Sheep Camp

This past weekend, I took Edie to 4H Sheep Camp in New Haven, Vermont.  It was a fun weekend learning all about how to care for and show sheep.  The kids were great, taking care of their sheep, learning and making new friends.  Everyone was helpful and friendly.
The camp took place on Addison County Fairgrounds.  We were surrounded by beautiful rural countryside, like this:

We set our tents up in an old cow barn:

The sheep went in a barn next door.  Here's Sally and the lamb in the neighboring pen:

The kids learned about farm safety, sheep nutrition, showmanship,  blocking and fitting (getting the sheep ready to show), crafts with wool like needle felting and weaving, and the history of sheep.  Here's a photo of Edie and a friend fitting their sheep.  Edie's lamb is a Border Leicester, and her friend's lamb is a Romney.

The last day, the kids participated in a show.  They were grouped by experience.  Our friend Lydia came in second in her class.  She is second from the right in the front row:

The judge examined the sheep and looked at how the kids were able to control them and set their feet.
Here's Edie leading Sally in the ring:

And her final placement at the front of the line:

After a long weekend, Sally definitely deserved a treat!

Thank you 4H!

Thank you teachers

Thank you to all the teachers out there for another successfully completed school year.  Enjoy the summer!

Art from the attic

Though I didn't really find this in the attic, I did find a box of old papers and photos in a closet while I was cleaning this morning.  My mother saved some of my art from grade school, and it was fun to look.
The first piece I have included is the cover from a book about me that I did when I was 7 and 1/2 years old.
At that time, apparently I was 4'3.5" tall.  My favorite TV show was the Hardy Boys.  My favorite song was the theme to Star Wars because there was no singing.

This is what my family looked like (well, to me anyway):

When I was ten, I tried my hand at poetry.  I even did an accompanying  illustration.  Why does that cow have black sunglasses on, you ask.  Must have been the glare from the water.  I bet they're
polarized.  Look out Jack Prelutsky:

I'm not sure I can say my artistic talent was any different from any of the other kids in my class.  I think I just liked to draw a little more than they did, and spent enough time working at it to make it into my career.