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Happy Holidays!

Hi all,

Well this is the last post on this blog until after the New Year.  Everyone have a great holiday season.  Not much to report anyway, now it is a matter of waiting.  Breeding groups are going to be broken up soon.  I still expect the majority of my lambs the first two weeks in April but I am sure I will have a surprise or two before and some stragglers later.  I promise to do another meet the flock series before lambing.  For now I will leave you of a few photos I took today and talk to you in 2011!

Whistle and her new Bo: Watson

Meet Watson.  He is a Saanen buckling.  After inability to locate a buck to "rent" we had to break down and purchase one.  He has a fancy pedigree that means very little to me since goats are not my thing and we just want to breed enough to have milk in our fridge.  However I guess his good lines will help when it comes time to resell him or his kids and he is from a very health conscious farm which is always a plus.  He is stinky but isn't he cute?  Whistle is undecided yet.

I think her tune will change in a few days when she comes in season.  He certainly tall enough, a pretty big boy for being 6 months old.  Whistle is not a small goat!  So we should have Saanen kids this spring.  Let me know if you need a goat kid!

Other news:  back up plans in place.  Neville's ewes don't seen to be coming back in season so I assume he settled them.  Olympia is to join his group for back up.  Zeus has a few of his girls back just in case he missed them earlier but again no one is interested so I think they are settled.  Hester and Opal will be joining him.  The ewe lambs will not be backed up, if they are not bred so be it, so they are back with the non breeding group.  The other rams are in groups of two and seem to have settled their dominance issues for the time being.

Update and Slight Change in Plans

 Neville's group is still in the front pasture...hopefully not being blown away by our windy weather.

 Twin Springs Cotton Candy - flock matriarch...my first Shetland.

 Her triplet daughters Mapleton Peanut Brittle and Mapleton Carmel Apple.

 The whole breeding group:  Minwawe Pearl back left and Minwawe Marshmello and her daughter Mapleton Peep bottom right.

Well I let the ewe lambs and goats out the other day on a day that was really nice and Sky and Hope were over at the ram lambs fence wagging their tails and making them crazy.  So in a split minute decision I gave Can Too Sky and Mapleton Storm, and Mapleton Hope and Spring Hills Patches a place of their own.

Stormy and Sky in the vacated pig tractor.

Patches and Hope in the vacant hoop house. 

I just couldn't let those cute little spotted faced boys sit this one out after all.  I also like knowing my yearling rams are proven, it gives me more confidence in my breeding groups.  Well that is my rationalization anyhow.

I think I will let Patches be "clean up" ram for all the breeding groups in a couple of weeks.  Champ and Neville's groups are still together for a few more days.

Mixed yarn to Finished Hat

 Knit from top down

Mixed flock yarn and roving in a variety of colors and blends!

 Here is a picture of just some of the roving I currently have.  None of the mohair blends are included.  I lined these up to try to spin a skein of yarn that would be self striping.  These are most of the 100% and Shetland/Alpaca blends.  Not all of the various katmoget blends are present as some are very similar in color, so not enough variation to have more than one in this skein (and I am still hording the cashmere blend).  I have to tell you it was hard to tell sometimes which had Alpaca in it and which didn't, which speaks to the softness.  I am perfectly pleased with my roving but have a lot.  So if anyone would like to buy some let me know.  I have sold very little to date.  I think that is because I  am too attached to it.  So I am fully prepared to keep what I have and let this be my personal "stash"  and in turn offer most of my fleeces for sale this year so if you want to send fleece in for your own roving or process it yourself let me know what sheep or color and I will reserve it for you.  Lamb fleeces and Neville's not included in this offer.  Fleeces skirted at shearing but otherwise raw will be $8 a pound, Heavily skirted $10  a pound, skirted and monkey picked $12 a pound.  Roving prices are still between 2 and 4 an ounce depending on blend.  All will have shipping and (tax if you are in NY) added to the price.

 On my wheel.

Finished yarn. 

Now what should I make with it?    I wore it around my neck while I watched television to test for itch factor and I was very comfortable around my neck so it could be hat or scarf worthy!  Mill spun yarn still available in alpaca blends:  black, brown, grey, and white.  Sport or light worsted weight.  That is priced at $5 ounce.  I know that seems high but it was really expensive to have done since I was doing such small quantities.  Solution, buy raw fleece and do it yourself and the yarn I already have done will be added my "stash" as well.

Jump to it!

 Hi all,

The rams are getting serious being November and all.  Most of my Shetlands will lamb the first two weeks in April.  I have had a few folks visit the farm and others emailing, so if are interested in a lamb this spring, be sure to let me know your "wish list" if you are looking for anything in particular.  Note how many lambs, ewe/ram, color, patterns, markings, fleece type, you are interested in.  You can email me at my yahoo email which is:  karamapstone(you know the rest). We should have plenty of lambs for everyone that is interested, but with a few starter flocks to fill, the ewe lambs may go quick.  Also my friends that are entertaining a lamb swap, be sure to give me the heads up.  I may have a few adult ewes for sale this summer, depending on what we keep of the lamb crop.  There are usually enough rams/wethers and cross breeds to go around.  Those of you that decide to wait to see what we get, I am sure we will have something for you as long as you are not looking for something in particular, so be sure to check back in the spring.  Lamb photos will be posted as they arrive.  In the meantime meet the flock and flock posts will be posted, so check back often.

Best,
Kara

Zeus' Group

Left to right:  Dessie, Hershey (Corrie X), Quechee, Violet, Spooky (Cheviot), and Sprinkles.  Zeus in front.

October 23rd and 24th Breeding Groups Put Together

I'm exhausted!  But the groups are done.  Zeus got his group yesterday and the Cheviot was bred within minutes.  The rest of the groups were put together today.  Sorting was an event with a goat that wanted very much to be included!   None of the Shetlands were receptive to their rams but Neville and his ewes are in the south pasture.  Zeus and his in the North in the old sheep shed/pump house.  Champ and his ewes are in the barn.  The rammie lambies are still out back.  The goats and lambs are in the big shed now that the fencing as been replaced/repaired.  Pigs in the garden and the horses even get to keep their stalls and don't have to give up their current turn out!  Lots of groups to "deliver" feed/water too, since the chickens are still in electro net as well.  But is only for a short time so it will be okay.  Well I guess it will have to be.  I was able to get a photo of two groups before it got too dark and my camera stopped cooperating.   I will post pictures of some of the rest as soon I get some good ones.  So lambs are expected right on schedule as the last few years.  The week of March 20th with the crosses and the Shetlands to follow.  Lambing here is usually complete by mid April.

 Left to right:  Peep, Marshmello, Neville, Carmel, Cotton Candy, Peanut, Pearl in front.

 Potential poll carriers:  Hester, Olympia, Opal... Champ will help determine if they really are.

 These three ewes are my personal favorites.  Pictured:  Hester, Olympia, Opal, and Champ.

All three ewes are strong in my opinion.  Champ might be able to add a little more width in their stance.  They are straight just not as wide as he is.  All have a fair amount of crimp, nice handle, luster...which he also has but he is tighter crimped so could add that to their fleeces.  I had second thoughts when I saw my "faves" in a group and wondered if I was putting them with the right ram.  Once I added him and looked again, I was sure I did.  Champ has a lot to offer and in with his girls he is very content and more manageable.  He even let me scratch him, and he hasn't let me do that in a year!  He needs a flock where he is the only ram or could be kept separate.  I could give you a second ram for free to be wethered by your vet as his companion...if anyone is in the least interested please inquire.  Little Country and Windswept lines.  Registered as such and looks modified to me.  Polled genetics...here is your chance to give it a try.

Be patient...that is what I keep telling myself...

I really am trying to not breed any of the lambs until next year but it is so hard not to be tempted to throw one of these fine ewe lambs in a breeding group with one of the handsome ram lambs.  I will TRY to be patient!  Good news is that means I really like the lamb crop and new additions and am pleased with my choices.  I am also very pleased that I sold some very beautiful lambs to some very nice people again this year.  It is so exciting to be part of the development of their Shetland flock.  I should have a little something for everyone next year so look forward continuing to do so.  Like longer double coats...got some.  Like intermediate...have some of those too.  Like short tightly crimped fleeces...have those too.  Got patterns, colors, and spots.  Have domestic stock and some UK genetics.  Mix it all together and it should be a VERY exciting lamb crop.  Here is a look at some of the lambs from this year:

 Mapleton Storm the perfect replacement for his sire Minwawe Bahama.

 Mapleton Silvermist, grey katmoget.  The only Zeus lamb I kept this year. I am looking forward to more from Zeus this spring.

 Silvermist again with Mapleton Hope.  Storm's twin sis and perfect replacement for her mom Minwawe  Serendippity - both parents are together again at  Spring Hill Farm in PA.  That is the farm that the very handsome ram below is from:  Spring Hill Patches.

 And speaking of PA...Can Too Sky joined our flock from Ewe Can Do It Farm.

Then we come to Mapleton Cupcake.  Can you say yum!  Take a look at her fleece!  It is the "frosting on the cake" as her conformation and markings are very nice as well.

 So I kept three Bahama ewe lambs (4 Bahama babies total).  Pictured from top to bottom:  Cupcake, Hope, and Bella.

 So time will tell.  If anyone ends up in a breeding group it might be Hope with Patches, and Silvermist with Storm.  Sky and Cupcake tie for third biggest but I think they will be keeping my petite Bella company, as she is definitely in the need of another year to grow.  She weighs the same as Quechee did last year and as a yearling is just as big as everyone else this fall.  I think that some just need that extra year more than others.

Duplicate Post

Breeding Groups 2010

I think I have made my final decisions after writing it down 100 times since summer, typing it out on my computer, and rechecking my thoughts every time I visit the ewes or the rams.  So here they are, to be put together by the end of October:

Swiftriver Neville AI (black...may carry spots)

- Twin Springs Cotton Candy (fawn smirslet)

- Mapleton Carmel Apple (fawn katmoget)

- Mapleton Peanut Brittle (moorit)

- Mapleton Peep (musket HST)

- Minwawe Pearl (grey yuglet flecket)

- Minwawe Marshmello (white with grey yuglet markings) 

Mapleton Zeus (fawn katmoget)

- Harvest Thyme Quechee (black gulmoget)

- Mapleton Destiny (black and white flecket)

- Mapleton Violet (black HST)

- Minwawe Sprinkles (light moorit flecket)

- Hershey the Corrie cross

- Spooky the Cheviot

Harvest Thyme Champ (mioget half poll)

- High Bid Hester (black)

- Pike Hill Olympia (fawn gully)

- Mapleton Opal (fawn kat)

Mapleton Storm will be clean up ram for Champ, and Spring Hill Patches will clean up for Neville, as both are unproven.  I might add a ewe lamb or two  to the clean up group or groups late in the season.  I was thinking Hope to Patches group, at the very least.  Also thinking about finding a buck for Whistle.  That would give me about 17 bred, and roughly 21 Shetland lambs, 4 cross breeds, and 2 goat kids.  That is only a few more than the past two years, so certainly manageable.  I will post pictures of the groups once they are together.  Here's to the wait!  I better start knitting and spinning to keep my mind off of it!

My wish list this year includes a modified ewe lamb, a gully ewe lamb, and a nice soft grey ewe lamb which is why Neville is getting all my Ag ewes.  Out of the 9 ewes not on Zeus' list, he is related to 6 of them.  I love my Hester & Zeus daughter from this year so I could be tempted to repeat that pairing, but I really would like to see if I could get a full poll ram lamb out of her as her first lamb was a ram with very small scurrs.  She has only given me black so I am also thinking I could get an emsket with Champ.  Although Zeus may carry modified as his mom Olympia is fawn.  The other two not on Zeus' list are ones that have produced something similar that I have kept.  I have Pearl's daughter with Zeus' grandfather Kermit (Opal), and Marshmello's daughter with Zeus' dad Cooper (Peep).  So I thought I'd try something different this time around.

Fall Roving

Black roving %100 Shetland (some white fibers from the white markings and iset fibers):  Violet, Serendipppity, and Hester.  The brown %100 Shetland: Cha Cha, Libby, and Peanut.  The new roving back from the mill shown below with yarn bow of the opposite color.

So I have many shades of browns, blacks, greys, taupe, off whites, and white.  In %100 Shetland, Alpaca blends, and Mohair blends.  Prices range from $2.50 to $4.00 an ounce depending on the blend and if it is lamb or adult fleece.  Inquire for more information.  Click on roving label to see more pictures of other colors available.  We also have some mill spun yarn in brown, black, white, and grey in Alpaca/Wool blends.

Assorted Flock Photos

 Pike Hill Olympia

 Minwawe Sprinkles

 Mapleton Storm

 High Bid Hester

 Mapleton Peanut Brittle

 Can Too Sky

 Twin Springs Cotton Candy

 Harvest Thyme Quechee

 Minwawe Marshmello

 Minwawe Pearl and Mapleton Violet

 Spring Hill Patches

Mapleton Carmel Apple

Edit to last post...

I might give Patches one adult ewe and the largest ewe lamb.  I don't think I will use Stormy this year but he will have a large group next year.  Champ is still for sale, available for pick up after Novemeber 21st.  Make an offer if you want to try out some polled genetics...he is a half poll.  I was asking $200 but will consider all reasonable offers. Patches and Storm picutred below: