Archives for Weblogs

GIVEAWAY – Adventures In Yarn Farming Celebration

November 8, 2013 | 130 Comments

Entries for this GIVEAWAY are now closed. Congratulations to our Givewaway winner, Sara, who posted on November 12 at 8:25 a.m. – she is the lucky winner of a Sheep Shares CSA 2014 Yarn Sampler (natural) membership. Thank you to everyone who posted – and for all your kind words on the launch of my new book. I can’t believe it’s almost that time. The official publication date for my new book, Adventures in Yarn Farming is next week – is November 12th! On that date, my book will be available everywhere. I’m celebrating the official publication this month by
Read More

Ready, Set, Shear!

March 24, 2013 | 5 Comments

On Friday we rolled up our sleeves and got to work on one of my favorite days in annual cycle of yarn farming. Shearing day! This year we've divided the work of shearing our flock over three days, last Friday, next Friday and then Saturday April 6 – when our Sheep Shares yarn farm CSA members will join us and pitch in. Working at this pace gives me time to be hands on with both sheep and fleece and makes for a relaxed, more comfortable day for both humans and sheep. We started with a group of ewes, below. Followed
Read More

Martha’s Vineyard is new home for these sheep . . . .

November 12, 2012 | 7 Comments

Last week a small flock of ewes departed from the farm. Cormo ewes Chanel, Dolce, Sienna, Nimbus, Lucida and Helvetica hopped into the back of Andy's truck for a journey to their new home – on Martha's Vineyard. About eight weeks ago I was approached by a sweet couple who have some improved acreage on the island. They visited Springdelle, to meet us and my flock. Mike and I spent several hours talking sheep with them, showing them our ewes and answering their questions about keeping fine wool sheep in New England. I had assembled a small group of ewes
Read More

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
Read More

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
Read More