Off to Market

Last year I joined friends Steve and Eileen at the Worthington Farmers' Winter Market (they were kind enough to share a spot). While Steve sold his delicious cookies and pies (and yummy cinnamon rolls), Eileen and I spun our wool, sold a few knitted items and yarn, and chatted with passers-by. Today the winter market kicks off and we are trying it again. I have in the meantime, sort of created a new business - Fern's Fiber Studio - and with the help of Sue Iseman, my inventory has increased greatly. More on Fern's later. Unfortunately it is a nasty day weather-wise, so who knows how many people will turn out for the market. If you happen to be in Worthington, stop by at the Griswold Center on High St. If you can't make it today, the next market will be on December 13 and then every Saturday after the first of the year.

Just starting

After doing so well in Louisville last week, we decided it is time to enter the world of cyberspace and share our successes and education in the raising of border leicesters.

We began our flock of border leicester sheep in 2005 by driving out to Cuba, Illinois and visiting with Greg Deakin. At that time we purchased 2 ewe lambs. Since then we have bought sheep from Diana Anson, Barbara Thompson, and Linda and Bill Koeppel. Our flock has grown to include both white and natural color, fourteen ewes and two rams. We are slowly learning what to look for in fleece and structure. That brings us back to Louisville, where the black ewe lamb we bought from Barbara Thompson at the National Sale was champion ewe and champion fleece in the natural color border leicester show. This same lamb won the supreme champion ewe in Allegan at the Michigan Wool and Fiber Show in August of this year. The white yearling ewe we bought from Barbara Thompson at the National Sale in 2007, was first early (no pun intended)yearling ewe and second fleece at Louisville. Of the three sheep we took to Louisville, we had a champion, three first- place, one second-place, and one sixth place.

Our goal? Raise our own champions now!