Before I say anything else, I have to acknowledge that today is Sept 11.  aka Patriot's Day here in the US. It's the tenth anniversary of the attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon.  I have tried to avoid the hype leading up to this day all week.  I just can't stand to hear it over and over.  Now that the day is here, I find myself feeling choked up at odd times as I remember that day and how it felt and the awful weeks afterwards.  It was an event that changed our lives forever.  Some freedoms we took for granted have been eroded and our sense of safety has likewise been deminished. 

But, as someone who lived through it said, we can choose to dwell in the past or move forward.  I choose to move forward and to try to learn something from the experience.

This was a productive weekend for us.  We kept our promise to ourselves to go to the gym twice this week by going Saturday morning.  Pk did his regular workout and I took the aqua fit class.  It was an hour of nonstop movement and last night I felt everysinglemuscle in my body as they all cried out every time I moved.  At least I know all the jumping around was working!  Why is exercise done in the pool more fun?  And how is it that I can sweat when I'm working out in water? 

Today Pk, Kate and I went to the sheep show.  The weather was not promising but there was only a 40% chance of rain so we opted to chance it.  We dressed for mud and were glad we did.  The show is in a field (as these things are) and it's been raining quite a bit lately. 



Jacob sheep



angora goat



The first two barns were animals.  We saw angora goats, alpacas, llamas (which were taller than I am which is a bit disconcerting), Jacob's sheep, lots of rabbits and a pony. 



Kate made friends with a bunny.  I had to remind her she lives in a small apartment with fish and frogs and a large dog.  Kobold would love the bunny, probably love it to death.  I will admit, it was like petting a cloud with eyes.

There was one little alpaca guy who was feeling anxious.  He was humming and humming. 

The weather was humid but the rain stayed away so we went outside to watch a demonstration of a border collie herding a small flock of flightless ducks. 

The dogs were determined to get the ducks to stay together and to jump through hoops (literally) but the ducks kept trying to escape. 

Dogs herding ducks

Ducks making a break for it



Dogs herding them back



 They were hilarious.  In the end, the dogs got the ducks back into their crate.

And what did I buy today, I hear you wonder.  Well, I bought some alpaca.  Some grey mill spun and some white handspun which is soft and lovely.  I want to make a beret style hat for myself to wear with my red coat this winter. 

And I bought Bruce.    He's a alpaca with flair.  He will have a place of honor on the Christmas tree in December but for now, Elanor wants him to live on the cd player so that's where he'll be.  Some stitch markers might have fallen into my bag as well.  They're stone hearts and just seemed to want to be mine (and some connectors for my knitpicks interchangeables but those aren't photogenic). 

We had a nice time.  Of course Mother Nature chose today to remind me I'm a woman (acutally, she chose overnight when I wasn't prepared and was sleeping on white sheets) and I was feeling less than optimal.  Nothing some yarn fumes and advil couldn't cure.

On the way home, we passed the Sculpture Garden of Faces.  We didn't go and explore, we'll save that for another day.  These two faces were hanging out on the side of the road. 

 

It's almost dinner time and I have only 4 rows left on my beaded shawl.  It won't get finished tonight but I'll come close.  Maybe this week will see it completed and blocked.   Now that it's almost done, I am feelling the excitement that I lost somewhere in the middle. 

 

I hope you all had a good weekend and have a safe and pleasant week!