Fun
Lazy Sunday: Babe
Dear Ann,
Hey, hi! We’re at Rhinebeck together, right this very minute, enjoying the sights and sounds, snacks and scents of the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival. Every year I make sure to ditch the book barn for a few minutes to watch a sheepdog demo. The way a sheepdog works—how do they do that?—will never not fill me with wonder and humility at all the things I cannot fathom in this world. What makes a dog want to be helpful to humans? What makes a dog able to be helpful to humans?
I also always, without fail, think of the movie Babe, and cherish a small hope that someday I’ll see a sheep-herding pig in real life.
If you’re not at Rhinebeck this weekend, settle in and enjoy this marvelous 1995 movie and its imagination of the life of animals. (As always, I identify with the ewes.) And if you’re at Rhinebeck, put it in your queue (it’s free with a Starz trial subscription, or just rent it from Amazon—it’s 4 bucks well spent) and enjoy.
Love,
Kay
In the MDK Shop
My favorite movie, bar none. That’ll do, pig.
That’ll do
Great seeing you both at Rhinebeck yesterday! I enjoy your daily newsletter so much! Have a great day and a safe trip home.
I loved that movie and realize that my younger daughter has never seen it. We will be renting it. Thank you so much for the reminder.
Wish I was at Rhinebeck!!! Would love to meet the MDK girls. I can’t say it enough U R my people:)))
I said to my husband last night, “I want to watch Babe again.” It was in the ether.
I have been looking for a sweet, non-challenging movie to watch while feeling crappy from chemo and knitting. THIS IS IT! I’ve seen it at least three times, and look forward to the next one. Best movie ever! Have a grand time at Rhinebeck — I’m looking forward to the re-runs next week.
Even better than the movie is the book: Babe the Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smaith 🙂 All his books are delightful !
I did not know there was a book! Off to check the library website…
Love fiber festivals! Love Babe! (BTW, robbed of best picture by Braveheart that year.) Someday I hope to go to Rhinebeck, the Mother of All Fiber Festivals. Until then, I look forward to photos of you and others lucky enough to go. Side note: I had been knitting with acrylic for weeks (special projects) at the time I went to our local Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in late September. After seeing all the beautiful “real” yarn, roving, and fiber animals, I had to buy and almost immediately begin knitting with a lovely Lincoln/Alpaca blend yarn from one of my favorite dyers! I don’t know if it’s a real thing, but I definitely felt that I was suffering from Wool Deficit Disorder.
I love Babe! Such a sweet, wonderful show. And coming on the heels of following up on your recommendation of E.B. White’s reading of Charlotte’s Web, which I listened to with my 6-year-old (he was so smitten with the book), I think we have a theme,
Sheepdogs! My admiration for them is limitless. Decades ago I read a short story about a sheepdog trial. Hazy memory, but IIRC, the judge was biased against Our Hero, so OH’s hi-IQ dog didn’t win his trial. Afterward, a group of owners and dogs, and the mean-spirited judge, were standing around talking and the judge challenged OH to demonstrate his dog’s intelligence. I’ve forgotten most of the uncommon commands the dog was given and performed perfectly, but the last one was best: “Who is the handsomest man here?” The dog trotted around, looking at every face, and ended up sitting at the feet of his choice: the judge.
It’s easy to understand why making this movie brought James Cromwell to veganism.