Getting a Little Sheepish

Acorn Hill's practice class

The real class

The class' 60 sheep

The Good Shepherd

Corn husks, pipe cleaners and cotton balls unite to make sheep at Acorn Hill and The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gainesville.

In late December Sarah Daffodil was asked by a friend to copy an original painting by Linda Anderson. This painting, The Good Shepherd, became 3-dimensional when Daffodil made it from cornhusks. This was just the beginning of the project.

To help celebrate her friend's church's anniversary, Daffodil was also asked by her to teach how she makes her sheep to the children at her church. Daffodil practiced sheep making with residents of Acorn Hill beforehand. Daffodil's students at the church made 60 sheep to decorate the tables for the spring celebration.

In two more weeks shepherd classes begin with the adults.

A Flower in a Dress

Winter events can be bone-chilling for re-enactors who do not own winter clothes. No longer does Sarah Daffodil have to pretend that she is warm too.

It was Christmas Eve when she opened her latest dress - this one lined and extending to her wrists. It fit Daffodil perfectly except for the length. A friend of Acorn Hill , Miss Cecile, wanted to make the needed adjustment and also helped dress it up some. "I'm proud of it," said Daffodil.

Cecile easily let down a big hem at the bottom to lengthen the skirt. Since Daffodil does not wear a hoop when she dresses up, Cecile had extra material to work with. She used this to add a collar, cover where the hooks and eyes meet in the middle and make the cuffs more interesting.

Old Ways Considered Good

Was it worth the recent fishing trip when Main House President Dad started showing signs of sickness? He thinks so.

Some residents of Acorn Hill are learning about the healing power of herbs. Herbs are taken daily in capsule form like vitamins would be. Last year there was no sickness reported - that's until the final days of the year. Main House First Lady Mom took action.

She was excited to pull out the aging echinacea tincture from the pantry. It didn't taste good but it worked great. Dad put more forces to use by putting honey in his coffee and increasing his dosage of garlic capsules. Dad's improvement was almost immediate.

Residents are glad that Dad is well, that sickness didn't spread and that, when tested - the old ways proved good.

Worm Farm Improved

All things have a purpose on earth, even the little worms that tunnel through it. Mayor Asher Ply Wood helps to guide their purpose with his improved worm farm.

A tool set sat under the tree Christmas morning for Ply Wood. The next day the new tools were put to use as Main House President Dad, Nathaniel Barn Loft and the mayor dug a new hole in a new location for the worms. They set a wood frame they had constructed down into the hole, used plastic to line it and filled it in with plenty of rich dirt. Next, Ply Wood and Autumn Fern hunted for worms.

"Red worms are the composters," said a friend, "Earthworms need more space." The next day the farmers searched for the earth worm that was dropped into the farm. Dad said that they would buy some red worms from a bait shop.

Ply Wood feeds his worms coffee grinds daily. His worms will also enjoy egg shells and other kitchen scraps. So far the purpose of Ply Wood's worms is for his sheer delight.