swamped

It has been one of those weeks where I feel like a boat on an ocean full of tidal waves, constantly on the verge of capsizing, and no matter what I do, I don't really get anyplace.

Maybe it's just the sheer volume of activities, more than normal even for me, that has had me feeling like I can barely keep my head above water. (Sorry for all these mixed metaphors but drowning seems to be the constant theme).

Let's see, last weekend, besides the wedding, I volunteered at a local basket auction on Saturday night, and spun all day in our local historic park on Sunday, in addition to organizing and running a 4-H meeting in the middle of that same afternoon. All this stupid activity can be traced to a persistent feeling that I must devote every waking hour to some cause or another so I am not perceived as being a boil on the backside of humanity. (Name that movie...) I really need to get over this feeling already.

Unlike last year, the day was absolutely lovely. I had a beautiful spot on the porch where I could observe Secondo interacting with anyone who had questions about our sheep. Oh yes, did I mention we were committed to bring our sheep to be on display all day? We probably should be committed. Or at least, my husband thinks I am a good candidate.

Monday was spent getting the boys ready to take off on Tuesday for a whirlwind trip to volunteer at the 4-H National Youth Science Day in Washington D.C. They were only gone 24 hours but it took up all manner more time than that, though they did have a great time.

Thursday evening was an event at Secondo's school, and Friday...

Well. Friday. Friday involved me taking photos of the entire boys cross-country high school team for a special top-secret gift for their coach, and then having them all over to my house for dinner. All 28 of them. Luckily, I had cooking help from a couple other moms. A table with five pounds of pasta plus rolls, salad and fruit, before the boys are unloosed on it, looks like this.

And after...

You will note that the vast majority of the salad remains. You can lead a teenage boy to good nutrition, but you can't make him eat it.

I should mention that during all this, I was doing my level best to get ready for the Kings County Fiber Festival in Brooklyn on Saturday, as in the day after the pasta party. I hope my boys have some sort of inkling as to the lengths I go, but we all know they don't. The weather forecast was dicey, right up until the hours before we were due to leave, but in the end, it was perfect.

Due to a last-minute cancellation, my poor parents were pressed into service yet again, despite suffering from jetlag due to coming back from France just the day before. BUT!! it was a great day, and in between all the busy-ness of customers, I enjoyed hanging out with them and the rest of our family who lives in Brooklyn. I couldn't have done it without them.

The next day was the 4-H petting zoo for our local fall festival, so two entirely different sheep were pressed into public service. Two lambs this time, Molly and Marigold. A day spent in a pen with people all around does quite a bit to calm a skittish lamb down. Those two were seasoned pros by the end. Even better, a local fiber artist happened by and went crazy over their fleeces. Both are reserved for next spring's shearing.

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the two of them, or of my kids with them, or really of anything much except this:

I suppose if you only get one picture, this one of Thumper and Marigold is good enough!