Post by paweaver on May 14, 2011 11:29:10 GMT -5
Well, we have been very busy. Tanning is running as usual. Praise the Lord!
But we have had some unexpected blessings too. Our two oldest entered essays in the YCP (youth conservation program). Which is a very cool program were breeders of heritage breeds of sheep donate a registered sheep for a child to raise, breed, and help promote the rare heritage breeds of sheep.
On April 20th we found both of our girl's essays had won the sheep of their choice. Wow! So that set into motion a trip to Maryland to pick up the sheep at the Maryland sheep and wool festival. And also a little bit of a panic because instead of winning two young sheep to breed in the fall as expected they got pack deals. lol The Soay sheep was the breed that one of the girls won. It is very, very rare and is an ancient breed. My black Welsh sheep come from them. Anyways the are small and very goat like. (meaning they can easily jump a 4 ft fence) So she received a package deal of a 5 week old ram lamb at its mother's side. (Hoping that this would kept her from jumping and running to the next county!) That little 5 week old lamb stole the show. Everyone was checking him out. Our other daughter received a Finn sheep that is already bred for fall. The unique thing about this breed is that they have litters. Three to four lambs is normal, but they have been know to have six. I believe that the largest recorded number is nine at one birth. Her wool was beautiful. We had her sheared there and have already cleaned some of it. Our daughter is already spinning it. As many of you know our "farm" if you could call it that is really make shift. So I'm already trying to dream up enough shelters for everyone for winter.
Pics of our new additions
The Maryland Festival was, like, amazing! Prices where way above our budget. lol But it was cool to look around, get ideas, and see products that I have only seen online. I did break down and buy one small stick shuttle from here.
www.spanishpeacock.com/index.htm
Also I bought some roving (wool for spinning) directly from some sheep breeders that I met in the barns. My favorite is from a gotland sheep.
We got to see working sheep dogs. That was a treat for us. I asked my husband when he was sending me and my dog for lessons. lol
The music was great! Bagpipes, harp, banjos, and all kinds of stuff along that line. At one point they had over 41 different breeds of sheep in the ring!
Well, that is just a little taste of what we have been up to.
paweaver
PS : Hope I didn't brag up my girls too much. I was so proud of them.
But we have had some unexpected blessings too. Our two oldest entered essays in the YCP (youth conservation program). Which is a very cool program were breeders of heritage breeds of sheep donate a registered sheep for a child to raise, breed, and help promote the rare heritage breeds of sheep.
On April 20th we found both of our girl's essays had won the sheep of their choice. Wow! So that set into motion a trip to Maryland to pick up the sheep at the Maryland sheep and wool festival. And also a little bit of a panic because instead of winning two young sheep to breed in the fall as expected they got pack deals. lol The Soay sheep was the breed that one of the girls won. It is very, very rare and is an ancient breed. My black Welsh sheep come from them. Anyways the are small and very goat like. (meaning they can easily jump a 4 ft fence) So she received a package deal of a 5 week old ram lamb at its mother's side. (Hoping that this would kept her from jumping and running to the next county!) That little 5 week old lamb stole the show. Everyone was checking him out. Our other daughter received a Finn sheep that is already bred for fall. The unique thing about this breed is that they have litters. Three to four lambs is normal, but they have been know to have six. I believe that the largest recorded number is nine at one birth. Her wool was beautiful. We had her sheared there and have already cleaned some of it. Our daughter is already spinning it. As many of you know our "farm" if you could call it that is really make shift. So I'm already trying to dream up enough shelters for everyone for winter.
Pics of our new additions
The Maryland Festival was, like, amazing! Prices where way above our budget. lol But it was cool to look around, get ideas, and see products that I have only seen online. I did break down and buy one small stick shuttle from here.
www.spanishpeacock.com/index.htm
Also I bought some roving (wool for spinning) directly from some sheep breeders that I met in the barns. My favorite is from a gotland sheep.
We got to see working sheep dogs. That was a treat for us. I asked my husband when he was sending me and my dog for lessons. lol
The music was great! Bagpipes, harp, banjos, and all kinds of stuff along that line. At one point they had over 41 different breeds of sheep in the ring!
Well, that is just a little taste of what we have been up to.
paweaver
PS : Hope I didn't brag up my girls too much. I was so proud of them.