My Buddy, Piper
posted by Herzig

Piper aka Eggplant is once again getting better. He doesn't speak to me in Eggplant any more...but he really doesn't talk much at all. I mean he never was a chatterbox but now he speaks even less. He is my best-est friend and will always be we were adopted together from Patternworks in New Hampshire. But he still seems very sad.

I know if I had just been a better friend and not been so busy and I hadn't stopped treating Piper as a friend should, than maybe this would have never happened. Maybe if I'd been a better friend he would never have found the knitted Eggplant. If I hadn't been so busy maybe he wouldn't have begun to think he would be happier being an Eggplant. If he hadn't lost his Eggplant or if I had been a better friend when he did lose his Eggplant, maybe he wouldn't have suffered from VDD. He certainly would miss his knitted Eggplant if it were lost, but with a friend to feel sad along with him, the VDD might never have appeared.

I wasn't there when he needed me and so I've decided to go and look for his Eggplant. Piper tells me the last thing he remembers is going on an Adventure and when he came back he couldn't find Eggplant. But he doesn't remember exactly where they went on the Adventure. Ellis the Ram and Esme the Ewe have been so busy with a new Ovine that wandered in and with the rest of the flock all working on the Easter Creature 2012 Campaign, I have no one to ask just where the Adventure happened. So last week I went with my HC, up to the house she worries so about and works so hard on, and hunted all around for the knitted Eggplant.

AND I LOOKED EVERYWHERE!!!

While my HC got things ready to mow the lawn I decided to start at the far right corner of the yard. There was a beautiful tree with fragrant Lilacs. Now what better place for an Eggplant to hide than among lilac colored flowers. So up I climbed into the tree and hunted on each branch and each crook where branches separated. But no knitted Eggplant.

Then, over in the opposite end of the yard I noticed some tiny red colors peeking out all around this tree. So over I went and up I climbed. But quickly I realized that this tree had very large thorns on all its branches. And they were quite painful when they poked through my fleece to my body. But once I was up in this tree I decided I might as well look thoroughly, to avoid having to check this tree again. I found out later this is a Quince bush. Quinces are some sort of fruit and I hope they taste good as it would appear its very risky to get the Quinces out of their place of growth, Again, No knitted Eggplant.

Between this thorny bush and the porch with screens, making it lovely to sit and watch birds, I noticed a bird bath. Fortunately it had no water nor bird 'deposits' in it although for my friend Piper such things wouldn't stop me from looking. So up I climbed to the bowl on top of the pedestal upon which it rested and looked. No knitted Eggplant.

With all that climbing I needed a bit of a rest so I walked along the lawn by the porch and around the corner to a beautiful herb bed but saw nothing purple at all. When I got past the herb bed I came to the back of the house where a wooden porch had been built. Under it was a deep cave. So I edged my way under the trough holding Portulaca and once under could see light at the other side. Thank goodness the light allowed me to look all around under the wooden porch without having to crawl into the darkness. Just to make sure nothing was hiding I did call out, just in case. No knitted Eggplant.

 It occurred to me that on the other side of the bird bath had been a tree which seemed to be about to bloom. And a hint of purple could be seen poking about on the buds. So I walked back along the porch and looked up. Indeed it seemed purple colors might be about to appear. Later my HC explained it was called a Butterfly Bush and would soon have purple flowers all over it. It is called a Butterfly Bush because the flowers call out to Butterflies and when the time was right it was possible to sit and enjoy Butterflies and Blooms. The leaves didn't hide anything so after I looked over the bush I decided to check under the bush. No knitted Eggplant.

Next I remembered there had been 2 places back on the side of the yard where the Lilacs were, so over I went. There it was a huge dense patch of green leaves growing skyward. I recognized it from a picture. It was the leaves of a root which was called Horseradish. A favorite of the PPU of our HC, from who she learned the joys of the root. It was daunting but in I went. I explored under all the Horseradish plant leaves and it took quite a while. No knitted Eggplant.

 I heard my HC call out at that time that it would soon be time to put away all the lawn care items and begin to prepare to return home. She told me to look in the last few spots while she took care of the equipment. Fortunately a place I still wanted to look was right next to the Horseradish patch so over I went. I looked up into the Sage plant and easily could see there was no place to hide. But the bottom of the plant was covered in grass and weeds so I gave a quick look there. No knitted Eggplant.

I had searched very hard and it was very hot but until my HC called that we were leaving there still were spots to check. I walked back toward the Quince Bush looking in the pine hedges and searching in the lawn. It was then I discovered a hole. Covered with lawn growing over it. It was a bit scary but maybe, just maybe....I put my head down and burrowed through the grass. Luckily it wasn't an animal hole but rather was a drain of some sort in cement in the shape of the bottom half of a circle and where the cement went under the ground I could see a white tube. This must be where water from the pool and washing machine would empty. So I knew even if something had rolled into it it would have been floated out when the HC was washing clothing or cleaned the pool with the filter. No knitted Eggplant.

I felt very badly that I would soon be returning to the pasture with no good news to report to my friend Piper. Maybe this wasn't where the Adventure happened. I would ask Ellis and Esme when they had time. The only thing I knew is nothing was lost in the pasture.

On the way home I began to wonder if there might be another way to find a knitted Eggplant?

I won't give up,

Herzig

Ellis the Ram takes Piper aka Eggplant to Ellis the Original

posted upon return by Ellis the Ram

As Esme had requested I immediately went in search of our HC who regularly saw our MTF, Ellis the therapist. {For which we are eternally grateful!!!} When I told her of Piper's disappearance~into an Eggplant, she seemed puzzled. "Eggplant? Are you sure he isn't teasing you? He had asked me to help him make an Eggplant costume for last nights Trick or Treat, that's all. Its just a costume." Again I explained to her that since Piper had lost the Eggplant, the one she had made long ago, he had become increasingly withdrawn. As she still stood there looking puzzled I must admit I began to get annoyed. Finally, and it just came out I swear it did, I fussed in a raised voice at her saying, "If you hadn't made and then allowed Piper to find that silly knitted Eggplant to begin with, then let him carry it around, Then take it with him that day when he lost it, THEN helped him secretly make that costume~~~~Maybe I wouldn't be here having to convince you our Piper is in need of Ellis the Original HELP!" She just stood there with that typical 'Who ME?' look on her face......but finally shrugged and said "OK, I'll call Ellis and see when he can see Piper or Eggplant....What am I supposed to call him now anyway?" {I turned and went back to the pasture to wait for her to call, muttering inappropriate Baa'^%$s and Bleat*&(^s the entire way}.

But a short while later my HC came to the pasture and said that MTF Ellis had free time the next morning, actually right before her appointment. I immediately told her we would be waiting at the gate at the designated departure time. And Piper aka Eggplant and I soon arrived at the office of our MTF Ellis the Original. Piper aka Eggplant climbed into a seat across the room from where HC and I were seated. And we waited to be called.

And we waited....... And we waited.......until finally MTF's door opened and he called out "Ellis the Ram?" I hopped off the chair and bounced over to him where we had a whispered conversation and I detailed the situation with Piper or Eggplant. Fortunately unlike our HC, no puzzled look and no further questions.......Ellis winked at me and stood up calling out "EGGPLANT? Please come on into my office." Piper aka Eggplant hopped of his chair and followed our MTF into the office and the door shut behind them. {I had asked our MTF that although he couldn't reveal the actual conversation without permission perhaps photos would ease the minds back at the flock}. I did see Piper aka Eggplant hop onto a couch, where I have sat myself a few times in support of my HC. With a deep sigh I returned to my seat next to my HC and we waited. About an hour later the door opened and MTF and 'whoever' exited the office. MTF walked over to my HC and I, he smiled and nodded at us and handed us an envelope. Saying his 'client' had given permission for us to know all about the visit and the results. And if we had any further questions he was always happy to see us or speak to us on a phone. Ellis the Original then asked after Esme and everyone in the flock. Then he and my HC went into the office and closed the door for their appointment. Piper aka Eggplant hopped up into a seat, this time next to me and actually spoke to me. "Good Morning Ellis and I'm sorry I worried everyone. I didn't realize how badly the loss of my friend, my Eggplant, effected me." I asked him if he felt better and he said, a little better. "Are you going to take your costume off? And is it alright if we still call you Piper?" Quiet for a moment he said "Yes of course my name is Piper, I understand that. And.....I will take my costume off.....soon.....or a bit later. Ellis said I could wear it a bit longer if I wished, maybe tonight take the top off my head, then maybe down to my middle........I will take it all the way off........soon." "Sounds good to me Piper" I said. "Whenever you want to do those things is fine. And you know we all love you." Finally, the first smile from our Piper......in a long time began to peek through. I opened the envelope and inside were 2 photos of Piper's time in the office with Ellis and a folded piece of paper. I would save the paper for later when back in the pasture with Esme. But the photos made me feel good. On the back of each MTF had written words. They were: I listened very quietly and carefully while the young Ovine told me of his sorrow over the loss of his friend. After that I asked many questions which he answered honestly. My diagnosis and treatment plan is contained in my letter. When our HC emerged and we all said our goodbyes to our MTF we went home. Ellis the Ram

We Just Thought It Was A Halloween Costume.....

posted by Ellis the Ram

After the birthday weekend adventure we returned to the pasture. Esme and I, Piper, Ovi and Himhe. It had been a fun time and Piper seemed happy enough when the flock asked about the adventure. But the Pumpkin which we had hoped may take the place of the Eggplant, Piper placed it with the Halloween decorations and never again carried it around. With only about a week til Trick or Treat all the younger ones in the flock baa'd day and night about costumes. Who would be going as a ghost, or a princess or even a cow. Piper didn't join in these discussions but every day seemed to go off into our HC's room. In there she keeps all the items she uses to knit and do other handwork type things. Sullivan reported that our HC and Piper had cleared a spot on a table and put a machine on it. They spent a great deal of time around the machine with scissors and thread and now and a humming sound could be heard. Once when Ovi went to watch and Piper asked Ovi if he would mind not watching them, as he was doing something special. When Ovi asked what it was Piper simply turned back to the machine where the HC was working and said-the flock would know on Trick or Treat night. Ovi reported all this including that the humming sound that seemed to belong to the machine on the table. Then the big night arrived, Trick or Treat night. Those in the flock who wished gathered together, all in their wonderful costumes. Himhe had a bunch of Dandelions on his head and said he was going as a weed patch. Ovi rolled in the mud then brushed it away in spots and said he was a Bovine, a cow. Sullivan was very clever and had found a bunch of sticks all around the pasture. Callopie helped him stick them into his fleece all over where the sticks stayed quite nicely. He said he was going as a pile of wood. As darkness arrived and we prepared to Trick or Treat we heard Piper yell "WAIT FOR ME".

We all turned around and there he was, dressed as an EGGPLANT. Although a bit taken aback quickly the flock erupted with Baa'rahs. And the flock unanimously decided that Piper had the best costume of all. With that we all Trick or Treated around the pasture. A short while later we returned. Ovi washed off the mud. Callopie, Esme and I helped Sullivan pull out all the pieces of wood and Himhe pulled the weeds out of his cap. But Piper didn't take off his Eggplant suit. When Ovi asked if he needed help to get it off Piper said "No, its very comfortable so I think I'll wear it for a while longer". As it was close to bedtime and had been a big night Esme and I sent the flock to bed. BUT, when morning came and bit by bit the flock woke up and gathered to begin seeking MLGV......there was Piper, still in his Eggplant costume. Hm? Esme suggested so as not to tear or dirty the costume perhaps Piper should take it off and put it away, maybe for next year. That was when we knew was definitely wrong. Piper asked "What costume?"

Esme and I just starred at each other. I asked Piper if he was teasing us. At that Piper said "Who is Piper?" Esme told him that was his name. "No, that isn't my name at all, I'm called Eggplant."

At that point Esme just said "ELLIS, I THINK IT IS TIME TO CALL ELLIS".

I'd ask our HC to take us to the next appointment.......

Ellis The Ram

Time for Eggplant......ah Piper The Beginning

posted by Herzig

Perhaps I should have said that differently. Sounds like something a HC might make to eat....and eating this EGGPLANT would definitely result in fleece between the teeth and indigestion. Better I should have started the post with Time for Piper....and later the Eggplant. Yep, and that is where this began. Where did Piper come to the flock 'from'. For that go to Meet the Ovines and although 'where' isn't part of this issue it may explain how wonderful our Piper is to us.

But last fall the problem began. Piper, always quiet and reserved found an Eggplant. Actually he found a small knitted Eggplant which had been made by our HC a few years back. She had made several vegetables and fruits. There was a carrot, a banana and an orange. But frankly they all looked rather false...as in they looked exactly like a knitted fruit or vegetable. Nice but not well, quite 'from the garden' so to speak. But the Eggplant. NOW that one was special. That one looked freshly picked and EXACTLY like an Eggplant. Piper found it and decided it was for him. So he grabbed it and from that day forward you never saw Piper without his Eggplant. They were inseparable. Until...........

One day the Eggplant was gone. We had gone on a small adventure and Piper had insisted his Eggplant go along. We put Piper and the Eggplant in a basket, the one they are in at the top of the post. But when we returned to the pasture and emptied the basket from the trip, no Eggplant. Piper had been in the basket...as well as a few items the HC carries. A wallet, a camera, a phone, some keys...Piper, but no Eggplant. Chaos erupted.

We looked all through the vehicle which had taken us on the Adventure, NOTHING.

We even persuaded our HC to go back to the places we had gone on the Adventure, NOTHING.

We went to the people who worked in the place we had gone on the Adventure,

NOTHING.

We returned and explained to our Piper the Eggplant wasn't found. He was inconsolable. Hanging his head he said "the Eggplant was so special so someone must have seen it and decided they would like it to be their friend. They must have taken it home". With that Piper walked over to his sleeping spot in the pasture, laid down, and didn't move. That day or the next or the next. He didn't move about, he didn't speak to others in the flock, he didn't respond when spoken to, he didn't want any MLGV.

And that is when it started.

In hope my friend Piper goes back to being Piper,

Herzig, adopted with Piper and his friend

THE SUBJECT IS V~D~D

posted by Ellis the Ram

Yes, once upon a time our Piper was simply a normal ovine. He loved to play and 'hang about'. You could hear him baa'haaing and bleating about the pasture with his friends in the flock. But slowly we began to notice small changes in him. Finally we asked him why he seldom played in the pasture with the others. That was when we first heard him utter the word EGGPLANT. EGGPLANT we asked, "What EGGPLANT do you mean? Would you try to eat some EGGPLANT? There is some over in the garden which is over the fence by the pasture." Just by the look on his face we knew we had said something wrong. Had we asked the wrong question? APPARENTLY.......

YES

It was then we met....... THE EGGPLANT. It seems that while the flock had been playing in a box of items which our HC had knit, with fiber, Piper found an EGGPLANT. And for some reason, known only to Piper it seemed, was immediately enthralled with this item. At first it seemed of no consequence. After all creatures of all sorts have treasures, treasures which only shine for them. Esme asked our HC if Piper could keep this Eggplant, at least until he tired of it and our HC said certainly. And a matter of fact she gladly would give it to Piper since he liked it so very much. Piper was THRILLED. And from that day forward Piper and his Eggplant were inseparable. Piper went no place without his Eggplant. Then one day while out on an Adventure with our HC Esme, Piper and I sat down to rest while shopping.

AND WHEN WE RETURNED HOME FROM THE ADVENTURE, NO EGGPLANT. Piper was devastated. To the place we sat we all MUST return and find the EGGPLANT. We informed our HC and she took Esme, Piper and myself and went to the place. They looked high and low, in trash cans, in corners and under the bench where we had rested. NO EGGPLANT. Our HC even went to the people who worked in the place the bench was and asked if they had found or even seen an EGGPLANT. {She returned mumbling something about these people must think her mentally deranged, asking about a missing fiber knitted EGGPLANT.~It was difficult not to blurt out "WHY? WOULD THEY NOTICE A DIFFERENCE IN YOU BEFORE THE LOST EGGPLANT AND AFTER ASKING OF THE LOST EGGPLANT?" Esme looked at me and I quickly realized that silence was safer}.

Needless to say Piper was grief stricken. Over the next few days Piper bleated less and less. Until finally nothing could produce a baa of any kind. We worried.

Our HC, noting the change in pasture morale appeared one day with a Pumpkin. A knitted fiber Pumpkin. As it was then October she suggested we give Piper the Pumpkin and maybe he would forget about his lost EGGPLANT. The Pumpkin would replace the EGGPLANT. I didn't have a lot of hope but we tried. The best way to say it, NOT PRETTY. Finally we told Piper that we had found this Pumpkin but no others. And it seemed so lost and lonely we didn't know what to do for it. Slowly Piper began to warm to it but we could see he still sorely missed his EGGPLANT. We hoped that by Halloween Piper would have bonded with this new knitted fiber vegetable and things would go back to normal.

ANY BETS?

ELLIS THE RAM