The camper is home!!!

I bought this almost 2 weeks ago. Last Sunday it was frozen in the ground.

This week hubby and his friend went to get it and it was in LOTS of mud.

They got it to the top of the driveway and parked it.

Eventually it will come down the driveway and get gutted.

Then the racks will go in and Maggie's Shop will be open!

Stay tuned!!!

 It will eventually go at the top of the drive in one of these locations.

 Coming back down the driveway.

 The fiber flock.

Upcycled Sweater Mittens (with Printable Pattern!)

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crafts-and-nature/upcycled-sweater-mittens-plus-pattern.aspx

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/images/media/pdfs/kidsmittens_RD.pdf

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/images/media/pdfs/adultmittens_RD.pdf

Prevent Meningeal Worms in Your Herd

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/prevent-meningeal-worms.aspx

How to Shear Sheep

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep_shearing

http://www.wikihow.com/Shear-a-Sheep

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZl11JSyE2I

http://www.fiberfarm.com/2012/03/how-to-undress-a-sheep-in-five-steps

http://www.sheep101.info/shearing.html

http://www.sheep101.info/201/shearing.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u88JkfHx1n4

https://www.premier1supplies.com/img/instruction/41.pdf

How NOT TO Shear Sheep

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/hobby-farms-videos/how-to-shear-sheep.aspx

How to Ply Yarn

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/hobby-farms-videos/how-to-ply-yarn.aspx

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/search.aspx?q=ply+yarn

How to Card Wool

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crafts-and-nature/how-to-card-wool.aspx

Animal to Acreage Ratio

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/animal-acreage-ratio.aspx

Hay Substitutes for Livestock

Hopefully we won't need to do this yet, but it is good to know.

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/hay-substitutes-for-livestock.aspx

How to Create a Farm Newsletter

Not going to happen here, unless I do the farm full-time.... Can not even keep up with blogging. That is because Face Book is easier.

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/farm-marketing-and-management/farm-marketing-newsletters.aspx

Goat Farming Business Plan

This is good information for any animal business.


http://www.hobbyfarms.com/farm-marketing-and-management/goat-farming-business-plan.aspx

Livestock First-aid Kit

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/livestock-first-aid-kit.aspx

http://media.animalnetwork.com/channelmedia/hobbyfarms/HF1011.pdf

Infographic: Butcher's Guide to Meat Cuts

Lamb is NOT mutton.

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/food-and-kitchen/meat-cuts-infographic.aspx

Farm Safety Checklist

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/images/pdfs/farm-safety-checklist.pdf

Upcycled Sweater Mittens (with Printable Pattern!)

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crafts-and-nature/upcycled-sweater-mittens-plus-pattern.aspx

Management Basics for Sheep Owners

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/sheep-management-basics.aspx

Understanding Liver Flukes

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/liver-flukes.aspx

Spinning a Yarn of Your Own

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/crafts-and-nature/spinning-sheep-wool.aspx

Dorset fleece

I know there is a lot of verbage here. This next week I will work on taking pictures and posting them on the blog of our Dorset sheep, their fiber, and our yarns.


http://www.raisingsheep.net/raising-sheep-for-wool.html

About the British Dorset sheep. Same as here.
http://www.holeandsons.com/about-our-poll-dorset-sheep/

A great (British) blog on processing Dorset.
http://wooltribulations.blogspot.com/2013/10/cleaning-combing-and-hand-spinning.html

I use HOT water through all of my washes and rinses when washing Dorset. Unlike this blogger. But other than that, we wash the same way.
https://osbornfiber.com/2010/05/21/in-which-i-wash-a-dorset/

More from the same blogger.
https://osbornfiber.com/2010/07/17/on-drum-carding-a-fleece/

The following is from http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/wool.shtml

Down Wools

These are short staple wools; therefore, they are not a good choice for beginning

handspinners. The diameter size of down wools ranges from soft to medium. The soft 

fleeces are used for apparel like socks and fine fabrics. The medium range fleeces are 

suitable for knitted and woven outerwear, longwearing garments, and blankets.

Dorset, Cheviot, Shetland, Suffolk

• Fine to medium texture

• Spiral crimp

• Lofty, spongy, crisp

• 2 - 3 1/2 inches staple length

• Very resilient

• Difficult to spin for beginning handspinners

• Lacks luster, chalky

• Good shape retention

• Not well suited for felting

• Wear resistant

• Spin medium-thick yarn

• Blends well with long wool fiber, to add resilience

Another interesting website. 

http://www.rampishamhillfarm.co.uk/wool-and-raw-fleeces

From 

The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook: More Than 200 Fibers, from Animal to Spun Yarn

By Deborah Robson, Carol Ekarius

https://books.google.com/books?id=zkhpXDsi_BwC&pg=PA64&lpg=PA64&dq=dorset+fleece&source=bl&ots=b1jUnSeFzz&sig=50M6shBqZjh2wn6tYw4yGRRSlQA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGufW_o-TKAhUFChoKHezLAF44FBDoAQgbMAA#v=onepage&q=dorset%20fleece&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=Ie1SqUIjtZIC&pg=PA78&lpg=PA78&dq=dorset+fleece&source=bl&ots=rQPPhImZ2-&sig=fQAxo28xsW-QVpG-1QJrk5KqkLY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGufW_o-TKAhUFChoKHezLAF44FBDoAQgkMAI#v=onepage&q=dorset%20fleece&f=false

Dorset sheep

We raise primarily Horned Dorset sheep here at Ewe & I Farm. We've had polled Dorset in the past, we lost our last ewe this summer. We do have a couple of Romney, but the majority of the flock is split between Horned Dorset and Horned Dorset (Dorset)  X Romney crosses.

This is the original Dorset sheep from England, called Dorset Horn.
 http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/dorset-horn

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorset_Horn

The main reason we raise Horned Dorset sheep is to help get them off the American Rare Breeds Conservancy's Conservation Priority Watchlist. Plus, I love the docile nature of the Dorset and the fact that they are easy lambers and great mothers.
http://www.hobbyfarms.com/farm-breeds/others-profiles/dorset-2.aspx

Rosamond Gifford Zoo

Dorset_Sheep_km. Edition Date – 8/10/2006. Researched and written by the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo Education Volunteers. 
http://www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org/assets/uploads/animals/pdf/DorsetSheep.pdf

http://www.raisingsheep.net/dorset.html

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/dorset

http://dorsets.homestead.com/

http://www.sheep101.info/breedsD-F.html The following was taken from this site.

Dorset
(Horned and Polled)

Dorsets are best known for their ability to produce a lamb crop any time during the year. History tells us that centuries ago when Spain wished to conquer England, Merino sheep were brought into southwest England and crossed with the Horned Sheep of Wales. The result was a desirable, all-purpose sheep that spread over Dorset, Somerset, Devon and most of Wales.

The first Horned Dorsets were brought to the United States in 1885. In 1948, a dominant gene for polledness occurred resulting in Polled Dorsets which are now popular in the farm flock states. Dorset ewes are prolific, heavy milkers that produce lambs with moderate growth and maturity that yield heavy muscled carcasses.

Breed categories: medium wool, meat

Distribution: Worldwide

Ewe & I Farm on Face Book

If you are on Face Book, come on over and like the farm. I am in there a LOT more than I am here. If you are looking for up to date information about what we are up to, or recipes shared by others, or knitting/crocheting/weaving/dyeing/spinning information, then come on over!!

Hope to see you there.

https://www.facebook.com/Ewe-I-Farm-208179205917180/

TTFN.

Lambing clinic

For anyone in the New England area, or if you will be visiting NH on February 20th, and you raise sheep, you should check out the lambing clinic hosted by Wellscroft Farm in Harrisville, NH.

http://www.nhswga.com/ From the front page, just click on lambing clinic. It will bring you to a PDF that you can print out with all your needed information.

Jerry & I have been 3 times in the 24 years that we've been raising sheep. We learn something new each time.

https://www.pinterest.com/NHSWGA/fleece-wool-fiber/

40th annual New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival

110 days left to get ready for the 40th New Hampshire Sheep & Wool festival. Will we see you there? If all goes well, we will have goat milk soap, as well as other handcrafted soap, goat milk lotion, bath and shower bombs, and 2 'flavors' of moth chasers. At least 11 yarn lines from local sheep, angora goats, and llamas. Nothing alpaca yet.... LOTS of hand dyed/kettle dyed roving, batts, and fleece, and well as the natural colored roving and raw fleece! 
Can't wait!!

http://www.nhswga.com/index.php/sheep-and-wool-festival

And, this is one of those OFF years. It is NOT Mother's Day weekend this year. Mother's Day is May 8th.

So you want to raise sheep?

An interesting article from the University of Maine that addresses just about every question you could have about wanting to learn if raising sheep is something you may be ready for. Or, not.

http://umaine.edu/publications/2186e/

How to colorfast your bright yarn colors

To be honest with you, I've never done this with commercial yarn.... But, when I dye my own yarns I use vinegar ALL THE TIME!! So, I think I may sit down after dinner and knit some dishcloths out of the cotton yarn I have sitting here just for that reason.

http://lawsofknitting.com/new-knitters/how-to-colorfast-your-bright-yarn-colors/

TTFN.

Washing wool

Just read an article from PLY magazine about scouring wool. I am not afraid of my washers, but I have been doing it a LONG time.

I have 2 chocolate Icelandic wool fleeces in the washers as I type. One has LOADS of scurf. I am using the Unicorn Pour Scour she talks about in this article. It is doing a good job cleaning the fleece, but the scurf does not seem to be releasing its grip on this fleece... It is too bad because it is a gorgeous shade of browns!

 http://plymagazine.com/2016/01/scouring/

I may order the self cleaning slicker brush used in this blog-http://independentstitch.typepad.com/the_independent_stitch/2008/06/a-problem-for-s.html
http://www.amazon.com/Safari%C2%AE-Self-Cleaning-Slicker-Brush-Large/dp/B000YIWVA0
after the fleece dries and see if I can get any of it out. I'd really like to send this fleece to Morningstar Fiber Mill to have Lopi yarn made, but NOT if I can't remove the scurf...


Definitions of scurf-

This is from Australia-https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock-parasites/itch-mite-sheep?page=0%2C1
  Taken out of the post-Scurf (which may vary from sparse white powdery particles to thick white or yellow flakes) on the surface of the skin may also be seen with mite infestations

Another's blogger tale of woe with scurf.
 http://threesheeps.blogspot.com/2011/01/fleece-of-sadness.html

Interesting information about fleece-Icelandic Sheep Breeders of North America Volume 4, Number 4 Fall 2000 Editor, Kathy Hayes Notes from Judith Mackenzie’s Class on Fleece Selection and Grading
http://www.isbona.com/images/pdf/newsletterarticles/notesfromjudithmackenzies.pdf



Well, that is enough computer time for now. Off to do the final spin on those fleeces and then back to the garage to see if I can find any more Icelandic WITHOUT the scurf!

TTFN.

(I did order the slicker brush from Amazon. We will see if it helps at all. Stay tuned!)

Konmari

I've bought her book, and am in the process of reading it. I've already gone through all of my clothes, not hubby's, once last year. It is time to do it again. As well as doing the rest of the house. But, like the blog writer (below), I have a problem with thanking my items for their service. I would much rather thank God as He is my provider of all things!

So, if you are a Christian as I am, and want to follow the Konmari way of tidying your house read the blog below and thank God for His provisions.

http://martinfamilymoments.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-konmari-method-why-its-awesome-and.html

TTFN.

Sparrow Salvage: The huge Etsy ‘change’ you probably don’t know abo...

I am glad that my Etsy shop is no up and running at this point. I may get it back up at some point later in the winter, but after reading this (address above) bog post I am in no rush!



Read her blog post for yourself, and make up your own mind.



I will stick with my blogs and Face Book for now.



Now, if my SD card and battery would just get here.



In the meantime, I am going to see if I can get any pictures with the old battery and SD card. Off to skirt, or reskirt, some fleeces.



TTFN.

Happy New Year all!

I've ordered a new battery an SD card for my 15 year old digital camera. The same camera that has taken ALL of the pictures for this blog. I hope that is all that is required to 'fix' it. I am not ready to replace it yet.

Tracking says the card will be here Wednesday. No news on the battery...

When the parts arrive,  I will start taking pictures of the fleeces I will have available for sale. We have LOTS of llama fleece available for $5/lb., sheep fleeces available for $5-15/lb., angora goat fleeces available for $5/lb., Pygora cloud for $10/oz., and possibly alpaca fleece for $5-15/lb.

I hope to be able to post the yarns, dyed fleece, and dyed roving/batts here also.

Pictures will be posted here.
https://www.facebook.com/WoolnEwe/
http://eweifarmfleece.blogspot.com/

I am planning on sending Icelandic fleeces to North Carolina this spring to be turned into Lopi yarn. I am also planning on sending colored Dorset fleece to be blended with black Mohair fleece to become sock yarn. I hope to have the mill above also make us a wool/alpaca blend yarn. Don't know the weight. Will leave that up to the mill as she raises alpaca and does a great job with our yarns!

I am planning on using the new to us triple picker and any of the carding machines we are owned by the produce our own blend of wool, llama, alpaca, angora, mohair roving and batts.

Of course, the first blend I need to make is the one that has been waiting near the big carding machine the longest. A fleece from one of our favorite, but long deceased, rams named Joshua who was a chocolate Border Leicester/Romney, and an alpaca fleece.Since I've cleaned out the washed holding area and reorganized it, I found the 2 fleeces. After I get the alpaca washed, I will be good to go.

Here's to hoping that 2016 is a great year! And, a productive one!! Not working 6 days a week at the Post Office, and helping Jerry with shearing 7 days a week would help...

TTFN.

Columbus Day weekend

Come see us at the Wool Arts Tour. We will be at our usual spot in Deering, NH at Spinner Farm.


http://www.woolartstournh.com/

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

Come out to see us this weekend in Tunbridge, VT

http://vtsheepandwoolfest.com/



http://vtsheepandwoolfest.com/directions-2/

Where we are located on the fairgrounds.
http://vtsheepandwoolfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/vendorpavilion.png

http://vtsheepandwoolfest.com/schedule-of-events/

http://vtsheepandwoolfest.com/festival-program-2014/

This should bring you to a $1 off coupon for admittance. If not, it is also on the front page on the far right, part way down the page.
http://vtsheepandwoolfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/discount-coupon.pdf

Stop by and say hi. We will have llama, alpaca, mohair and LOTS of breeds of wool for sale at $5 per pound. Buy 1/2 pound or the whole bag! Your choice. We will also have whole fleeces available, as well as roving, yarn and knit goods.

Hope to see you this weekend.

TTFN.

My boys

 Christopher, my 3 year old Horned Dorset ram in front.

He would not stay still for a picture...

 Stormy Weather, on the right. Registered black Romney.

His 2 year old son, Jeremy, a Dorset/Romney.

Behind them is Cloud. A very OLD Romney wether.

Out in the hay field

My only job in the field is driving the truck. John & Pam Wylie drive their tractors.  Occasionally Jerry drives them as well. Then Pam & I drive our hubby's trucks and the 'boys' pick up and stack the hay. This was an awful light hay year. We will have to find some place to buy hay this year. Still very disappointed in our long time hay guy in his deciding NOT to hay for us this year. Getting round bales is so much easier!!!!

Some different spinning techniques

What is Navajo 4-ply?

http://askthebellwether.blogspot.com/2008/01/what-is-navajo-4-ply.html#.VfC7_hFViko

Now, I have do the Navajo 3-ply, but never the 4-ply. Yet. Hope to do this soon with my one ply fractal spinning and one ply of a solid. I like the looks of the yarn she posted on her blog!!

In case you need to see it actually done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmKYPwe1rps

How to Navajo ply on a drop spindle-

 http://rosemaryknits.blogspot.com/2008/06/tammy-rizzos-navajo-ply-on-fly.html

Now do this and add one more ply to run alongside the chains....

http://www.simplynotable.com/2012/navajo-plying-on-a-drop-spindle-tutorial/



If you have time, take some time in this blog...http://askthebellwether.blogspot.com/

Check out this blog post!! How to felt a rug from raw fleece

The English version is further down.

http://zararooke.com/2015/08/21/hur-man-tovar-en-fall-av-raull/

 We have a BUNCH of Icelandic fleeces that are pre-felted and would be great for this.

Eventually I will try and I will post pictures.

Demonstrating at the Craftsmen Fair

A good time was had by all. And, we made the Manchester Union Leader.

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150809/NEWS02/150809347/-1/mobile&template=mobileart

After the thunder storm

 Sky was still gray enough that only parts of a rainbow were visible.

 My soggy bee balm and lilies poking out from the weeds.

 Stormy and Christopher

 Nea and Noggen

 The girls are just as happy to be fed and put in for the night early.

 The 5 lambs we kept from this year.

4 ewes and 1 fixed ram.