A bit more 'Ellis' time!

posted by Ellis the Ram

The canoe adventure was even better than I expected. And the next day I felt a bit more rested. But with all the upheaval, pasture wise, one afternoon wasn't going to be enough. Then I overheard my HC tell her MPU the car was ready to 'leave in the morning'. Hm? I immediately located my HC and asked where she might be going. Atlantic City was the answer and without hesitation I stated I would be accompanying them. {The sill sitting in Atlantic City is top notch!}

I went and asked Esme if she wished to join me and after a moment said "No Ellis. I think I am needed in the pasture and really am not in need of the quiet time. But you my friend I know need more rest than an afternoon on a canoe. You go. Things are beginning to settle around here now. Everything is just about prepared for Callopie and Himhe to contact technical support regarding the software issue for the campaign materials. Herzig has planned the nudges over the knitted Eggplant and we will begin that while you are gone. The moment you return you can do a few nudges on your own, if we haven't yet seen progress. Noah and Mr Sparkles are STILL not communicating and I intend to write our GFBFHD in California and ask her to get tough with those 2. BFSS, aka Dee Vine.....I've sent her up to the house where our HC does the maintenance for 'consideration time'. You and I can go check on her to see if it has done any good. You go, I'll rest here".

 So I went. We left the next morning and had 4 wonderful days. I did accompany MPU and HC to the casino area a few times. Such colorful lights and interesting scenes. Both on the machines and among the humans. I have photos which you may find interesting. 

A Shepherdess perhaps?

FREE, My Favorite Thing!

4 days of rest, sill sitting and observing humans. Have I mentioned I'm very blessed to have been born an Ovine!!

Ellis the Ram

Even I'm HOT!

posted by Ellis the Ram

Despite my sturdy fleece, even I am beginning to feel the effects of the heat. But fortunately it has had a quieting effect on the flock. Gives me a bit of time to contemplate the various issues from my last post. But one thing at a time. So I've met with Herzig and Esme as we begin our, what I hope to be our persistent, attack on our HC regarding the knitted Eggplant. She says she has been working on what she refers to as an Adult Dining Linen {ADL} for the lady from Malice Domestic. Referring to it as #4, she is very secretive about this #4 and keeps telling us once we see it all will be clear. Clear? She is knitting it in a tan fiber with a little tiny string of a brown....rather like the grass in our pasture these days. And clear? Its not clear at all. It is a knitted fiber piece so once its knitted all you see is the fiber. Doesn't clear mean I could see through whatever it is? And as to the fiber? Its not fleece but made from a plant which is generally what our species views as MLGV. VERY CONFUSING!! So we plan to, one by one, the 3 of us will appear to ask IS THE #4 FINISHED AND HAS THE KNITTED EGGPLANT BEGUN? Either she will work harder at the #4 and start the knitted Eggplant or perhaps even set it aside just to keep us from asking. I've learned with my HC there is no point being angry or demanding but repetitive and constant works.

Meanwhile, DID I SAY ITS HOT? So hearing my HC and her oldest best~est girl scout camp friend, Gobel, were planning an adventure to canoe, I invited myself along. Gobel is a most trustworthy friend and accompanied the KOO on their first outing. Canoeing is something the Flock who went to New Hampshire 2 summers ago had attempted. But HC Maggie informed us life jackets were required and none fit, so we went raft floating instead. HC and I climbed in the vehicle one afternoon and drove over to the Pasture of Gobel. Then the 2 of us climbed out of our vehicle and.....

 the 3 of us climbed into Gobel's vehicle. And to 'the place' where canoes, paddles, life jackets and water were to be found. I took the seat in the middle and enjoyed my ride as Gobel drove to 'the place'. She is driving in the photo of me shown above.

Keep in mind my HC is not fond of having her picture taken but finally I got her to take a snap with me, before we actually went boating. Just in case an unexpected occurrence....such as a strong wind or poor seamanship resulted in the 3 of us out of the canoe and into the lake. Then we went into the building to acquire 3 essential components for our boating. Gobel rented a canoe which came with paddles. As none were designed for ovines there were just 2 paddles.

And once again....like the paddles....no life jacket which would fit an Ovine. For a moment I feared I would once again be prevented from this boating adventure and never have the experience being out on a body of water upon a vessel of ANY type EVER. But my HC boldly set me up on the bow seat in the canoe, at first 'backwards' but that could be corrected after we had gotten underway.

Once my HC and Gobel took their positions, wearing their life jackets and carrying their paddles, we got FULL STEAM AHEAD. Well, that would be the term if we had some sort of mechanical device operating our vessel. The idea still holds....we got underway. The 2 of them took the same positions they had 40 years ago at camp, my HC in the bow and Gobel in the stern.

The next hour in the horrid heat we enjoyed the cooler temperatures and at times drops of light rain. If you look to my right at the end of the canoe, there in the water you can see where a raindrop had just fallen. It was a baaa'utiful moment in and baaa'utiful hour. We left for Gobel's house, got back in our vehicle and went home a lot more ready to tackle everything.

Cooler and Calmer

ELLIS THE LAMB

Deep Baaa!

posted by ELLIS THE RAM

That is what Esme and I have had to do the last few days. So many clovers in the pasture, we finally realized the pasture was in chaos. Not that everyone wasn't busy~ doing campaign work, helping a friend, Marti Gras and the remaining KOO hard at their studies. Piper has been working very hard to keep conversing with the flock but we can tell he is still sad. Meanwhile his friend Herzig has convinced our HC to make a new knitted Eggplant. Trouble is she hasn't begun it yet and I fear Herzig is growing short tempered. Bobble H. Ovine seems to have a very special project he wants to start for his friend Daniel, who is summering with his brothers in California, The Mache Triplets seem finally to have become proper loving brothers. But word is, there
 is much upheaval in the Dennison Pasture due to a potential pasture relocation. And HC was informed that the pasture must be fumigated {I had to look it up and seems it involves getting rid of bugs or probably keeping the bugs away}. Plus the Dennison Pasture became a spot for many wooden living items which has made it quite 'dense' and difficult to roam.  We are wondering if that is why no word on the campaign Noah announced in April. Mr Sparkles and Noah were to go to California to plan the campaign and hopefully gather endorsements. Esme is a bit worried about Noah. She has begun to speculate that may have gotten seduced by the 'celebrities' as the Dennison Pasture is near Hollywood. Callopie and Himhe have been unable to get any answers with their research of their software issues so they have asked to use the computer to live chat with technicians who are reported to be very experienced and knowledgeable. We are scheduling that with our HC. No one has written requesting to Adopt an Ovine as of yet so Grace, who is such a sweet little lamb, is living in our Pasture. 

Then BFSS, oh yes she prefers to be called Dee Vine, hijacked the blog and engaged in Blatant Self Baaa'ing. Of all the issues that is the one completely unresolved. And despite my Open and Accepting rule even I am finding it difficult to be patient with her. I am all for publicly knocking her down a fence railing or two but Esme keeps stopping me. She says she is thinking very hard of what we can do to correct her 120% self absorbed behavior. I don't think even Ellis our MTF could keep a professional demeanor if he gave her a session or five to help her. That worries all of us. But we will find the way, {I think a rope tied at the far end of the pasture with BFSS attached to it would be a splendid beginning....but}. 

So with all that going on I've informed the entire flock that I will do all the posting until progress appears on all those issues. Plus, our HC has seemed very quiet lately and maybe a bit sad. I overheard her MPU tell her they are taking a 4 day Adventure to New Jersey on the 22nd. Plus she has a MTF appointment and also a trip to the Veterans Hospital to have a place on her skin checked. I told her if she would just grow fleece, those spots wouldn't appear since the sunlight couldn't penetrate it. We are always free of spot on our hides, she doesn't seem to want to grow fleece which baaaaffles me. Anyway I have told the flock that since we adopted her it is our responsibility to get her out of the 'quiet'. Wish us luck.

With Hope,

Ellis the Ram and the ENTIRE Flock

MOI**MOI**MOI**

Must admit I'm a bit 'shock~a~tantai' that there have been no admiring comments sent to MOI. At least not as of today. I'm beginning to suspect the hoards of compliments which simply MUST be overloading the Internet have either broken what ever it is that operates this machine or the flock has somehow sabotaged something, to prevent me from reading messages from my fans. Otherwis......

I'm so very sorry that I hadn't noticed until just now that one of the flock was creating havoc, of a sort. Yes, I know, Open and Accepting. But it seems our resident 'diva' hacked into the flock's blog. That is into the ENTIRE flock's blog. Should she have wished to report on something she is involved with, all that would be required was to ask to post. But deciding she wishes to be the blog, another matter entirely. I'm quite at a loss as to how to turn this particular issue around. I mean, confidence is one thing and I encourage all of our flock to take pride in what each is able to accomplish. But it seems there should be a noticeable gap between confidence and egocentric, one would think??? Our Dee has always been a bit 'me me me' so now I suppose Esme and I will have to confer as to how our Dee Vine may be 'right sized'.

By the way, as to Dee Vine thinking her password would be impossible to figure. Have you noted the 'subject' of her posts....EVERY POST? Yep, the password was moimoimoi. Baaa'd choice? Baaa'right!

ELLIS THE RAM

MOI...MOI...MOI...

Oh, what fun I'm having taking photos of MOI. How is the flock dealing with not understanding why their blog is 'in-accessa-tantai'? I have no idea.....and why should I. They aren't talking about MOI so who cares what they are doing. Perhaps when they 're-aliz-e-tantai' just who is in control of their blog they will begin to understand how 'im-por-tantai' I really am. Anyway, enough about them, BACK TO MOI. I took 2 more 'snap-a-tantais' and here they are.......I'm thinking of hiring a press photographer though, this machine truly doesn't do MOI justice....

Now this last picture was taken by the HC. She had created the boa I have 'en-circle-en-tantai' MOI. But ONCE AGAIN, these creatures just don't pay attention when I grace them with my perfect fashion insight. She made the boa with a fiber which was similar to my fleece. So you really can't see how beautiful I look wearing the boa. I wore it just so she would leave. {I did have to remove that tacky fleece ovine from the picture. HC insisted it be in the photograph, so just ignore the odd colors.}

I know you love MOI, I love me too!

Dee Vine the Devine

MOI! MOI! MOI!
Yes, it is finally time that this blog~ whatever 'they' think its about, serves an important cause. MOI. I'm certain the lack of fan mail isn't because the world wouldn't wish to know all about MOI. Of course, its because the 'flock' has deliberately prevented ALL from realizing just who I am!

I've hacked into this machine, belonging to 'their' HC, and changed the password. They will never figure out MY password. And I've discovered that this machine can take glamour shots of MOI while I'm educating the world about how special I am. I know all this absolutely delights everyone. I can't wait til they try to use this machine......Oh, my glamour shots. Keep in mind I'm just becoming an expert-tanti on this machine. But frankly any photo of MOI is stunning. Enjoy!!! And don't fret, there is plenty of MOI for all.....

The one and only DEE VINE 

Planned, Rehearsed, Put in Action

posted by Herzig

Following our meeting with our MTF it was time to approach our HC with our plea for help. Since she had visited with Ellis after our visit was completed, Himhe and I decided the next day would be better to put our plan in action. The plan was really quite simple. I would gather the 3 items and ask our HC to knit another Eggplant for Piper. But from the moment I got to the bottom of the chair where she was sitting helping her MPU with some phone calls, the first obstacle appeared. She was knitting on another project. Then again she is always working on some knitting project or another. As a matter of fact there are so many PIP's {Projects in Progress} around where our pasture is located we could build a mountain. Asking to begin yet another PIP may just tip the mountain and crush the flock. Still, it was for Piper.

She didn't notice me and I sat at her feet for a good 10 minutes so finally I steadied my nerves and climbed up on the table. I positioned myself on the table between my HC and her MPU, right in the middle of where they were working. FINALLY I was noticed. Looking a mite resigned at having to take time away from other things, she stopped knitting and crossed her arms. She said "Good Afternoon Herzig. I'm guessing there is something you want from me?" With the fiber on each side and the needle on a tube with points on both ends draped over my back, I cleared my throat with a 'baaahh'.

  

I began the plan I'd rehearsed. "The flock, really me, need a huge favor HC. Do you remember the Eggplant you knitted long ago? The one that Piper asked if he could take it to with him to the pasture because he was lonely and needed a friend?" I said.

"Yes" HC replied, "I do recall both the Eggplant and my conversation with Piper. I also recall that Piper lost the Eggplant. I was a bit sad about that really, as of all the vegetables I knitted the Eggplant was the best. It looked exactly like an Eggplant. The carrot looked like a knitted carrot and the banana looked like a knitted banana. But the Eggplant, yes it looked knitted but it looked EXACTLY like an Eggplant. Why do you ask?" I meant to sneak the request into our talk and slowly. But all my planning went over the pasture fence and I just blurted out "I WANT YOU TO MAKE ANOTHER EGGPLANT!!"

Right away I knew I'd made a mistake. HC quickly pointed to the PIP she was working on and said "I'm right in the middle, the 3rd of 5 ADLs {Adult Dining Linens} which a lovely woman sitting next to me at the Malice Domestic Banquet asked me if I would knit for her. She saw my Mom's when she put it over her neck as our meal arrived and was so excited, as she had already asked many knitters to make them for her. No one would help her and she has already paid me a very generous amount of money. I've knitted her 2 so I have 3 more to knit."

"Couldn't you just tuck an Eggplant in between knitting for the lady? Oh, Please. It's for Piper!"

After a few minutes of silence she reached over and picked up the fiber I had found and asked if I got it from one of her bins. When I said yes she began to smile and said "I believe you found the same purple yarn I used before.....oh, and you found the green too. And whats this? Hm, size 3 needles? But Piper, I don't think I could find the pattern I used to make the knitted Eggplant, it was a few years ago."

Victory was just over the pasture gate if I could just unlatch it and push it open. So I told her I had taken care of all that!!!! Proudly I puffed out my fleece and said "Himhe helped me to go on the computer and we found the place you must have found the pattern the first time. I've managed to 'save' it into your Patterns folder into one called Odds & Ends. That is how I know the size of needle you will need is #3. I even learned what DP means so I brought along the tube with pointed ends on both sides and that pack with lots of DP #3s".

Would all my hunting and collecting result in the thing I wanted most for my best~est friend Piper. A knitted Eggplant? I could barely breath.............and then my HC nodded her head. She said, "You are a very good friend Herzig. The kind of friend everyone would love to have and so few of us ever find. If you have done all the hard work and found all the items I need, how could I say No. Yes I will knit an Eggplant for you. Maybe...I could stand outside the pasture when you give it to Piper. And just watch to see if he likes it?"

"HC, HOW COULD HE NOT LIKE IT, he will love it because he will know its not just another knitted Eggplant. It will be knitted by his HC and you knit his lost Eggplant."

HC made no promises on when the knitted Eggplant would be finished but she knows how important this PIP is and I'm sure I'll be able to report soon.

The happiest ovine in the pasture

Herzig

OK, I've Been Silent Long Enough!

posted by Dee Vine CALLED BFSS BY THE FLOCK

I've noticed all the other posts the posting names are small. But ONCE AGAIN, its up to me to point out, my name should be seen and LARGE. Certainly, few would fail to recognize My Divine self, I am after all, Dee Vine. {I explained all that in the most important introduction on Meet the Ovines.}

I've taken note that Noah, The Grey One, is campaigning for the position of Easter Creature 2012 and has asked Mr Sparkles to be his CM. I find this a bit annoying since although I have been ridiculed since my arrival, they choose an Ovine with the same fleece I wear.  Because I 'am' THE FIRST SPECTACULAR OVINE IN THE FLOCK WITH LUXURIOUS COLORFUL FLEECE. Mr Sparkles arrived long after I made my debut. I live in the same flock as the candidate but he choose a CM on the other side of the country! But none of this treatment of moi, surprises me at all. 

 Its all about jealousy~and who can really blame the flock. To achieve anything close to my sense of style, brilliant conversational skills, and magnetic personality must be daunting, if not impossible. Which no doubt has led to the flock behaving rudely and just leaving me out of their games.

Two incidences of which I have photographic proof! Now some may not have realized my difficulty with the current banner photo. {Should you read this at a later date all banner photos are archived on our 'Photo Banner Page'}. To assist you gaining a complete understanding of my issue about this photo, I explain the TRUTH, under the photo.

When we posed for our formal 'Duncan Lake' photo in 2009 I SUGGESTED we all face West, it is my best side after all. But since the rest had already decided to look East~~well, I ended up being the only Ovine facing in the CORRECT direction. I'm posed nicely at the left top end of the dock. From clockwise  facing the WRONG direction? At the 1100 position, Esme the Ewe and at 0100 Noah, The Grey One {I hope he listens to his Campaign photographer better than he did ME}, 0300 Ellis the Ram, 0400 Callopie, 0500 Sullivan, 0800 Herzig and at 0900 Piper. Now I realized most would believe I was the one at fault. So I correct your reasoning now! I am the ONLY Ovine who understood the important of the photo being snapped from MY BEST SIDE.

During that same trip it was decided that we ALL should pick berries. Why? There was endless MLGV where ever one stepped. I AGAIN explained this fact to the flock who ignored my flawless insight. And YET AGAIN, they picked berries. I on the other hand took the logical course of taking a bit of leisure time on the swing. Don't you just know they posted this picture explaining I didn't wish to associate with them in their berry nonsense. They posted MY photo on some twit nit sight calling me a Diva!!!

Well, I've had quite enough of their behavior. So I am going to begin my own campaign in the flock. I'm toying with running for MOST DELICIOUS DIVA or OVINE OF DE~VINE or even DIFFERENT IS FAR SUPERIOR TO BEING AVERAGE. {I haven't really decided which 'crown' might suit me best and must be careful to choose which is best~~~~as obviously I will be the winner}. 

Divinely Yours,

Dee Vine

MAYBE, I FIRST SHOULD CHECK WITH OUR MTF?

Posted by Herzig

I was all fired up and ready to tackle our HC. Needles, fiber and pattern I started out of the pasture to find her. Nothing could stop me now! Then, on the way out Himhe stopped me and ask where I was heading. After telling him I had all I needed and of course again thanking him for helping me find the pattern, he asked a question. "I know what a good friend you are and we all have learned a lot about VDD which Piper developed. I am wondering if we need to check with our MTF?"  Confused I asked "Why? Piper is getting better each day so what would be need to ask our MTF about anyway?"

"Well," Himhe began, "we don't know exactly how or why Piper developed VDD but we do know when. It started when he lost his Eggplant. So it might be a good idea to ask Ellis the Original, since he was the person who identified Piper's VDD, if giving him another knitted Eggplant is safe. Piper's may misplace it again. Or some creature may steal it. Since he lost his first knitted Eggplant he might be so afraid of losing another it might be bad for his VDD?"

Now this was a turn of events I hadn't even considered. All my work finding and collecting what was needed for a new knitted Eggplant was wasted? It was like waking up and going into the pasture for a fresh MLGV breakfast and finding a farmer had plowed our pasture. Nothing to see but dirt. Himhe quickly told me not to be sad as Ellis the Original would probably say it was a great idea and think Piper having a new knitted Eggplant was just fine. Still, when would we be able to visit our MTF? And if we asked to go with our HC the next time she had an appointment, she might want to know why. Then she might say she wouldn't make one anyway, even before we checked with our MTF.  Himhe told me not to worry, he would work it out.....and the next morning he had. He asked Esme to get our HC to take Himhe and I along for an adventure, because our HC had an appointment that very day. So putting our 3 things into a bag then in the car, safely tucked away, we left with our HC that afternoon.

Seeing us with our bag, MTR Ellis invited us into his office telling our HC he wanted to show us around before their appointment. {Such insight is why he is our MTF} 

We pulled the 3 items out of the bag so he could examine them. Then he asked "Is this Eggplant like the one Piper lost?" We explained that it was the same materials and pattern, although I thought the real knitted Eggplant looked much better than the one in the picture. Ellis looked confused for a bit. Then he said "Are you going to knit this eggplant?"

I think that was the first time I ever heard Himhe laugh, although I had to listen quite closely. Guess it wasn't really a laugh more like a chuckle. So I told Ellis of course not, that I was going to get an HC to knit the Eggplant. Still looking confused his next question was "I don't understand why you need to talk to me~~I CAN'T KNIT".  OK, this time it was definitely a laugh I heard from Himhe. After I glared at Himhe, I said "the ONLY reason we came to speak with you was because HIMHE!!! thought we should ask if it would be safe for Piper to have another knitted Eggplant."

"Well, now I understand what is going on here. Because Piper developed VDD and I know about VDD and Piper......you want to be sure making this knitted Eggplant won't be harmful for Piper." Nodding, I waited for his answer.

It was then I knew it had been a good thing to ask Ellis our MTF. He leaned over and patted my back and told me that I was a wonderful friend and certainly, a knitted Eggplant would be a fine thing for Piper to have again. Especially one that a good friend like me had worked so hard to get for him. I told him of my plan of getting my HC to agree to knit the Eggplant and with a wink of his eye he said "I'll hint a bit about it to her myself during our appointment. She often has some knitting in her bag. We have spoken of knitting before and maybe it will plant an idea, then all you have to do work your plan. I only have one request Herzig." "What?" I said. Ellis replied, "I would like to see the knitted Eggplant when it is finished. Maybe you and Piper will visit with the knitted Eggplant."

And I would make sure that would happen.

Back to the plan,

Herzig

ECCH WORKING ON CAMPAIGN PLATFORM

Dictated by Sullivan/ECCHM and Posted by Ovi/ECCHAM

ECCH staff has decided to draft a Campaign Platform which we knows is a bit out of order from what is normally done. Done? Well, a platform we have learned, is a statement of positions on issues, which a political party makes promises to achieve.  Hm. Sort of like a check off list of things they want and they will make happen. The Campaign is all about exactly what they say they will do to achieve the promises in their Platform. The Election is to vote the candidate of a party to a specific job where they do what the platform wanted and promised. The term of office an elected candidate spends seems to be nothing at all to do with the platform.

This brought up quite a debate at ECCH, why would a platform for Easter Creature 2012 be needed at all....We didn't do the 'party' step. We went directly to having a candidate and we knew our Noah and anyone who had met the Rude Rabbit would know all they needed to know. But Piper has started to speak lately, thanks to Herzig, and in the middle of the debate he started talking.

"The reason we should write a platform of all the things we believe is so we can remind ourselves of the reasons the position of Easter Creature shouldn't belong to any one creature. It is a very very important job. Its a job all about joy, spring, kindness and being nice. It is a job about a religious belief that helps children understand their faith. And it makes me think that there must be similar wonderful ways for children growing up in all faiths and maybe those who celebrate Easter could learn about those other children and their faiths. And our Noah's encounter last spring with that Rude Rabbit showed that the Rabbit has begun to care more about himself than being nice. We don't want children learning about Easter from the Rabbit."

I looked around the headquarters and saw that all the Ovines were listening very carefully to Piper. Piper had stopped talking but I knew that there was so much more he could share so I asked him to please go on.

"If you want me to Sullivan" Piper said. "The Platform will be to remind us that the position of Easter Creature shouldn't belong to Ovines either. It will tell us before we become rude and inconsiderate Easter Ovines, just why Noah decided to ask to be Easter Creature." Piper looked down for a moment and then said, "I believe there should be several issues we address in the Platform. 1. That Easter Creature is for any creature. 2. That kindness is important. But I think we also should teach what Ellis the Ram and Esme the Ewe teach each of us. To be OPEN AND ACCEPTING of everyone and every belief. 3. That life in the pasture or a rabbit hole or a nest in the tree is all about being careful how we live. Pastures aren't made of plastic and can't be purchased in a store, so why should Easter baskets. Easter should be all about being Green. After all, Green is the color in the Pasture. Green is one of the colors that tell us its Spring. Green is the color of growing. That is all I have to say, Thank You Sullivan for allowing me to speak."

One by one each of us agreed that those 3 ideas were the perfect beginning for the PLATFORM. As baa'ing broke out it was soon decided that 1.Easter doesn't belong to only 1 Creature and 2. Open and Accepting, would be easy to explain in our PLATFORM. But the real fun would be in 3. Green. Somewhere I just knew Noah was saying, TAKE THAT RUDE RABBIT!


ECCH~CM SULLIVAN