N-Ewes from Hopeful Shetlands

Enjoying The Sunshine

2012-02-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

The weather here has just been crazy: one minute warm and the next day cold. When we started shearing last Sunday, the sun was out and it was above freezing. When we came out of the barn at 3 there was 4 inches of snow on the ground. Of course it rained the next day and then everything was green again. The sheep have adjusted well to lo

sing their coats and have been acting like lambs outside, running and kicking up their heels. They gave me lots of beautiful fibre and I am off to the mill with it on Friday.

Shearing Time Again

2012-01-24T13:49:00.000-08:00

My favourite time of the year! It has been so wet and warm this winter, some of the shetlands have already started to loose their fleeces, so we decided to shear early. Hopefully, it won't get too cold, but at least there is room in the barn for all of them this year. January 29th is the day, so if you are looking for some raw fleece, stop by the farm Sunday and pick out your fleece. We start at 9.

Socks, Socks And More Socks

2011-11-20T07:56:00.000-08:00

My hubby went off to Coleman Michigan last weekend to a circular sock knitting workshop, known as Deer Camp. For three days he and many other, men and women, spent their time cranking happily away the time, learning, troubleshooting and sharing their thoughts and skills with each other. This year Gil learned how to make children's socks without getting a smaller cylinder and how to knit mitts. He brought me home some beautiful angora/alpaca roving, some sock yarn for himself and some lovely gifts from some of the ladies he helped or just had fun with. Enjoy the pics. We do have socks for sale and they make s

pectacular gifts.

First Snow

2011-11-16T17:33:00.000-08:00

The first snowfall of the season is special, even if it is not appreciated. This year we actually had our hay in the barn, the electric fence pulled up and put away and snow tires on the van. I was ready. Of course the snow only lasted a day and we are back to warm weather and the sheep are pretending to munch grass and walk in mud. Now a

ground freeze would be nice but more snow is forcast and then a thaw. At least the ducks will have lots of puddles.

New Sheep

2011-10-31T16:30:00.000-07:00

I have been out doing some sheep shopping:one of my favourite pastimes. Windblest Farm has supplied me with a beautiful BFL ewe lamb to replace my Isabelle, who died of a heart condition last winter. This girl is growing well and is already coming up for chin scratches. River Glen farm, near Ottawa, has sold me a nice little BFL/shetland cross ram lamb. Owen is on the tiny side so I am going to let him grow and ue him for breeding next year. He has a lovely thick coat. Bill ,from Willowgarden shetlands brought me a lovely little white shetland ewe lamb. Windy is growing nicely and has a finely crimped coat that Bill's sheep are so well known

I am not breeding her this year and will let her grow. Enjoy the pics.

Socks, Socks and More Socks

2011-10-17T06:34:00.000-07:00

My husband has been very busy of late cranking out pairs of beautiful socks on his antique sock machines. Years ago, I purchaed a Legare circular sock machine from ebay, hoping to make socks. The machine was quickly hijacked by my husband, a tool and die maker by trade, set up and used. We had a few problems with tension and as the directions were all en francais and it has been a while since I spoke french, it was put in the closet to collect dust for about 5 years. I then took my hubbie to the Michigan Fibre Festival, and one of the ladies there taught him how to make a sock and he has been happily cranking ever since. We do ell socks,: great gifts, and he will make socks to order. Come talk to us this weekend at the Woodtock Fleece Fetival, this coming Saturday, October 22 and watch a sock being created.

Good-Bye Yoshi

2011-10-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

This week my husband and I had to say good-bye to the last pet from the childrens' past. Yoshi loved my boys and was always very upset as they started to grow up and move away. He was blind and partially deaf, but he always knew when the kids were visiting and would come to see them. His best friend, Sparky, died a few years ago and that was the last straw and when he first started to deteriorate. It makes me happy to know that they are together again.

You Know Fall is Coming When...

2011-08-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

It is puffball time already. The air is cooler, the clouds are fluffier, the days are shorter and the puffballs are in the fields. Last week we had the largest puffball I have ever seen in our bush. It was the size of a beachball and weighed about 5 pounds. It was also the tastiest muhroom we have ever had. I wasn't expecting any yet, as they usually arrive in October, but I had spread some spores there last fall from an over ripe puffball. and with all the rain and cooler weather, it just grew. Yummy.

When a Tree Falls...

2011-08-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we had a heck of a violent, but short, thunderstorm in our area. Lots of very needed rain and tons of lightening. I had just finished turning off and unplugging all the appliances, as the lightening was just overhead, when a loud crack and fireball happened at the back of the house and tree bark was flying everywhere. Fortunately the lightening missed the house by 3 feet or so, but the lovely locust tree took a direct hit , splitting it in half from top to bottom. It didn't topple over until Saturday when we had another, milder storm. My clothesline melted and my whole electric fence system seems to be knocked out as well. The energizer wasn't plugged in, for whatever reason, so it must have taken a hit through the ground system. Who knows? Anyway none of the animals were hurt and that's the main thing.

Drought

2011-07-31T18:01:00.000-07:00

We are having one of the hottest and driest summers that I can remember for awhile. We were unable to get enough second cut hay from our neighbour because it was just too short to small bale and the round bales were small as well. After almost drowning int the spring this was unexpected. I have been able to save two of my pastures but had to sacrifice two others. Oh well such is farming. My little chicks are growing well in this heat and my boys finally were shorn. Their fleeces were felted but I have lots from the girls. Enjoy the pics.

View From The Farm

2011-07-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

Time marches on and my white rock chicks arrived yesterday. I settled all the little yellow puffballs into their new home and watched them start to eat and explore. I think baby chicks are the cutest and I am always amazed at how quickly they grow and change. I feel somewhat sorry for this type of chick because they grow at such an enormous rate and their chests are so large and heavy for them. It isn't natural really. I will put most of them out on pasture when they are feathered out and they will have time to just be a chicken before it's off to the freezer. Another thing that surprises me is the barn cats never touch or eat the baby ducklings or chicks. They will sit and watch them hopping about but if a sparrow or something else hops on by it is gone in a flash. I guess they just know that they belong. Enjoy the pics.

The Real Reason I Came Home From Holiday

2011-07-01T04:58:00.000-07:00

A week home and I still have that "vacation" mood going on and I hope I don't lose it until after the end of summer. I knew that I REALLY needed a holiday, not having had a proper one for about 10 years, but now that I am home I realise how much good a vacation does one and it won't be that long before I have another, Of course in three weeks, the grandkids really change. Ave is speaking in complete sentences now and Austin can sit up in a chair and is much more alert and notices everything going on around him now. So I couldn't stay away any longer now could I? I would miss too much.

Spring Lambs Growing Up

2011-06-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

My BFL cross Shetland lambs and my shetland lambs are growing wonderfully this year and all of them have fleeces to die for. All but my two ewe lambs are for sale. The boys are very quiet and friendly and would make a great addition to any flock. Get in touch if you are interested. The shetland boys both have great looking horns and on is a grey gulmoget and the other is a spotted musket. Sire was River Glen Artemis.

Home From a Holiday

2011-06-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

Well I have been home for a week now and am slowly getting settled back into my routine at home. My husband and myself and a few of our friends went to England for a two week and much needed holiday. Unfortunately my husband and I got a little more time abroad as his father passed away. It was nice to be there for the funeral and for his mom and sister, who had come all the way from Australia. We don't get to see Trish often and despite the circumstances, we were able to have quite a nice visit. It was warm enough this trip to enjoy Lym Regis in its full splendor and dip our toes in the ocean. My youngest son tookcare of the animals and dogs while we were away and it was nice not to have any worries. I noticed a big change in England this time. I hadn't been there for 17 years and it seemed a much calmer and happier place this trip. Everyone was super friendly and driving wasn't as hectic either. All in all I can't wait to return. Enjoy the pics.

Does Anyone Have Plans for The Ark?

2011-05-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

This has surely been the wettest spring that I can remember for a long time. We have had rain almost every day in May and the last two weeks of April as well. The grass is green and lush, but I am having to limit the time that the sheep spend on it. I don't want them carrying a heavy load of worms or bloating. I have some great spring shots taken when the rain stopped for a minute or two and a new one of my grandson. We have even had several Baltimore orioles at the hummingbird feeder this year for the very first time. Enjoy.

Finally No Rain

2011-05-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

We have been deluged with 12 straight days of rain and finally today it stopped for a few hours and the sun briefly came out. The sheep have been cooped up in the barn and have been none too happy about it either. Last week they were outside running around eating grass and now they have to be content with hay. The youngest came down with pneumonia but is recovering nicely. He just isn't very thirsty. He is mostly a bottle lamb, so I need to get out some more nutri drench and get his tummy feeling better again. Gil was out briefly with the camera and took some great shots. The rest of the lambs are doing great and the bfl crosses are simply gorgeous. What a difference from last year's problems. Enjoy the picks.

Look How They Grow

2011-04-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how quickly my BFL/Shetland cross lambs are growing. They have doubled in size and are eating hay and creep already. One guy unfortunately has split his ear and lost his tag, but doesn't seemed to be bothered by it at all. I only had one shetland ewe lamb born this year and she is a stunner. It is nice that she ended up a bottle lamb as she will be very friendly. My last lamb is also a bottle baby, but only part-time. His mom has decided that she likes him after all and allows him to nurse. However she is a little short of milk from not nursing for so long, that he needs a supplement. It has been raining so much here that our fields are flooded and I haven't been able to let anyone out yet. Hopefully the field will be almost worm free by the time the girls do get out. A new load of hay came on the weekend, so they are set for a while. Enjoy the pics.

Last Lamb Today

2011-04-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

I went out this morning to find that my last shetland lamb had been born, a ram, and that he had been stolen by another ewe. Gil hadn't told me until an hour after and that a white ewe was nursing a lamb. I said don't you mean grey? He said maybe. I should have gone out then because it was the grey one who lambed. Oh well, he is in with his mom and will nurse from her with me holding her, so I will give them today to bond, if not it is the bottle. I don't have any photos of him yet but I do of my last shetland ram lamb and my twin bfl cross lambs. Only three ewe lambs this year, the rest boys. All the boys are for sale and are nice and healthy, so contact me if you're interested. Enjoy the pics. I will be at the conferece, Back to Woodstock this Friday and Saturday and the vendors' room is open to the public on Saturday, so pop on by if you have time. Gil will have his socks and some rovings at the Gathering in Port Hope this Saturday, so stop in if you are near. It runs from 10-3.

First Shetland Lambs

2011-04-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

March 31st my first purebred shetland lambs were born a lovely black gulmoget ram and a dark brown gulmoget ewe. I put them and mom in a jug and went off to work. When I returned home at one I was missing a lamb. The little ewe had somehow gotten out of the jug and was laying half frozen between a couple of hay bales. Needless to say, I now have a bottle lamb and thankfully it is a ewe. Mom took her back no problem so she will stay with her family, but she just can't figured out the whole nursing thing. Mom is older and a bit on the thin side so it will all work out for the best anyway. I have 9 more ewes to lamb and so far all have twinned. However the boys are ahead of the girls. I don't care if they are rams for my crosses but I hope the rest of my shetlands are ewes. Enjoy the photos.

Spring Lambs

2011-03-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

I was surprised to find that a couple of my shetland/BFL ewes lambed over the weekend, however pleasantly surprised. I wasn't expecting any from them for another couple of weeks, but I should know by now that they just don't show how pregnant that they truly are. My first ewe delivered twin boys. However another unbred ewe stole one of them and there was no way he was going to go back with his real mom, so I sold him to a nice family who has the time to bottle feed. The next morning one of my favourite girls delivered a ewe and ram lamb. All have gulmoget markings like their sire and are healthy and well built. My shetlands should start coming any time now as well. I love this time of year. Enjoy the snaps.

Hubby's New Hobby

2011-03-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

I guess my husband figured he might as well get involved with fibre as it didn't look like the wool side of life was leaving anytime soon. We purchased an antique sock knitter on ebay several years back, but all the instructions were in french. I had enough french from high school to translate most of it, but after setting it up and knitting a sock or two, we realized we were missing a step so we put it away. I took Gil to the Michigan Fibre Fest one year and the ladies there were able to teach him how to set up the machine and knit on it and he has been busy with it ever since. He is a tool and dye maker by trade, so he also repairs machines and now gives lessons as well. I guess he figured if you can't beat the fibre, you might as well join in. I don't get any comp;laints about how much wool I have either because his stash is larger than mine.

When Will it All End

2011-03-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

Just when you think it couldn't possibley snow or rain anymore it has. We had a few very wet and rainy days, only to have a blizzard of a snowstorm right after to cover up all the mud and water. Everything has frozen and turned to ice under the snow and of course it is just going to melt all over again. March has certainly roared in like a lion and I can't wait until the lamb appears. The kids are on March break this week and it looks as if they will have some decent weather and puddles to splash in. I was taking my granddaughter home the other night and I don't think she missed stepping in one puddle. To be a kid again and not to care about getting wet. Kids have a way of reminding you to just have fun and I let her splash through each and every puddle. Have a good day.

Sunny Day

2011-03-01T16:46:00.000-08:00

It was a nice warm sunny day and the girls have been getting a bit tired of having to be in the barn, so I let them our for some playtime today. Nick and Kayla, especially Kayla, get pretty bored without their sheep to care for. They have been barking at the local dogs and chasing Goz around a bit, but that doesn't occupy all their time. Our paddock faces due south and is sheltered, so it was warm enough for all my freshly shorn sheep to go out for a snack and a stretch. The smell of spring is in the air: only the temperature needs to catch up. enjoy the pics.

More Baby Shots

2011-02-21T14:16:00.000-08:00

I am a bit in withdrawl, as I haven't seen Austin for two whole days. Yesterday was our shearing day, so I wasn't able to get over to see him plus it was his first day home and everyone needed some settling in time. Avery was a little jealous that baby got to sleep in mom and dad's room, so they had her in bed with them for 20 minutes. She must have decided not much was happening and then wanted her own bed. Today she has been a good big sister and has been checking on him regularly while he is napping. Big brother Connor, will be returning home from his dad's tonight and it will be his first time spent with his new brother. We'll be able to see him tomorrow if the weather hold up. We got quite a dumping of snow overnight so I just stayed home. I'll just enjoy the photos. Thanks to everyone for their good wishes.

A New Grandson

2011-02-18T11:19:00.000-08:00

This morning we were blessed with a new grandson. He came into the world weighing 10lbs 6oz and is 22.5 inches in length. I can't tell you his name : his parents are still working on it. His older brother, Connor, was quite pleased, but big sister Avery didn't know what to think of him just yet and preferred to go play in the toy house across the hallway. Sean's good friend Matt also had a new baby and is just down the hallway. The whole family, both sides, was able to be present, even great grandma. Enjoy the pics.

Baby It's Cold Outside

2011-01-24T15:31:00.000-08:00

Brr. I am still shivering after my nightly visit to the barn. The water froze solid a week ago, so the bucket brigade has begun again. It was so cold yesterday our phone line snapped in the ground. The tech came today and strung a wire from the house over a tree and then to the box on the lawn. He said he'll be back in the spring to repair it properly. We have been totally spoilt by the unusually wam winters of the past few years. I am hoping that alot of the worms in the field perish and I'll start off the season with cleaner pastures. The cold has been taking its toll on the sheep as well. I have been supplementing them this winter with shredded beet pulp with molasses and they just love it. Most of the lambs have been moved into the barn to stay wam and fatten up for shearing and spring. My spinning wheel has been humming away as I have had time to spin up some of my rovings and I will have some hanspun yarns for sale at Knitters' Frolic this April. Enjoy some pics and stay warm.

Welcome 2011

2011-01-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

The January thaw came in with avengence on New Year's Eve and is continuing today. Much unwanted mud and puddles have emerged but also the water in the barn has thawed and we are no longer shivering in our boots. Every year I hope for a good dumping of snow and then hope that it stays cold enough for it to last until springtime. I feel sorry for the kids who can't get out and play on their sleds or skate on their backyard rinks. The sheep seem to take it in stride. The rams have a little island of hay around their feeder to keep them dry while eating. The girls have the same, but have to walk through the mud to get to the food. We should have a freeze up tonight again and snow in the forecast for next week. All in all it looks like 2011 is going to be a good year. Enjoy the pics.

Merry Christmas From Hopeful Shetlands

2010-12-23T06:32:00.000-08:00

Just a little note to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. As our children continue to grow and have their own lives our christmas traditions are begining to change. Glad as I am for them, I still get a little nostalgic for the old days when they were young and so excited about the holidays. Thank goodness for grandchildren, who give us a reason to decorate, bake and get excited again. They are eager to learn all about the birth of Jesus and how Santa manages to deliver their gifts while they are at church every year. Grandma is my favourite word in the english language, next to mom, of course. Happy Holidays.

More Winter Weather

2010-12-11T11:52:00.000-08:00

I should never have said anything about how lucky we were not to have had much snow. Today is the first day that it hasn't snowed all week. We are in a mini thaw today. just in time to get ready for the next dumping of snow. The animals love it, especially the dogs. Nick rarely looks for shelter and is right at home in a drift. Gil and I have been busy knitting and spinning inside while it blows outside. I like that the best about winter : the dark evenings that are just perfect for staying in and doing hobbies. Enjoy the pics

First Real Snow of 2010

2010-12-07T13:06:00.000-08:00

Well after the rain, resulting in a pasture full of puddles and mud, yesterday turned into a winter wonderland. Thankfully we received a decent amount of snow, unlike London to the west of us. The dogs couldn't be happier. They have dry paws and noses to the wind. There is always something to bark at and a snowdrift to tunnel through, just because they can. The sheep are much happier as well. Their outer coats are frozen, but the lower layers of wool are dry, keeping them toasty warm. They have lots of hay to eat and snowdrifts to hide in. I am hoping that the winds will die down a bit and that this snow will last until Christmas. Enjoy the pics.

Shetland Rams For Sale

2010-11-17T06:15:00.000-08:00

I have some lovely two year old boys for sale, as well as some of my older boys, to homes for fall and winter breeding. All are reistered and in good health. I have an assortment of bloodlines. All are singled coated and have a good temperment. Contact me if you are interested, thanks.

Breeding Groups

2010-11-10T07:32:00.000-08:00

Well my little breeding group is set and in the barn. I managed to sneak them in while Gil wasn't watching. We are running out of room and pasture but the thought of no babies in the spring just made me sad. I am breeding several of my shetland mules and a few shetlands to River Glen Artemis. He has a lovely emsket coloured fleece and lovely horns. This will give me something to look forward to over the long winter. Enjoy the pics.

Readying For The Woodstock Fleece and Fibre Festival

2010-10-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how quickly this year is passing and how busy my husband and I have been with the farm and our life. My granddaughter will be 2 in a few weeks and they will soon be welcoming another little soul into this world. After remaining thin as fence posts all summer, my ewes are growing fat and are covered in thick beautiful wool in preparation for winter. They have been enjoying some really nice hay and all the apples they can eat from our apple trees. The dogs are enjoying the cooler weather and have been playing in the empty pastures. Gil and I were off to Edys Mills to have the rams fleeces washed and ready for the Fibre Festival. The event will take place on October 23rd at the Oxford Auditorium in Woodstock, Ontario. Lots of events are planned and it should be a great day. Enjoy the pics.

Shetland Rams For Sale

2010-09-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

I have some spectacular, my opinion of course, registered shetland rams for sale. I have not used any for breeding yet but their confirmation and fleece quality are A plus as are their temperments. The four rams are half brothers out of Willow Garden Zest. I can't bear to send them to auction and they are too nice to eat, so if anyone if looking to improve their flocks, these boys will do the trick. Let me know if you are interested.

Lazy Days of Summer

2010-08-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

I remember doing this as a kid as well: cooling off in the heat. I was lucky enough to have my granddaughter for the afternoon a couple of weeks ago. She loves water and the old lick container makes a handy pool. Today she and her parents were over and she hopped in her car for a little bit of motoring while we talked. I just got the news that I'm going to be a grandma again in February and am very excited. The first shipment of lambs went off to their new home in Napanee Tuesday and in exchange I received a sheep handling system. That has been on my wish list for quite a while and will make worming and sorting a lot easier. All the hay is in the barn and the boys will be shorn soon before going to auction. My broilers are off to the butchers tomorrow and we will have pasture raised chickens in the freezer and for sale as of Saturday. Enjoy the pics.

Drawing a Blank

2010-07-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday our knitting group, along with some of the weavers and spinners, got together for a dye night. We had a bunch of knitted wool blanks that we dyed as a project and to sell at the Woodstock Fleece Festival this October. We had great fun and some of the junior members lent their skill and imagination to the mix as well. A pot luck bar-b-que followed and the wool was left to dry on the line over night. A fun way to spend a summer's evening for sure.

Canada Day Special

2010-07-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

July 1st I was out doing my evening chores, enjoying the cool weather when I noticed one of my bfl cross girls laying down with her nose in the air. Looks like she's in labour I thought. No can't be. She was up and on the move again. On closer inspectionIi noticed the telltale water bag and sure enough she was in labour. Nick noticed too and was off after her like a shot. I got him penned up and sat and waited while she delivered a beautiful dark grey ram lamb. It is so hard to tell when these girls are pregnant as they just don't show. Hopefully not too many more are expecting. July 15th is the cut off date and it can come none too soon for me.

More Lamb Shots

2010-06-21T12:21:00.000-07:00

Just when I think lambing is over, more lambs appear. We could actually be lambing until July 15th, but I hope not. Several of my older ewes that I hoped hadn't been bred, unfortunately were. The day after our Kingston trip we lost Hopeful Nibs. I found her cast in the morning. She had bad hips and must have fallen down a slight incline in the night, because she was fine at 9pm. Her month old lamb is doing very well however. The next day Cinnamon singled and for once she is being a very good mother. Sadie lambed a day or so after. She had twins, but one was caught in the sac and died but her other ewe lambs, at 2 pounds, was doing well and Sadie was a very proud and attentive mom. However at 12 years of age, it must have been too much for her and she died a day later, She was one of my favourite ewes and had quite an attitude. Her daughter has inherited her spirit and flollows us everywhere. For Tanya, I have some photos of our two new bfl crosses, both ewe lambs and more of the moorit crosses. Enjoy the pics

Welcome Isabelle

2010-06-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

While up in Kingston for the Hanspinners Seminar, we made a detour north and picked up a lovely blue faced leicester ewe lamb that we named Isabelle. We had a farm tour by Bryan and Janice Lever, who sold us this beauty. They have some very nice sheep and a lovely property overlooking the water. Isabelle has settled in nicely and is part of the flock now.

Spring is Almost Over

2010-06-07T04:59:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I thought my last lamb had been born only to go out Monday morning to a new ram lamb. So I'm not so sure if spring lambing is quite over or not. This mom didn't look pregnant so more could be and I won't know until the event happens. The hummingbirds are keeping us busy refilling their feeders every couple of days now. We have had three birds coming for about five years, but there are about eight to ten birds now, battling for the sugar water. We have had to put another feeder out at the back of the house just to lessen the fighting.Bill dropped by the other day and brought my ameracuana chicks to me. They are absolutely beautiful birds. There are a couple of cuckoo morans and welsummers in the bunch as well. We put them in the barn only to loose one to a mink. They are now safe outside in the chicken tractor living more like a chicken should anyway. Enjoy the pics.

Out In The Pasture

2010-05-25T04:46:00.000-07:00

I am always amazed at how quickly lambs grow. They start out almost able to walk under their mothers and at the end of three weeks some of them are as tall as their dams. Here are some photos of the crew out enjoying the sunshine. Only a few more ewes to lamb thank goodness.

Halfway There

2010-05-21T05:19:00.000-07:00

To say that this year's lambing has been challenging would be an understatement. We have done pretty well however and have only lost three lambs in birthing incidents. Those bfl cross lambs grow to an enormous size and have very long legs. I lost twin lambs after their mother had a bout of ketosis, She wasn't down for more than an hour but it must have been too much for them. Both were delivered dead with their head and legs back and that has to be the worst experience ever. Top that off they were both 15 pounds each. Mom pulled through just fine and is going outside in the maternity field today. My little blind boys went out in a mini field with their mom and a few others. I put a bell around her neck so that they can find her and she is pretty good at keeping an eye on them. Enjoy the photos

And Still More Lambs

2010-05-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

On the 13th Gil and I went out to the barn to find that 6 lambies had been born overnight. All were just a few hours old but dried off and had full tummies. Problem was we put the whole flock in over night because of the cold and rain, so now we had to find out who belonged to who and get the other sheep outside. Gil of course, had a meltdown and stormed out. When he cam back a few minutes later, we isolated all the moms to one pen and then tossed in all the lambs and let them do the sorting for us. Perfect solution. One young ewe totally abandoned her little guy but he was adopted by Josephine. She is now feeding three. We had a disappointment later that afternoon when two beautifully marked brothers were born and turned out to be blind. The one lamb was showing signs of polio, so vitamins were started but so far neither one has regained much vision. The one can see shadows only and the other can't see at all. I am going to bell their mother so that when I let them out, they wil be able to find her. Enjoy the pics of my first group of newbies for that day.

Mini Baby Boom Has Begun

2010-05-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my husband did chores by himself, as I had to go out, and hit the lamb jackpot. Three of my ewes were just finishing having their little ones, so there are five new lambs at the farm. Three girls and two boys, all bfl shetland crosses. There will be many more lambs this week and a few of my purebred shetland lambs should be arriving. Enjoy the pics.

More Lambs and Counting

2010-05-03T06:01:00.000-07:00

My first wave of BFL cross Shetland lambs have arrived and are outside now with their moms. My ewe's eye has cleared up nicely with treatment and they are growing like weeds. The one fawn katmoget marked ram lamb is extremely friendly and spends a good deal of time getting petted and trying to jump on my lap. I don't know why some animals are so friendly from birth, but he always has been and because of this several other of the lambs are a little less skittish. He has a gorgeous fleece and because he is a ram I don't normally encourage this type of behaviour, but he will be wethered when older and go to a pet home or stay here. Enjoy the pics.

My Little Helper

2010-05-03T05:54:00.000-07:00

My granddaughter, Avery, should grow up to be a farm girl. When she gets out of the car when visiting, she is off at full speed saying "goggie, goggie" and right up to the dogs. She waits for me to give the hello command and then each dog comes over to greet her. Once in the house, it becomes "kitty, kitty", much to the disappointment of our cat Yoshi. Yoshi is 18, blind and cannot get away. She is very gentle and gives him a pet before I send him upstairs to hide. She thinks that the sheep are doggies too. A true animal lover has been born.

More Lambs

2010-04-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

Last night I had my first purebred shetland lamb born : a lovely moorit ewe out of my Karen and Bill's Holiday. I had to help as she was wedged in pretty tight, but all worked out in the end and she is beautiful. I'll have photos of her soon. My little romney shetland cross had a snowy white ewe lamb a couple of days ago and she has the furnishings on her legs like a romney and is built very squarely as well. The Gathering in Port Hope, was a much more relaxed affair than last year and was a great start to the show season. Everyone came with their spinning wheels and had a spin in. Gil and I had fun visiting with the other vendors and customers and seeing what new products were available this year.Of course I did a little shopping. I really enjoy seeing what people have made with wool that they had purchaed from me. Barb brought a lovely black sweater that she had spun and knit from my ram, Gallagher. It was nice to see. I am exhausted from work, so I will end with my usual photos and then off to bed.

Lambing Has Begun

2010-04-14T05:58:00.000-07:00

Well as usual, my breeding programme has been usurped by the sheeps' breeding ideas and I have ended up with some lovely shetland BFL cross lambs that I wasn't expecting. On April 9th Butterscotch, had a little ram and ewe lamb. Something was not right with the ewe so I ended up putting her down. The ram is perfectly fine. On April 12th, we went out to find another set of twins, a white ewe lamb and a grey katmoget marked ram lamb and later that night another brown speckled ram lamb. All are doing well and up to all their amusing lamb antics. It looks as if most of the flock is bred so I will have some crossbred lambs for sale this fall if anyone is interested. I expect them to be the size of shetlands, as they are 75% shetland and 25% BfL. Enjoy the photos.

Show Time

2010-04-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

It must be spring as the birds are nesting, my sheep and their udders are bursting at the seams, my little grandaughter has been wearing sandles and my wool is at the mill being processed into wonderful rovings. Also the show schedule for us is starting. I will be at The Gathering in Port Hope April 17th from 8:30 to 4. The location is 62 McCaul St, Port Hope. I had a great time there last year and will again this year, I am sure. Then on May 8th, I am again going to be a vendor at Knitters' Frolic, at the Japanese Cultural Centre in Toronto. I can't wait to get going. Yesterday it was so warm outside my husband and I went to Port Burwell for a walk along the beach. Enjoy the pics.

Relief

2010-02-22T13:59:00.000-08:00

Well shearing went extremely well on the 20th and I got some spectacular wool from all the sheep, especially the BFL crosses. Thanks to the now well oiled shearing team of Karen Childs, her huband Brian and her parents John and Kathy all the critters received their haircuts. My hubby does a fantastic job catching and penning the sheep, and my friend Sherrie and I do the skirting and prepare and serve the lunch. There were more animals than I thought, and I think they were happy to lose their fleeces. The next day they were all out in the sunshine frolicing in the snow and having a great time. Today,of course, they are all happy to be in the barn as we are getting dumped on with snow. We also found out that we had missed a ram lamb, so I might have a few more babies than expected this spring as well. Oops! Enjoy the pics.

Shearing Time

2010-02-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

This has got to be the most nerve-wracking time of the year for me : shearing time. This is pay-off time for me, the harvesting of the crop. The sheep have already started to lose some of their fleece and I need to hope for good weather this week, to keep them dry until the 20th. Most of the fleeces are very nice looking, but there are a few showing the stresses of large lambs and winter weather. Time will tell. My first show of the season is in April, so hope to be there with fresh gorgeous rovings.

Groundhog Day

2010-02-02T16:11:00.000-08:00

Well it looks as if Wiarton Willie may have made an accurate prediction this year, judging from today's weather. We had some snow and some sunshine today and it still feels very "wintery". The dogs love the snow and were running around like a bunch of crazies: rolling and digging in the snow. Kayla prefers snow to rain, as she doesn't like to get her paws wet. Nick just doesn't care about weather, as long as his meals are on time. The sheep don't really care either, so long as there is some shelter from the wind. They are starting to shed their fleeces, so I am glad that we will be shearing in a couple of weeks. A few of the older girls have spent a good part of the winter inside. They usually bowl me over when I open the door to put out the hay, and there is no way they are coming back out again. I guess age does have priviledge. Enjoy the pics.

Avery's Dress

2010-01-30T14:39:00.000-08:00

This Christmas, I wanted to knit something for Avery to wear for the holidays, but with my schedule at work and the fact that the pattern I had chosen was way more that I expected, she just received her gift yesterday. I was so thrilled to have it done that I didn't leave a big enough opening for her head. There was a spot that I could open up to give more room, but of course it was the wrong spot, so much re-knitting and modifying of the pattern later, she got her dress. She is a true girl because as soon as I put it on her she started squealing with delight and dancing with much hand clapping. So nice when they like what you give them. Here are some photos of her in her Gansey Dress, by Debbie Bliss. Nice patterns, but overly complex, on purpose I think.

January Update

2010-01-14T06:55:00.000-08:00

It has been a very busy time for us and it is good to finally be able to get back to blogging. With the H1N1 pandemic posssibility I was vry busy at work giving flu vaccines to people and today is our last flu shot clinic! The Oxford County Public Health department did a fantastic job organizing and executing the flu clinics and very few people complained about wait times. Mostly we were given compliments for our work and organization of clinics, which is so nice to hear. I have Bart, my three year old ram, out of Beatrix and Lerwick in the barn with a few of the ladies so May should be our lambing time this year. I am kind of anxious to see what I get, because he is such a nice, well- built sheep. We have lots of snow on the ground and the boys and girls outside are handling the weather pretty well. Coal, my BFL, has such a nice personality and he is peering out from behind the fallen trees. The boys were enjoying a good head scratch today. Well that's all I have to say today, so enjoy the pics.

Spring weather?

2009-11-09T17:53:00.000-08:00

It was so warm this morning that all the ducks thought that they would take a swim in the pool. They looked so cute paddling around on the pool cover and sunning themselves on the side. Ducks never fail to amaze me. They are one animal that can splash around in a mud puddle and come out clean. I had the wool socks out on the line today. My husband has taken to knitting socks on a circular sock knitter and is getting very good at it. I have several new pairs of socks for winter and he has some nice ones for doing chores. This coming Sunday myself and five others from our spinning and knitting group will be competing at the Royal Winter Fair in the sheep to shawl competition. It should be loads of fun. The wool auction follows and as all spinners know, one can never have too much wool. Right?

He Takes Me To Green Pastures

2009-10-23T16:12:00.000-07:00

Sad news came today that little Annabelle has passed on. I have to thank the Stark family who took her, problems and all, and gave her the best life a little lamb could ever ask for. I didn't realize the seriousness of her jaw deformity when I gave her to them, but she became a much loved pet for three small children and her best canine friend Norman. Thanks for caring for her.

Thank-You

2009-10-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

The Woodstock Fleece Festival turned out to be a huge sucess and was very well attended. There was something for everyone: rug hookers, artists, basketmakers and all sorts of fibre. I'm sure that it will be a great hit again next year. My show schedule for the year is over and I wish to say thanks to all those who organize all these wonderful events and all the people who purchase my fibre and animals and then come back to let me know my lambies are doing well and to show me what they have created with their fibre. Hope to see you all next year.

Woodstock Fleece Festival

2009-10-14T14:34:00.000-07:00

The last show for my season is fast approaching. The first Woodstock Fleece Festival in Woodstock Ontario will take place this Saturday, October 17th, at the fairgrounds. Everyone involved on this end has been working very hard to put on a great show. There are 40 vendors for all the fibre connisoeurs as well as great home cooked foood and of course, a small display of fibre animals from local farms. I will be bringing a couple of my bfl cross lambs and a shetland or two. I have included some pictures of my ewe lambs and a close up of the wool. I just can't wait to get spinning. My shetland boys are still outside and growing well. They are all for sale and they have some great genetics behind them. Hope to see you at the festival!

Drumbo Fair

2009-09-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

This past weekend members of the Oxford Spinners and Weavers and the Oxford Knitters took part in a sheep to shawl competition at the fair. Only two teams were available so it was very relaxed and a fun day. Our team, Wheels Away finished second: sounds way better than last. Hopefully next year there will be more teams but it is a new attraction so it takes time to catch on. Here are some photos of the shawls and the competitors.

Decisions

2009-09-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

The air here is finally warm but all around signs of autumn have started to appear. We picked four giant puffballs from the field tonight and the trees have started to turn colour. Another sure sign of fall is the selection of sheep that I will keep and the ones that will be leaving the farm. I know my sheep have a good life but it is always a little sad when I have to send some to auction. I have decided on my rams that I will use for breeding next year. The large gray ram pictured here, will finally get his time with the ladies. He is gorgeous. Also the fall shows have started up and this Saturday September 12th I will be at the Waterloo County Knitters' Fair and next weekend I will be at Five Counties Seminar in Georgetown. Enjoy the pics of my BFL crosses and shetlands.

My Little Ray of Sunshine

2009-08-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

I am sitting upstairs in a mess of boxes and clothing and memories as my boys are packing up their lives and moving on. It is a bittersweet time for me. Number 3 son is moving to his very first apartment on September 1st and I am happy for him. He had a very rough time this summer and is leaving behind childhood for adulthood. Number 4 son is also moving to go to school. He has also matured over the summer and is entering culinary managment apprenticeship. This is his second kick at the can, but I think he will do well this time. Son number 2 will be moving on this month as well leaving me with my husband. We have always had kids around so this will be our first time alone since we married. Son number 1 is more than happy to share his little one and I was able to have Avery for a whole afternoon the other day. She will certainly fill our house with joy. Enjoy the pics

Annabelle

2009-07-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while nature throws us a curve and this year it was a BFL cross ewe lamb, Annabelle. I have never had a sheep born with an undershot jaw, so I am putting it down to the ram, the cross, or just one of those things. We named her Pugs, because she reminded me of a pug dog, with her rather mashed up face and sniffly respirations. Her twin is fine and it was a vet delivery, so decision was if she could survive I would keep her and try to find her a home. That home came to be at a friend of mine's house. Catherine brought her kids over to see the lambs and they thought that this little ewe needed a special home because she was special. When Annabelle's mom stopped feeding her , due to those sharp protruding teeth, the Stark family came to the rescue. Their kids gave her a much nicer name, and she is now part of the family. Whether out running with her kids or napping with her friend, Norman, she is now a happy little lamb.

Chicken Tractor

2009-07-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

I wanted to be able to let my layers outside in a safe spot and also be able to collect eggs easily, so my husband built me a chicken tractor. It isn't quite finished. He has to add a coop part to the back, but my wyandotte chicks are outside getting fresh air and sunshine and are tilling up my raised beds for me in the mean time. I have lots of BFL cross Shetland lambs for sale as well. I have greys, browns and blacks, both ram lambs and ewe lambs. All are healthy and ready to go by the end of August. They would be a great addition to a spinning flock, or if you want to have a few meat lambs. Cheers

Sheep Shots

2009-07-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go? I ask myself that over and over again. Last weekend Avery couldn't crawl and this week she can crawl and walk around the furniture. Time never stands still. My lambs are growing and getting big on abundant pasture. When I look out in the field, I am amazed at the sheer number of lambs and how much they are changing. It is almost time for my shetland boys to say good-bye to their moms and head off to the ram side of the fence. Enjoy the pics.

More Baby Shots

2009-06-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

I am almost at the end of lambing for the season and I must say that I will be glad when it is all over. I have been busier than ever this year as a midwife. The BFL cross lambs certainly are small enough for their mom's to be able to birth them, but their legs are so long, that a few have had knees bent or a leg back, so all we see is a ewe walking around with a head sticking out. Usually all I have to do is find a leg and then out they pop, but it makes for some tense moments. We haven't lost any lambs, but I certainly won't breed for so many crosses next year. I am off to the spinning conference in Kingston, tomorrow and Saturday and am looking forward to a little holiday. We won't be gone long as we have 8 more ewes ready to pop. I have included some photos of my shetland lambs and BFL crosses, and my favourite little lamb, Avery and her mother. Enjoy!

Lamb Shots

2009-06-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

Finally we are having a bright, warm and sunny day for a change. Lush green pastures are all the good obtained after day after gloomy day of rain. The shetland lambs are growing well and are fat and playful. I love watching them all play in the evening running up and down the field and to the top of the manure pile and back. The BFL cross lambs are tiny but very active. I am really pleased with the quality of their fleeces: tightly crimped and lusterous. I would just like a few more of them to be ewes. Speckles had her first lambs yesterday, a ram and ewe, and their fleeces are the most "shetland like".. By this I mean longer and more loose, than the other BFL crosses. Maggie, a 50/50 shetland romney cross ewe had a couple fo white BFL cross lambs. The ram has a short tail and the ewe has a long tail. They both have fuzzy coated legs and then a nice tightly crimped coat. Enjoy the pics.

Chicks Arrive

2009-06-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

Today Gil and I picked up our broiler chicks from the farm store. Cheeps, our chick from last year, was very curious to see what was making all the noise in the barn. Little does she know that they are all roosters and won't be around for too long. They are so cute when they are small and I love to watch them. We've had several more bfl cross lambs born and finally one was a girl. Maggie, my romney shetland cross had two cute white lambs. One of each sex and they have long tails and fuzzy socks otherwise they look just like a BFL. The ewe also has a little topknot. I will have photos soon.

A First For Hopeful Farm

2009-05-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

Today our first shetland mule, Shetland x blue faced leicester, lamb was born. True to the trend this year, it was a ram. He is of course very cute, healthy and up and running with the flock after being born out on pasture. He is black with white sprinkles behind his ears and white frosting on his back, so I am thinking he will be grey. Here he is. Most of the other ewes are about ready to burst at the seams and Nick and Kayla will have their paws full looking after all the little ones.

Springtime at Hopeful Farm

2009-05-19T14:52:00.000-07:00

It looks as if the cold weather of the past few weeks has finally past and everything here is starting to green up. We have a new roof on the house, so those spring showers stay outside, not inside. The lambs are out with their moms getting big and fat and my second round of lambs should start arriving in a couple of weeks. Most of these will be shetland BFL crosses and from the size of some of the ewes, it looks as if there will be many multiple births. I have included a photo of a shetland mule purchased from Bill Stearman last year. She has awesome fleece and is just a nice size. Enjoy the pics.

Happy Mothers' Day

2009-05-09T16:04:00.000-07:00

I hope all mothers have a great day tomorrow and get spoiled by their offspring. In support of the holiday, I thought I would show more photos of my 4 footed little ones with their hard working moms. I just wormed and put them out on pasture the other day and they are having a great time frolicking outside. I also have a shot of Duncan for Robin. Enjoy your day!

Finally Some Lambs

2009-05-04T17:55:00.000-07:00

The event that I most look forward to, after shearing of course, has finally arrived. I always find it a little like Christmas, wondering what my little lambs are going to look like and how many rams to ewes are born. So far four of my girls have lambed, all twins and six of the eight are ram lambs. Most of my moms are first timers and did well. Nick, our livestock guardian, had to care for one lamb who was chilled. He was a tiny litle guy and couldn't keep up with his mom and brother and was out in the rain. When my husband found him, Nick was lying with him. These dogs are worth their wight in gold! Enjoy the pics.

April Shows

2009-04-21T14:55:00.001-07:00

April has been a month of 'firsts'. This past weekend I attended my first show of the season, The Gathering, in Port Hope. It was well attended and everyone had a great day. Thanks to all the organizers. I purchased an angora rabbit and will pick it up from Kim of Cornerstone Fibres, who kindly offered to board her. It was off to walk the beach in Cobourg and to visit friends in Consecon and Picton. This weekend I will be at knitters Frolic in Toronto and I have lots of packing to do again. Gil sheared his first sheep last week and did a fine job. Our former shearer Doug came over this morning and gave him some pointers on doing it correctly and he did much better. So Karen, you won't have to do our rams any more.

Colours For Spring

2009-03-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

Finally we are having some decent weather here and the sunshine has inspired me to get out the old dye pots. I purchased some jaquard dyes last summer at the Michigan Fibre Fest and I finally got to try them out. I never really know what I will get, but I did some painted rovings and then some immersion dying with the leftover dye stock. I like to place the roving in a mesh bag and then dye it, which gives a mottled effect to the rovings since it is mashed up in the bag. So until we have flowers, I can enjoy my own colours of spring. I hope to bring them to Port Hope, April 18th for the Gathering and to Knitter's Frolic the following weekend in Toronto.

Spring Has Sprung a Leak

2009-03-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

This, to me , is the absolute worst time of the year. I am tired of winter, but at least with snow on the ground, there aren't any puddles. The dogs are constantly wet and muddy and our yard is the consistency of a wet sponge. Warmer temperatures will soon get the grass growing and the flowers blooming, and my mud pit will be a distant memory. I love spring!.Here are some photos of Avery in her new sweater, knit by grandma, and Kayla taking refuge from the wet ground.

I Guess Willie Was Right

2009-03-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe how cold it is today especially after we were teased into believing an early spring might be in the books after the warm weather we had a couple of weeks ago. I felt pretty confident that the sheep would be able to be out after shearing last Saturday, but I was wrong. Instead, they are happily munching their hay in a nice warm barn. I was really pleased with the quality of the fleeces this year and will be shipping them off to the mill this week to be made into rovings. A few of the fleeces were badly matted as the girls really started to shed early this season, so I didn't get much brown or black. The fleece from my shetland mule I purchased last summer from Bill Stearman, had a fleece equal in handle to my purebred BFL ram. Of course lambs will not be far off and I have lots to look forward to. My little granddaughter is growing like a weed and gives me much pleasure. Enjoy the pics.

Could Willie Be Wrong?

2009-02-17T16:08:00.000-08:00

Since my last post, four feet of snow has mysteriously disappeared from our property, literally overnight! We had a warm spell just after groundhog day and the snow melted almost overnight. Thankfully no flooding in the house but most of our yard was under water with rushing streams running to the ditches. I'm glad it has warmed up a bit as we are shearing next weekend, but I am hoping for the ground to stay frozen so that the sheep stay relatively clean and dry. I have photos of the pasture that is bare, where the snow was up to the tops of the fences last week. I have also been very busy spinning as my first show of the season is Knitters' Frolic in Toronto on April 25th. Hope to see you there.

Winter Continues

2009-01-11T10:45:00.000-08:00

Today has got to be one of the coldest days of the winter to date! Yesterday afternoon the wind and snow were blowing so hard and cold that the dogs didn't even want to go out of their pens to play. For Trix, that is major as she never misses an opportunity to get out and run after her ball. We move Charlie by leash because his aim in life is to catch and pluck a duck. It doesn't help the ducks' case any when they roost in the tree just over Charlie and Feykir's run . I have tried everything I can think of to get him to stop, but he won't. Trix was just as bad when she was young, but she prefers herding sheep or a ball over chomping on duck. I have slso included some photos of my favourite little girl and boy. Enjoy.

Welcome 2009

2009-01-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that the holidays have come and gone already and here we are fresh in the new year! Things have been pretty busy around here and I've been working alot. Fortunately, Gil has only been laid off for a week and his job should be secure until May but others in the auto sector have not been as lucky. I just put Coal out with the majority of my girls the other day, and he got straight to work. Nick, Kayla and Rueben have been busy at night. There are coyote tracks all around the perimiter of our pasture and it looks like they are from a solitary animal. Most likely the one that killed my ewes in the summer. Hopefully he will get the message and sod off! Coal looks like he had been over disciplined by the dogs. so I will have to keep a closer eye on this situation as well. Enjoy the pics and hopefully I will have lots of lambs this spring.

MOre Avery

2008-12-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Well I can't believe how quickly time passes and my little granddaughter is slmost 3 weeks old and becoming more alert everyday. I have been fortunate to see her often, trying not to be a pest, and have gotten lots of babysitting time. Of course, I have included more photos. Not much going on around the farm. We had a partial roof collapse of our driveshed yesterday when about 2 feet of heavy snow decided to fall off the barn and onto it. I have my first breeding group almost ready to disperse and after my boys go to auction Thursday, I will let Coal out with the girls that I want him to breed. In my down time I have also been busy knitting and spinning. My husband doesn't like the early evenings of winter, but I really enjoy them as I don't have to feel guilty about doing my hobbies. Enjoy the pics.

Welcome Avery

2008-11-14T20:27:00.000-08:00

Today I became a Grandma as my son and his girlfriend had their first baby. It was a bit of wait, but at 8lbs15oz, Avery was welcomed into her new family. Big brother Connor was a little shy at first, but said that he was ready to give up school so that he could help his mom with the new baby. It was explained that he should still attend school but that his help after class would be much appreciated. Here are a few photos of our little miracle.

Rockton Fair

2008-10-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

This post is a little late, but I am just back from Rhinebeck. I went with a few friends and we had a great time and ran into quite a few people we knew from home as well. The Rockton Fair was Thanksgiving weekend and a few of us shetland breeders were down showing off our sheep. Rockton has a shetland show and this time four farms were represented. We are all friends and supportive of each other, and this makes a pleasant time, without anyone being super competative. This year I was honoured to have the champion ewe, reserve champion ram and came second for get of sire. Thanks to everyone who took time on their thanksgiving day Monday to haul sheep to Rockton.

Home From the Fair

2008-09-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

I had a great time and a successful sale at Bingeman's Saturday. Many thanks to the organizers of the Knitters' Fair as it was a pleasant experience for us as vendors and thanks to the many people who stopped by to chat and to purchase yarns and rovings from me. It makes my day worthwhile.

Waterloo County Knitter's Fair

2008-09-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

Well I am almost to the end of my show season and this Saturday, Septermber 13th is the second knitting show that I attend. It is a great venue with lots of beautiful yarns and inspirations. This year I have limited amount of beautiful shetland and shetland and silk hanspun yarn and a new pattern by Kate Atherley for a seaman's scarf. Drop around to my booth for a look and say "hello". September 20th I will be at 5 Counties show and sale also in Kitchener. See you soon!

A Dog's Life

2008-09-08T16:01:00.000-07:00

Here is Nick, the great hairy beast. I had a master groomer come over to help me get his coat in order. Of course he was having none of it: no stranger was touching him, but she showed me what to do and Nick loves me to brush him. I'm off to the grooming store this week to get the necessary tools.Kayla doesn't enjoy brushing at all and thinks she looks fine just the way she is.
Rueben loves any kind of attention, if you can get him to hold still. He will have a beautiful thick cost in just a couple of months
Feykir and Trix don't need much grooming at all and both find it hard to sit still. I was really surprised that Feykir didn't need much brushing with his thick long coat, but he is almost self care and doesn't mat

Fall is in The Air

2008-08-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how quickly summer has passed and I still haven't finished everything that I wanted to do. Gil is still busy renovating the downstairs and today I have to clean and reorganize my wool room. I have been spinning up some lovely rovings for sale at the Waterloo County Knitter's Fair September 13th and will be dyeing up some combed top as well. Fencing needs to be done and my inlaws will be arriving for a visit in three weeks. While out yesterday I came upon this nifty and useful device at the local antique shop. It is a skein winder with a yarn meter attatchment, so I will know how long my handspun skeins are. I was looking everywhere at the Michigan Fibre Fest for something similar and wasn't able to find one. I guess good things happen to those who wait.

Update

2008-08-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that summer is coming to an end. I have been very busy here and nail biting waiting to see if the rain will ever stop so that my neighbour can cut hay. We are still waiting on second cut when normally they would be thinking about third cut hay. I lost a lamb to bloat one day while I was at work. With all the rains come the mixed blessing of lush pasture and too little roughage. I have been supplementing with dry hay on really wet days and this seems to be working well. Many thanks to my friend Bill, who generously gave me his dogs Nick and Kayla to protect my sheep from further coyote attacks. After the initial settling in period and knowing that Rueben could not go in with them, they settled nicely. I worked with Jackie Church, from New York State, who raises maremmas and Rueben is now trained and guards my ram flock. I have included photos of all the dogs and some photos of the sheep and the beautiful sky. Enjoy

Good-Bye Bridget

2008-07-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I lost two sheep to a coyote attack. I spotted Bridget lying in the middle of the pasture and as I went out to get her, Celeste ran screaming up to me with only two of her three lambs. We found most of it over by the fence. We have been very fortunate with all of the electric fences and Rueben on guard, our sheep losses have been nil and duck losses way down since having a guard dog, but this was sad because it always seems to be the pets that go missing. Here is a photo of Bridget with one of her daughters taken last week, Farwell

Happy Canada Day

2008-07-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

We are fresh back from the huge yard sale in the Village of Embro, loaded with stuff for the impending grandchild. I usually have to work all the holidays, but this year I was lucky enough to be off and to be able to participate in some of the activities offered. Embro is hosting the Highland Games today and the village is hopping. The sun is shining and it isn't too hot. No onee around here has been able to get a decent cut of hay due to the rain, so hopefully what was cut this week can dry and barns can start to fill. Enjoy your holidays.

Lamb Shots

2008-06-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

Everyone is growing well and mature colours are starting to appear on the lambs. I have many awesome lambs for sale, rams and ewes, so here are some pics. On a sad but happy note, Larry, my little bottle boy, is heading off to a new home tomorrow with a half brother for company. Both will be wethered and will be fibre pets. I always try to find homes for my bottle babies: they always seem to be rams, because I just don't feel right sending an animal that has come to trust me to auction or the butcher. I know they will be cared for and will be fibre suppliers as well. Here are some photos of some of the lambs.

Well Needed Rest

2008-06-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

We are fresh back from WASSOON in North Bay and the Ontario Handspinning Seminar in Barrie last weekend. We had wool to be picked up from the mill in Frankenmuth Michigan before North Bay, so I suggested that we continue north through Michigan and then cut across the trans Canada to North Bay. It was a beautiful drive; we saw moose, bears porcupines, etc but I had no idea that it was soooooo far! Gil had never been over the Mackinac bridge and he enjoyed the trip immensely. Going to Barrie was a little more straight forward and we had a great time there as well. Most of the same vendors that were in North Bay were at Barrie, so lots of visiting occured. It is also nice to see past customers who show and tell me what they have done with fibre that they have purchased from me as well as their plans for the fleeces and fibre that they purchased that day. I have encloded some more pictures of the growing lambs and Smudgie and Coal befor they lost their fleeces. Smudgie's is in Hamilton and Coal's has travelled to Montreal. Enjoy.

Maternity Ward

2008-05-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

Well since my last post I have had 6 lambs, 4 romneyxshetland lambs and 2 shetland ram lambs born. Celeste and Cream look ready to burst at the seams out in the field and they should wrap up lambings for this year. We also have a robin outside our living room window, who is keeping very busy with her little brood. There is a window just above the door so we can see the little ones whenever we wish. Three clutches of eggs were raised in almost the same spot last year, so we will see how many for this year. I also received great news on Mother's Day that I am to be a grandma in November! I can't wait. So it really has been a year for little ones.

More Lamb Pics

2008-05-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how quickly time is passing and how quickly all of the lambs are growing. The second phase of lambing should begin any day now as some of the girls are absoloutly huge with babies! Larry, my bottle lamb is tiny but doing well and I had another shetland/romney lamb born this week that looks just like him. Only a couple of weeks until WASSOON and I am still awaitng rovings from the mill. I should have some combed shetland top as well as some dyed rovings and natural coloured swirls. As usual, enjoy the pics.

Welcome Coal

2008-04-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

I thought that I would post a couple of photos of Coal, my blue faced leicester ram. He has very light and soft feeling fleece that should be wonderful to spin. I can't wait until shearing. He was readily accepted into the flock by the other rams and has settled in nicely. I have also included some photos of Rueben, hard at work guarding his babies. Every spring when lambs are born Rueben lays just outside their pen in the barn and then just outside the fence when they go out. He rarely moves and most times doesn't eat either and just watches. It is why I can sleep at night when I hear the coyotes howling in the distance.

Busy Time

2008-04-27T15:20:00.000-07:00

So far April has been a very busy month.Five of my ewes have lambed and have given me ten beautiful healthy lambs. Larry, the little bottle lamb, is doing well and catching up in size to his siblings. Saturday was my first fibre show of the season and was very successful. My yarn sold well and some of my new rovings, fresh from Edy's Mills, were very popular. Thanks to all who purchased fibre or just stopped to chat. My bluefaced leicester ram, Coal, arrived today from Bill's farm in eastern Ontario and he has a very nice crimpy and soft fleece. I will be breeding him to a select number of shetland ewes and should have a new wool to add to my sales. Next weekend is Southwest Seminar in Goderich and hopefuly some more lambs. Enjoy the pics.

More Lambs

2008-04-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

I now have 8 lambs on the ground, 4 boys and 4 girls. One poor little guy was missed when we moved his mom and now is a bottle baby. He had been stolen by one of the non-pregnant ewes and I found him outside, quite hungry and irate that no one was feeding him. He is safe in the barn with everyone else and is growing into a lovely chubby ram. Here are some photos of the group. A reminder that I will be attending Knitters' Frolic at the Japanese Cultural Centre in Toronto April 26th. Enjoy the pics!

Lambs Arriving Daily!

2008-03-25T18:02:00.000-07:00

Paisley has the honours of having the first lambs of the 2008 season, here at Hopeful Farms. It was twins: a ewe and a ram and they are both healthy and active. Her sisters are also just about ready to pop and I am looking forward to seeing what they produce. Paisley is a first time mom and it always amazes me how well they know how to care for their little ones. Enjoy the pics.

Shearing Day Come and Gone

2008-03-03T11:38:00.000-08:00

Saturday was "S" say at our little farm: shearing day. As usual, some of the fleeces were experiencing a little on sheep felting action, but I was very pleased over all with the quality of the fibre received. There was a little less this year after some of the girls and boys were sold and a manageable number of 49 for the day were clipped. Four of the rams have to wait for their haircuts, so I will have more to look forward to in a month or so. For the first time ever, Karen was able to shear the pygora goats. Usually by shearing time their fleeces have felted and started to molt. They were perfect little Ladies for their trim. All the wool has been sorted and skirted and ready to be sent for processing into rovings and hopefully will be ready for sale at Southwest Seminar this May 3rd. I will also be attending Knitter's Frolic in Toronto in April and WASSOON in May. Hope to see everyone there! Enjoy the photos.

End of Winter?

2008-02-24T14:19:00.000-08:00

I know that the end of winter must be near because we are shearing next weekend and the sun is getting warmer. A fair bit of snow is still on the ground, but the air has the smell of spring. The girls are already starting to shed their coats and the sheep due in March are starting to look pretty pudgey under all that lovely wool. I always get in the mood for colour about this time of the year and I have dyed some of the icelandic roving I received from the Lavender Fleece. Enjoy the colours of spring. Also I have included a photo of the lunar eclipse. Last one until 2010!

Ene's Scarf

2008-01-21T06:58:00.000-08:00

Last October at central seminar in Etobicoke, I met Ted Myatt, who purchased some of my lace weight yarn for a project he was working on. He said if I would like he would let me know how things turned out. Pictured is the scarf that he knit, called Ene's Scarf, a pattern by Nancy Bush. Not only was Ted kind enough to post a photo and give me credit on his web site, he also generously sent me the scarf. I love it and it is so nice to see my yarn from my sheep made into something so beautiful Many thanks Ted. If anyone is interested in browsing his very interesting web site, the address is http://knitterguy.com

Eye Candy for Fibre Nuts

2008-01-07T13:55:00.000-08:00

With all this cold winter weather and my new spinning wheel just begging to be used, I hauled out some of my rovings. They are lonley in the wool room and are looking for new homes. I still have rovings left for sale : $2.50/ounce and a fawn shetland/silk blend for $4.5/ ounce. PST and shipping on top of these prices. I have some lovely musket, dark brown, charcoal black and brown and grey striped rovings for sale. Just e-mail me if interested at sminty@look.ca or just enjoy the photos.