It began on, really, on Saturday night, almost Sunday morning when the Michigan State Spartan football team, on a gutsy call by their coach Mark Dantonio, decided to put the fate of the game, now in overtime, in the hands of the team via a play called "Little Giants" after the movie of the same name.
To witness this, as a long time Spartan fan and alumni, was downright amazing as this is the type of event that often happens TO Spartan teams, not in favor of Spartan teams. We all head our breath as the play unfolded, first in disbelief then unbridled enthusiasm as, for once, the pass was perfect, the ball was caught, the goal line crossed, not a flag was tossed, the clock didn't expire and the Spartans won. To witness adult males, aged 40+, jumping for joy, high five-ing, embracing each other (there were no tears - we'll save that for another game - fingers crossed).
Now, to the Woolly part.
The Mrs., myself, and our two boys traveled about an hour to the quiet hamlet of Romeo, Michigan to see and experience the Sheep and Wool Festival as presented by Peter and Yvonne Uhlianuk (your guess on pronunciation is as good as mine). As it turns out, we were one weekend off (it's scheduled for Sept 25 and 26, 2010).
http://www.sheepstuff.com/Festival.html
Fearing a lot of disappointment among the wee ones, I stepped out of the car in an effort to see if we couldn't, at least, see some sheep as there would be no sheering, or demonstrations of sheering that day.
Yvonne, and later her husband Peter, we incredibly welcoming to us city folk who had driven to their part of Michigan see the sites and smell the smells of their farm...including Rams and Ewes, Border Collies, Geese (who are very loud when children approach), a barn cat or two, hundreds of pumpkins and a great deal of well manicured acreage.
What's most important to note is that next weekend is really when the Festival occurs and there is much to be seen and to experience. Bee keeping, Border Collie demonstrations, sheep sheering, a store filled with woolens and more. Yvonne and Peter (who hail from New Zealand) maintain a working farm, and this is a big production to them. Their hospitality was genuine and we'll be going back to check it out, in its full glory, next weekend.
Would love to see you there, and I know Yvonne and Peter would as well.
