Lincoln Lambs

No explanation needed!

Got Lambs! Got Goats!

A crazy busy day. Woke up to twin Lincoln ram lambs. Earlier than expected so had to scramble around to get a few things done, clean up the lambs and weigh them. Done by 10 a.m. and hadn't had coffee yet, ugh! Lambs doing well. BFLs still sitting around with full udders.

Then off to pick up the new goats. Two bred Angora goats. One white, one red. They settled in nicely and are still deciding on what the llama is all about. I think they are going to be just fine.

Our Lincoln Longwools

The Lincolns are really neat. Can't wait to shear them in the spring.

Our BFLs

Why did we decide to lamb early this year? I have to remind myself as we clean stalls, get lambing jugs ready, and boot the rams out of their stall to the lean-to in the pasture (that's after DH enclosed half of the open side for added protection). All in very cold temps....brrrr! Anyway, while vaccinating, preparing for lambs, and doing other chores this weekend, I snapped some pics of our flock.

Four rams (three almost yearlings and one almost two years) and ewe lambs in pen behind them.

DH, Steve, with Amos (almost two year ram)

Our rams.

Nine bred ewes.

A walk out to the pasture followed by the nine ewes.

Socks Are Coming

Bags of BFL on their way to the mill for a sock order. I debated whether to put all the BFL into socks or sell individual fleeces or process into roving/batts. I think this time I really wanted to try the socks. So today we threw the wool in the truck and trekked up to Zeilinger Wool Mill to put in the sock order. It will take about six months and we'll have about 125 pair of socks in various sizes.

Zeilinger's

Baby Stuff

Most baby gifts are done and were finished just in time for the shower. I made a small baby blanket on my RH loom. A plain weave with a two-color warp and multi-colored weft. Then sewed on a satin blanket binding. Having a binding around the edge made it easy because I didn't have to worry so much about even selvedges. When I learn how to weave a double width piece of fabric, then I can make our grand daughter a larger blanket so her toes can stay covered.

With the left over multi-colored yarn, I had enough to knit a newborn cap. I whipped it up one evening with size nine DPNs.
The other cap I made has ear flaps. With a skein of self-striping sock yarn and size two circs, I casted on about 132 stitches. Before the cast on, I knitted the ear flaps on two separate DPNs and left them on the DPNs. Then using the circs I cast on 20 stitches, knitted on 21 stitches from the first ear flap, cast on 52 stitches, knitted on 21 stitches from the second ear flap, then cast on the remaining 20 onto the circs (note: the 52 stitches make up the from of cap and the first 20 cast on and the last 20 cast on make up the back of the cap). So when the cast on is complete, the ear flaps are on and you can knit the cap using your favorite pattern or your own stitch design. The ear flaps can also be brought up to the top of the cap and tied together if aren't being used.
I would have loved to use my handspun yarn, but being baby items I figured that a washable yarn was more practical.

Now I can move on to the final baby project (which I'll post here when complete) and then onto my homework for the Master Spinner Program.

Michigan's Shepherds Weekend

Shepherds Weekend in Lansing (MI) is a great event that gets me re-focused after all the holiday hoopla. This year was no different. I think the best part was the keynote speaker, Dr. Temple Grandin. Dr. Grandin is an expert and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to livestock, animals behavior, and animal handling. During her presentations she emphasized thinking in pictures and sounds instead of language (verbally). That way we see the world as our sheep see the world, thereby understanding them better which leads to lower stress (on sheep and shepherd), easier handling, and better overall management. Last year I read two of her books after hearing an interview she gave. Then when I heard she was this year's keynote, I was thrilled.

Dr. Temple Grandin

Dr. Gandin and Pat Tirrell talking sheep.

Dr. Grandin talking with others about sheep

Dr. Grandin made herself available throughout the weekend talking to anyone who wanted to know more. The weekend also included vendors, displays and information by breed associations, a sock and mitten competition, and even two very, very cute eight week old Great Pyrenees puppies.

If you get a chance to attend Shepherds Weekend next year, it's worth it! Now, it's time to get stuff ready for lambing and for my new Angora goats that will be arriving soon!

Godspeed and Happy Landings!

Carol