Buttoning up

Yesterday was a very busy day! Funny how after a dusting of snow, things get done....
Ken and I worked for most of the day doing a check and securing the electric fence in the ram area.  I wanted to make sure that while Ken is at hunting camp, the ram is exactly where I want him! It seems that every year when Ken goes to "Boys Camp", something happens....our ram Booger re-arranged the barn one year, complete with new ventilation, another year I had JUST welcomed our new llama and he was a bit of an escape artist. I ended up building Stalag 17 to keep him in until Ken got home.....Sam and I bonded that first week! Needless to say, I wanted to be ready this year....we'll see.

We also spent time cleaning part of the barn that we re-did into a better donkey stall for the winter. Olive and Gracie now have new digs that will be snuggly and warm during even the coldest of nights. Now to finish the re-design for the rest of the barn! You learn as you go just what works and what is a pain in the neck! Of course part of it is the aging process.....things that used to work just fine now are painful. Who said "getting old isn't for sissies"? They weren't kidding!

Good night Gracie.....

Time Change...

I have to say....I am NOT a fan of Daylight Saving Time. It's so dark when I go out to do chores at night now and I find myself just about falling asleep by 6:30! By the time I start adjusting a bit, we'll be setting the clocks ahead! LOL  How are you adjusting? Hitting the hibernation mode, yet?

For Michelle .....

Luke needed a boost to see out the window and Anya was way too comfortable to move!  Not the best of pictures but I promise to post when I have something better Michelle....

BRRRRR....16 degrees!

 My hands ache already just thinking about the cold....and I haven't even gone outside yet! This time change thing throws me off a bit every year. I think it throws off everyone around here! The sheep start checking their watches and wonder what the heck is going on...."why are they out here now...aren't they a little early?"

 The dogs are playing outside in the frosty air like they're kids, but then again they are Great Pyrenees.....this is THEIR kind of weather. On the other hand, Anya, the Wolfhound, is more than ready to play for just a minute and then run back into the house....she and the Border Collie, Luke, like to take care of business and run for the warmth of the house!  I will be doing the same right after chores are done!!!

We have been working to put together a logo for the Farm for a while now and thanks to our friend Sarah (who is such an artsy crafty person and photographer extraordinaire) we now have a logo design that we are using at local craft fairs for our wares. I'm loving the design. We use the larger one for our soy candles and some of the other larger items and the smaller tag is used on our soap wraps and smaller items.  See...we've been busy!

Remember me?

Ok...so about a year ago I promised to get my butt in gear and start posting again. Didn't happen, did it? Well.....I'm starting my New Years resolution early....or am I really, really late? Not sure. So...here's an update or what's been happening on the Farm. We are still raising Shetland sheep and had some corkers this Spring our of Pike Hill Acer, a moorit ram with UK breeding. His fleece is just exquisite! Now we wait and see how the lambs turn out....so far so good! We had lots of nice moorits, as well as some black, a few gulmogets and one katmoget....all were nice, some better than others, but we only kept 3 ewes and one ram to grow out.  I contained myself!
Yesterday we brought home two white Border Leicester cross ewes....I know, I know. I'm a sucker, but they are beautiful! I think they will add some nice fleece to the stash we already have here....Shetland, Alpaca, and mohair from our three Angora Goats. Yup.....the farm has grown since my last posting! We have enjoyed adding the two Alpacas to the menagerie of what is already part of our crazy lives. Oh....did I mention that Olive and Gracie live here? Who are they? Why they are the cutest mini-donks that you have ever seen! I guess I better get posting some pictures, too......tomorrow is another day.

Did it again....

Where does the time go? It's been a month since I last posted? Geesh! Things are happening over here!

We have 4 new faces at Kindred Spirit Farm....Angora goats! Jasper and his mom Victory are black and Captain and Chenille are white....okay, so it was Tenille, but I just can't do it! So....we gave it our own twist....she thinks Chenille is okay so that works! About 20 plus years ago, my ex and I had Angora goats and being a Capricorn, well, I miss having a few goats around. Since Ken and I are concentrating on fiber, Angora goats just make sense....that and the fact that my hands are getting arthritic and the thought of milking again makes me cringe. They are about the same size as our Shetlands and how I love these gentle little beings! Will be posting more pictures as things happen...okay?

There's a change in the weather....

Yikes! Chilly today....hot tamale?
You know that Shetland Shuffle I like to refer to....well, this year, I don't think we'll be doing that dance! Pike Hill Acer, our new moorit ram, will most likely be our "ram of choice" for the girls who want to fill their dance card. He has gorgeous fleece, horns, and conformation...what more could they ask for? He's a-hunk  a-hunka burnin' love and they will be swooning sometime very soon. Hopefully, I will get out to take some pictures today....stay tuned. In the meantime, put on some Elvis tunes and do a little dancing....it gets the heart pumping and the body warmer on these cool mornings! It's either that or a hot cup of cocoa!

Hope....

Always hope over the horizon....just thought this was a nice picture of early morning mist.....hope you enjoy.

September morn....

Today it feels like Fall is in the air. It rained last night and there is a coolness lurking this morning with more rain just starting to fall again. The dogs are loving it! Those hot muggy days were just too much for them and they did a lot of "swimming" in the kiddie pool to cool off. The Shetlands are enjoying the respite, too! They have stopped just hanging out at the water cooler and seem to actually enjoy a walk through the pasture to check things out....any new sprigs of grass? The pasture is about down to nothing and we have started feeding out some beautiful second cut hay.....not turning up their noses, I'll tell you THAT! A local farmer also gives us their "corn squeezings"....better known as husks. The sheep LOVE it! The pumpkins will soon follow.....usually a nice truck load to spoil them all before the breeding season kicks off. Ahhh, the breeding season. A year or so back I dubbed breeding season the "Shetland Shuffle"....you know, the period of who's breeding whom and how many times we change our minds about it? Well this year I pretty much am all set.....with a gorgeous new ram purchased from Pike Hill Farm. Acer is a moorit with an outstanding fleece and gorgeous conformation and horns....I can't wait to see what he will produce for lambs next Spring! For now, I will enjoy the coolness of the morning, put on a light sweater and have another cup of tea. Have a wonderful day, friends.