Archives for fiber farm

Help Us Name Our Lambs

April 18, 2012 | 75 Comments

Note: The survey poll that was at the bottom of this post is not working. To vote, leave your choice in the comments. Thanks!Our lambs are coming soon! In this year of an earlier-than-usual spring, our lambs are arriving later than usual. We expect our first lamblings to debut near the end of April. We need to choose a theme for naming this year's lambs-to-be. Would you like to help? Last year you voted for "Apple Names" and they were so cute – Pippin, Macintosh, Braeburn. In other years we've used Greek mythology, herbs & spices, U.S. towns, fashion
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Time to Shear Some Sheep

March 29, 2012 | 2 Comments

Our Monday looked like this. and this . . . as we tackle the spring rite of shearing sheep. When my flock was smaller than it is now, we couId accomplish shearing in one day. We now have too many sheep for that! So on Monday we started by shearing the biggest, wooliest sheep on the farm: the mighty rams and wethers. We had time before lunch so we de-fleeced 16 ewes as well. This group included our "grannies". This was Cocoa's 15th shearing! Next Wednesday we'll shear our bred ewes. And then on Saturday, April 7th, we'll host our
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Happy 15th B-day, Cocoa! Join our Cocoa KAL

March 15, 2012 | 8 Comments

This is Cocoa – she is my very first sheep. This her special day, her 15th birthday, which makes this our flock's 15th anniversary also. We're celebrating with a very special Knit Along – and a little birthday party at the barn this afternoon. What does a birthday party for sixty sheep, three llamas and a goat look like? How do sheep and goats like to celebrate special occasions? What can you do to celebrate with us? Join our Cocoa Birthday KAL. Today is our official Cast on – but you could start tomorrow or anytime you like, as long
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Puppy Post

February 4, 2012 | 10 Comments

A quick update on the pupster front. Zoe's rehab process has been labor intense, as you might imagine. She and Farley are in good spirits. We are all adjusting to changes in our lives and routines. Zoe is up to three ten minute leash walks a day and I'm helping her gently do stairs so she can keep me company in my home office. Last Friday she sat in the car and watched me trim sheep hoofs in the barn. Farley is growing up. What a tank. He's working toward his Canine Good Citizen obedience title. I actually think he
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Zoe Update

January 17, 2012 | 13 Comments

Mike and I thank you for your great puppy rehab ideas. Zoe appreciates your get well wishes. She's home now. We picked her up Thursday, just in time for a heap of snow. It's just what we needed to make her homecoming more interesting. She was pretty out of it in the car on the way home, poor little peanut! We created a puppy hospital pen in the kitchen by moving out the table and chairs. Zoe has the cozy breakfast nook all to herself. She spent lots of time sleeping in there during the first few days. She came
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Puppy Troubles

January 11, 2012 | 23 Comments

I have some sad news. Zoe has elbow dysplasia. Yesterday she had surgery at Veterinary Specialist of CT. We set out for Hartford in the morning. I rode in the back seat with her and knit while Mike drove. She napped and minded my yarn. (BTW, she loves when I knit; the soft click of needles and occasional tug at the yarn tell her exactly where I am and what I'm doing without her opening her eyes). Hartford is a long ride from Shelburne but our consult with our local canine ortho-expert, Dr. Benson (Veterinary Emergency & Speciality Hospital of South
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Wintering Rams

January 5, 2012 | 15 Comments

Following a snowless December, 2012 is off to a cold start. I don't mind the cold, nor do the sheep. Our rams and wethers are still in the paddock behind our house at the top of the hill (except for Chai and Cinder, who are down at the farm for breeding season). In most years, we've moved everyone down to the big barns by this time. This season, we're waiting for weather to force the issue. As soon as we hear snow in the forecast, it will be time to bring all sheep back to the farm for winter. In
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Snow Pups

October 28, 2011 | 25 Comments

Our puppies reveled in their first snowfall. A dusting of 4 inches stuck to the ground here in the highlands. OMG what a surprise for two rambunctious pupsters at first light! Hard to get a picture of them standing still, but I thought you'd enjoy watching their morning play in their transformed back yard. Now I'm off to visit the sheep. Happy Friday.
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Changing Pastures

October 23, 2011 | 9 Comments

Today's post is in celebration of the simple joy of moving sheep on a sunny afternoon. I can't remember the last time I rotated pastures with the sun shining. The only good thing about wet weather is the grass is still growing like mad. Fingers crossed for a solid week of dry so we can make hay. Check out the mid-afternoon long shadows, a true sign of the season. In the meantime, sheepies love tall grass. Nom, nom nom . . . . . Thanks to everyone for sharing my frustration over my Rhinebeck fiasco. More about that and
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NOT READY FOR RHINEBECK

October 14, 2011 | 6 Comments

Yep, you heard me right. This is bad. Due to a major technical/bureaucratic glitch, I did not receive my NYS Sale Tax Certificate of Authority in time to participate in this year’s festival (despite being told on 10/3 that I would have it in time). Since everything I sell in Duchess County NY is subject to NY sales tax, I am sorry to report that I am unable to participate in this year’s festival as a vendor. I learned this yesterday morning. You should have seen the smoke coming out of my ears. So I have a hotel room, a rental
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