Yearly Archives 2010

Visitors & Weekend Scenes

Visitors & Weekend Scenes

January 11, 2010 | 4 Comments

 Lazy greetings. Cilantro, Teaberry & friends at afternoon nap. Winter feedings: gold finch and sparrow. Buster, nattily dressed in my purple sweater – minus sleeves (sacrificed for lambie sweaters last spring!).    I'll leave off with some scenes from and a few words about my St. Distaff's Day gathering on Saturday. I so looked forward to this coming together of a handful of die-hard, local fiberists who I knew would be here regardless of weather. On my iphone calendar I had written the word "FUN" starting at 4:30 after evening chores. And it was. Cozy. Great friends. Scads of fiber. And
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Sheep Moves

Sheep Moves

January 9, 2010 | 6 Comments

One of yesterday's tasks was moving the little ladies from the open barn on the west side of Reynolds Road to the birthing barn on the east side of the road. The wind and driving snow added to the chaotic frenzy and, after weeks of same-ness,  the girls were thrilled to have a little adventure. Holly at the lead. It was snowing pretty hard!  The dash through the gate. Cognac takes a little detour to flirt with the boys. Signs of sheep traffic.     The scramble to the big barn. The little ewes will stay in the big barn until shearing
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FlockWork

FlockWork

January 8, 2010 | 5 Comments

I am beyond exhausted. Today was a big flock-work day. Sheep, goats, llamas. Coat changes, pedis, deworming, crutching messy butts. If they needed it, it got done. Snowy, cold and blustery here but it  somehow didn't feel terrible. Either I'm getting use to it – or maybe it just wasn't really that cold? We really hustled from barn to barn, group to group – constantly on the move. Didn't finish evening chores until way after dark. I'm sharing a few of my favorite moments of Holly and the boys in the carriage barn. The fellows all seemed to enjoy the
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St. Distaff”s Day

St. Distaff”s Day

January 7, 2010 | 3 Comments

  Wishing a happy St. Distaff's Day to all spinners (and non-spinners as well). Traditionally January 7th was the day for spinners to take up their distaffs (spindles) once again, after the twelve days of Christmas. Historically the guys, who evidently were not in a huge hurry to return to their work, used this day as an excuse to harass the girls, setting fire to their flax and such. The girls doused them with buckets of water in retaliation.  On Saturday I'll be celebrating the day (minus the fires and water dousing) here at the studio with a handful of
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Winter Thicket

Winter Thicket

January 6, 2010 | 7 Comments

  It's cold, but pretty here today, I went hunting in the thicket behind the barn(need some wild grape vine for a craft project). Had a little company. I can tell from the lack of hoof prints, the sheep haven't explored much beyond their feeders in recent days. My walk with the camera and pruning shears sparked some interest and they investigated the thicket with me.   Here's some shots for your sheep (and goat and llama) viewing pleasure.        copyright 2010, Barbara Parry. All rights reserved. Feel free to share a link to this site. Please do
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Fleece du Jour

Fleece du Jour

January 5, 2010 | 8 Comments

Just a quick post today to share something special. Thought you might enjoy a look at these fleeces before I ship them out for processing. None of them came from my sheep. These were my  purchases from the fleece show at the Eastern States Expo in back in September (why I buy fleece, with 85 + sheep shorn here each year is a subject for another day).  I scored a lovely colored Border Leicester from Kristen Whittle of Little Brook Farm and two dark brown Romney fleeces from Mary Pratt of Elihu farm in NY (no website that I could
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Still

Still

January 4, 2010 | 5 Comments

The air has been blessedly still since 5:30 a.m. I am so enjoying the break from the thundering roar of wind, the soundtrack of the past week. Until just now, I hadn't realized how much this restless, incessant sound has been wearing on my nerves. Unrelenting gusts thrashing against doors; ice and snow peppering windows.   I've recently discovered Felicity Ford's blog, The Domestic Soundscape,  which has me thinking about the sounds that accompany life. I associate certain sounds with certain times of day at the farm: the morning is full of hungry, insistent baahs, (which are different from the friendly
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Wind & Snow

Wind & Snow

January 3, 2010 | 3 Comments

For hours I've been watching this poor guy. He's trying remain upright in a strong wind in order to glean the millet and sunflower seeds that have blown onto the ground from the feeder which has been blowing sideways all morning. Hellacious wind all night and right through morning has caused some crazy drifitng. This bird, the only one I can see from my window today, must be very hungry indeed to spend many calories fighting for a meal. I'm reading Elizabeth Marshall Thomas' book, The Hidden Life of Deer which is making me think about wildlife's struggle for survival
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In With the New

In With the New

January 1, 2010 | 6 Comments

  After a little New Year's Eve revelry, this morning was definitely low energy for me, though the sheep were their normal bouncy selves. The young ewes skipped like lambs the entire length of the barn to say hello. Guess they hadn't stayed up late partying last night. Headed to the village for a double latte (thank goodness Mocha Maya's was open) after morning chores. I went hunting for color outdoors today. For several hours the sky brightened, the sun warmed and the snow thawed, though by afternoon we were back to flat, gray light and more snow flurries this
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