| This is what I saw yesterday morning when I walked out the door. Sunshine and sheep. It was perfect weather for me and the stock. Everyone enjoyed soaking up some sun. It also meant I could go to the barn down the road and pick up hay, so I got two loads, which won't last long. It's amazing how fast your mood can change with a little sunshine. |
| Everyone slept in this morning except me and the chickens. I did hang out in the house in my gown after a breakfast of biscuits, bacon, fresh eggs and jelly. That's about all the time I can take off and I feel guilty about that. When I went out it was not sunny and most everyone was still asleep. They are a pretty content lot. Just waiting around for the shepherd to bring the grain and more hay. I get my hay from a farmer friend just a mile down the road, I am very thankful for that. And I support as many local farmers as possible. I get my milk from dairy farmer friends about 5 miles away. I buy my feed at a local feed store, less than 40 miles away, I would buy it closer, but they are the only store that will keep fresh sheep feed. I buy fencing and other supplies about 8 miles from here. Other things we buy are from small local stores, most are owned by people we know. All these businesses are doing well in hard times because many locals trade with them. |
In the past our cotton went to Lindale, GA., where it was spun and woven into fabric for underwear. It was all grown and made and worn less than 30 miles away. The less quality cotton went to Trion to be made into blue jeans, about 50 miles. It was sustainable, the farmer grew cotton that provided jobs for many mill workers that provided clothing for people in their community. That circle is broken, most mills are over seas. Not sure how a barge can float bales of cotton thousands of miles to be turned into poorly made clothing that is cheaper than what the cotton cost to grow. Especially when fuel is over $3 a gallon and a barge gets 2-3 miles per gallon at best. Same deal with wool, most of the wool and mohair for handspinners is imported from some foreign land and is cheaper than my feed and hay bill. Even small farms provide jobs in our country, buy American grown and if you can find it, buy American made. |
| Had the sweetest visitor yesterday, just a few weeks old this cria was rejected by his mother and was adopted by another mother that really needs him. I know he will grow up and may not be so sweet, but right now he is precious. His new mother is now a new spinner and soon will learn to weave and felt his fibers, she has the whole llama family since the previous owner could not tolerate another rejected cria. It is so exciting being a beginner spinner, and so much fun in the learning days ahead. To grow your own fiber, then spin your yarn, beginner yarn is beautiful, and knit or weave that scarf or shawl is a satisfaction that can't be bought. |
| The goats and sheep are ready for sun, even the sheep have been sleeping in the barns. The last two days have been warm enough to start cleaning out the garage and cabin. It was a bigger mess than I thought. I found lots of fiber I had forgotten. Some of the animals are gone now, making the fleece even more precious. Got an idea to make shelves for storing raw fleeces by using old doors that we took down at the last remodeling. These are solid wood doors from the 70's that were too nice to throw away, so I am repurposing them. But it's going to takes many days of work to get things organized. I am feeling overwhelmed with all the work that needs done outside and only a few nice hours of daylight to get them done. |
| Several sheep were missing when I went to the top pasture to put hay in the barn. But were easy to track in the deep snow. They had found something to eat on top of the snow. The snow is starting to melt and the wind is blowing it off the trees and power lines, I am hoping the power stays on. Some of the hens are starting to lay and the snow didn't slow them down. There are four roosters that have been weaned by their mother that need to be caught, just too cold to do night catching. The only way to catch crafty game chickens is at night, with a flash light shining in their eyes. |
| Saturday was a warm day before the storm. I had several dye pots going and at least fifty pounds of wool in tubs and buckets soaking and awaiting the washing machine, I knew I had to get it washed and on the drying racks before the water froze. I had to get in a load of hay, and Hershey was going down on me. He had been feeling better the last few days, but just wouldn't eat. I gave him his last breakfast of homade yogurt, but later in the day I knew it was his last. I have never had a sheep so sweet. |
| Since I didn't make the mad dash to the grocery store for bread and milk before the snow, I set the sour dough starter out this morning before chores. Came back in between barns, got the bread going, and had fresh bread for supper with fresh pasture raised beef roast from a friends herd. The sour dough starter is stored in a crock made by Mr. Gordy, many years ago. |
| This flock of goats were high and dry and had no interest in going out in the snow. They have the better barn that I use for lambing and kidding. It is pretty tight and much warmer and no drafts. With the windows closed they can't hear or see the storm so they were pretty settled when I came in to feed. All the other barns are not so secure, the snow blew in, and the sheep and goats that were in them were spooked. The road to the horse pasture was very slick, I drove in low gear and 4 wheel drive, but they were waiting for their hay when I arrived. It took most of the day just to feed. |
| Pandora and her flock were waiting at their feeder to be fed. Everyone got a little extra feed, all the hay they can eat and lots of warm water. |
| This flock of sheep was covered in snow and very scared to walk in the snow. Everyone seemed okay and came to eat at the bottom of the hill, then ran back to this same spot. |
| Day one of 2011 was a hard day to get everyone fed, heavy rain all day. Tallied up the score from 2010 and looks like the feed store won again. However, I still have the strength and energy to carry on another year. Spent a part of the day looking for new ideas to support this sheep and goat farm. Plenty I can do, just need some good weather and more daylight hours. I'm tired of hibernating and ready to work outside. All the barns are past due being cleaned, but the goats are in them most days. Hershey ate a cup of grain today but wasn't interested in grazing, something internal going on. Dyed four pots of pastels from wool of Sweet Woodie, trying to help spring come as soon as possible. |
