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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