Yesterday was a more low-key day for Sam, so I got acquainted with some of the household friends while she slept in and worked on some knitting.

I was so excited to meet not just one, but two gnomes here! I wrote earlier about asking if they knew Heinie, and while they haven’t met in person they know all about him. Saul is the smaller gnome. He is a very wise and quiet old chap who stands guard over the animals on that side of the room. The cow has been in Sam’s family since she was a kid and it actually moos with a motion sensor if you keep it on. I really liked the sheep’s little bow tie, and think I’d like to wear one like that someday!

I also met a turkey, a pig, and a giant slug…who is also wearing a bow tie! Such lovely pals with a lot to say. They each told me about their respective species, and I think it’s a great way to prepare for some time on the farm this coming week. The turkey was almost a donation to a silent auction a few years back for Sam’s work (she’s made some friends to donate in the past), but decided she liked him so much that she might as well keep him. I’m glad, because he taught me so much about turkeys; for one thing, did you know their heads can change color based on their mood? They can vary from blue, to red, to white…although this tom has a permanent pleasant blue about him.

Meanwhile, sheep can remember up to 50 other faces, including humans (and hopefully bunnies!) And pigs are just like dogs in that they LOVE getting belly rubs. They can sleep for up to 18 hours a day, and are one of the smartest animals on the planet.

At the other side of the room lives Oliver, a much larger gnome. He’s the sort of chap you want to sing old tavern songs with late into the night (not that I would know a ton about that, being a wee lad myself). He was very sweet, friendly, and funny, and even let me take a nosh out of the plant he was growing.

Sam let me supervise a blanket she’s seaming as a belated gift for a coworker’s new baby. With help from my eagle eye, she saw that the letters were actually a bit off center, so I got to help chaperone as she restitched them. She’s now working on the border, and might make a little knitted friend to go along with it.

Lorna has been very gentle with me. Sam wasn’t sure how she would respond, as I don’t look terribly different from some of her toy mousies. But she gave me a nice curious sniff as I rested in my bed and went on her way. She and Sam have only been together for seven months, but they’ve become best friends. I hope everyone is as lucky to have good friends; you always have me, for one!