A NEW PLAN!

And the colors which will be perfect are Purple and Green. I came home from my search up at the pasture of my HC's parents, in the country. I had looked everywhere I could think of, no knitted Eggplant. That night before we fell asleep I told Piper of all the places I had looked and to keep the faith as I would find the knitted Eggplant. Piper sighed but what he said gave me encouragement. He told me that he wanted to thank me for taking all the time and facing all the danger of looking in holes, under places and even climbing up into a bird bath and a tree. Thanks was all I needed to not give up. And he was talking more and more, and not in Eggplant. Each day more and more of my best-est friend Piper was coming back.

After a night's rest, as we were all breakfasting on MLGV, my mind was thinking away. I knew I was missing something, but what? Start back at the beginning! Our HC reads to us each night from mystery stories, our favorites are written by our GFBFHD and CBFED, I have learned that our hero's~~~VICKY HILL AND PENNY BRANNIGAN often tell themselves~~~Start back at the beginning and think of everything. Think carefully to see if there is anything you missed. Or something you had seen or known but hadn't thought about. Or think about what you do know but from a different perspective {I got that word from Noah long ago}. 

So while we all were munching away I did just that, I thought about the knitted Eggplant which could be viewed as the start of the story. I STOPPED MUNCHING AND REALIZED, a knitted Eggplant. Quickly I bounced over to Piper and asked him where he got his knitted Eggplant and he told me he found it. Where did you find it was my next question. Piper explained that one day when he had no one to play with he had been looking about in our HC's room. And he had found the knitted Eggplant sitting in a basket full of yarn and knitting needles. It looked lonely and as he was lonely he carried it out of the basket and went to find our HC.

I asked Piper what he went to ask the HC. "If I could play with the Eggplant and keep it with me in the pasture" he said. "Why ask our HC?" I said. And there it was, the answer to the puzzle.

No, the answer wasn't finding the lost knitted Eggplant. But there was an even better answer!!!! Because Piper answered my why question by saying "Well since the knitted Eggplant was in a basket in her room and because as anyone in the flock knows~~~our HC knits. The only reason why the knitted Eggplant was in the basket in her room was she must have KNITTED THE EGGPLANT!"

At that point I started HLBing all around the pasture bleating "THAT'S IT THAT'S IT".  "What's it?" said all the ovines around us. I loudly bleated, "THE ANSWER!!!!"

I was Vicky Hill and Penny Brannigan all rolled into one, except of course that I am a boy and they are girls. NOW, I knew what had to be done so I began my quest.

HERZIG 

BACK AT THE SHORE

posted by Esme the Ewe

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Ellis the Ram and I, spent our first day getting this adventure's Ovines settled in for the last days of our HCs MPU's winter at the beach. So nice to be back and also happy to see the MPU is doing well. 2 walkers and a never ending effort to enjoy each day despite the issues of age, I always find her Let's Go spirit admirable.

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It was a difficult decision as to who would come to the beach this time. Ellis the Ram and I naturally. Although I would always wish to bring our entire flock, that just wouldn't be possible. Adventures are both EDUCATIONAL as well as a reward for positive flock manners. But also a selection to go on an adventure can be a lesson or an incentive for an Ovine. So Ellis the Ram and I gave the selections our usual due diligence.

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Much to my surprise Sullivan and Callopie decided to stay in the pasture. Heaven knows what Callopie will have gotten into while we are away. So of the original 7 of our last beach adventure, only 5 need be considered. We thought Ovi might elect to stay behind with his mentor Sullivan. But after asking Ovi just that question, he said he would like to try going on an adventure without Sullivan, just to see how he would manage on his own. That left Noah and Piper.

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Piper has been very quiet lately, well since the Updates from the Flock are complete I believe he is a bit adrift. I fear we may have to again deal with his Eggplant issues. As I am a bit concerned over Piper, I felt it best he join us. Strangely he seemed neither pleased or disappointed but resigned. {Yes, we will need to keep a wary eye on our Piper}.

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Ah, Noah. Our Noah has been both a gift of support, thoughtfulness and well considered ideas as of late. He deserved another trip.

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And that left a few spots if we wished to bring a few more Ovines. Then our Noah again made an excellent suggestion. He felt that this time we should bring the KOO along to reward them for sharing their story with the flock. And to encourage them to continue learning and experiencing things which truly frighten them. Plus Noah said "We need to show them the proper way to go on an Adventure so they don't stow away again. Stowing away can be dangerous and is not fair to others on the adventure." "Well done Noah" Ellis the Ram exclaimed, the KOO will complete the Ovines going on this adventure. Piling into the vehicle we left on the 22nd, settled in that evening and the next day~~~a surprise. An Art Show.

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ESME THE EWE

First-Get a Map

posted by Noah

There are several in the flock capable of telling this next portion about the KOO, but I volunteered. Because the Ovine who posts gets to pick what colors to post in. And although not considered one of the more eye catching colors, Grey is the best. I believe it is the color of calm, of reason, of insight, of intelligence.....and the color of my fleece. Yep, Grey. Oh yea, a map.

After we began to learn more about the KOO it became clear there seemed to be a lack of understanding about many issues. EDUCATION certainly seemed a perfect beginning. They explained they preferred to be known as the KOO. Which they explained was KREWE OF OVINE. Now remember, the mysterious incidents began around the time part of our flock was at the beach. First we noted the stowaways, fewer than 4 at that point. Then they vanished, we thought. But again and again they began to appear. In the photo of us departing for our home pasture. What seemed to be hind ends while traveling in the car. All the while the colors purple/green/gold invaded us, everywhere. Finally we captured them, interrogated them, and slowly began to learn what was going on.

Once they told us they were a KREWE we looked it up. Much research revealed a Krewe seemed to be a word for a group who formed to pursue some sort of 'social' activity. But that was all we could find in a dictionary. So we went to the computer. WOW! We typed in the word KREWE and all was revealed. AND EVERYTHING THAT POPPED UP SEEMED TO BE IN PURPLE/GREEN/GOLD. The flock was in total agreement we had hit pasture dirt. Our version of the HC pay dirt, you see.

We quickly concluded that these 4 Ovines were a social organization, which seemed odd to us, as a flock seemed to cover that purpose quite well. So we put our research to the KOO.

Yes, they admitted they were just as we had found, a social organization. And then explained they had no idea where they were from but one by one had found each other. Marty Grau, the only of the 4 with an actual name, said he was first and all alone. But with some wandering about he had discovered a picture frame and SOMEHOW he just knew something about what was in the picture frame must hold a clue as to who he was and where he started.

On the frame was a very colorful and strange creature which seemed to be a HC. Looking down at his fleece he noticed some of the colors on the picture matched his fleece. Soon after he discovered a mirror and with a shock he realized his face, ears and even his tail colors supported his theory.

He told us while the flock was off doing 'stuff' he worked at the computer and through trial and error found the same sites we had. The colors matched his. And they talked about parades.......he just knew this MUST be his mission. To be a parade? But how was he to accomplish this. Could one Ovine be a parade? He sadly went back to hiding from the flock. Then much to his surprise he discovered another Ovine, much like him but different. Again the colors. Then another and finally a 4th. They decided they must belong together due to their brilliantly colored fleece.

None of the other 3 seemed to know their names, and really Marty didn't know his name for certain, either. But from his search on the computer he thought he might be Marty Grau. He thought that was his name although it was spelled slightly different from the computer. He told us on the computer it was spelled M~A~R~D~I~~~G~R~A~S. But something told him his name was spelled different even though they seemed to sound the same. So he must be the somehow related to this Mardi Gras. Bit by bit, the other 3 Ovines decided their mission must be to join him. And finally to join their relative ~~Mardi Gras~~ where ever it lived. Back to the picture frame where they decided a New Orleans must be the place, but how to get there?

Ah, this was the reason they stowed away in December. They didn't know where they were or where we were going but MAYBE it was this New Orleans. And if they called themselves a Krewe and found this New Orleans, perhaps they would be a parade? {All of us in the flock could see their line of thought didn't go in a straight direction, but UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENCE~not 1 Baa-HaaHaa}

And back now to that word EDUCATION. They had no idea where they must go, how to get there or what direction to take. Geography! Several of us realized, after having done our own research that Mardi Gras would seem to be over for this year. And New Orleans was no where close to York Pennsylvania or Garden City South Carolina, although the beach was certainly closer than the pasture. And much preparation would be necessary to be a Krewe in a parade at this Mardi Gras.

Although the KOO was very sad when we explained it all we quickly turned to Understanding and Patience. We told the 4 we would help them learn all they might need and help them if they decided they still wished to continue on their mission. And in the meantime we asked if they would like to join the flock. We told them about the number 1 rule~OPEN AND ACCEPTING. After they held a KOO meeting they returned and said they would very much like to join our flock, at least for now.

So we began learning about geography, if New Orleans was their goal.....geography was critical.

Noah, The Grey One

EDUCATION

posted by Ellis the Ram and Esme the Ewe

Ah yes, EDUCATION. Such a big word and what a vast field. Speaking of which a field 'may' be another word for a Pasture. And that is something we know about. And the flock knows just where our 'home' pasture is located. In a place called York, PA. How did we learn that? Because others took the time to teach us, to EDUCATE us. In the HC world we have observed that EDUCATION seems to be given to HCs in big buildings with many rooms containing many places for HCs to sit. When young it seems they get sent to these buildings for many hours to receive EDUCATION. Hm? One way to 'get' EDUCATION. But we know there are more than one way to munch on MLGV.

So most of an Ovine's EDUCATION comes from older Ovines doing and younger ones observing and then copying. But some must come from other places? Like.....asking questions.....like trying.......and yes, by using some of those methods HCs might use, like books or looking on a computer. And we 'get' that. So there is more to just knowing that our Pasture is in York, Pennsylvania. What if an Ovine wants to travel and gets lost? So, EDUCATION is important to learn where the edges of our pasture may be. Or what part of a larger space in which our pasture may be located. Or where that larger space is located to understand where our friend's pastures may be. Emily's pasture is in California and Eleanor's pasture is in Canada.

Ah yes, the original issue...The FWIF, the cozy blue chair and the interrogation. The FWIF? We have discovered much to our surprise that these 4 Ovines who we viewed as MDI's, may not be MDIs at all. During their interrogation it became clear they were Ovines who didn't 'get it'. HOW CAN THAT BE? we gasped. Aren't all Ovines born 'getting it'? It was while the painting man worked and we huddled safely on the cozy blue chair that the flock 'got it'. We 'got' that the FWIF didn't 'get it'. They lacked EDUCATION.

Yes, they knew what MLGV was healthy and what was not. But they didn't 'get' geography~among so many other things they didn't 'get'. Why was geography important to the story of our FWIF? Because geography is key to their mission, their dreams and the odd behavior which plagued our flock....beginning with purple/green/gold. And while in the cozy blue chair we became aware we needed to assist them to gain EDUCATION. EDUCATION which is such a large work which is important to every minute of every day of every month of every year {bet you 'get' the direction that sentence is going?}

So our EDUCATION began when we learned the 4 aren't MDIs of the FWIF. We learned they called themselves The KOO. Their EDUCATION we realized must begin with geography!

AND YOU THOUGHT WE'D GIVEN UP?

posted as **la** Flock {that's french!}

No, we haven't managed to pry the laptop from our HCs hands since that long ago day. The day we'd captured the FWIF. The day we created our last banner photo, yep-still there, showing the encircled 4 MDIs. Well, so much~much~much to tell. We will soon begin with the whole purple, green, gold thing and the FWIF. Then we will discuss geography. Then of todays outing. {Others in the flock also have things to say!!} But first, the FWIW. And the lessons we learned as we began to wrest the story from these 4 MDIs.

1. Education is very important

2. Patience is very important

3. Understanding is very important

Hm, yea that covers most of it.

But we are prepared whenever faced with new challenges, which often arrive as fellow creatures~ yes even Ovines. Whether that contact be with the flock in total or even one of us. Why are we prepared? Because our head of flock~~ELLIS THE RAM's guiding rule-OPEN AND ACCEPTING.

So tonight as our HC again, accompanied by her ear frying 'sailor speak', continues to hang pictures back on walls and wrest furniture to YET another place~POST WE WILL.

Oh Oh Oh, plus others have events to report upon...........plus of course our upcoming adventure to MALICE DOMESTIC {which M. Grau continues to say with a pitiful french accent}. M. Grau you ask? Tonight we will start by helping him to post on Meet the Ovines while others write of the events immediately after the capture, specifically-DURING THE INTERROGATION!