For Dorian

Here is a photo of my ram that is for sale.

First Arrival

Yesterday our fourth grandchild arrived, just in time for spring. It doesn't look very springlike outside at the moment, but I know it will come. Last week we were almost flooded out. About a foot of snow melted and then came the rains. This week we are back in the deep freeze and are slowly getting buried again in snow. The benefit is that I will actually have a pasture this year after last year's drought.

Knitters' Frolic

Hopeful Shetlands will be attending the Frolic in Toronto again this year. It will be at the Japanese Cultural Centre and is our first show of the season. We will have lots of handspun yarns, rovings and hand cranked socks for purchase. Hope to see you there.

Back to School

Just two days after all that lovely snow, we were back in summer like weather and pouring rain. Gil and myself, along with the ladies of the London Spinners and Weavers were invitied to speak and demonstrate in front of a fashion and design class

at the University of Western Ontario. We all had a great time and the students were very interested about sheep and wool and were able to see how circular sock machines work and to try their hand at spinning and weaving. It lets them tie together where things are produced and how it gets to market and into their hands. They also see the work and love that goes into production of fibre and clothing. To make the day a little more interesting, there was also a fire alarm and the London Firemen came and checked everything out. A good day all around.

Winter Morning

We finally received a light dusting of snow, after the sub zero temperatures of last week. The water is frozen in the barn, so now the sheep have snow to eat to supplement the gallons of water we haul to them every day. The sun is shining and the hoare frost is glistening in the light. Sadly, it is going to rain for the next three days and all the snow will be replaced by mud. It has just been that kind of a year. The good news is, we will again have water flowing to the barn. I will keep the girls in to stay dr

y because we will be shearing in the next couple of weeks.

We Have an Etsy Site!

We finally took the plunge and started and etsy site. On it we will list wool rovings, handspun yarns and knit socks from my husband's efforts on our antique circular sock knitting machines. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and new year. The sheep will be shorn soon and are covered in thick, beautiful fleece. The lambs will arrive sometime in May and life on the farm will go on. We are expecting another grandchild this spring as well, in time for easter. Happy spinning and knitting to all. Just type Hopeful Shetland in the etsy tool bar to see the site.

Royal Winter Fair

I was excited to be asked to participate on a team as a spinner for the Sheep to Shawl event this Sunday at The Royal. A group of spinners and weavers from our guild have been working very hard all year to take part in this event and unfortunately one of the ladies couldn't participate due to a sore shoulder. This is such a fun event so I was happy to be asked to fill in. Wish us luck and photos hopefully to follow.