The Trifecta

Really. . . does it get any better than wool drying, sheep and llamas grazing and leaves changing?

Such a Softy

I'm not a very responsible chicken farmer. When a hen goes boody (starts sitting on a clutch of eggs), I have a hard time taking them away from her. I need to get better at it, because we just don't need an infinite amout of chickens, and there are better seasons than others to have baby chicks.

This is a bad season. But we have a new addition:

I know, aawww . . . BUT, the nights are getting colder and winter is knocking at the door. I let my hen sit on one egg. It was an agreed upon compromise between the two of us. She wanted 8, I left 1.

Not sure how that was any better than a whole clutch, since I still have to set up a separate area for her with food, water and a heat lamp. She might as well have had 30 chicks. But how can you take away eggs from a face like this?

And she's such a good mommy. And her chicks are so darn cute. Here's another look:

Aaawww. . .

If it was spring, we'd put them in their doggy igloo and fence off a section of the chicken run to keep the other hens away (they're a bit cannibalistic). But it's not spring. So cute, yet such a pain. I've gotta toughen up!

Fiber Arts Friday -- Fiber Harvest

Yesterday was a connection-making day. I'm new to blogging as all of you know :), and I'm just beginning to navigate this crazy web we bloggers weave.

So I stumbled upon CreatingTheHive.com - Arts & Crafts Community and then I found Wisdom Begins in Wonder, Andrea Morrison's blog about her alpaca farm. And she is a part of a Fiber Arts Friday group where I noticed knit with snot for you, a blog by Holly Bee that I was already following! Whew! I feel like I've come full-circle AND want to jump in. So here it goes, my very own Fiber Arts Friday post.

 Wednesday was dyeing day in the studio. When my husband called from work and asked what I was up to, as always on dyeing day, I answered "dyeing." He laughs every time. When will he get over it?

Anyway, yesterday was drying day, and today will be carding day. BUT, I caught a few quick pics of the yummy Romney fiber before it was carded.

Romney locks ready for Autumn.

A glamor shot.These locks were from a Romney ram named Honey Bear from my friend Sandy Long's farm: Long Meadow Farm. I would throw her link in here, but she doesn't have a web site. I need to help her with that!

My hands are itching to blend these together and get them up in my shop. They'll be part of the Shepherds' Friend program where you can support small farming in America and learn about different breeds.

Tomorrow I actually have a knitting FO to share, but I have to wait, because it's my mom's birthday present and she doesn't get it until tomorrow!!