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

KOO NEEDS MTF ASSISTANCE

POSTED BY ELLIS THE RAM AND ESME THE EWE

MTF Ellis counsels the KOO

After the point at which Noah's post ended, Esme and I conferred as to what the next step for the KOO should be. Yes, EDUCATION was vital and it was underway. Every flock member got involved in EDUCATING the KOO on the ways in the flock. Every flock member answered questions, listened and supported our KOO. It was going to be a forever journey.

Esme always says, "every day we learn something, even if we don't realize it. And if you don't know what it was you learned then ask someone you spent your day with and they will help you find what you learned."

But we also could see that the dream which had been the mission of the KOO, having been the reason they thought they WERE, had been lost to them. We knew it wasn't lost but simply postponed. But to the KOO, we could see, it seemed gone. To go to the place called New Orleans, to be a parade of the Krewe Of Ovine, to find their dream~was gone.

Esme and I have learned many things during our days, but the sadness of the KOO was beyond our ability. After we sat quietly for a long long time Esme gasped and exclaimed "MTF." I was baffled. I mean I knew who the MTF was, but what did he have to do with the KOO. So Esme explained. "Didn't we ask Ellis, our MTF, what the meaning of this FWIF was? And didn't he explain that to find an answer to the FWIF he would need to meet with them? And wasn't our MTF the first to recognize the significance of the gold and green round plastic balls on a string? And didn't he ask where the PURPLE STRING WAS? And Ellis my companion~~aren't all the answers to those questions the same YES?"

That is why I value my companion Esme so very much. She understands when I do not. And she was absolutely right, as usual. The next step for the KOO was to visit our MTF, our Ellis the Original. And our HC had an appointment the next day. So we would take the KOO along. And perhaps our MTF could help the KOO with the sadness. Tell the KOO what we had been saying was true, the dream wasn't lost. And help us find the next step for the KOO.

And he did just that. He spoke to them for quite a while and I could just feel the sadness begin to disappear. And we could see the dream returning. Esme had the perfect solution. The next step? MTF thought it was time the KOO stopped hiding. They had already stopped hiding from the flock but it was time they learned about what was outside the flock. An Outing was next.

The EDUCATION continues,

ELLIS THE RAM AND 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

Flock on the Trail Update #4- Serious Events

posted by Piper OOC

Finally my window of opportunity to relate our first real evidence of this 'flock with in the flock', photographic evidence. As seen above, we have identified the key items with captions for future reference.

The events were as follows. Knowing that Ovi is extremely fond of his bowl~bed and therefore when sleeping at night can always be located tucked warmly inside, we believe the Flock With In the Flock targeted Ovi. {From this point on the Flock With In the Flock will be known by~~~~FWIF.} They waited til the flock was tucked in for the night and took our Ovi/bowl~bed, left our pasture and placed him outdoors IN A SNOW BANK. Obviously this event had occurred soon after our return from the beach, when the snow was deep and temperatures were frigid.

FWIF placed strings of gaudy plastic balls on strings-2 in Gold and 1 in Green- over our darling Ovi and as can be seen in this photo then creeped away. No doubt back into the warmth of the pasture where they apparently went back into hiding as they weren't visible during the rest of the event.

We still have no idea how the green string, which was clearly in the opening photo, failed to appear in this photo above. But as can be seen in the following photo when we rescued Ovi/bowl~bed from the cold all 3 strings were accounted for.

Sullivan had awakened a bit later in the night and realizing Ovi/bowl~bed were MIA, sounded the alarm. {normally Nocturnal Ovine Wandering~NOW wouldn't be a concern-but with events recently we kept alert-this was not NOW} Well it was now but not an act of NOW. Get it~Got it~GOOD ! Sooooooooooo.......Calling for an All Ovine Alert~AOA we commenced our search. Callopie quickly noted bits of snow by the door and we knew none of us had been outside and the HC was reading in her bed upstairs. We managed to get the door opened and there he was, if Sullivan had not woke up, Ovi might have awakened covered in snow, confused, semi frozen and unable to bleat for assistance. Out we rushed into the cold dark night and dragging the bowl~bed we got Ovi and it, through the door. Ovi still had not baaa'd and we were in fear he was frozen-how would we UN THAW our Ovi. Fortunately once out of the cold and on the threshold the warm began to revive him.

We then flock-handled him over to the top of an old blanket chest and soon helped him to clear the snow which had blanketed him. As can be seen below, quite a bit of snow had fallen while he had been sleeping outside, PLUS snow had begun to fill his bowl~bed.

Now this was becoming dangerous and UNHEALTHY. Ovi was stoic which amazed the flock. Ovi stated that the plastic balls on string must have been left by whoever had ferried him to the outdoors. And after seeing the photo we all immediately saw that the 2 Miscreants of Dubious Intentions~MDIs fleeing the scene were of the same coloring as the hind ends in his bowl~bed as we traveled the hall toward the car for our journey back to Pennsylvania. Our suspicions were now FACTS. We have identified the culprits, we have possession of the plastic balls on string.

It was then, knowing that our HC was going to an appointment with our MTF the next day, Ovi announced he would be accompanying our HC. Why? we asked. Ovi explained that as our MTF and qualified in things of an internal nature in HCs, internal nature of hidden thoughts and such, surely he might provide some insight regarding the motives of this FWIF.

The following day Ovi/bowl~bed and our HC went to the appointment. Ovi told us of the visit upon their return. Ovi's report~~~~MTF Ellis explained he normally had to 'visit with' to gain insight, so without the FWIF his guess would be simply that, guessing what lies behind events. But after studying the green plastic balls on a string he said he recognized this type of string. He had been part of a group which went to the City of New Orleans following the destruction of a Katrina. {We later learned Katrina is a serious weather event, which we hope never to experience in our pasture.} And the string looked like something thrown off traveling platforms in this New Orleans. When Ovi told MTR Ellis there had also been Gold strings Ellis said OF COURSE Then a question Ovi said he never expected......MTR Ellis said "Were there any purple strings"!!!!!

It won't be long now before Purple, Green and Gold are understood!!

Or we capture the MDI!!

Piper, OOC