Gourds and Garden Work

Yesterday I spent most of the day at Amador High School in Sutter Creek. The Art's Council put on a really fun group of classes called "Taste of the Arts". and our gourd group gave one of the classes.

We told them about our group and invited people to come join us.  One of our members, Christie, was the "ring leader" for the day and talked about the history of gourds, how they are grown and some of the techniques that we use on the gourds.
We let people pick out a gourd that was already cleaned, stained and ready for artwork.

We showed them some of the gourd art from our club.

Gave them some ideas and a table full of paints, feathers, and all kinds of embellishments. Then we let them have fun. We answered questions and helped when needed.
These folks just had a great time. They didn't hesitate to create some "gourd art" of their very own. Here are some of the results.

If you are interested in this just  Google "gourd art" and take a look at what is out there. Make a birdhouse for some lucky bird this summer. Gourds have been used for utensils, bowls, water carriers, birdhouses, baby rattles, instruments and many other useful items long before people bought these things at the local goods store. The American Indians used gourds for everything.They are easy to grow if you have HOT summers and the plants are beautiful.
It was a full day but we had a good time and gave some folks "A Taste of the Arts." Maybe we will see some of them at our next gourd meeting.
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Today, The Prospector and I spent the day outside. We are getting rid of our lawn. It's the right thing to do. As much as we enjoyed the lawn, it took too much water from our well every summer and the gophers thought that it was  a really fun place to build there condos. By the end of last summer it looked like a bombed out war zone and it was time to have a cease fire, so..... NO MORE LAWN.

Just pea gravel and a small garden area that will be as "zero scape" as possible. I really will miss the lawn but not the water that is required to maintain it. I will post a photo of the finished area in a few weeks.

The tulips are blooming.

And the goats are happy. The sun is shinning and "...all's right with the world." The goat boys are getting along.
Brownie doesn't play with them when they rough house and butt each other. He keeps his distance. He seems to have lost weight  and is still very subdued. He is eating both the grass and their hay so I'm not too worried.
Today they were in the south pasture and all laying together under the big oak tree. I think that things are going to be OK now. The beautiful weather has brought peace to the farm. Brownie is healing and the goats are accepting him back into their fold. I can't tell you how worried I was that this wouldn't happen. But it seems that things will be all right.