There are women in everyone’s lives who inspire them.  In my small fiber focused world there are women like Bonnie, who hosted our last 2nd Monday fiber group.  I  don’t really know Bonnie all that well, I don’t know her life’s tragedies (and we all have them) or the people she has in her life, or her hopes and dreams.  But I do see her quiet grace and strength; so evident in the care and respect with which she treats the many animals under her care.  I know this spring has had its hardships, keeping her sheep healthy and dealing with her own health issues and yet she can put that aside and welcome us into the warmth of her home with a gracious ease. Heck sometimes I feel challenged just getting healthy food on the table for my family. Truth be told there are many women that I admire in our fiber group. Barb, Char and Elin also raise sheep with love and care, Sonya welcomes children into her family from far off lands, Susan made it possible for me and many others to see ourselves as weavers, they all bring a socially conscious, politically aware mindset to our talks. They also bring a wealth of fiber  knowledge, life experience and darn good food to each gathering. And oh how we laugh.  Instead of seeing  the illnesses that people have to deal with or the many age related slaps in the face we all deal with, we see the strength and beauty we share  through fiber and friendships and as we are coming to realize…food.

lambs

lambies

hay shed

more critters

sheep and friend

sheep and friend

sweet Frankie

sweet Frankie

all this and curried lamb too

all this and curried lamb too

hitching a ride to check out the sheep

hitching a ride to check out the sheep

sweet faces

sweet faces and cuddles all around

fiber works

fiber works

looks a little more used than my piano

looks like it is used a little more  than my piano

more critters

more of the bottle fed lambs and their protectors

goat hill

goat hill