Baa Baa Black Sheep…Have You Any Wool??

As a matter of fact I do, what are you gonna do about it?? Hahahahaha, almost looks like this sheep is actually thinking that but the truth be, I think he was totally disturbed we entered their enclosure where they were being held when we visited the wonderful family who co-owns our female pup with us. We visited them when our Japanese friends were here picking up their pup and had one of the best days in a long time. On their farm they have sheep, ducks, chickens, miniature pigs, horses, and rabbits…truly heaven on earth for someone like me, so I’m like a kid in a candy factory every time we are there…

Add to the fact that the family is just so wonderful and make you feel like family yourself and I almost felt like asking if they’d take me in on a permanent basis also…hahaha….ok, they are great but I wouldn’t leave my madness here in the woods…this is pretty great too! But we had a great time and got to pet the sheep (that would let us) and there was a lot of them. Toril could call them all to her by shaking her bucket of food..I was a bit “sheepish” around so many sheep so I stayed out and took photos..

Sarah was brave so I handed my camera off to her and the following photos are her handy-work…up-n-coming folks…these are the words that best describe that kid….

As much of an animal lover as I am, these guys would never go to the butcher in my ownership….but thankfully (as Stig would think) these aren’t mine and will be going to the butcher…many of them..and Toril brings back a certain number of skins which she sells…I’m totally into collecting sheep skins and there are many great colours here…so I’m able to enjoy these photos and do a little shopping at the same time (in my head) nice huh? Yeah yeah, don’t get me started on those cute little faces…ugh..it’s not my decision so I’m just going to reap the results and honor their memory by taking extra good care of their skins after they don’t need them….

Toril took us up to their mountain farm. The drive up was spectacular and we stopped several times to take photos..One of the first things we past on our way out of town was this interesting building which is now a private house but was once owned by the community and served as a community building..note the dragonheads…

And I thought I had an interesting house…hmmm..I wonder how they decorate for Christmas? Santa hats on top of the dragonheads??

Further up the view was breathtaking..

When we finally got to the farm, we heard bells..Toril and her family have been working on bringing the sheep down from the mountain but there were six sheep who were not wanting to come down..two mothers and each with their set of twins. They had been looking for them for days, spending hours wandering in the mountains to try and find them and bring them back. So when we arrived at the farm and heard bells Toril got so excited and went to see what it could be and sure enough there was one mamma and her two babies standing there looking at us. Toril grabbed her bucket of goodies and shook them and the sheep followed her right into the yard and she shut the gate..of course we had to call her husband and brag that we found three of the sheep he had been spending days looking for and that it really was no problem so we didn’t understand why it’s been taking him so long….hahahaha…Got to love joking around with husbands like that!!!

After we got the sheep, Toril made a call to a good friend of hers who owns a local park which is open to the public in the summer months but was now closed. It’s a park based on Norwegian folktales and the majority of attractions are based on these stories, either re-telling the story or acting it out or through puppets or something. Toril supplies a lot of the animals in the park through the summer and maybe because of this, she was able to get permission to drive us through the park. We couldn’t get out of the car but we were driven through and our Japanese friends were able to take photos of the giant Norwegian Troll..

And the fairytale castle…

It was so great of Toril to do this for us and just proof again what a great person she is! Thanks Toril for a super day!!!

Before I leave this post I need to share with you all the clock that my Japanese friend, Noriko, brought me as a gift. She had it made for me out of wood, it’s in the shape of her pup and his name is in Japanese symbols above where the hands (bones) rotate and the tail wags back and forth!! Isn’t this great??? I have set the time on Japanese time and it hangs on my wall along with my Norwegian and Texas clocks..I think I might make this a tradition that when friends visit me from around the world they bring me a unique clock and I’ll put the time to where they are living on the clock and hang it on the wall, then I’ll always know what time it is whereever my friends are in the world…cool huh?? I like it!!!

Ok folks, I’m off…I’m baking some whole grain rolls for breakfast and then I’m going to figure something industrious to do today!! Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!!!

Until next time my friends….