Shearing time for the Shetlands. It's earlier than usual but the fleeces are clean and beautiful right now and the weather is warm so "let's shear". One little ewe will be a sheep to shawl shearing candidate at PA farm show in January so she was left out of the shearing group. She was not happy about it either. She stomped around outside the pen and demanded that she join the others. Her turn will come. This morning was a bit chilly. I found them burrowed in the straw in their barn, warm and cozy. They actually dig these burrow holes for themselves. Such fun to watch.

Oh Sam!

I kept one Shetland ram lamb this year. Son of White Pine Ruben and White Pine Selah so he's fine and soft katmoget just like his momma. Everyday at feeding, I'd part his fleece and wonder how soon I could shear him and spin his sparkling grey wool. Last week, I allowed Sam to go to a friend's house to breed some ewes. Sam had other ideas. Within days of getting to his new flock he tried to walk home. I've never had a rent a ram do this and was shocked when I got the word that "Sam was gone". Nooooo! Fortunately, my friend was relentless and searched for 5 days. She left no stone unturned until she found him in a small flock 4 and 1/2 miles from his starting point. He's home now with a fleece full of burrs and wait a minute vines but he's happy and so are my friend and I since it's hunting season. We only wish Sam could relate his adventures "on the lamb". (Booooo)

New BFL Roving

Masterton and Betsy moved to Colorado but not without being sheared first. Their fleeces were blended with silk and some bits of silk noil to create this super soft roving. Can't wait to get a whole day to just sit and spin.

Cold sunny day. Perfect for working with my Shetlands. It's so much fun to crowd them all and look at fleeces. In the last few weeks one lamb has become a beauty. She has a spunky way of looking at me that is captivating. Deciding who will go to a new shepherd is not an easy task. Mustang Sally will go for sure. She incites stampedes whenever she can. There were several of those today aimed right for my knees.

Need An antique Niddy Noddy?

I didn't realize I had collected so many niddy noddies. These are for sale. $50 each Some are signed with an x, some have lines done on the lathe to be more decorative.

Update

It's been a season of goodbyes. My Bluefaced Leicester flock has been dispersed to several new homes...all great. Saying goodbye was horrific. One purchaser had pity on me and has left her 2 ewes here for me to lamb. It's nice to know I'll have at least a few bay blues. All but eight of the Shetlands have been sold. They were suppose to move a few weeks ago but I keep making excuses to keep them here. They are my view from the kitchen window so I need them make me smile. This year my BFL ram bred many of my Shetlands so the lambs will be surprises.... crossbred or purebred?..... we'll know when they hit the ground. There's still yarn in storage and some BFL and Shetland roving available for sale so if you need Christmas projects email me. Sheepskins for sale too!

Farewell

For over 10 years, my heart has been with my Bluefaced Leicester flock. It was a breed that I first saw in the UK with my friend Isabel. The fiber is spectacular and as a breed there could not be a more gentle sheep to raise. From the first very ugly BFL lamb I purchased, the Potosi flock had become the beautiful fiber animals that I had seen at the shows in England. It was a joy to sit on the porch and watch them run with their long locks flowing. Although I did the wool show circuit with yarn and roving my life in the barn gave me the most pleasure. Especially at lambing, when a walk to the barn was like Christmas morning finding a new lamb or two. I loved my travels to shows all over the country to buy rams for my breeding program. Not only did I buy rams but I made some wonderful friends that I hope I will keep for life. Things have changed here at Potosi. My husband is no longer able to do anything outside so those jobs have fallen to me. Along with sheep chores I mow,fix equipment,run the house and take care of Bill. Too much for this old chick. The farm will be for sale soon so my Beautiful Blues had to find a new home. This morning they left for Colorado and a new home on the mesa. The silly Shetlands remain until the farm sells. Good thing too. It will give me fiber to spin and chores to do outside, although not as many. I couldn't imagine not smelling like sheep or being bowled over with a feed bucket in hand. Sheep are a passion and an addiction. Wyatt, my remaining BFL ram realizes that the Shetlands are the only game in town now and has made his way into their pasture. Nice crossbred babies in the spring I hope.