I'm a Shepherdess!

This day has been three years in the making! From planning to moving, from saving to building, we've put a lot of thought, time, hard work and patience into finally having sheep of our own.

And now they're here! Sparkles, Peridot, Emerald and Knox all arrived safe and sound via . . . that's right . . . minivan (why does anyone buy a trailer?!).

 

Here I am working with Sparkles to get her out of the dog crate and into the pasture.

 

And here's Knox (our ram lamb) and me on our way to the pasture.

 

Starr was beside herself with excitement at the arrival of the sheep. The sheep were not so impressed with her. In fact, they were pretty much terrified.

 

But soon, everyone figured out how to get along.

 

Here are some gratuitous sheep and llama pictures. We still have some construction going on for the expansion of the barn. Before we go on vacation, the animals will have a roof with tarp sides. By the end of August, they'll have a shiny new barn to be safe and secure in.

 

I'm a Llama Farmer!

Can you even believe it?!! I went to The Critter Ranch today, picked up Starr and Confetti, brought them home, and became a farmer! I'm still all giddy.

Since pictures are much more fun--here ya go!

Confetti is the tan and white one and Starr is the darker brown and white one. They know something is up!

How do you transport two llamas to your new farm 45 minutes away? In a minivan.

We walked them around their new pen and the kids got in the pasture to check out the girls.

They did just fine and settled right in. Both of them are happily munching grass and Starr even took a roll in the hay.

Kat wanted to show the "mamas" her kitty toy.

Brendan plans to work with Starr on pack training, and Morgan and Matt just want to hug them. I don't blame the kids--they're pretty adorable creatures.

Both girls are pregnant, and we'll be keeping Confetti's baby when it arrives next Spring, but Starr's little one will go back to Sue at The Critter Ranch once it's weened.

And we haven't forgotten about sheep--they're coming on Saturday!!

Visiting The Critter Ranch

My good friend Susan Phillips owns The Critter Ranch, and specializes in llamas. In fact, she feels that I need a llama too, and I am now preparing the fields for "Confetti"'s arrival. I like pretending that Sue has strong-armed me into getting a llama, but the truth is I'm fascinated by the creatures, and we needed a good guard animal.

Yesterday, my other good friend, Petra, and I took our kids our to Sue's to meet the llamas and have a tour of the ranch. It was a blast, and I can't wait to become a llama owner!

Brendan was the llama whisperer for the day. They couldn't get enough of him! He was quiet and calm, and all the llamas went right up to him. Maybe they just hadn't ever seen a kid without eyes before.

Morgan was tickled by it all! She was nice and still too . . . when she wasn't giggling.

Sue put Kat on KAL for a photo op. He's a great llama; so gentle and friendly! Kathryn loved it!

Morgan, Kat and Brendan hangin' with the llamas.

Sue showed Petra how to get llama lovin'.

Petra got some kisses!

Confetti in the herd.

They kinda look alike, don't they?!

Barn Raising

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've blogged. It's been an exciting month, too! I think one of the hindrances to my blogging is all the activity in my Ravelry group: Inspiration Fibers. We're a chatty bunch over there, and the blog has been neglected.

However, as we are preparing for the arrival of our sheep and llama, I want to make sure I share it with all of you!

On Mother's Day, I finalized selecting my sheep! We'll be getting three Shetland ewes: Sparkles, Emerald and Peridot. And one ram (he's a lamb right now, and unnamed). I'm getting them from my friend Jen Johnson; her farm is Whispering Pines. They'll be ready for pick up the first week of July, so we've been working our patooties off. Well, Mike is working really hard at least!

Here they are!

Sparkles

Peridot

Emerald:

Ram

We also have a llama coming from my friend Sue's farm, The Critter Ranch. Her name is Confetti, and is pregnant! We'll be having a baby llama and lambs next spring!

Confetti

We've decided to expand the barn on the side instead of trying to adapt the main building for sheep. Currently, there are no pens inside and no convenient doors to the field.

Here's the barn (and Hunter)--

The pine trees to the left will go so that I can see the sheep better. You can barely see the posts sticking up back there.

Mike rented a post-hole digger and set the post this past weekend.

The main posts have been set for the length of the barn, but we're going to do the expansion in three phases over the next three years. For this summer, only the first third will be finished off for the four sheep and llama.

AND, Mike got the permanent corner fence posts set in the field. Not a very exciting picture, but you can see them waaaay back there.

I'll keep you posted as more work is completed. Tonight Mike and Matt are off to get the fencing rolls. I think we'll be stretching the fencing tomorrow or Friday. Due to our recent bobcat attack on our chicken coup (I told you it's been an exciting month!), the sheep pastures and barn are going to be a fortress!

Turn, turn, turn . . .

Six years ago, my mother-in-law and I attended a fiber festival to see what the buzz was all about. It was the Fingerlakes Fiber Festival in Hemlock, NY and I was amazed at all the yarn. Yes, yarn. That's it.

Yarn was really all I was shopping for as a knitter. And then I saw a Golding spindle. Oh yeah . . . that caught my eye! I had dismissed the idea of spinning for a while with an arrogant huff of "Why would I make yarn when I can just buy it?" and "It would take forever to make the yarn and then I still have to knit with it; I'd never get anything done." (that last one is still a pretty valid point!)

But the Golding had me at "flick." My mother-in-law, being the great enabler that she is, bought me the spindle and How-to package that included a cloud of wool and an instuction book. I taught myself to spin and made a hat with my first hand spun.

Six years later, I have two spinning wheel: a hand made wheel from my husband and a Country Craftsman, and four spindles. Each has their own special story, but right now we'll just enjoy a photo gallery of them all.

Mike's (her name is "Serenity"):

The Country Craftsman (it's an original J. Rooney, and is, as-of-yet, unnamed):

My newest spindle from Threads Through Time (unnamed--though I think it's a boy):

Sea Sediment spindle from A Dyeing Wish (no name, but needs something peppy to embody it's speed):

A fun resin spindle from Spinatude (named "Mariposa"--not very original, but it fits!):

And tragedy recently struck the Golding ("Goldy"--again with the lack of originality) . . .

You'll be relieved to know that Mike has re-glued Goldy and she's spinning once again! However, I'll always be able to see the break marks, and I'll be retiring her as a teaching/demo spindle. She's just too delicate now.