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

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

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

3. NEEDLES, The Easiest of the Three

POSTED BY HERZIG

Finding 'things' belonging to my HC can be a daunting challenge. She's not a hoarder and she has worked very hard to conquer her 'pack rat' habits. But she is and will never be cured of her ADHD. The flock has learned to live with a HC with Severe Combined ADHD, which can alternate between frustrating and funny. Well, that would be 'funny' and 'frustrating' for us and 'Uber Frustrating' for her. What we truly find outrageously funny is when we hear other HCs speak about how focused and insightful she is about something. And she is, externally. Internally she is a huge whirlwind, Or as she describes it.....inside her brain is a big room which contains thousands of ping pong balls and filled with static electricity causing the balls to fly around non-stop day and night. So while she is amazingly creative and obsessively engaged in organizing items and schedules, sheoften gets sidelined before completing a task. When she is knee deep in a task any distraction can overwhelm her causing great stress. And should her 'flow be broken' it will cause complete failure UNLESS. 

UNLESS, we have come to learn, means 'time'. Our HC requires 'processing' time. For example, our HC loves nothing more than sitting and frolicking with the flock and can spend hours with us, which we love. But if we plan to sit and frolic at 1500 on Tuesday and on Monday Ellis says to her, "Hey lets just all frolic right now." She falls off the pasture fence. Ellis has learned and is very adept at saying instead....."HC? I know we planned on sitting and frolicking Tuesday at 1500 but perhaps and only if you want, we could say~~frolic in about an hour? If you decide it is OK just let us know." As Esme is very astute also and takes great care to teach us all, we generally have gotten much better at 'processing' time also. So ADHD is a system about which we are very knowledgeable.

Oh yea, finding things belonging to our HC. One of the little quirks of ADHD can be clutter. Add to the our HC also suffers from OCD-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Which means even with clutter she is always working at organizing the clutter just so. This is great if the organization has reached a good place but not so much if she hasn't 'gotten back to that' due to her high distractability issues. Clear as a fence post, right?

How does this relate to the 3rd and final item I must find. Fortunately the needles she uses for knitting are generally collected and organized in one spot, if a needle isn't engaged in a project. Ah, maybe I'd best correct the collected and organized statement. The needles are 'collected' although not precisely 'organized'. But the system works for our HC.

We know just where to find the place the needles are stored, in a rolling cart in the second drawer. And as we all go to school, I am a dap hoof at numbers. The pattern said SIZE 3 DP NEEDLES. Although still baffled by the meaning of DP the '3' should help me find what I needed.

Then when I was looking through the drawer I noticed although all the needles had pointed ends to move fiber around, some were pointed on both ends. While others were pointed at one end with a sort of lid on the other. AND some had points at both ends but flexible ropes in between 2 pieces with pointed ends. Pointed? The 'P' might mean pointed. AH HA, another flash of insight. Maybe the needles with 'points' at each end.....meaning 2 ends.....and if 1 point meant SINGLE perhaps the 'D' might stand for DOUBLE. 1=SINGLE AND 2=DOUBLE. Well, might as well give it a try. So I selected different sorts of needles in cases with the number '3'.

I selected one with a flexible rope between the pointed pieces as that seems to be the sort of needle our HC usually knits with and a packet full of needles which had a 3 on it. The rope needles were in a packet so I knew they also were 3's but decided it might be easier to transport all to the pasture to join the fiber, if I removed the rope needles from the packet.  Now I would need to  developed my approach with my HC.

Part 1 of the Plan was completed. 1. YARN 2. PATTERN 3. NEEDLES

Next, getting our HC to cooperate,

HERZIG

NEXT-HOW TO KNIT THE EGGPLANT

POSTED BY HERZIG

I could have spent days, weeks, months FOREVER looking through all the books and papers belonging to my HC but who knows if she still had the pattern anymore. I had no idea when the knitted Eggplant was completed. Best to try and find it on the Internet. If it wasn't there my mission was sure to fail. But luck was on my side and with Himhe's assistance, as I'm not all that computer literate, SUCCESS!

Typing in 'Eggplant Pattern Knitting' there it was.

So I found what looked like the logical site to have the pattern for the knitted Eggplant. Again my luck held as I selected the one at the top of the list of suggested matches. As I crossed all 4 of my hooves, which made it a bit tricky to click the cursor I can tell you!!!! I managed to click. I closed my eyes and counted to 10. And when I opened my eyes............

There was the very thing I'd been looking for....at the back of the bowl on the picture in front of me on the computer~~~A KNITTED EGGPLANT! So it was a matter of scrolling down until I found what I wanted~~~~

A KNITTED EGGPLANT PATTERN.

Himhe showed me how to save the pattern into a file in Documents. And amazingly we found a file called 'patterns' in that library. Opening it up we saw several files all clearly marked, but nothing saying 'eggplant' or 'vegetables'. But there was a file called 'odds and ends' and that is where I saved the knitted Eggplant pattern. So when I tackle our HC to make a new knitted Eggplant for my best-est friend Piper, I would tell my HC just where to find part 2 of my hunt. 1. Yarn 2. Pattern, all that is left for this part of my hunt was what needles my HC would need to knit with. But what needle. And then just before I finished with the computer search I caught sight of just what I needed........

NUMBER 3 NEEDLES

 'DP'? I'd figure that out when I found out where all the needles were stored.

The Hunt Continues,

Herzig

First, Find Everything!

posted by Herzig

 My clue was our HC, as one who knits, probably had made the knitted Eggplant. Now our HC is always working at something and always has many needles on which grow things made from fiber. And I didn't want to answer any questions from her about what I was looking for, so I would need to be weary as I searched. Plus based on the few facts I'd gathered I was taking a big chance I would find what I was seeking. I would need to search for 2separate things fiber and sticks, but the most important would be the fiber.  

 

Certainly as items of fiber come in things called skeins and the knitted Eggplant wasn't all that big and IF the only thing our HC made with the 2 colors of fiber was the knitted Eggplant~CERTAINLY THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY OF THE SAME COLORED FIBER LEFTOVER. So I began to poke about all the places our HC keeps her fiber. So one by one I checked the piles of fiber and to my great delight, SUCCESS! 

The first place I looked was the Green fiber. The green was used to make the leaves on top of the knitted Eggplant. I didn't know if I should be thrilled at how quickly I located the green fiber or maybe it was more likely to be worried that all else would be difficult to locate. I chose to be thrilled and collected the green fiber and put it in my secret place in the pasture. Now, I had to find the purple fiber.

This find had me HLBing but I refrained from bleating out about my good fortune, no point in alerting anyone after all! And it was EXACTLY the yarn the knitted Eggplant was made of, at Ieast I just knew it had to be.

 I took the purple and put it with the green. Search 1 completed-I found the fiber. The next search would be a bit different from the search for the fiber. Fiber was easily seen all about where our HC lives. But what about the sticks that the fiber is attached too to do knitting. How would I know if a special stick in a specific size was required? Ah, now that I thought about it, it seems our HC always has a paper or a book of some sort as she is knitting...........as much as I wanted to keep my plan secret I was going to need to speak to someone who might know about the knitting things.....HIMHE!!! Himhe had something made by our HC which was knitted. His special cap, the one that is always on his head because he is of the Jewish faith. Himhe would be my next step then. And Himhe is very trustworthy and kind and knowledgeable.

In the morning perhaps. It had gotten dark and I was extremely weary. Finding the fiber and sneaking it away to the secret place in the pasture was a lot of work.

Time for sleep,

Herzig

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 

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

October until Halloween

posted by Esme the Ewe

Having discovered a knitted vegetable to replace Piper's Eggplant, we managed to interest him in the Pumpkin. Mostly by speaking of the importance of such a vegetable during the season of autumn. Piper was reluctant but slowly began to attend to the Pumpkin. But it was obvious that the relationship between Piper and the Pumpkin was nothing like Piper had felt for his Eggplant. We all knew we must work very hard to find a solution as once the autumn had passed things would return to our Piper laying about the pasture doing nothing.

So, explaining that in preparation for Halloween, Ellis had planned an Adventure. And Piper and his Pumpkin was chosen, among a select few others, to go on the Adventure. Piper at first donned his green sweater as a chill of autumn was in the air. Our HC helped knowing of the pain the loss of her...or rather Piper's....Eggplant. She found a fleece bag she had made in black and orange wool. As she had also made the Pumpkin, and of course the EGGPLANT, she knew the bag would be perfect. Perfect for Halloween. Perfect to carry the Pumpkin. Perfect to place a lovely Jack-O-Lantern to its front. And all would loop PERFECTLY over our Piper's arm. She whispered into my ear "perhaps this will prevent the Pumpkin getting lost also". {Despite Ellis's pithy comments at times regarding our HC we all know at she can be clever......sometimes!}.

With that we all settled in the vehicle, put on our seat belts and went on our Adventure. You see, this Adventure was in celebration of a rather special event, at least special to the HC's in our pasture. It was the weekend of our HC's entry into the world, her birthday. And she was becoming 56 years of age. {At times we are surprised she gets up in the morning due to all the groans we hear}. So the Adventure was to honor the event.

We visited the ocean and sunned on the Boardwalk.

We all had wonderful sill sitting time together.

And a knock at the door soon after we settled in our room produced a lovely rolling table. I encouraged our Piper to take his Pumpkin and join Himhe and Ovi to have their photo taken next to a chocolate coated chocolate cheesecake topped with lovely strawberries. A lovely card from the hotel wishing our HC a Happy Birthday was on the table along with water and a nice glass of fresh milk, which is our HCs BEVERAGE OF CHOICE when chocolate dessert appears.

I kept to the background encouraging our Piper to enjoy the Adventure. Alas.....by the time the rolling table arrived I could see Piper and the Pumpkin were growing apart. With a bit of sorrow I also noted since the boardwalk and sill sitting time Piper also seemed to be distancing himself from Ovi and Himhe.

I would need to relate all this to Ellis when we returned the next day,

From the October Adventure,

Esme the Ewe

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