Archives for Craft

The Year of the Apple

March 18, 2011 | 41 Comments

Apples is by far the most popular of our suggested lamb name themes for this year. Thank you, thank you, thank you for voting. It was a lot of fun to watch. We are looking forward to a bushel of new lambs, in less than two weeks from now. I'm thinking of all the fun name possibilties: MacIntosh, Gala, Macoun, Braeburn . . . If you would like to suggest an apple variety to name one of our lambs-to-be, please leave a comment here. My days have gone from busy to busier in a hurry. Immediately after shearing, we've shipped
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Llama Lure

March 14, 2011 | 9 Comments

Before lambing season sweeps in and captures everyone's attention, I thought you might like a visit from some of our non-gestating critters. Sol llama lives with last year's lambs. Each day we work with him on the same basic lesson: people are ok. It's taking lots of patience and incentives. At first he wouldn't come near us, even though a grain pan is mighty tempting. It drove the lambs nuts that he didn't want it and they couldn't have it. They still swarm around my legs like agitated bees. But now he easily comes within arm's length and sometimes even
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Sloppy Eaters and the Importance of Sheep Coats

March 7, 2011 | 12 Comments

I thought I'd use today's post to address two questions I've been asked recently: Q: How are Mistral & Georgia doing? A: Happy as clams. Or maybe I should say as happy as lambs. Mistral, Georgia and friends are wintering in the Open Barn. The group has quickly bonded with Sol, our new llama. Feeding is the highlight of their day. As far as I can tell, they spend the rest of their time lounging in the yard with Sol, unless the weather stinks. Then they lounge around the barn. The ewe lambs we have kept from 2010 lambing are
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Sheep Shares Teaberry Yarn Give-Away Winner!

March 1, 2011 | 1 Comment

Attention Sheep Shares CSA members. Susan F. is the lucky winner of our drawing for two skeins of Teaberry Yarn spun from our ram Teaberry's champion Cormo fleece! Congrats to Susan. (If you reserved skeins of this yarn for purchase we are shipping this week upon receipt of payment – either by check or via PayPal. This was a limited edition yarn run and all skeins are spoken for.) If you would like to learn more about joining Sheep Shares, we are still accepting memberships for yarn shares. Click here to learn more.
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Winter’s Waning GiveAway Winner

February 18, 2011 | 5 Comments

Thank you for your comments on last Friday's post. New England is feeling less winter-bound the past few days. It will be weeks before we can see the grass or buds on the trees here, but reading about the signs of spring in other parts is a good balm for the winter soul. Thanks for sharing your thoughts (and for so generously spreading the word, you guys are great). Congrats to Ellen who commented on 2/14/11 at 9:57 am. Ellen, please contact me through my website with your address so I can mail your prize: 4 skeins Foxfire Fiber's Wool
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Llama Llove?

February 14, 2011 | 7 Comments

Could there be romance in the air at the farm? Sometimes I wonder if there's flirtation between Caitlyn and Sol. She loves gazing in his direction as he struts around the paddock. He seems to pose just for her. She bats her eyes. Ok, really, this llama rellationship is strictly pllatonic. Although they would make a handsome couple. Happy hearts day to all!! And I have loved reading your comments on my Winter's Waning GiveAway; it's encouraging to hear that spring is further along in other parts. Milder weather at the farm is warming everyone's hearts here today.
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Winter’s Waning GiveAway

February 11, 2011 | 170 Comments

We've hit the winter doldrums. Freeze, snow, thaw, freeze, snow, thaw, repeat. Ice dams on the barn roof, glacial ice sheets in the barn yard, ginormous mountains of grimy slush everywhere. Winter has worn out its welcome but it's too early to start hunting for signs of spring. Instead I'm looking for signs of winter easing up: the angle of the sun in the sky – a little higher than it was just a week ago; a few extra minutes of daylight for evening chores. Aside from the drama of our weekly storms, there's a sameness to winter farm routine.
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Whoa, Snow!

February 4, 2011 | 9 Comments

Winter is causing an UNREAL amount of trouble. I know we're not alone in this, as this week's back-to-back storms have affected so many. We are simply running out of places to put snow. The sheep are faring well, but they are yarded up and not venturing out into the paddocks. We were in the single frigits this morning, but temperatures here are expected to reach the low 30's today, hopefully enough to break up the crusty snow and give the flock more room to stretch their legs. I'm ordinarily a winter fan, but this year is trying our
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More Winter Fun!

January 28, 2011 | 5 Comments

We're having a Winter Tag Sale on select farm yarns! Today we're featuring bargains on Upland Wool & Alpaca Yarn, a melange of fine wool and border leicester from our flock blended with alpaca fiber sourced locally. Visit our new sale shop here to scoop up good deals for winter knitting. Bookmark our sale shop and check back through the month of February for more yarn specials.
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Simple Gifts: Goat Nonsense!

January 11, 2011 | 10 Comments

My simple gift this week came from Butch, my Angora goat.He likes to play "steal the hat" while I do morning chores. The game: For two players: one shepherd, one impish goat, is a hybrid cross between Keep Away and Capture the Flag. The play: Shepherd moves as quickly as possible down the line of feeders, depositing hay flakes. Then attempts to clean and fill water buckets without getting gloves wet or losing hat. The object: Shepherd's objective is the feed the sheep, goats and llama as efficiently as possible and to keep warm on a cold winter morning. For
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