The head shepherdess of Wheely Wooly Farm grew up in the city, running through yards, catching any and all dogs in the neighborhood, and befriending the many, many widows that lived everywhere. All those widows were a dream for a young girl!! At that time, so many women outlived their husbands, for their husbands had built our nation. They had fought in world wars, sweated in factories, and built up our food supply unlike anything seen before. In my city, they built doors, windows, furniture, paper products of all sorts, put the world on track for municipal garbage collection, made heavy duty axles for all sorts of huge vehicles, and many other hard things.
And yet, despite being alone in their homes, they were the happiest, smiliest, most cheerful, social people I knew growing up! They also bought huge amounts of chocolate from a little girl hoping to make a sales goal!
So what does this have to do with sheep? Well, it doesn't! But all of these women were very busy. They grew gorgeous, perfect gardens. They raised scrumptious apples, pears, raspberries and massive hygrangeas. They introduced me to cultures, customs, and languages from the homelands, particularly Norway and Scotland. They showed me snapdragons, and how to get morning glories to climb nearly to the sky, and how to make a rain barrel. They had showstopping pantries stocked with pretty jars of food on lovely lacy shelf liners and doilies! They asked about my life. They cared. They exuberated love. And they ALL knit, crocheted, or tatted. They'd pull up an extra chair on nice summer evenings out in the driveway, and wait to see who'd come land in it for awhile. If it was the chatty little girl, or a nearby adult, all were welcome and appreciated.
Their houses were positively filled in every visual space with beautiful things. Arm chair covers, shelf doilies, liners and trims, decorative shade pulls, lamp shade trims, fancy table cloths, canning jar covers, even the spare roll of toilet paper all covered in something cute or beautiful! Rugs, curtains, side tables, bedspreads, over the edge on pillow cases, bath towels, even hot pads for hot dishes! Busy! These women were very, very busy!
There was something else they were very good at...well, that is if zucchini wasn't ready yet in the garden...cookies! What kid doesn't love a kind neighbor with really good cookies out of zucchini season??!? The only problem was...if you stood still long enough to politely snorkle down such delicious cookies, you did get a sense that you might be the next thing to be covered in lace, crochet, or knitting!
As an adult now, with my own flock of sheep, I no longer fear such worries, rather, I cherish them! All those beautiful people will forever be vibrant and happy memories!
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