The I-64 Spring Fiber Fling

I don't travel much.  It's hard to leave a farm full of animals that count on Things Being Done Like They Always Are.  Having the barn cameras now may help at least my peace of mind if I decide to go somewhere, but taking care of animals, especially lots of older animals can be a challenge.

Some nights Maisie likes to eat her hay on the steps.  Some nights she wants to eat from a bucket.  Some nights she'd like a pile of hay placed in front of her in bed.  Sometimes a young sheep gets mud stuck between their toes that dries into a hard stabby rock and you have to pick it out and at the same time grab the thorny rose branch that they got stuck in their wool...Big Moose!

That being said, I do like when people come to see me.  We don't have the fanciest place and I'm never going to fix you a gourmet farm to table meal, but the farm is peaceful and fun and the sheep, horses, cats, Bea and Pinot are good characters and if you are here around lunchtime, I'd be happy to make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I also have lots of wool in all stages of "production" - raw fleeces, washed fleeces, roving, batts, handspun yarn, small batch mill spun  farm yarns, learn to spin kits, felting supplies, quilt batting, punch needle ideas, ideas in general...so many ideas...

I also have some fiber processing equipment, a couple of spinning wheels, a loaner weaving loom and a whole bag full of knitting and crochet needles.  Want to give something a try?  Come on out.  And while I'm not an expert, I'm happy to teach you what I've learned along the way.  

We've dabbled with participating in more agritourism ventures, but are just far enough off the main road that it would take a little more effort and experience than I really have time for right now.  Did I follow my "schedule" and spin yesterday?  Nope.  I spent my time wrangling with a feral kitten/cat that you can meet on my Instagram feed because I haven't had time to share all that over here because I'm trying to write a blog post about the I-64 Spring Fiber Fling because someone else has done the agritourism prep work for me and I'm pretty excited to be given the opportunity to participate.  (inhale...exhale)

20 and his friends are pretty excited about this "yarn crawl" as well.

I'm going to send you to the I-64 Fiber Fling website for all the details on how to join, who you can visit, what each store or farm is offering, prizes you can win...  I'll also do another post over here next Thursday or Friday telling what I have planned for our stop.  It's going to be fun!

In the meantime, I'm headed out to make a quick barn check and then to the house to make my peanut butter sandwich.  The feral cat escaped from the greenhouse so I don't have that to contend with today...unfortunately.  Maybe I'll get some Iknitarod knitting done this afternoon.  I am working my way down the trail, just not as quickly as I'd hoped.

Whew!

February

I almost forgot to do my beloved Month End compilation.  What a brain...

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February was crazy...but not too shabby.

 

Here's Your Sign

 I couldn't resist.

"I like it!"

The Blog Is 18 Years Old!

I'm glad the blog is still here and it's back doing more than just recording the month end compilations, but just the same, here's January.  Lots of good memories of one of our biggest snow events since we've been here :-).

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Cheers to another month and another year!

PS  As I'm typing the labels (far right column and a good way to search for things if you are looking) I realized that I don't think there are any Possum pictures this month.  That would be because Possum spent most of the month curled up in the house ;-).

About Last Night

I feel like we've gone below zero before, but maybe because of all the snow and ice it felt even colder.  It was miserable.  

I kept hay in front of everyone and they all made it through, but when I walked into the barn this morning feeling around for the light switch and heard a tiny little voice respond "Momma?" to my "Hey guys, just me." and knew that Maisie had stood all night in the skirting area, I nearly cried.  I'm as tired of it as they are.  -7 is just. too. cold.

I took 48 pictures this morning.  Pictures I thought would tell a story.  They probably do, but the pictures themselves weren't worth sharing.  This one is cute though and does tell me a story.  Crazy old Burrnie has fully embraced sneaking over to the gate for handfuls of the Easy Breezy alfalfa or cookies.  

We've had lots of cookie parties to not only help with morale, but also to make sure everyone is acting right.  Tabitha looked better yesterday, but was a little off again this morning.  She's due for her second dose of antibiotics and the weather is sort of breaking so hopefully she'll be on the mend.

Hang in there, southerners.  It's got to end eventually...and then we can all go back to complaining about the heat ;-).

Solar Charging

Short Round 

If the sun is shining and there's no wind, all you need to be completely comfy is a good ray of sun.

Solar charging with an extra blanket.  Actually two blankets this morning.  We ended up going down to -1 early this morning and Maisie got pretty cold even with a jacket last night.  I added Cheeto's old super sized blanket this morning and she looks much more comfortable.  

Murphy, if you weren't such a doofus we wouldn't be laughing at your snow "teeth" that make you look like Howdy Doody ;-).

The sleigh ride was a blast!  More to come as I collect pictures and videos.  

Also Rans

Here are a few more pictures I liked from the Solstice shots.  It was really nice "having" to take my camera out to the barn.   Thanks for playing along :-).

Ellie

Murphy

Maisie

Mini Moose and Big Moose.  Big Moose is not so big compared to Mini Moose.

Kaala

Levi, Big Moose and Ellie in the back.

Muffin

Biscuit

Tavia

Krista

Solstice Sheep Of The Day - Maisie

As I picked my card this morning I knew it was going to be Maisie.  I haven't had a feeling about any other sheep so far, but today I knew it was going to be her.  Granted there were only seven sheep left so the odds were in my favor, but still, I've enjoyed some of the magic of the draws.

I had a picture already picked out for Maisie, but at the last minute I wondered about if we'd ever dressed Maisie up with a Santa hat and I don't believe we have, so here you go.

"The things I have to do around here."

Maisie was her (now) usual good sport self and got lots of vanilla wafers for her effort.  Those are her favorite treat, but Maisie didn't always eat vanilla wafers or treats of any kind, really.  She also used to Not Wear A Hat Of Any Sort, but that story has already been told and can be found in the archives ;-).

I'd always offer her cookies, but she wanted no part of them.  Finally one day I just popped one in the side of her mouth.  I knew if she'd just get a taste of them, she'd love them.  That cookie shot out the other side of her mouth like a torpedo.

Cookies, crackers, healthy snacks...nothing.  I'm not sure why she was so adamant about it, but I wondered if she thought I was trying to give her medicine.  I'd try off and on for a year or two and finally just gave up.  

One day Auntie Monica came over with her big bag of treats for everyone and as soon as I told her not to expect Maisie to eat anything she said she'd already given her some cookies.  I assumed she had the sheep confused...but no, there was Maisie eating cookies like a pro and she's eaten them ever since.

"I like to keep everyone on their toes!

"Baa Humbug"

You better watch out, Maisie, or Santa will put you on his naughty list!

Solstice Sheep Of The Day - Maggie

I almost blew it today.  I knew I'd taken some pictures of Maggie the other day, but when I opened them up this morning they were nothing I really wanted to use.  I'd planned to go out during the afternoon and take some new pictures...and the day got away from me.  

I thought about the possibility of getting a barn shot this evening, but knew that Maggie wouldn't be in the barn.  She very seldom is.  Ah, the beauty of this challenge...go try to take a picture of her in the dark.  If you can figure out a way to do that, it will tell a good story.

Maggie is a watcher.  I find these sheep interesting.  Maisie used to sit outside and then when she got older she'd sit just inside the door, watching and listening for trouble out back.  I always thought she learned that from Hank, but when I saw Maggie start doing that I realized it might be something more.

Maggie has slept out back since her first summer.  I found her exactly where I knew I would, right at the corner of the Del Boca Vista.  Occasionally Christopher will sit out there with her, but Maggie is the dedicated night watch.  

At some point she must move inside because I seldom find her still out there in the morning, but occasionally I do.  If it's been snowing during the night, she always has snow on her back so I know she's stayed out there for a good bit of time.

I think this is fascinating.

I think this will be a beautiful and challenging new puzzle.  Enjoy!

Oops, I almost forgot to share her favorite treat.  Maggie is a very shy treat taker so she doesn't always get a treat when the big sheep are being too rough.  I just snuck her a handful of alfalfa before anyone noticed.  Everyone loves the chopped alfalfa :-).

The Birthday Girl

Happy Twelfth  Birthday, Maisie!

"Thanks!"

"This birthday cake sure is good!"

I'm thinking Maisie might ought to sleep with one eye open tonight!

"What's that mean?"

Auntie Reg had to be the bad guy and keep Short Round and Tabitha from crashing Maisie's party too early.  The look on Short Round's face in the third picture cracks me up.

The rest of the flock was way out in the field and the "cake" was disappearing quickly, so it became a party just for Maisie and her Easy Breezy friends...and the chickens...and Bea.

"Stop taking pictures and do something!"

In some ways it seems like forever ago that she was such a tiny baby...and in some ways it all feels like a dream and she was just always here.  

Best. Twelve Years. Ever.

The Breakfast Bar

One thing you can never say about Maisie is that she's a chicken...unless there is chicken scratch grain on the ground and then she is totally a chicken ;-).  Makes for a good new puzzle.

October

October was a blur, but it was pretty much a fun blur.  I missed posting about pretty much all of it.  I even missed taking pictures of one of the fun things because I left not only my camera, but also my phone at home.  That was unintentional.  Sigh...

The biggest event of October was obviously The National Drive.  There are several pictures and videos included here.  I'd love to say I'll get back to post more stories and pictures, but if we've learned nothing else...that very rarely happens so here are some highlights you can watch for as the video plays:

We saw the northern lights one night!  One of my favorite memories is my friends out walking around in the dark taking pictures and texting me that they were not too far from my camp so Bea and I jumped out of our warm (it was cold up there a couple of nights) and went out to join them.  I was wearing sheep pajamas so it was extra epic haha.

My friend Amy has a new horse and she and Remy came to the Drive.  It was big fun.  They both did a Really Good Job and we had a great time together at horse camp :-D.

Another friend, Julie, came over and I hadn't seen her in years.  She was originally a horse friend, but was also the first person who sat me down at her spinning wheel and let me try it out.  I spun some Punkin roving and will never forget that feeling.  Oh, Julie also took that great picture of Punkin I use on his page.  It was so nice to see her.

Bea had a blast with all her aunties and 20 not only did Safari Drive photos again this year, but also got to drive one of the trains next door.  

The Italian dinner was incredibly good and fun.  I wish we all lived closer.

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Archie made sure I didn't leave him out this month.  There's some footage of Tim cleaning the barn...which is fun to watch if you ain't cleaning the barn ;-).  Pinot had a good month too now that it's cooled down and he can go out more.  The market day over at Country Boy was fun.  

Hug a Sheep Day was perfect in guests and weather.  Maisie's Halloween costume was a hit - maybe our best one yet, well, except maybe the angel one.  My bumpy pumpkin is still hanging in there, but fading fast.  I wish they could all live forever.

We are a week in to November now...speaking of blurs!

All Treats This Year...Big Treats

We were trying to work around some (too minor) rain showers so I didn't get the pictures I'd hoped for, but Maisie's costume this year was one of our best.  Odd sort of noteworthy fact, this is the first costume we didn't assemble with hot glue.  We upgraded to duct tape ;-D.

Clarice Cluck, running off with one of Maisie's cookies, is maybe my favorite part of this picture.

Hopefully you can biggify to see her "expiration date".

This would actually be a nice picture if the gate wasn't in the way.  I need to remember this lighting option.

Any other time a sheep wearing a costume tried to walk into a barn full of sheep, there'd have been a stampede to get away.  

Apparently they can either read or have a strong association with the color yellow ;-D.

Happy Halloween!  Nilla Wafers for all :-D.

The 2025 Farm Calendars

It's time to reveal the 2025 farm calendar!

Putting the farm calendar together has become one of the best parts of fall....besides the cooler weather. These calendars started as just a fun way to share some pictures with friends and family, but gratefully grew into a "bake sale" way to help our small flock of sheep support themselves.  

I had a fun group of photos to work with this year and I like the whimsy of several of them.  Who wouldn't like a sheep blowing a raspberry at a big pile of snow? :-)  Once again I added a short story to each month and lots of mini pictures fill in the blank spaces and add extra fun and tell further mini photo stories.  

We also created a limited run of companion note cards again this year.  I used quite a few of them last year and was happy that I sent more snail mail than I have in years.  If you'd like to share a favorite calendar picture with a friend, the companion card is a perfect option.  The accompanying stories are found on the back.

It is still unrealistic for a small farm to "upgrade" to a fancy online shop site so once again we are doing the old time ordering system where you send me an email letting me know what you'd like and where it should be shipped and I'll include an invoice and return envelope in your package.  Add an extra note if you'd like :-).  

Those notes are how I learned that several of you don't turn the calendar pages until it's time so that each month is a surprise.  I love that idea and now do that myself.  Even though I made the calendar, by about March I've forgotten who comes next.  I love being surprised!

That spoiler factor is also why I've put all the boring text up here and hidden the sneak peek calendar and card shots below.  Don't look if you don't want to!  Or you can peek...but goreallyfast ;-).

2024 Equinox Farm Calendar $25.00  

Companion Calendar Note Cards $10.00 

Buy together and save $5.00  $30.00

We charge just actual USPS shipping cost with no mark up for packaging and handling.  If you'd like a quote, send me and email with your zip code and I can give you an exact price.  

If you'd like to see all of the pictures, I did a video tour and talked a little more about the pictures and what these calendars and cards do for our small farm.

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Well, Lancelot is still rolling in the mud.  We lost Jared over the summer so Maisie is now the “friendly” face of the farm.  She might look a bit frail these days, but it’s still a good idea to watch out for the sheep with the tail.  Possum and Archie take turns (mostly) in the wool box bed.  Pinto continues to jump in and out of the arena at will, and a new friend, Pinot, is keeping spell check confused.  When Bea's not out ruling the world, she’s now moved from our feet to the bed.  She has no idea what we would do without her.

We will always miss our old friends.  If you aren’t familiar with their stories, we encourage you to visit the farm blog to meet them.

As always, a special thanks to Saint Tim for doing all the hard work and heavy lifting and a grateful thank you to all of you who are such an important part of our farm family.  Your care and kindness through the years is appreciated more than you could ever imagine.