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Barnyard Buddies:  All Things Sheep and Goats  |
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oldfashioned girl
True Blue Farmgirl
2391 Posts
monica
oatman
az
USA
2391 Posts |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4108 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4108 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 26 2011 : 04:51:13 AM
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Congrats on the new human and sheep babies.
WE have lots of mud here too. WE had 2 beautiful days in a row, and this morning rain. I was just getting past the stick in the mud stage and it rains. don't you hate it when you have to be careful not to step out of your boots in the barnyard.Or your boot is suctioned right into the mud.
All the babies have been born here now. Just waiting for the grass to grow so everyone can go to pasture.
My plans are in place to go to the Shepherds Harvest Festival in Lake Elmo MN on May 7. I am so excited to be going, as never been to a sheep and wool festival. I have my moeny saved from a football pool I got into a work. Going to take my nice big tote along as well!
My bees have made it though winter! Going to do a split on the hive. Put it up by my ma and dads. It is really nice to see the girls out and about on those nice days. They were even bringing in some pollen. Not sure from where. Nothing is blooming here yet.
take care everyone, got to go get my cheese going.
Michele |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2011 : 07:32:47 AM
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Good morning all. Guess what - it's snowing, again....I am beginning to wonder if this winter will ever end. My poor naked sheep. I hope everyone is safe from the big storms going through the mid-west.
Congrats everyone on the new babies. What an exciting weekend for you all. How cool that you get to go to the Shepherds Harvest Festival, Michele. I'll bet you'll find some great supplies. How great that your bees made it through all right. I have thought about trying bees but never followed through on it. Someone in my area has been keeping bees again the last two years - I have had a lot of honey bees in the gardens the past two summers.
Any more new sales on your web site, Monica? Hope you are getting some sleep, Grace. I hope you are feeling better Sarita. Wow - 42 lambs and counting. I hope your ewe is doing better, Lori. The pics of the babies are all so cute. Glad to hear that Evan is doing so well, Angie. I won't ask if you are getting any sleep....
Have a great day everyone.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
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lsarah
True Blue Farmgirl
256 Posts
Lori
Greenwood
Arkansas
USA
256 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2011 : 07:47:11 AM
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Here are pictures of the "Shipwreck" shawl. I was nuts for even starting it, but now that it is finished, I am glad I did! The only place I could take a picture was with it hanging on the clothesline, which doesn't do it justice. It is a circle with a 57 inch diameter, so you will have to use your imagination some when you look at the pictures:
It wasn't hard, but once I got out beyond the pretty center, it became VERY boring. YO, k2tog. Over and over and over. I randomly beaded those stitches, which added to how long it took:
She works with eager hands...Proverbs 31:13
http://www.sarahkatefibers.etsy.com
www.sarahkatefibers.blogspot.com |
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Cavalli Runner
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Brenda
Mercer
MO
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2011 : 2:55:18 PM
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Thanks everyone. It sounds like everyone is doing well over in Germany. Baby boy is Gideon Alex James Wylie and weighed in at 8 lbs.
Lovely shawl, Lori. My knitting is definately not on par with that!
I was wondering if anyone (Sarita? Lori?) have heard anything about the Sheep and Fiber Festival in Bethel this year? I need to check the website again, but the last time I checked, there was nothing posted yet for this year.
I hope everyone is staying on the ground out there. My son and his wife and kids live not too far from where last night's tornadoes touched down in Arkansas, but they are safe, thank God.
Happy Farming!
Brenda Larson
You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.
http://cavallirunfarm.blogspot.com/ |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2011 : 3:24:53 PM
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I just saw the prettiest little brown lamb on someone's blog and can't remember where it was. I love brown sheep. It's just beautiful.
And that shawl is too. Lots of work went into that, I'm sure.
The little pasture I am getting ready for lambs, which I still don't have, is now a big yellow bouquet of buttercups. I am so upset. Do sheep eat those? Because cows and horses do not and that's where I see so much of this. I put my goats up there some and they seem to munch on the flowers. But if sheep won't eat it how do I get rid if it? Does anyone else have this problem? Even the pasture where my cow Mazie is, is turning all yellow too. And she won't touch the stuff. So I was just wondering if there is something I can do. Thanks.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2011 : 3:45:55 PM
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Oh Sheri it is snowing to beat the band here - I am really getting sick of this too!!! I had lighting and thunder too as the snow started - scared the curd out of Sugar (18 years young wether Angora goat) who I was letting eat in the back yard. He ran under the deck and it too me forever to convince him to come to me and run to the barn.
Love the shawl Lori - you are very talented and brave.
Congrat's Brenda on the babies - exciting times.
Rae I am still hoping that the weather will cut you some break but I think we are still going to get some wild one ahead.
Monica you still washing fleece?? I was going to do some cashmere today but got stuck on cumputer work... I have so many fleeces waiting and so little time. What's new?
Hope everyone stays safe tonight with the weather and I will be thinking of you all at the 2 am feeding - looks like I am going to have to go to the basement and get the heavy snow boots back up.
Kristin not sure about the buttercup?? I am not sure if we get that here but I can look it up if no one has an idea..
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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lsarah
True Blue Farmgirl
256 Posts
Lori
Greenwood
Arkansas
USA
256 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2011 : 6:26:31 PM
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Brenda - I have heard the festival is on this year. I think I even have a link for the vendor application, and I will go through back emails and try and find it for you. There is also one in Leavenworth, KS, and a new one closer to the Arkansas/Missouri border. I will find the links for those, also.
Thanks for the compliments on the shawl. Not sure if I would call it brave, more like stupid. It honestly wasn't that hard, no hard stitches, but very boring towards the end.
Off to feed lambs!
~Lori
She works with eager hands...Proverbs 31:13
http://www.sarahkatefibers.etsy.com
www.sarahkatefibers.blogspot.com |
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frolicnfibers
True Blue Farmgirl
668 Posts
Diana
White City
Oregon
USA
668 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2011 : 12:22:45 PM
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Hi Grace and everyone! I know it's been a long time, but i have a question for the Angora goat folks. We have two does and one just had baby who didn't make it through the night. It was obvious when it was born that it "wasn't quite right" but it did hold on for a couple of hours. This doe is Sadie and she's never had any trouble before, so I'm not sure why it happened, and she seems fine now. Anyway, her daughter Ivory is also due in a week or two, and it's her first kidding. I've been trying to milk Sadie in order to keep her milk flowing. I figure if Ivory isn't a perfect Mom, then maybe Sadie can help out. Is that the right thing to do??? She doesn't seem to have a lot of milk, maybe only about 2 ounces twice a day, so I'm not sure if she'll continue to produce. Any ideas??
Diana
Please come visit my animals and my Etsy stores on my new blog!
http://www.frolicnfancies.etsy.com
http://www.frolicnfibers.blogspot.com
http://www.frolicnfibers.etsy.com |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2011 : 2:40:13 PM
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Diana I am sorry for your loss and I wish you well with the Sadie... Angora do not make tons of milk like some other breeds because they are not bred for that and depending on the girl that also makes a difference. One reason the little one did not make it is the Mother might be having an issue. Do you know why the baby did not make it?? Have you had the Mom checked by a vet?? Also have you had the milk checked - I would before feeding a new baby with it. I would suggest you watch Sadie closely because you never know - two of my first timers had perfect births but refused to care for them so I am doing the bottles but they are thriving. I think the new mom's just freaked and there was nothing wrong with the Mom's or births other then they just freaked. Please keep us in the loop and anything we can do to help we will be there for you.
Again, I am so sorry for your loss.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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frolicnfibers
True Blue Farmgirl
668 Posts
Diana
White City
Oregon
USA
668 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2011 : 2:47:47 PM
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Thanks for the reply Grace! I have a suspicion that the baby goat took too long to arrive. Sadie was in labor at least 2 hours and the first two times that she kidded we didn't even see it happen! I feel so bad because I didn't recognize that she was in trouble until it was too late. My hubby had to deliver the baby because she quit pushing, and I think if we hadn't been there that we might have lost her as well. luckily we were there and she appears to be doing fine. i'm watching her real closely though, and also the other first time mama, to try and catch any problems with her. That's good advice though, to have both Sadie and her milk checked.
Diana
Please come visit my animals and my Etsy stores on my new blog!
http://www.frolicnfancies.etsy.com
http://www.frolicnfibers.blogspot.com
http://www.frolicnfibers.etsy.com |
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Old Spirit
True Blue Farmgirl
1497 Posts
Rae
MN
1497 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2011 : 5:26:42 PM
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The shawl is beautiful and you are much too modest!!!
The weather here well it stinks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Snow, rain, cold, rain, cold, blah blah blah. Not only is our road awful the county road is really breaking up and getting harder to get through!! Talking about starting a warm up tomorrow. We will see, they claim it is spring as well 
Rae
Farm Girl #647
...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles:...
Isaiah 40:31
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lsarah
True Blue Farmgirl
256 Posts
Lori
Greenwood
Arkansas
USA
256 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2011 : 09:08:22 AM
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Do any of you put oil on your spinning wheels? If so, how often and what do you use? I am taking my two older wheels to the show next weekend and I want to "shine them up" so folks can see their beauty.
Sorry to hear about your little goat, Diana. Glad the mama is still with you.
~Lori
She works with eager hands...Proverbs 31:13
http://www.sarahkatefibers.etsy.com
www.sarahkatefibers.blogspot.com |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2011 : 10:26:16 AM
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Good morning all. Hope everyone is missing all this nasty weather that's been going on. We are back in the clouds and rain/snow and wind again today. Hit the ground running this morning as I am determined to get the tomatoes transplanted and my other chores finished so I can put some time in on my art.
The shawl is lovely - a lot of fill stitches must have been very tedious. I detest long stretches of the same stitch which is why I rarely make afghans. I love knitting lace though. What kind of finish do you have on your wheels? The type of finish will kind of determine what kind of oil or wax to put on them. I have one that is a very shiny lacquer finish and that one I just dust with endust on the cloth or a tiny bit of pledge sprayed on the cloth not the wood. I have another one that has little or no finish on it and I use paste wax on that one and buff it out really well. We normally have a pretty dry climate here so keeping the wood from drying out is a must but even with that I only put it on every couple of months with the pledge and only twice a year with the paste wax. I don't know about what other folks do as far as oiling goes but in the cabinet business I always advised against oil finishes as they tend to create a "habit" that must be fed. Oils like lemon oil, liquid gold etc. will damage a lacquer finish and make it soft so stay away from oil on a lacquer finish. I hope that helps.
I hope your weather improves, Rae. Supposed to be sunny and in the 60's here by the weekend. I sure hope so. Is your weather mellowing out any, Grace? Guess I should get back to work. Have a great day everyone.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
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Keeper of the Past
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Sarita
Battle Creek
Michigan
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2011 : 11:44:26 AM
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Hope everyone has sun today...we do but the wind will blow your bretches off today. The weather people is saying that the fronts are going to start tracking north...I am so ready for Spring but I have the feeling we are going straight into summer.
Diana sorry to hear about your baby. I am dealing with about 15 first time ewes this lambing season and I have been keeping them in pens longer to be sure the bonding goes well and so that I know the babies are getting milk. They act so freaked out at first, not wanting baby to suck or nervous nitties. So many things can cause the death of a little one, the cord, something not right with the baby, etc.
Lori, I love your shawl. I love to wear a shawl with my Sunday dresses. I have a triangle loom and weaving shawls go so much faster than knitting...did you keep track of the hours that you have in this one? It looks like a whole bunch.
Sheri, the box is beautiful! You are so talented.
Break is over...back to work!
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2011 : 2:16:38 PM
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I use bees wax on my wooden wheels. I also have a special oil that I use on the moving parts that I swear by and it does not get the bearings all gummed up. Also you only have to do it every six months.I sell it in the farm shop for the past 11 years - it is a marvel.
Well the sun is shining and about 60 degrees but not to get too excited because they say I am to get snow again in one days time. We are also to get below freezing at night for the next four. That is normal for Colorado but what everyone's is going thru is just horrible.
I have been spending a good part of today getting yearlings head out of fences - it is kind of funny - they see the newest babies stick their heads in and out and they forget they are bigger now and there is goes or rather there is does not go (back in). If they only would not panic they could get out but they panic and then cry for me.. Keeps we watching especially because the neighbors dog is on the prowl and he is a mean dog. Of coarse the neighbors are gone again and so that dog will not fair well if I catch him here.
Got two more cashgora girls plucked today - finished dyeing some alpaca yarn and two special mohair orders this morning.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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modjeska
True Blue Farmgirl
52 Posts
Lisa
Salina
Kansas
USA
52 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2011 : 4:01:12 PM
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Happy late Easter everyone!. You all must have thought I fell off the face of the Easrth. I was so busy with Easter and I have been working the past few weeks, so I haven't had time to read the posts. I just read the last couple of pages. Congratulations on all the new babies, both 2 legged and 4 legged!!!
Lori that shawl is amazing!!! You did a lovely job. I love the touch of the beads. Where did you find the pattern?
Grace-I can't believe you are still getting snow. Are you sure you don't live in the north pole?!
The weather here in Kansas is beautiful today. I did get a chance to play with my horse for alittle bit. I am teaching him how to bow. I can't wait till he gets it. I feel so badly for the people in Alabama and everywhere else there were tornados.There was so much loss. How tragic for all those people.
Stay well everyone
Lisa |
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frolicnfibers
True Blue Farmgirl
668 Posts
Diana
White City
Oregon
USA
668 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2011 : 6:44:10 PM
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Hey all, thanks for your support! I keep checking on the second "mom to be" and she seems to be bagging up, so I'm hopeful that she will kid soon. To answer Lori, I use beeswax on my natural finish wheels, and it works well. I don't have any laquered wheels so I don't know about them. Grace, Good luck with the neighbor dog...or without him....however it plays out!
Diana
Please come visit my animals and my Etsy stores on my new blog!
http://www.frolicnfancies.etsy.com
http://www.frolicnfibers.blogspot.com
http://www.frolicnfibers.etsy.com |
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lsarah
True Blue Farmgirl
256 Posts
Lori
Greenwood
Arkansas
USA
256 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2011 : 07:30:50 AM
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Thanks for the answers about waxing the wheels!
One more. Anybody have any idea what color this baby Shetland might change to? I would like to think it will stay pretty and varigated, but I assume it won't.
He is the second Shetland lamb that has been marked like this, and he was born this morning. I am considering keeping his half sister because of her fleece, but I know it will change as they grow up. I just don't know how much.
~Lori
She works with eager hands...Proverbs 31:13
http://www.sarahkatefibers.etsy.com
www.sarahkatefibers.blogspot.com |
Edited by - lsarah on Apr 29 2011 07:33:45 AM |
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frolicnfibers
True Blue Farmgirl
668 Posts
Diana
White City
Oregon
USA
668 Posts |
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Cavalli Runner
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Brenda
Mercer
MO
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2011 : 08:20:30 AM
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I don't know what color it is, Lori. I know with Icelandics (which share the same colors with Shetlands, only shetlands have more different codes for the different spotting pattersn and Icelandics are just called "spotted" no matter what the spotting pattern is...at least that's what I understand) it looks like it would be called black grey spotted. The color is black and the white is the spotting. That would be my best guess...but then I am still trying to get all this color and pattern stuff figured out!
Happy Farming!
Brenda Larson
You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.
http://cavallirunfarm.blogspot.com/ |
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lsarah
True Blue Farmgirl
256 Posts
Lori
Greenwood
Arkansas
USA
256 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2011 : 10:37:47 AM
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Well, I love his coloring, and he is cute as a button (course, I haven't seen an ugly lamb yet!), and now I am trying to decide if I should keep him as a second Shetland Ram, that could be used with any of my current mamas (they would be unrelated, but not the babies - he is half brother to all of them - which means we would have to get a third ram for any girls I keep), or wether him and keep him for his fleece, or try and sell him and accept whether the Lord thinks I should keep him or not! I am figuring out that multicolored fleeces seem to be more in demand than solid fleeces. At least for the moment. But Sarita and my friend Nancy have told me their fleeces will change over time. I have seen it just in the ones we bought as lambs and sheared, then their first adult fleece. If he will wind up another mostly gray, I may not keep him.
Brenda - I know what you mean about the colors and patterns. I printed off the cheat sheet from the Shetland Association's website to try and learn them all!
~Lori
She works with eager hands...Proverbs 31:13
http://www.sarahkatefibers.etsy.com
www.sarahkatefibers.blogspot.com |
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Keeper of the Past
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Sarita
Battle Creek
Michigan
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2011 : 11:10:09 AM
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Lori, in one of my older postings on my blog, I had a baby ram colored like your baby. I called him "Smokin" He had the color and the personality. I also have a picture of Smokin when he was 2. He turned a light tan with slightly darker tips.
Shetlands can be black at birth and be almost white in a couple of years. The only ones that have stayed their birth colors have been the white ones.
I know what you mean about all the names for colors and markings on a shetland. I purchased a large poster from the Shetland site and framed it to hang in my studio but I have not taken the time to memorize it...I figure I only have so much memory and I need to use it wisely.
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
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Keeper of the Past
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Sarita
Battle Creek
Michigan
USA
925 Posts |
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lsarah
True Blue Farmgirl
256 Posts
Lori
Greenwood
Arkansas
USA
256 Posts |
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Barnyard Buddies: All Things Sheep and Goats |
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All Things Sheep and Goats
