Well, I have to thank Beau for getting me caught up.  In his compassion he washed ALL the laundry yesterday while I was away teaching Jr High students how to spin.  It was fun and I wish I had taken some pictures, (of the class I mean, not the laundry :P).

They listened attentively and seemed interested.  Several of them commented that the raw fleece I brought was SOOOooo stinky!  And it made me think of dear old Blue my friend Tammy’s Merino ram.   He is aromatic to say the least.  I mean DANG, it makes ME gag!  I contemplated why I found the fleece I had brought not only be NOT stinky, but of a pleasant amount of sheepie odor.  I LIKE the smell of my Shetland fleeces…  Could it be that it’s because I have burned out the smell receptors in my nose by exposing them to the noxious fumes that emanate from the posteriors of certain diaper bearing children that live here?  That is the only explanation I can come up with.

These kids must have never smelled REAL stench, and therefore have no concept at all of what the word “stink” really means.  Some fleeces stink, but this one didn’t, very mild.  It makes me wonder, after I’ve been working raw fleece, and I go to the store do Jr High kids smell me and think I stink???  I mean what if my definition is all wrong and I’ve been going around  smelling disgusting?  Well, if so,that’s ok, because everybody should know what sheep smell like, so I’m doing a public service if you ask me.

The kids were mostly fascinated by the spinning as they watched me.  A few of them fiddle farted around and didn’t do much.  Then some others took it up right away!  I set them to helping the ones who didn’t get it yet.

There were two special needs students in the class, and one of them in particular had difficulties.  One of the lovely girls in the class helped her with the most patience and caring that I was really very impressed with her as a person.  She was a very pretty young lady, and of the sort to be well liked, and I found it to be quite inspiring to see someone so willing to help out someone, despite the likelihood that she would be made fun of for it.  Plus she didn’t think my fleece smelled, so that makes her even nicer yet.

After the class, the two special needs kids drug me by the sleeve up to meet their teacher.  There were about 8 students in that class, and the teachers asked me if I could show the kids there how to spin.  So I gave a demonstration and they were like 10 year olds with a brand new game boy.  Or like me with a pound of some new fiber that I’ve wanted to try forever.  I.. JUST…CAN’T….LOOK..AWAY!  and NO I can’t put it down, (to Beau)  and yes I just might sleep with it.  By the way, where are you sleeping? I hear the couch is comfie…

The kids asked me about our farm and how we live, and I had to tell them the names of all the animals that live here(6 cats, 15 sheep, a dog, two horses, a pony and the chickens).  I failed to tell them all of the chickens names, although they are all named…hee hee, I was hungry and ready to go eat lunch!  They were a great audience, and there is a possibility that they might be having me back to help the kids try to spin.

As an aside, I should tell you I also post on another blog about my sheep and our farm.  You might enjoy that one too, mostly I just talk about whatever, it’s not sanitized and discusses the realities of farm life hee hee.   www.allena.thethreeringranch.com  Someone gave me an award for that blog, and I felt kind of weird because many of the blogs I read, know me from THIS blog, so by the time they knew I gave them the award, they had already got it from someone else.   bummer, well it just shows that people I know are really cool people as I have to compete to compliment them.

So for the kids, I sell the spindles I make with CDs plus some fiber and the lesson for $5 each, so I don’t make a whole lot, but I do get the chance to teach kids to do something productive instead of drooling down their chin parked in front of the tube.  Of course I gave them all my, “Television will Rot Your Brain” speech, but I doubt any of them believed me lol.  I’m not totally against TV, but many people always ask me how I have time to spin, knit, home-school or anything like that.  Well, frankly I don’t waste 3 - 5 hours a day sitting there watching shows that are so stupid that you can see the IQ points falling out of your ears…  I use that evening time to spin, knit, read or do something with the family.  Soo a friendly reminder, watch some TV or movies, but don’t forget to turn it off, because the REAL world is passing you by as you stare off into the depths of the dummy box.  Anyhow, maybe some of these kids will get bit by the bug, and start to spin?  Wouldn’t that be cool?  I don’t mean to be rude to TV connoisseurs, but kids are watching too much TV/video games and all that.  They need to get a hobby!  So take a kid out to smell a sheep today ok?

After that, I was pretty tired, and was treated to a nice red dinner by my friend Liz.  Red dinner is Chinese food, and Elizabeth loves to eat what she calls “red dinner”.  I love the creative ways that children express their feelings, and describe their surroundings.  I will probably call it red dinner for a long time.  It’s a very accurate description.   Speaking of Elizabeth, I would like to point out what happens when little girls play with Legos - at least this little girl…

I have titled the peice, “TK427, Why Aren’t You at Your Post”  Legos on bookshelf by Elzabeth Jackson -  I particularly like the way she used the blaster beams as a table plant..  This shows an irony and depth that is truly evocative of todays modern mindset of childrens toys.  The artist has cleaverly used color for the furnishings to offset the stark whiteness of the figures in the work, which also is contrasted by the black foundation.   The clear reversal of gender roles is refreshing and echoes the irony of the medium used to convey the concepts of violence vs peaceful co-existence.  snicker snicker…

Now, many of you don’t know, but I have a BFA in painting from IU Bloomington.  Back then, I would have painted this, and laughed with every stroke of the brush. I very much enjoyed creating paintings that presented things in a way contrary to their purpose.  For instance I painted a Spiderman reading the paper, like on Sunday mornings he hangs out in his leotard and reads the funnies…  Now, I have to settle for posting it on my blog.  I considered naming it “Storm Trooper Tea Time”  snort.  It does have a lot of interesting concepts, but really, it all boils down to, this is what happens when you give my little girl legos with storm troopers….  Conversely a boy will often take a tea set and suddenly the dishes are flying saucers having in intergalactic battle across the living room floor.  Oh well, I guess what counts, is that they have a good time right?

Kids sure are fun!