington, ME (where we went to summer camp as children and were counselors together) and she was delightful to chat with and I learned a lot about Cashmere goats. I even held a one week old kid at the adjoining booth –

Baby Cashmere Goat

I was in love. Cashmere goats live to be about ten years old. When they get old, the others in the herd will pick on them and they are put down. The ones that I got up close and personal with were a beautiful silvery gray color and they all have the most beautiful eyes. Cashmere goats don’t give a ton of fiber every year … but they sure have a lot of personality!

I had a lovely day today at the Frolic and hope I can get there again next year … for two days (and take a class or two!) Yup, I’m hooked!

Gone knitting!

Simon

When I first saw this photograph, I cried. Real tears.

I follow a wonderful blog “The Bedlam Farm Journal” and I wish you would, too.

This is Simon. John has taken him in, so to speak, at his farm and is tending to his wounds. I think what touched my heart is the raggedy, damaged animal who is standing there and accepting wherever it is that he is. Animals don’t hate, they don’t hold grudges, the don’t get angry. They accept. They live in the moment, as John says so well. We may want to make them into humans and attach to them human emotion but they simply aren’t and don’t have the capacity.

I find I spend a lot of my time trying to figure out why (and how) people do things. How does a woman squat to pee in a crowded parking garage in Orlando, Florida after a graduation? How do people think they have the power to tell parents how to raise their children? How do people mistreat animals and small children? How can a farmer so ignore an animal that it nearly dies?

Animals are wonderful companions. They don’t talk back. They don’t judge. Yes, they can be trying at times (but so can our children or significant others). My sense is that it’s not about the animals. It’s not their fault that we can’t control our temper … when my dogs pee on the floor, I figure it’s my fault that I didn’t let them out. I am the one with the opposable thumbs! I believe that we, humans, have the power to control our tempers … we have the power to be the loving and kind caretakers, to think before we speak or act. We have the power, and the “superior intellect” that enables us to live in the present, reason at the highest levels, to do all the things that make us human … and yet at times, we behave as animals. The only thing is, that animals don’t behave that way.

I’ve been having a struggle (again) with a knitting block. It’s not unlike a writers block (I’m writing, I’m just not knitting) but with yarn. And needles. I have plenty of work to do but for some reason, I just want to read or watch TV (we don’t have TV so I watch the Internet), or communicate with friends and family on facebook. I just don’t want to knit. Is that my dogs’ fault, too? If I’m frustrated with me, can I take it out on them? Yeah, well, NO. Not acceptable. They give me unconditional love and tail wags and I owe it to them to be the best human I can be.

I love Simon’s face. He seems at the same time grateful and sad, pained and at peace. I’m so grateful for loving and caring people like John … and I hope Simon finds peace in his new home. God bless you John!