Goat pasture mowed

Got one of the goat pastures mowed yesterday and now they can find how to get through the maze. I let my grasses go to seed and reseed the pastures, it sometimes gets seeds stuck in the fleeces but is the best way to get good grass. I prefer the sheep and goats to graze pastures than  make hay, it is just to costly, what a better idea to let them harvest their own.  The good thing about sheep and goat poop is that it scatters about the pastures fertilizing every inch they cover. Along with clover is keeps the grass growing as long as we get plenty of rain which we haven't had in quite awhile here. Now if I can get them to spin and knit their own wool I could be sitting in the AC instead of sweating it.

Visit to the past and future

Kind of a day off after morning chores. Went to the Davis family reunion, always very interesting. The Davises settled here from South Carolina in the 1800's, and a lot of their history is recorded in their family book. Huge families and most men were in the Civil War, lots of pictures of men in uniforms. Most of the women looked like men, harsh, and I'm sure it was tough.There was a black cast iron pot of hot Brunswick stew to eat.That was a visit to the past. Then I went to some friends baby shower that are expecting a baby girl, a visit to the future. Some very exited parents and grandparents looking forward to a new little being. Everything seemed so clean and fresh, a new beginning.Of course everything was pink. I wish them well. Then it was home to hand crank some ice cream before Evan went home. I hope he will remember a Nana that made good home made ice cream and the anticipation of turning that handle.

Lucky Saturday

Linda and I made it to the Peachtree Handspinner's meeting, it's fun to have someone to talk to on the ride down. Especially another shepherd, we can compare notes on wormer and hay and shearing. I always miss the exit to the church because I am talking about sheep. It was a pretty good day of wool sales, but even a better surprise ewe winnings. Managed to win a cashmere sweater for a 50 cent ticket and about $2 worth of tickets for a 100 % wool sweater from Ireland, both just my size. I can use them this winter working in the barn, if it ever gets cold enough. It was my lucky day.

Art gallery opening

The art gallery had a great turn out for the grand opening, I'm thinking maybe 300 people came, met some new friends and some old friends. There was a lot of interest in wool and how it becomes felt, yarn or handwoven. Only someone that does this can imagine how much time it takes to complete one item. I'm thinking it will be challenging to keep enough scarves, shawls, whatever on display. And trying to figure out what will sell. You never know what someone is looking for. Then, there's all the pottery for sale to tempt me, some really nice stuff. It's a great place to buy gifts for everyone on your list.

Potato morning

Potatoes are up and in cool storage, not as many as usual, but lots of big ones. Corn is on its way out, thank goodness, I'm ready to get back to fibery things. Summer is so much work. Next will be tomato canning, green beans, butter beans and peas. Blackberries are exploding on the vines, can't pick them fast enough. Tomorrow is the grand opening of the art gallery and I am looking forward to something indoors where it is cool. The gallery is located in downtown Cartersville in one of the old stores that has been renovated. It looks great. Mostly potters, painters and my fiber art. It's going to take a lot of work to keep the shelves stocked, so I will be spending more time working on finished items. And hoping for a early and cold fall so I can sell wool.

Trailing behind

Trailing way behind. I am waiting for the many ears of corn I cut off and blanched to cool down for bagging. The guard dogs are having a hard time in this heat. Wag and Kate are under the barn floor trying to find a cooler spot. Wolf will tough it out with his flock, he will not leave them. Sunshine and her lamb are better since I sheared them, Sunshine was immediately better, it took her son several days to straighten out his back, he was humped up and his back legs trembling, a sure sign of heat stress. But it is even hotter than last week and the rain has stopped. This can really take a toll on the pastures and the sheep.

Guard cat on duty

When Barney was dropped off here last Christmas she bonded with Wolf and his goat herd. Everyday she went out to the pasture and stayed with Wolf, then came back to the barn at night and they slept together. I thought Barney was a tom kitten, she had a big head, looking back that could have been from not having food. Alex made a pet of her and one day said Barney is getting fat. Then it dawned on me, I picked her up and I knew right away, she was going to have kittens soon. She had six kittens and is the best mother and a good barn cat. The kittens belong to the tom cat across the road that sneaks in to eat cat food from time to time and spray around my barn. I would love to keep the kittens ,since good mousers are needed here, but the price of having them all spayed and neutered is out of reach. I now have free roosters and free kittens.