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!

And in Duck News . . .

My very first post on my blog was about my ducks and their aversion to water. Seriously. They wouldn't go in. You can read about it here: Awww Ducks.

Well, I'm pleased to announce that my ducks have seen the light! Or, as the case may be, the water!

Check it:

 I'm so proud. It's only taken 6 months and freezing cold weather to tempt them into the water.

OK.

So, now a confession:

Yup. That's as deep as they go. But their feet aren't touching; I think that counts for something! Hey . . . baby waddles, ya know?

And they're REALLY enjoying the water. Here's a few more shots of them frolicking.

Splashin'The only drake we have stretching for the ladiesTaking a nap with one look out at the readyQUACK!!I hope they're able to take a few swims around the pond before it starts freezing over. Keeping my fingers crossed.

In fiber news, I have a lot of new batts up in the shop, with more to come. Check them out! And I'll be working to update the blog with breed information; my goal is to have an info page for each breed that goes into the batts. It'll take me a while, but I still think it's important to keep spinners educated!

Take care everyone--and I'd love some comments about my gifted ducks!!

Little Project Notes

I know I promised a tutorial on kid-friendly dyeing, but I just needed to get these pics out there. The tutorial will be posted later today. Check back!

I'm working on a project for my new blog and Etsy banners. I want to have roving flow into yarn and that flow into some knitting. All with my soon-to-be-revealed new logo over it.

In preparation for this, I've started working on some blends of green and natural corriedale wool. Here's a glamor shot of a finished ball of yarn:

Hand spun Corriedale yarnAnd I loved this setting for the picture so much that I think I may change over most of my pictures on Etsy. I re-did my handspun already:

Hand spun "Corriedale Expresso"Maybe not as professional as a light box, but I love the warm feeling it gives. The wooden stand it's on is my antique yarn skeiner that my in-laws got me for my birthday. Awesome, isn't it?! I may pull out my antique washboard as well for some pics.

I've also been working to change all my inventory over to farm-friendly stock. All new wool that comes into my shop will be from small farms across America that I've hand scoured, hand dyed, hand picked and hand carded. My hands are tired! Stay tuned for info on the fleeces I process and the resulting items that go into my shop.

Golden Willow

Every morning, as I'm having my quiet time in my back studio, I can look out and see our pond through one set of windows and our lone willow tree out another set. As the sun rises, I get to watch my willow turn golden and glow. It's breath-taking every single morning.

This morning was very misty, and the rain from last night still covered everything. The fog moved up from the valley to cover the pond.

And as I turned to check on my willow, I was a little disheartened that the mist would inhibit the glow. But what I saw was just as beautiful in its own way.

The sun was struggling through the mist and my willow was working hard to glow. I decided it was ok that I'd miss the show for one day because today was so beautiful. But a few minutes later, I realized I hadn't missed anything.

I love where I live.