Spring Update

Okay - I am ashamed for not keeping up with the blog. I really thought I would do it, but life just gets in the way! Anyway, here are updates on what we've been up to in the past several months:

-It wasn't until mid-March when we were finally done lambing. We ended up with 16 lambs.

-We went to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival the first week of May (should've known it was going to be a hot summer since the temperature reached 90 that weekend). We took the camper for its first trip and had a great time. No sheep showing this year!

-Our nephew Brady was visiting with us for several weeks and we got him involved in a lot of projects, including washing sheep and painting the barn.

Here is Brady washing sheep - not sure who got wetter!

- At the end of May (Memorial Day weekend), we headed up to Wooster to be bystanders again at the National Border Leicester Sale. We did find a rack to put in the back of the truck at the equipment auction, which later this summer came in handy when we took sheep and the camper to Allegan.

Here are Jerry and Brady at the Wayne County Fairgrounds

relaxing at the camper after the sheep show.

Ebony and Ivory

Twins born to znk0027, one of the ewes we raised bred to Othello.

First Lamb of 2010

Finally - the first lamb has arrived! The mother is a natural color ewe we bought in New York (already bred) in October. The sire is also natural color. They came from Seldom Seen Farm (Barbara Thompson). Surprisingly, she is the whitest lamb we've ever seen - not what we expected!

Othello Wins in Louisville

For the second year in a row, we won champion natural colored Border Leicester fleece!

Jerry and Othello at the NAILE in Louisville, in November. Othello won his class, was champion natural colored border leicester ram, and won best fleece. Since Dena was awol, John Guffey helped him out.

I've been 'baad'

How did September get here already! I guess summer was pretty busy, and I am really terrible (baad) at keeping up with this blog. I vow to do better! Maybe if I ever get more followers, I will be more inspired. Well, here is an update on summer:

1. I survived the one-day lavender festival. It was a beautiful day in Champaign County, and I was lucky enough to have a view of the lavender fields all day. I didn't sell a lot, but I still made more than I usually do at the winter market. Not a great time of year to be selling wool products!

2. We spent the weekend of the fourth in Missouri with Zac, Rebecca, and Lucia - I presented Lu with her July hat, a red, white and blue beret for celebrating Bastille Day.

3. I started teaching a class at Wright State at the end of July, while Jerry prepared sheep for the Ohio State Fair.

4. We showed the white border leicesters - 1 ewe lamb and 1 ram lamb on Sunday, August 2nd. The ram lamb was third in his class, and the ewe lamb was first in her class and reserve champion overall. On Tuesday Jerry showed Othello and Sporty Spice (black yearlings) in the natural-color show. Each received first in the long-wool division.

5. Mid-August was the Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan. I headed north with Eileen and Ruthann for 3 days of spinning workshops before Jerry came on Friday with 6 head. Othello was the champion natural color long-wool ram. The ram lambs were first and second in their class and also won first as a pair of lambs. I also got a first place for a skein of yarn, which made me feel like I must be doing something right.

6. Lucia received her August hat - an OSU football helmet.

That brings us to September. This weekend is Labor Day and I will have a booth at the annual West Liberty Lions Park Festival. Hope to see you there!

Latest Knitting Projects

I've been working on several projects getting ready for Lavender Field Day next Saturday. I tried 2 different styles of market bags. They are usually made from cotton yarn and crocheted. I knitted one in cotton and then tried one in the wool yarn from our sheep. They are both nice, but I actually prefer the wool one - seems sturdier and it is much larger (and still has stretch!). I also have homespun yarn from 3 different sheep and in 3 different natural colors.

I am also working on a basketweave scarf that can be wrapped and buttoned...pic to come later. It is made from a purple alpaca yarn I bought in Maryland - very soft and nice. Included in my inventory next week will be a lot of children's hats, some scarves, and a few felted items. I guess I better get busy!

Coming Soon!

Not much to report right now. Jerry's been trimming sheep getting them ready for August - Ohio State Fair and the Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan around the 15th. We'll take the black ewe (Sporty Spice), the new black ram (Othello), and at least a couple of lambs (no names yet!). I'm also planning on entering Othello's fleece and a few skeins of handspun yarn into competition. I really just want to get an idea of how I am doing compared to other spinners.

In the meantime, I'm getting things ready for the first annual Lavender Field Day at the Freckle Bear Lavender Farm in Champaign County (6332 Nine Mile Rd.). There will be all sorts of great foods (including amish baked goods) and crafts. I will have homespun yarn, hand-dyed yarn, hats, scarves, market bags, etc. for sale. I will post some pix over the next couple of weeks to highlight some of the items. We hope to see you there!