More Adventures in Yarn Farming

First of all, I want apologize to everyone who commented to my late August post about the end of summer. Due to some quirk in the new, "improved" Typepad, those comments never appeared (usually there's notice of new comments) and I didn't see them at all until posting yesterday. I remember wondering where everyone was at the time and thinking that all of you were enjoying a last vacation perhaps before sending the kids back to school or heading out for Labor Day. Reading your comments was a treat – and always is. I appreciate it when you take the time to voice your thoughts, and I'm trying to find out what went wrong with Typepad so this kind of thing doesn't happen again (and if it does I'll have to flog them with a wet skein).

As promised yesterday, a little more about my latest project: another book! On the subject nearest and dearest to me – raising sheep and wool craft – my next book, Adventures in Yarn Farming, has consumed prodigious amounts of time and energy this summer – and will most definitely continue to do so throughout the coming year. I'm working with at a great editorial team at Trumpeter Books, the craft & lifestyle imprint of Shambhala Publishing. Although it will be a good while before copies are on shelves at your local bookstore, I'll be posting from time to time about the process, letting you know how it's a cookin'.

Hollybringing sheephome

And in between photo shoots and word smithing and editorial pow-wows, I'll continue to keep you dialed in to what's happening here on the farm.

More September scenes today: Holly bringing the ram lambs back to the barn late afternoon. Each morning we let them out with Crackerjack to graze in a gently sloping leafy green field to the north of the West Barn. Before dusk we bring them home. Too much evidence of predators afoot. Even with electrified fence and llama, I would worry that they'd be a tempting sight for a pack of coyotes, (or worse).

The biggest challenge to brining the boys home is not getting bashed in the back of your knees while leading them to the barn. They're getting really pushy with each other and with anything else that gets in their way. Everything is a challenge. Everyone is a potential rival. Even a plastic bucket.

Ram attacks bucket

Fortunately, all is peaceful in other parts of the farm. As I stopped to refill the stock tank in the upper pasture late afternoon, the Leicesters and Cormo ewes were heading out for a snack. They love grazing once the sun dips behind Patten Hill and the shadows entirely cover the pasture. Their fields are surrounded by a mile of tall permanent fence,  with a nasty live wire at the very top to make any predator that considers scaling the fence think twice. 

BorderleicestershighpastureIMG_0182

This group grazes mostly by night, taking shelter in the shed by day.

For the next few weeks, many hours of my days will be filled with work in the dye studio. The Sheep Shares fall yarns are arriving, and show season kicks off at the end of this month. Here's the low-down:

September 26th – Franklin County Fiber Twist, Greenfield, MA. I am a planner for this event and we have some great vendors and a full slate of fabulous demos and workshops – including a Twist Collective Fashion Show at noon. Here's the link, hope you'll join us if you can.

October 3rd – Sheep Shares members open farm day – which includes my state of the Ewe-nion Address, details to come (and on my website).

October 17 & 18th New York Sheep & Wool Festival, Rhinebeck, NY – The biggest and best of the fall shows – you need 2 days to see it all. You'll find me in Building A with a double booth this year, brimming with farm-fresh woolly goods.

November 20 – 22 – Knitter's Review Retreat, Williamstown, MA. This weekend has become the traditional end of my fall show circuit. In good company of Clara Parkes and many veteran attendees, it's a great weekend of learning, sharing, shopping and general good fiber kharma. If you ever find an opening to attend this retreat, jump on it! And be sure to check out Clara's brand new book – The Knitter's Book of Wool.

December 5th – Booksigning – Teach Yourself Visually Hand-Dyeing at Metaphor Yarns, Shelburne, MA. Friend and Shelburne neighbor, Meta Nisbet has invited me to talk about the projects in my book and share a bit about my dyeing methods in an informal presentation. 

Dinner time here, so that's all for now. More sheep scenes in a bit . . .