Blue Eggs Again

I went out to check for eggs a few days ago and look what I found; blue eggs again.  I haven't seen a blue egg here for over 6 months.

I don't know if the arracana has been laying elsewhere or not laying for quite awhile.  I haven't found brown eggs for a few days so I still think about uncovering 100s of eggs somewhere.  Maybe I will go in search again today, since the after school workshop I do has been cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.

  Maybe if the winds do come there will be 100s of eggs flying through the air.  Wouldn't that be a sight.  Scrambled eggs for all.

Amelia Bedelia's Parasite

Today was "No School Fall Fiber Day".  Since there was no school today, for whatever reason, I decided to do a fiber workshop.  I had four enthusiastic students.  We had a blast.  First we made a plan  of what we wanted to do.  It was decided we should card and spin some wool, pick pokeweed berries to dye the yarn in the microwave, and of course hang out with the sheep.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures this time.  Next time I will have the kids remind me.  The girls who have been here a few times are getting better at spinning.  It is so great, when you ask kids if it is important to take something home, or just learn more, they say, "just learn more".

The pokeweed had mostly gone by, but there was a large plant next to the compost pile big enough to dye our five small balls of homespun.  It came out beautiful!  The yarn was different shades of red and pink instead of the fushia color I am more used to.  Not sure what that was about.

The two new students wove bracelets on some cardboard box looms we made.  It is nice when we can be doing different things and the kids are always complimenting each other on a job well done.  I am spoiled with this group; they are all sweethearts.

As we were sitting in the sun making our plan and laughing, one of the students said,  "Amelia Bedelia must live here, this is Amelia Bedelia's home, this is Amelia Bedelia's parasite."  I hope she meant paradise.

Giant Steps Forward

John's mom was here a few days last week and she helped me with a prototype I have been working on.  Footwear for little ones.  Now, I have two little moccasin type shoes; one brown and the other white.  Still no pair, but alas, my brother and sister-in-law are coming in a few days and maybe Cathy will help me continue where Gramma and I left off.  I have three different ideas and need to develop them a little further to see which design is the best to go with.

Saturday is the Farm Day at a local farm where they are shearing sheep and showing off old tractors and farm machinery.  Suppose to be a tailgate sale of small animals too so maybe I can find a few more chickens.  I told Keith I would do a demonstration of some kind so I am thinking I might take a couple of spinning wheels with me.  Should be fun and a good thing to do with guests from out of town.

The farm website is coming together again and I am hoping that it will be operational before November 1st which is the Harvest Jubilee; a celebration of the first phase of "Fields of Gold" ( the agritourism project of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia).  That is a run on sentence, whew.  Anyway, lots coming together and very exciting to be sure.

A week and a half until the Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival (SAFF).  I haven't been for a couple of years and I am excited about going this year.  Taking a workshop entitled Homespun meets Nuno felting.  Should be a good one.

A couple of giant steps forward lately, and another is that I successfully trimmed 6 or 7 hooves on my own yesterday.  I have to go back and check Amelia's because she wanted to quit before I did and I am not sure how the last ones ended up.  I do know that  since we put in the water trough with the gravel around it, the sheep don't need their hooves trimmed as often. Yay.

Must go out with the camera tomorrow and document whats going on in the barnyard and it is time to rotate to the next pasture.  Always an exciting day for the sheep.  I will try to catch a few smiles.

October

A week into October, just got back from another few days away.  All seems good on the farm.  The sheep are out grazing more of the day.  Unfortunately, they found something that let loose a bunch of seed all over their faces.  Oh well what can I do, they don't seem to mind?

I should start halter training but keep putting it off.  One day it will be just the right day and I will begin.  I need to trim hooves too and can't put that off too long.  Most of the sheep are getting more trusting (most of the time) so jobs are easier.  But, they still seem to know when I am just giving out treats and scratches or when I have something else in mind.

I have been more in the fiber faze and trying to finish scraping the ceiling of the cabin faze lately.  I will be very happy when the ceiling is done.  It shouldn't take long to paint everything and then we plan to begin the farm stays part of the farm operation.

John went to the lumber mill today, to get the rest of what he needs for the fiber shed, among other things.  It will be nice to have more windows letting sun in the fiber shed, as the days get cooler.

What LOVELY weather we have been having.  The perfect weather to follow the hot summer we had and it started before it was officially fall.

I am really enjoying the balance in my schedule these days.  Just a little more time with the sheep and a few more hikes and I will be completely content.