Computer frustrations

I have been trying since the VT Sheep & Wool festival (Sept. 6 + 7) to update this blog. Yes, I know that is 3 weeks!! But my computer has 'eaten' 2 mice and is trying to eat my newest one! It took over 30 minutes to get it to put 2 pictures on the blog and then everything froze.
I will be trying again today to update the blog. I need to spend some serious time cleaning/organizing my office anyway and I might as well do two things at once.
I really hate the thought of sending this back to the 'computer geek' to have him overhaul it.... In the meantime, I am on the hunt for a new computer. The next one will be a laptap and I am leaning seriously toward the Macs.

And, if anyone has email me/the farm and I have not replied, please try again.


TTFN

20th annual VT Sheep & Wool festival

This was the front entrance to the main building. We were just to the left of the doorway. The next picture shows our fleeces around the tree and 2 of us on the front lawn. (These pictures are from Sunday. On Saturday it was raining and there were a Lot more fleeces around that tree!)

Looking toward the llama obstacle course. And then, here comes the llamas and alpacas. It was nice to actually be able to watch the kids and their animals go through the course. I have never been able to watch as I am usually in a building.

Our tent on Sunday morning. It was still lightly raining when I took these pictures, but the sun did come out!

Coming back from lunch break, looking toward the front gate and where we were set up. There were 3 of us set up on the front lawn.

More pictures of our setup, after the sun came out. I did not realize that the boxes were showing until I put the pictures on the blog....... )o:

Hope Spinnery. A wind powered fiber mill. We sent 3 of the left over fleeces home with him (Bill Huntington) to be processed into roving. www.hopespinnery.com

I need to find this woman's card so I can let you know who she is...........I do know that she is from Connecticut. And her colors are awesome!

My favorite wheel maker. David Paul of The Merlin Tree. http://www.themerlintree.com/the_merlin_tree001.htm.

David's double flyer Ashford Traveller. Two handed spinning anyone?

Matilda coats- washing instructions

This email came to me from the woman I bought my coats from. Please read if you use the new Matilda sheep coats.

It has come to my attention that the most recent fabric the Matilda Brand Sheep covers are made of is UV treated and that washing damages this treatment. Noel has recently posted new washing instructions for us to use.If possible do NOT wash these covers. If you must wash them use cold or warm water only (do NOT use hot water). Presoak the covers in warm water if they are muddy. Wash only one or 2 covers at a time in the washer and use liquid dish washing detergent (I know, this sounds crazy, but it does seem to make a difference. Do NOT use clothes washing detergent). Hang the covers to dry. Agitation, hot water and clothes washing detergent cause major damage to the covers.One of our dealers has washed 6 brand new covers and ruined them, then he tried the dish washing detergent and no damage was done!Please send these instructions out to anyone who is buying covers from you.Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you! I just wish I had known this earlier!!Belinda

Stormy Weather

The ewe to the left is Psycho. Silver's twin, and Stormy's aunt. I couldn't get a good picture of his mother. The two ewes look a lot alike. Silver is a little taller, Psycho is a little fatter.
Long John Silver.

Born to Silver & John on March 9, 2008. One of two ram lambs. Both were black when born and therefore registered as such. Stormy will go for $500 or BRO at this time.

A day on the farm

The garden spider is back. Doesn't it look frightful?

Isn't Cornelius handsome? He is just over 1 year old and is a registered Horned Dorset.

Well, aren't you going to feed us? I was trying to take pictures of Stormy and the girls couldn't understand why they weren't being fed, again.

Shearing Shari's goats

This was taken August 29th while delivering mail. And it is not a swamp maple. Fall will be here early, and most likely winter. Everybody ready? (o;

Shari supervising. The goats are 3 years old already. The first time Jerry sheared them, it took him an hour apiece. Now it takes him not time at all. The goats are being shearing 8/31/08.

How many people does it take to shear a goat?

Cliff's first shearing experience. He is at the ready with the hand shearers.
His friend has to make sure he is ok.

2 out of 3 of the llamas had to come check on Jerry and their goats.

And of course, I go nowhere without my knitting. Rattlesnake Creek socks from Sock Knitter's Pentathlon at Yahoo! Groups. This is the 3rd sock I've done with this group.

Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test...

NBPC - The Daydreamer

Nature, Background, Big Picture, and Color

You perceive the world with particular attention to nature. You focus on the hidden treasures of life (the background) and how that fits into the larger picture. You are also particularly drawn towards the colors around you. Because of the value you place on nature, you tend to find comfort in more subdued settings and find energy in solitude. You like to ponder ideas and imagine the many possibilities of your life without worrying about the details or specifics. You are in tune with all that is around you and understand your life as part of a larger whole. You are a down-to-earth person who enjoys going with the flow.

http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-perception-personality-image-test
Take The Perception Personality Image Test

Nestle quiz

I took a quiz at http://www.verybestbaking.com/ and they came up with this. Stunning, aren't I? I wish. (o;

But, do go check them out. They have great recipes. If you like cookies and the such........yum!

You're a...Frosted Cupcake
You're something of a showoff, aren’t you? (But in a deliciously good way!) For you, good taste is only part of the story. Your fresh-baked creations look like they were torn from the pages of a magazine, reflecting your winning sense of style. No wonder your treats get so many "oohs and ahhhs."

Can you tell I am bored?

VT Sheep & Wool Festival

is September 6 & 7, 2008. And that is where you will find us this next weekend. Hope to see you then!!
http://www.vermontsheep.org/festival.html

25th Annual Wool Arts Tour

The web site is now up. Check it out for information about the 25th Wool Arts Tour in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire!

http://www.woolartstournh.com/

http://www.woolartstournh.com/locations/MirageAlpacas.htm

The sun is out!!

The sun is out and I have the day off!! So guess what I am doing? Other than sitting here at the computer updating the blog............ (o;
I am finally going through all the extra fleeces and skirting/reskirting, shaking, sorting and getting ready to wash. These fleeces will then be sent off to a mill to become yarn or roving.


We use our old heavy duty washer to wash fleeces. On the right is one of two cast iron tubs that we use to prewash the extremely dirty fleeces. We will soak the dirt out in the tub, and then bring in to spin out the water. We will then wash the fleece.
When I say wash, I don't mean that I use the wash cycles. I fill the washer with hot water and as much Orvus paste as I think the fleeces will need, and then I shut off the washing machine. I put 2 (or more) fleeces into the machine, shut the lid and walk away for about 40 minutes. I then come back and run the machine on spin cycle. Make sure NO cold water comes out at the beginning of the cycle before you do this. The best thing is to shut off the cold water. I take out the spun fleeces, and fill the washer back up with hot water. If it is an extremely dirty fleece, I will add more Orvus. (If it is an extremely greasy fleece, I will use Arm & Hammer laundry soap and a cup of ammonia to degrease the fleece, and then I will use Orvus in the next wash.) Soak the fleece for another 30 minutes and then spin out. Generally 1 wash and 1-2 rinses are plenty.
Lay the fleeces out in the sun, or near the wood stove in the winter, on screens and fluff as needed until dry.
I will then reshake the fleeces to make sure all the extra VM and second cuts are out before I put the fleeces away.
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Just a few of the fleeces I have to make sure are skirted and shaken as much as possible to get out all the extra debris- second cuts, VM, shavings/straw. They will then get bagged up and will wait their turn in the washer.



The view from the basement door. (o;

The blue barrel holds a large bag which will be filled with the fleece from the skirting table. The bags then go into the garage or basement to wait their turn to be washed.

Horned Dorset in shavings bag, Suffolk in grain bags.

Romneys on tarp, llamas in bags and box. The llama will be processed here on the farm.

An unwashed fleece on the skirting table waiting to be picked and shaken, next to a screen full of washed and drying fleece. The Orvus does a good job of cleaning the wool.

So far I have 4 contractor bags full of washed fleece waiting to go to a mill to be processed.

The fleeces on the right are Jacob fleeces that I need to wash and have processed.