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

MALICE IS COMING~MALICE IS COMING~MALICE IS COMING

posted by Esme the Ewe

As the flock is scattered here and yon in the pasture, it leaves time for me to express myself. And I'm thrilled and soooo baa'ry excited for in 4 days we shall be in the vehicle and on our way to the best weekend EVER EVER EVER!!!

So much going on in the flock these days I know. What with Noah planning his campaign for next years Easter Creature Election. He's losing and making Fleece Balls. The losing part he will explain soon, Rude Rabbit!!!

Ellis confided in me the story of our little Callopie and the mischief with the RED TEA POT. Hard to be truly angry with her really, she is quite the little imp. Still a stern talk with her will be on my agenda FOLLOWING our return from Malice.

Piper has not spoken a word since we reported of Herzig's finding out about the Vegetable Detachment Disorder relapse. We are seriously considering bringing him along to Malice hoping perhaps the break from his routine in the pasture may at least make him communicate, well speaking in something other than Eggplant that is. All in all though he really gives no trouble although, certainly not our Piper.

All in all things are going well for me. But there has been 2 pieces of disturbing news. Our GFBFHD, Hannah, just learned her pasture has been sold so immediately a new pasture must be found and then relocated into. I haven't mentioned my private concern to Ellis the Ram. But I'm worried that the Dennison Flock may not be invited to the new pasture. Or with all the rush may be injured or left behind. I am very very worried and Hannah is so busy even if I wrote of my worries she may not see my email for a while. By then it may too late. I must ask our HC if she can help.

And truly disturbing bit of news came from our CBF, Elizabeth. Apparently she crossed the border from Canada and is now scurrying about America on a book tour. She is a very very very talented author. But it seems in the process of preparing for that trip~during which she will be at Malice, and so YES YES YES we will get to spend time with her....BUT, she did not bring ANY of the Duncan Flock. Well, she is bringing Duncan home as his anti-bullying training seems to finally be complete. Hannah is bringing Dennison back from his anti-bullying training also.

Who are Duncan and Dennison?

Oh Yes, you haven't met the Mache Triplets, Daniel being the third triplet who needed no training for a bullying problem so he remained home with us. Well, that is another tale to tell, which hopefully will end happy and the Mache Triplets will be together back in our pasture and on to new Adventures.

Oh yea, Elizabeth. So no Eleanor, Sammy or Joe or any of the Canadian flock to reunite with us over the weekend. But all in all will be nice for me as Elizabeth has asked if I can spend time with her and no doubt it will mean I get to SLEEPOVER in Elizabeth's room. I will miss not seeing the Canadian flock it will mean I will have more time with my CBF.

Just wanted everyone to know how excited I am that Malice Domestic Weekend will soon be here. And trust me when I tell you, I will share our weekend with all of you.

BBBing all the way to the weekend,

ESME THE EWE

Before speaking of Callopie...........Some ideas for my campaign!

posted by Noah, The Grey One

Having had a few days to think on my points 1-5, I feel the need to bring OPEN AND ACCEPTING back into our pasture. Specifically I want to assure all my supporters and potential supporters that the make~up of my campaign committee will NOT be limited to fellow Ovines. I simply stated 'ovines' in that step when in a state of high state of offense brought on by that RUDE RABBIT.

The role of leading Easter is not restricted to Ovines, any more than it is the property of that RUDE RABBIT. So I seek any creature.....OK, yes, even HCs.....to participate with me. And let there be no doubt, my goal is not to become the permanent Easter Lamb. Nor that the Easter Creature is only for Ovines. It is for all creatures. And as it would be such an honor to serve as the Easter Lamb....should I be elected....I will not run again for the honor. Unlike that RUDE SCREECHING RABBIT WITH THE FAKE EGGS AND FLOWERS, I don't believe it is a forever honor.

I have so many ideas, concerns and thoughts that many things may escape my attention or may be presented in a way that raises questions. But fear not~~~~OPEN AND ACCEPTING is the basis for life in our pasture. And after requesting the flock to join with me and receiving their promise of running as a team.....I'm feeling more empowered.

If any question of my intention to hide or leave the pasture, either over the holiday or 'forever' due to the demands of that RUDE SCREECHING NON EGG PRODUCING NOR FRESHLY GROWN FLOWERS RABBIT****NO.

As to any of the flock hiding****NO.

As to the ridiculous statement that I or any of our flock is now BANNED from the pasture. Well, that is simply RABBIT RAISINS {and I'm sure we ALL know what those ARE!} We have only one reply to that......Baa'umbug!!!

Your hopeful candidate,

Noah, The Grey One

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

IT ALL STARTED ONE MORNING posted by Noah, The Grey One

It was such a beautiful morning, the first sunny day in so~so~so long. Having spent the last year collecting bits of our fleece left here and there in the pasture~and bits removed from a knitted garment here and there~and fleece shavings from finished products which had been washed to firm perfection. They were ready. What was ready? Well our Fleece Balls. It has always been a flock project. To make use of all we are. Plus its fun, not only for the flock but for HCs. They create wondrous items with needles and hooks using our fleece which has been spun into lengths of fiber. Along the way, there are always bits to trim, fuzz to shave, and pieces of fiber unused. So when a large quantity of such fleece was ready the process got underway. Our HC sat down in a chair with all these bits plus a few strands of wool fiber collected along the way which had some nice length, and began to wind it all together. This is Herzig's favorite part of creating Fleece Balls. As pieces are selected somewhat randomly all the colors are wound tightly. We talk about what the finished ball may look like but until the Fleece Balls are completed and then cut in half to reveal inside the Fleece Ball~no one really knows.

So after our HC finished the winding 1 larger ball and used the remaining bits in a smaller ball waiting for more fleece, I prepared for the next part of the process. Placing the balls in a net bag and snugly securing it and then into a washing machine it goes.

I monitored the machine during several times of this washing and then guarded them outside in the sunny brightness, the first photo under the title. Knowing they would not dry or be complete for quite a length of time, but Fleece Ball time was well underway. Things were going as normal,,,,,UNTIL.......IT APPEARED.

I couldn't quite understand who or WHAT this creature was or why it was 'glaring' at me, as though I WAS THE INTRUDER. Then this creature asked what I was doing invading its territory with these eggs. "AND JUST WHAT SORT OF EGGS ARE THEY", it asked. "Obviously they are fake or not eggs at all, REAL EGGS look like these 2 I have." I was taken aback and frankly momentarily without voice. As we stared at each other I remembered what Ellis the Ram and Esme the Ewe always remind us, think carefully before speaking and be Open and Accepting. I thought carefully before I began speaking but knew the 'Open and Accepting' part was going to be extremely difficult.

After a deep breath I began. "I am Noah, The Grey One and this is where I live. In our pasture with my flock, my HC and her MPU, Polly. And these are not EGGS they are Fleece Balls and they are meant to be round. My question is WHO ARE YOU and why have you entered our pasture with those 'eggs'? If eggs are what they are. They do look like eggs but eggs are normally white or brown, not orange or blue. And they don't look like they are made from calcium which poultry form to hold the eggs as they give birth to them~they look made of clay used in pottery?"

The creature got rather snotty at that point, which I thought very rude, but~deeply baa'ing~I listened. "I am the Easter Rabbit you scruffy in need of a haircut ovine and these are Easter Eggs. This is my time of the year so you....and this flock...need to hit the road and stay out of sight until after Easter. Get with the program!"

OBVIOUSLY 'OPEN AND ACCEPTING' WAS BECOMING DIFFICULT!

"Well.....I am aware of the upcoming holiday and have heard of the the 'traditions' of Easter. A 'Easter Bunny', delivery of eggs in baskets along with sweets, celebrating with spring colors and gorgeous spring flowers. But I'm certain I've never heard that creatures 'not the Easter Bunny' are required to hide."

"Well, I AM THE EASTER BUNNY, I AM KING OF THIS HOLIDAY AND YOU WILL HIDE UNTIL I DECIDE TO DEPART".

YEP, OPEN AND ACCEPTING JUST LEFT THE PASTURE!

"As you may see, I have eggs and I have flowers, what do you have? Fleece Balls and cement!"

Then I said, "And if flowers are a requirement your puny pottery basket with fake pottery flowers pales next to my pasture full of lush beautiful Daffodils which, IF YOU NOTE, are real. My Fleece Balls are real and are products of me. Since when did poultry lay a pottery egg. Come to think of it, WHEN HAVE YOU EVER PRODUCED AN EGG?"

I think I had done it then, this Bunny began to angrily hop about screeching. Yes, screeching! The ear piercing sound being the only sound made by these creatures when matters creating high emotional displays occur. The rabbit began screeching " I AM THE EASTER BUNNY. I AM THE ONLY RIGHTFUL CREATURE OF THIS HOLIDAY. YOU ARE NOT. YOU WILL NEVER BE. ITS MY RIGHT AND NO ONE COULD EVER REPLACE ME. YOU WILL NEVER EVER BE IN CHARGE OF THE EASTER HOLIDAY. I AM THE PERFECT CREATURE FOR THIS POSITION AND I BAN YOU FROM THIS PASTURE FOR ETERNITY."

Yes, it appears Open and Accepting was history, as far as this creature was concerned, if ever it had been a concept. It was then I decided that whatever event had concluded that a rabbit was deserving of representing Easter, had been ill considered. And from my point of view no creature 'owned' the position of leading the holiday. I then made my decision. This Easter was upon us and nothing could be done this year. But next year I planned a change.

So today I begin my run for election to the position of EASTER CREATURE. I hereby announce to run on the

Ovine Party ticket for

EASTER

LAMB!

The next steps

1. Formulate a platform

2. Determine the right ovines to fill key positions on my Election Committee

3. Create a sure fire Campaign strategy

4. Gain support for voting day

5. WIN THE 2012 ELECTION FOR EASTER LAMB

Noah, The Grey One

YOUR NEXT

EASTER LAMB!

{WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE FLEECE BALLS}