Choose Your Own Sheepventure - vol II

We are getting ready to start the second round of our yarn club where YOU are the main character of a cozy, sheep-infested story and your choices determine the yarn you receive each month! For volume II, which starts December 21, you have volunteered to watch your friend's farm and take on the daily chores of caring for the animals.

It sounds simple enough, but the sheep in your town of Spindle Falls have a knack for causing mischief and you never know what each day will bring.

There is more information on this four month yarn club in the listing here. You can choose self-striping or semi-solid yarn on a variety of bases. You can purchase the entire club up front or pay monthly and cancel any time. 

Each month, starting on December 21, you will be sent a small section of the story via email. The story will end in two choices and you'll make your choice via a simple online form. On the 10th of the following month your yarn (a new, surprise colorway) will ship along with a bit of the story based on the choice you made. 

The story is a lot of fun, but if you'd prefer a shortcut, there is always easy to find info that gives you hints about the yarn color(s) without having to read the story.

Please see the signup listing for more info, or send us an email to jsmoskal@gmail.com if you have any questions! 

Here is an example of the first installment of the story from the last time we ran this club. In this version of the club you were helping gather sheep for their annual shearing in the town of Spindle Falls. You can see the initial story email in full, as well as the resulting yarn and the conclusion of the story. (Please note, the yarn colorways and story ending remain a surprise until you receive them in the mail.)

Step 1: You'll receive a story like this via email.

Today is the day.

It’s an exciting day, and if we’re being honest, one that we dread, just a bit. Its a day of fun and joy, but it is sure to be a day that leaves us exhausted, and maybe just a little bruised. 

Today is the annual “Gathering of the Woolies.” 

___

It’s 4:00 AM. Your dream is disrupted by the sound of Nora Jones. “Sunrise,” is the song you’ve chosen for your alarm this morning. This is ironic, because the actual sunrise is still hours away. Grabbing your phone, you debate hitting the snooze, but know that nothing good will come from that. Still, you take a moment to collect yourself before getting up and joining the world of the living.

The Gathering of the Woolies (“Woolie Day,” for short) is the day  each year that all of the Spindle Falls sheep get shorn. Shearing the sheep in Spindle Falls is a huge activity. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also a celebration. Everyone in town participates in some way, and hundreds of sheep get sheared.

There’s a long tradition of shearing in Spindle Falls. There has to be, with so many sheep! Some of the Spindle Falls residents are very good at it. AJ holds the record, having shorn 38 sheep on Woolie Day a few years ago. Most aren’t as fast or have as much stamina as AJ - the average shearer on Woolie Day will remove the fleece from 8-10 sheep. Some of the younger novices who are just learning the skill will top out at 2 or 3. You recall that this year, there are 87 people that have signed up for shearing duty. They are newbies, and seasoned veterans. The youngest to wield shears this year will be 13, and the oldest 82!

Not you. Not this year. You do a good job shearing, but this year you’ve lent your beloved PremierOne shearing machine to your friend Rachel. Rachel is only 14 years old, and it will be her first year shearing the sheep by herself. Your shearing machine is lighter than most, and easier to grip than the more powerful ShearMasters that many people prefer, so it is a good match for the young girl.    

Woolie Day has plenty for people to do besides shearing, so this year you volunteered for a support role. The support work starts a week before the big event, and continues for a few days afterwards, or in the case of Tom and the others who work in the wool mill, the work goes on for months. Early work includes gathering and sharpening all the blades and combs for the shearing machines, collecting sacks for the fresh fleece, setting up the skirting tables, and planning for the celebratory BBQ feast afterwards. Mark and the fire department take charge of organizing aid stations.

Your job this year is “Recovery.” While a great majority of the sheep are easy to round up, every year, some of the most stubborn, recalcitrant, or otherwise grumpy ewes make the people of Spindle Falls work extra hard for their wool. You’ve proven to have a knack for getting these sheep into an “agreeable mood,” but you still expect to have your work cut out for you.

______

This morning, the recovery team is meeting at Jenna’s Cafe. You arrive a bit early, and are instantly comforted by the familiar aroma of Jenna’s Belgian Waffles. The cafe is half full, mostly with other members of the sheep recovery team. You spot Amber at the counter, lifting a clear glass cloche to select from the delightful array of cupcakes underneath. Amber is coordinating this year’s recovery efforts. By now, she knows what sheep are missing, and has collected intelligence as to their last known location.

Making your way towards Amber, you pass by Bobby and Debbie. “Good morning!” you offer. 

They smile and wave, and get back to their conversation. They are busy exchanging some Grade A, juicy gossip… quite loudly. You hear the names “Mark,” and “Sophie,” and something about a haunted barn?

Amber spots the joyful smirk on your face, “Just ignore those two silly people and their gossip.” she advises. She doesn’t mean that. Whatever the gossip is, Amber probably started it. “We’ve only got sheep to worry about today!”

Amber lays out the situation. There aren’t as many sheep absent as usual, but the ones that need to be found are some of the most clever and devious troublemakers. The first group to be gathered are known as the Shetland Seven. Seven Shetland ewes, all born 4 years ago. They were last seen near “The Crag.” They’ve been inseparable their whole life, so find one and find them all. They’re a bit twitchy, and they are good at jumping. Boy, they are very good at jumping.

“So, oh wise sheep wrangler...” Amber asks “how are you thinking to get these sheep in to town?”

You look out the window onto the square. The open space currently resembles a busy dog park.    Daryl and Other Daryl, the two great Pyrenees guard dogs that usually reside on the square have been joined for the day by many others. Anyone that has a herding or guard breed that works well with the flock has assembled here, ready to lend their assistance. You see a few border collies, Australian shepherds and cattledogs, a few corgis wearing knit sweaters, a Malinois, and several other dogs you don’t really know the breed name of. 

You could enlist help from some of the dogs. They are generally good at rounding up the wayward animals, but these particular Shetland ewes are keenly intelligent and willful. Pair that with their athletic speed and jumping ability, they might not respond as well. Add their location near a rocky cliff, they might end up jumping to a place the dogs can’t easily reach. You’ll have to pick out the right dogs to help with this task. 

Time to decide. 

Do you:

A.) Select some dogs to help. They have a long track record of being reliable herding partners, and dogs are awesome. You watch as mottled gray and black cattle dogs and rusty Keplies try herding an unamused pyrenese. They’re certainly up for the work! You’re confident they will help you get the job done, but it might be difficult if the sheep climb to a place the dogs can’t get to.

B.) Leave the dogs. They might be more trouble than they are worth for these sheep. You’ll figure something out when you find them, but for now you’re super hungry. The pastel cupcakes are only an arms length away... The bright, vibrant, sugary icing. What is that, Raspberry? Strawberry? Lemon? What flavor are the purple ones? Steal a whole plate of the cupcakes to take with you. You’ll figure it out when you get there. AFTER you’ve eaten.
___________________

Step 2: Make your choice! There will be a link in your story email to a very brief form, asking your name and your story choice. The form also gives guidance on the yarn color(s) you can expect. If you've chosen to receive a semi-solid skein, you can even pick which of the listed colors you'd like. You'll have at least 5 days to make your story choice. And, if you are tempted by both colorways, there is an option to purchase a second skein.

What will you take with you as you look for the Shetland Seven?

• Sheepdogs (rusty red, golden tan, cream, gray)
• Cupcakes (bright raspberry, strawberry, lemon, and whatever flavor purple is)
• I can't decide! Please pick for me.

__________________________

Step 3 - receive your yarn! Your yarn will ship on the 10th of the following month, along with a little bit of story related to your choice. 

The Crag is steep and difficult to navigate, so having help from dogs makes the most sense.

You head out to the square and talk with Matt, the Mutt Coordinator. You tell him what you need to do and where you need to do it. Seven sheep, on the crag someplace. We have to get then down and back in to town. 

There are about a dozen dogs standing by, waiting for an assignment. 

“What about him?” You ask, pointing to a large sheepy looking Great Pyrenese.

“No – I think Barney’s a bad choice. He’s too lazy. His job today is protecting the flock that is close by. You want… PattyPan and Pancake I think. They’re an Australian Kelpie, and a Belgian Malinois. Very smart dogs, and they work together very well. I think they’d love this task. Now… where are they?”

Matt looks around for the 2 canine shepherds, but they are nowhere to be seen. 

“Huh. They were here just a couple minutes ago…. PATTYPAN!!! PANCAKE!!!! COME HERE!!!” Matt calls, but to no avail.

You spend a few minutes helping Matt look for the dogs, and are about to finally give up, when seven Shetland sheep come marching into the square, each with a look of minor consternation on their faces. Laying on top of the two trailing ewes, a sight that would be odd in most towns, but not in Spindle Falls, two relaxed dogs. An Australian Kelpie, and a Belgian Malinois. 

“I told you they were good for this task. What's next!”

UGH! I don’t want to have to think about the dogs. I’ll just go get the sheep myself!

Securing the cupcakes in your backpack, you head out the door. The Crag is not too far out of town. A popular spot for hiking, there is a very scenic trail that winds up to the top of the ridge, where good views of the valley can be had year round. It’s also a favorite spot for the Spindle Falls Birding Club, who monitor migrating raptors as they climb out of the valley. 

Very pretty, but… it is a steep climb. It’s going to be quite a hike. 

As soon as you arrive, you spot your quarry. The Shetland Seven are lackadaisically grazing at the top of the ridge. You’re gonna have to get them, but first you need energy. You plop yourself down onto a log and pull out the cupcakes. As you open the container, you are enthralled by the wonderfully buttery, creamy, sweet, rich and delicious and wonderful and heavenly aroma. You lose yourself in the sensations of olfactory delights …. Time has no meaning as you prepare to savor your first bite… 

BAAAHHHH!!!!

A sheep snatches the cupcake right from your hand. As you regain your composure, you find yourself surrounded by Seven Shetland sheep, for a total of 14 crazed sheep eyes. Each sheep anxiously bouncing their front legs, in anticipation of a sugary treat.

Fortunately, you did bring enough to share. The cupcakes saved you a lot of effort as you use the promise of their wonderfulness to coax the wayward ovines back to town.

 _____________________________

This example from last year might seem tame enough, but it did get rather crazy after that! And this year, you are in charge of caring for an entire farm! The potential for calamity lurks around each of your decisions! 

Please join us! The Adventure (volume II) begins December 21, but signups are open now!