He's Here!

Meet "Sprat"
(Sheltering Pines Jerome x Locksfield Brietta)

Sprat was dropped off by Allena & family on Sunday--his sire is for-sale over on Allena's blog. He is just a little guy, but he sure is lovely. I will only be putting six ewes with him and hoping for some gorgeous little spotted, lovely fleeced lambs in the spring! I will be putting up a post of all the girls and some body shots of Sprat in the next week or so. (By the way, Sprat's brother is named Jack.. just so you know, and I had nothing to do with naming him.....;-)

He was a pretty uncertain little feller yesterday, and I finally just dumped him in with the other two ram lambs (Orion & Omen). Omen whacked around on him a little, but Sprat just remained calm and ignored him and it was all very low key. Orion and Sprat seem to be getting along very well, and Omen would like to be the tough guy if anyone would notice.

The phone tech guy was out today....and I think my DSL is fixed! I hate to say that too loud, but.... The guy was telling my Dad (who let him in my house), that nobody out here was having the trouble I was having, nobody. This doesn't surprise me. However, it seems that some kind of varmint has been gnawing on the outside phone line, which was causing a short.. hence the DSL off-on-off-on-off..well you get the idea. So now I have all new lines, and hopefully no more problems for awhile.

Sage isn't feeling very good after his shots, but I'm hoping he will be better by tomorrow. He is very cranky, and isn't shy about letting me know. Poor feller.

That's it for now. If my DSL is indeed fixed, I hope to be posting a little more regularly--I have several that I want to get up from weeks ago!

Shots.....Or Ouch!

Where are you taking me??

I think I'm gettin' sick to my stomach....

Today was Sage Shots Day. He of course didn't know that this morning, when he was running around like a mad cat. He even helped me out last night, as I wiped off his carrier, by getting in it and showing me he still fit. I'll admit I had my doubts that he would fit in the carrier or as Tina calls it the PTU (Prisoner Transport Unit). Its one of those vinyl mesh things that has a strap you can slip over our shoulder. It is very handy but not very big. He was not happy about the collar with the jingly bell on it though. By the time he had worked through that he was getting testy and put up a mild protest as I crammed him into the carrier this morning.

Wow...it's a big world out here!

So surprisingly enough everything went smooth this morning, and Sage and I even left early for our appointment. I had to stop by the pharmacy and see if they had any kind of glue to temporarily re-attach one of my crowns. They actually did, but I haven't tried it yet--the tooth is loose but hasn't come completely out yet.

I just want to go home...theres no place like home!

Then on to the vet's. I was the only one in there which hardly ever happens, and Cheyenne (the vet tech) and I decided we would go ahead and give the shots, since Doc was outside working some cattle. I wanted to weigh Sage, because the last time he was in there, he weighed about 8 pounds and I knew that wasn't going to be correct anymore. He came in at 14.2 lbs! I then held him while she gave him three shots, poor guy. He was very good, but shaking like a leaf. I promised him no body parts would be removed today. She thought he had 'quite an overbite' so I had to show her his bite was perfect--he just has this funky kinda pointy upturned nose. I think he may be half 'possum......

I decided to swing down around by the Mennonite community to pick up some staples and bakery products on the way home. Sage was very subdued most of the ride home. On the way out he was pretty vocal and inquisitive. On the way back he voluntarily curled up in his PTU and was very quiet. He seems to be fine now.

Am I really home?

He hid out for awhile when we got home, but then came out, got back in his PTU and rummaged around and found the two treats he got from the vet's office and ate them. He has been a little mushy since we got home, so he may not be feeling the best. I'm expecting a big crunchy bite on the leg at anytime......then I'll know he is back to normal!

Hmmm...whaaa? You guys were gone??

Tuesday night is Meshach's turn. I'm taking him to a different vet, as he has a couple of problems I want looked at. (One is what I call 'Twitchy-Back, where the skin ripples on his flanks/back and he runs and hisses when he has these attacks--he has done this for years). I took him to the vet several years ago, and was basically laughed at because he didn't do it there. Now, different vet, also a camcorder tape and we are going to try it again. I did allot of research on it when it first started, and it seems to be a fairly mysterious ailment, with not many treatment options.) I suspect they are going to want to clean his teeth too, which I dread. I'm just praying they don't find anything much wrong with him. He is doing okay, except for the twitchies and slowing down a bit.

And guess where Sage voluntarily spent his afternoon? Yep...the PTU!

A Harvest of.........

..... Squash

Remember when I asked for help identifying the squash earlier in the summer? Well, Butternut Squash Harvest was tonight. I picked 16 of the nice plump beauties. I had picked two earlier in the season. That makes a grand total of 18 squash from the mystery-volunteer-plant-that-should-have-been-pumpkins. Not too bad a'tall. Next year for sure on the pumpkins...but definitely some space for these prolific and tasty squash too.

....Dead Toys

Yep, it's that time again. Time to go around the yard and Boone's pen and pick up all the dead and dismembered stuffed animals and toys. Here a tail, there a leg.. and hmmm..a green head?? I try and do this when Boone isn't looking as it's very stressful for him to lose any of his toys even if he hasn't played with them for months. I always stock up on the stuffed animals at the thrift stores, so there is an endless supply, believe me.
Boone doesn't believe me. He wasn't lettin' this one out of his mouth, not with me around stealing all his toys.

.....Wood? Bugs? Spiders??

I'm working on the woodpile, a little at a time. I already got the old tarp off and trimmed back all the grapevine, so it's time to start re-stacking the wood. I don't usually have allot of outdoor time in the evenings as the days get shorter, so sometimes I will set the timer and make myself spend at least 15 minutes on a thankless job like this. This is a horrible, horrible job. Trust me. Why, I do not neaten and clean up the woodpile in the early Spring, I do not know. Every year, I lament my poor judgement on this issue. And every year its the same. It doesn't look so bad does it? A little messy, but harmless enough.

But it's not harmless.

It's full of spiders. In case you don't know this, spiders creep me out. Oh, you did know? Well, anyway they do... creep me out that is. And the woodpile is full of them. Big ones, very furry ones, all shapes. That isn't all either. There is also millions of ants, and every so often a fat, slimy slug stuck on a piece of wood. Shudder... There are insects I don't even recognize out there. So, even though you aren't suppose to spray wood with bug spray, I'm going to. Then I'm gonna hose it all off--high pressure as I can get. That is once it's all stacked and neat again. (and please don't judge that cockeyed end--I think it'll hold, and after all I don't get paid for doing this...and oh my gosh... what is that crawling on my leg!!!)

Here's fifteen minutes work. Another fifteen or so and it'll be close to done!

Observations

It seems like I have lots of things I want to post about, but the words just won't come. So until then just a few observations. My Internet randomly and repeatedly goes off and on, which is very frustrating, and not good for motivation either!

Autumn is here officially on the calendar and in the gradual turning of the trees. The garden is almost finished and the few remaining plants are tired and weary looking. The leaves on the trees are filled with holes from bugs and curl up brown spotted on the edges. The very air seems quieter, hushed as if waiting
impatiently for the cooling breezes and frosty nights.

Autumn on the farm means getting prepared for winter and putting things right for the coming cold months. It also means that another cycle of sheep raising has come. The lambs from the Spring have been sold, with only the keepers staying. In a few weeks breeding groups will be set up and ewes separated and put with the ram.

The rams, Blue and Jeff are noticeably stinkier, as they come into rut and make themselves attractive to the ewes. I find myself holding my breath as I pass by them. Jeff the little grey Shetland ram has developed quite a mane of 'scadder' (hairlike long fibers) around his neck, as he always does during the fall. He looks quite silly, but then he isn't trying to impress me.

I'm still awaiting hay delivery, with 16 big rounds due anytime. I don't know if there will be more square bales, but conditions have been favorable for it. So far, for the first time in years, I haven't had to feed hay to the main flock and shouldn't have to, until October.

The wood pile has to be tidied and re-stacked and is next on my list. I've already started working on it, and I think there is about a cord still left. I hope my wood guy comes through for me. If not, there is still quite a bit of wood stacked here and there from the big Ice Storm.

Sue (the chicken) seems to be doing okay without Eddie. She is lonely acting, and hangs out with Ariel quite a bit during the day. She has started crowing. It sounds extremely awful.

Ariel herself seems to be doing better these days, so I'm thankful for the extra time. When I was trying to get her to eat, I stumbled onto 'Cesar' wet food and she really liked it. Now can you spell spoiled rotten? (A-R-I-E-L) Cesar food comes in tiny little plastic bowls with peel off foil tops. She eats one in the morning, and one at night. It has to be topped off with something extra yummy as well (like shaved turkey). It can't be mixed in though, and she prefers there to be a couple little piles of turkey leading to the bowl, with some draped over the side and few pieces on the food itself.... Cesar food is also pretty pricey, but what can I say? In fact, I think Ariel is eating better than she has ever ate in her life (she has always been very finicky....).

I've been busy trying to update my website. With most of the lambs sold, it's now time to work on listing fleeces and some of the lovely roving I just got in.

Now is a good time to trim limbs, and the sheep always enjoy the treat. I borrowed my Dad's long pole limb trimmer to get a few more grapes down (success! now just to stem and cook them down), so while I had it up here, I trimmed limbs away from the house. The sheep have had a good couple of days snacking on leaves from the limbs.

There will be much to do over the next few weeks; putting a new tarp on the hoop house so it will be water tight, fixing fence to keep the breeding group secure, moving the ram over here (from Allena's), hopefully posting photos of the breeding group (just one this year, and only six ewes!), stacking wood, winterizing the chicken pens, trimming up the yard and gardens, and, well you get the idea. It's allot to get done, but there is always something pretty satisfying about tucking everything away for the winter. I'm hoping for a nice long cool fall, and vacation is coming up soon, so I'll have some time to work on those projects.

Have a great week!

Fruits of My Labors

I've been eying these wild grapes for months now. It wasn't hard to do either, since they are just out my back door! I am amazed at how abundant they are this year. Wild grapes, sometimes called 'possum grapes around here, grow in abundance, in trees, fence lines and even buildings. However a year of such bountiful fruit isn't as common. I finally decided to pick what I could before we got our big "Ike" rain over the weekend (close to 5 inches). Because everything always ends up last minute around here, I actually did some picking in the rain.


The first batch I picked and stemmed early in the day. But there didn't seem to be enough to my greedy eyes, and I remembered another patch down near the road. The biggest problem with these grapes are that they grow way up in the trees. I'm working on how to get some more of them down....


So I picked and stemmed the second batch while batch number one was simmering and draining. I haven't canned any jelly for years, so I decided to wait and do the canning another day, when my mind was fresh. In the meantime I located and washed jars, cooked down the second batch and had everything ready for the big can fest.

Well, it happened last night. It was exciting and tense, and I tried to do everything just right. When it was all said and done.... I had six pint jars. hmmm... I have some juice left over, so I'm pretty sure that it just became imperative that I figure out how to get more grapes down from those trees!


If you've never had wild grape jelly, it is a real treat, I think. I opened a jar tonite to see if it set (yes!) and to sample it. Uhhmmmmm. The jelly isn't overly sweet and is a bit on the tart side. The grapes themselves are very tart and sour and not something you'd want to just sit around and snack on. Very much worth the effort I think, even if the bounty was small. My folks are onto my jelly making attempt though, so I guess I'll have to share. Especially since I used some of my Mom's jars..... ;-)

On another note, does anyone know what these, er, mushrooms (fungus?) are? I looked them up and it seems they could be Chantrelles (which are edible) OR they could be false Chantrelles (which are poisonous), but I was wondering if anyone has ever eaten the edible kind? I'm pretty sure we won't be snacking on these, but they are pretty neat. These popped up in large quantities in my parent's front yard. They are quite dramatic looking.

Morning Chores

Every morning, no matter what, I get up and 'do chores'. Skipping them , of course isn't an option. On the weekends, the critters grant me some leeway and I sleep in a bit. Come Monday through Friday though, and I'm out and about before daylight, getting everything tended to, before I'm off to work.

Unless the weather is abnormally miserable or I'm sick, this time of the day is one of my favorites (after I fall out of bed and get half way awake that is...). From freezing cold, deeply still and dark to warmly humid with mist settling in the hollows of the fields, there is always a certain peacefulness to this time. The stars shine brighter, the moon sometimes hangs in the west, the birds open with a few tentative calls and it's just me and my critters in the world. At least for a little while.

So, I thought you might like to come along and do chores with me this morning!
First we have to feed the kitties, who for the most part dislike each other. On the far table is Dixie, then Madison on the lower front table and Echo (Dixie's daughter) on the higher shelf. (Echo is sitting in Madison's eating spot, hence the glare) There is also Tibby, who is yellow and white and who was quite giddy this particular morning and wouldn't hold still for a photo.

Next, let's grab a bucket of feed. The sheepies are starting to demand breakfast!

Here's Boone, hanging over his gate--he was quite giddy too, as he often is. After I feed the sheep he gets out to run.

There is Gracie at the Gate (and her daughter Hope too)
Hurry, hurry, starving here!

Here are the Shetlands. They have already started filtering into their smaller feeding area (it has a 'creep gate' that is suppose to keep the bigger sheepies out). The grey in the corner is Rain, and she is very demanding, especially if I move too slow.

Hurry, feed us! We are going to starve! It's always a pushing and shoving match until I can get enough grain in the pans and they sort themselves out.

Ah... food. This is the absolute highlight of a sheepie day.

Here are my special girls Moon (front) and Chickie in the back. They needed a little extra TLC, so I started feeding them separate from the others. Moon has since moved to her new home. By the way, it takes about three days to teach a sheep to go into a stall. Once they learn, all you have to do is call their name or even point--or they will put themselves up and impatiently wait for me to get there.

Here are the poor starving boys. Come on little fellers, it's chow time. Move Angus, so I can open the gate!

This is the 'main barn' to the left in the photo, and the chicken house on the right. You can barely see the hoop house to the left edge--that is Blue and Lanny's 'barn'. I feed the big Dorset girls up in the 'main barn'. This is the paddock where I keep the sheep at night. While it has seen better days, I'm pretty proud of that chicken house--I built most of it by myself and it was my first 'Big Project'. I didn't think I would survive it....

Here are the Shetland girls, having finished breakfast, waiting to be let out so they can run off to pasture. If I don't move as fast as they think I should, Rouen will let them out. This is what I call the Shetland Barn, and I use it mostly during lambing, as all the sheep generally hang out in the 'main barn'.

Up before the Chickens. Come on gals (and guy), time to be up and about--the early bird gets the worm, dontcha know! See that black hen on the right? I think she is ten years old! She is a black production breed. The rest are Ameracaunas, except for the black one next to the rooster, she is a half Ameracuana, and you can barely see the Buff Orpington peeking out from in back.

Hi Lanny! You sure look pastoral there in the mist.

And the race to pasture is on--no one wants to be last! I love the little ewe lamb kicking her heels up in the air--nothing like early morning exuberance! (The building in the background is my garage/hay storage. (I'm standing looking out of the main barn).

After I get the sheepies done, it's back to the house, to finish up the house chores and take care of the dogs. Boone has had a good run and is ready to go in the yard and check for exciting new smells.

Hope you've enjoyed doing chores with me--come back anytime!

Introducing.........

First there was Rouen (Shandrew Rouen)

Then came her daughter, Duckie (Fairlight Duckie)

Then there was another daughter, Birdie (Fairlight Birdie)

and now introducing:
Fairlight Chickadee
(Locksfield Griffin x Fairlight Duckie)

Chickie is my only 'keeper' ewe lamb this year. I had to make some really hard choices, as I am trying to keep the flock numbers down, but this little gal spoke to my heart from the beginning. Like I really needed another black ewe.... I did want to keep at least one Griffin daughter though, since I'm trying to build spots into my flock. Chickie's brother is Omen, pictured with her below. (He is also still available for-sale).

I love her sweet little face--even if she does have those large ears that Griffin seemed to stamp on his lambs this year. I expect she'll grow to 'em.

Chickie's fleece is very nice so far, with an interesting lock structure. She will most likely be a primitive double coat, like her mom and grandma---but once in a while this line throws a really exceptionally nice fleece, so time will tell.

Did I mention I love her sweet little face? It's very hard to get a decent picture of her, as she is definitely a lap sheep, and will make a bee-line for me the minute I walk out into the pasture. I think she could stand for hours getting scratches and attention, constantly wagging her little tail. I'm very pleased with my little 'keeper' ewe this year.

And I promise I won't call anyone "Turkey"...at least not officially....

Wanted:

Cute little wethers looking for good homes. Will be cute and irresistible, and will pester you for scratches and attention. Will mow and trim your pasture and grow you a beautiful fleece. Cookies occasionally needed.

Angus
(Locksfield Griffen x Fairlight Blackberry Winter)

I'm halter trained and love attention. I will seek you out for scratches and cookies. My fleece is a lovely soft intermediate fawn. I have to go with my brother, Aberdeen, 'cause he really needs me.

Aberdeen (Deenie)
(Locksfield Griffen x Fairlight Blackberry Winter)

I'm very shy, but I love scratches and cookies. I'm always following my brother and sometimes he gets me in trouble. I'm also halter broken. I have a lovely intermediate soft moorit fleece. I have to go with my brother, Angus.
(Have you ever seen such a sweet, sad face before??)

Kirby
(Locksfield Griffen x Locksfield Rain)

I'm a momma's boy and hang out with her all the time. She has taught me to always stay behind the flock and make sure all the morsels of grain are cleaned up. My shepherd says I act just like my mom, but I'm not sure what she meant by that. I'm shy, but I'm not wild, and I like people. I have a very, very soft grey fleece, which should stay a darker blue as I mature.

Kelly
(Sheltering Pines Jerome x Fairlight Birdie)

I'm a little (well maybe no so little) scurred wether who has always loved my shepherd (except for maybe after the wethering incident). She used to carry me to the barn, because I didn't like to get my feet muddy. She doesn't do that anymore though. I'm very friendly and curious, and I love scratches and cookies and just hanging out. My shepherd says I do have a very 'unique' voice. I will most likely have a primitive double coated fleece and I have a little white spot on my head.

If you are interested in purchasing these lovely little fiber pets you can check out my website for prices and details. They would love to have their own homes where they'd get more attention!

Goodbye, Eddie

Eddie
May 15, 2001--September 9, 2008

Back in May of 2001 the fruits of a determined broody hen were about to hatch. She had been a good diligent hen, despite the fact she was a 'production' breed and should have never gone to setting. On day 21 chicks started to hatch, and disaster struck. The chicks were weak, and the hen was inadvertently smashing them. I had to pull the rest of the eggs out and rush them into the house. Once inside I set up both an emergency incubator (hot water bottle, heat lamp and a mister bottle), side by side with a Chickie ICU (heat lamp, soft towels). The chicks were pipping, and a few started to break through their shells. After several hours, it was apparent though that some just could not break out of the shells. Even though you are never, never, never suppose to peel chicks out of the eggs, there wasn't any choice. It was worth a try. I peeled three out of their shells--two lived and the third faded away. In the end there were five little chicks all tucked up under the heat lamp. Back out in the brooder house, the hen was still patiently sitting on her (now empty) nest. She wanted to be a momma so bad, that although I felt the newly hatched chicks were too fragile to put under her, I relented and the next day went and bought seven little day old chicks at the hatchery. I slipped them under her that evening, and she never realized the deception. She went on to happily raise her little adopted brood, while I begrudgingly raised her real brood.

Out of the five chicks three turned out to be roosters--Little Three Crows (who became Eddie), Watch and Erin. There were two hens--Chesney and Tweed and all were Ameracuanas. (Do you see the double deception here---I didn't even put the hen's real eggs under her!). The chicks were firmly imprinted on me, and were always eager to see me. Eventually Momma hen got sick of her kids, and wanted out, so I combined both bunches of chicks and gradually gave them more freedom in a separate chicken yard. Disaster struck once again when they were about three months old. Watch, Chesney, Cinnamon Queen, Henny2 (white rock), and Golden 205 were all murdered in a single day. Not one body was ever found or recovered. Whatever the villain was, they left no trace and I was never able to solve the mystery. The chicks went back into tight confinement. Eddie and Erin squabbled constantly. Eventually, when they were much larger, and the fences had all been triple reinforced they were given more room to roam. Erin went on to the main flock and became king rooster until I gave him away to a fellow Shetland breeder years later.

Eddie was always friendly and was often trailing around after me, when I was doing chores.

One day, Eddie had trouble standing up. Gradually he lost the ability to walk and his legs became weaker and weaker. I moved him down to the yard and babied him. Something happened to his legs and they withered and rotted off. It was bad, real bad, but Eddie never faltered or lost his appetite. What in the world was I going to do with a legless rooster? Over time, while he lived in a rabbit cage well padded with hay, his legs healed and he developed a thick pad over the ends of the stubs. He had about two to three inches of stubs. I would lift him out and let him rummage about. He got where he could sorta hop about using his stubs and wings. He took dust baths and he always liked special treats.

I worried about him, but he seemed happy and adjusted. He would have crowing competitions (every morning) with the other rooster. He talked and sang and seemed content.

Then one day, I noticed one of the old hens out in the chicken yard looking bedraggled and beaten and she was limping badly. In order to keep her from being pecked to death by the others, I caught her, lanced and disinfected her foot, and put her in a cage...down in the yard. After about a week of this, I thought to myself--this is crazy, having two crippled chickens in two separate pens. Once I was sure the hen's foot was healed of infection, I did the big merge. It was bitter and ugly. The hen was tired of being beaten and abused and wasn't taking it anymore. Eddie gave his best, rearing up on his stubs, fluffing his neck feathers out and looking tall and mean. They had it out for a good ten minutes, before they called a truce. From that moment on they were devoted to each other. Sue had found a safe home and Eddie had found true love. While Sue would roam about the yard in the daytime when I let her out, Eddie would never go far from the pen. If he heard her cackle or sound distressed (like the time I had to catch her and pitch her back over the fence), he would carry on something fierce, trying his best to scare off her attacker.

They sang and clucked and coo-ed to each other and to life in general. Sue would occasionally lay an egg, which was a big deal to them both. Eddie and Sue became a prominent fixture in the yard. Eddie still enjoyed special treats, but he always made sure Sue got what she wanted first.

Eddie started fading just a few days ago. He ate a little when I went to work on Tuesday, but when I got home, he hadn't moved. He was still holding on, but barely. I wrapped him up in a towel and tried to coax him to eat or drink. He died just a little while later. I peeled Eddie into this world seven and half years ago, and being with him when he left seemed like a little gift, even though it was sad.

Eddie was 'just' a rooster, and I never imagined he would live as long and cheerfully as he did. And I never imagined how firmly he had entrenched himself in my heart.

Goodbye my feathered friend. You had a good run, despite all the hardships you had to overcome. You showed me a truly noble spirit and inspired me with your determination. I'll miss you, and I know Sue misses you too.

Remember......

September 11, 2001

Never Forget

Clan Fairlight or Celtic Festival 2008

The boys and their Scottish neighbors--Velveteen & her Mom

Booth Setup for the Celtic Festival

The morning was cool and crisp, with heavy damp fog clinging and swirling about, as I drove the sheep away from home.... (she says in a heavy Scottish accent....)

Well, another Celtic Festival under the belt for Fairlight Farm! I'm totally wiped out, but it was a good day and I met allot of nice folks.

Late last week I found out I would have to be set up and have my vehicle out of the area by 8:00 a.m. That was a jolt as the festival itself doesn't start until 9:00 a.m. So.... I tried. I packed the truck up with the cage, hay, water and all the fleeces and fibers and fiberly things I'd need the night before. The day of the event, I merely had to do chores, pack my cooler, load the sheepies and head out. Of course, things have a way of taking longer than I always anticipate so we were on the road a little late, at 7:15. Oh well. We (meaning me and the Shetland boys) pulled up to the gates at 7:45 a.m. Even though it was pretty obvious, I pointed out I was bringing the sheep in and was told to go on through--with the stern admonishment that I had to have my truck out by 8:00 a.m. Yeah, whatever, what were they gonna do, arrest me? I got my truck out by 8:15 and of course it was no big deal.

Herding Demo with Border Collies

This year, we were set up in the city of Buffalo's 'old park', which is also the fairgrounds, which translates into livestock buildings. Nice dry buildings. I was a bit uneasy with this being the sheep barn, but took what precautions I could--laying a tarp down so the boys wouldn't be mucking about in old sheep germs.

Patrick & Erin--Irish Dexters

Velveteen--Scottish Highland Calf

We had a wonderful set up, and were sandwiched between Velveteen and her mom (Highland Cattle) and Patrick and Erin (Irish Dexter bull and heifer). Our area was as big as the cattle stalls, so I used the ex-pen to portion off a small area against the front fence so that the boys would have enough room to move about in, but not so much to run about and get themselves scared. All halter lessons went out the window when I was trying to lead them to our area, and it took two strong men and myself to push and pull two tiny little sheep into the barn. How embarrassing.

Angus

Aberdeen (in Back)

Once I had the the boys situated I then unloaded all the display items and set up my table. I brought four raw fleeces in black, moorit (dark and light) and grey, and samples of all the colors I had in roving (moorit, black, grey, musket) arranged in a basket for folks to touch and handle. I had a grey washed fleece and put part of that out on the table with the hand cards to show more of the process. I also had brochures, business cards and sales lists on the table. I had made some Shetland wool on silk wet felted scarves, so I had those arranged on a rack besides the table. The Festival doesn't seem to be a sales event, so I came more prepared to educate folks on the Shetlands. Of course Angus and Aberdeen, the Shetland boys did the best job of that! I feel like if a person could come up with some sort of small wool item as a memento they would probably sell well. I'm at a loss though. Any ideas out there? I did sell one of my scarves so that paid the gas money out and back anyway!

The day was very cool---upper 60s and lower 70s. It started out foggy and damp, and while there was suppose to be a chance of scattered showers, it started raining around 10:30 and rained steady for an hour or so. (typical Scottish weather, yeah, yeah...) Then it would shower off and on until about mid afternoon. While I felt for the participants, being in the barn I felt quite smug...that is until a leak started right over my table. Best I could tell the only leak in the building! No worries though, I had plenty of plastic and just slapped some over the problem area. While loading the sheep, unloading the sheep and truck and all that, I got pretty warm so it never entered my mind to bring a jacket or maybe dry socks.... Luckily I had packed a small afghan and wore that most of the morning. My kingdom for dry socks!

Angus and Deen were not happy campers, with Deen pretty much shutting down. They were both making like sheep statues by the time I got the booth set up, so I crawled over the panel and set with them for a little while, feeding cookies, and giving out scritches. After that they seemed to be reassured and settled down to the sheepie business of eating. They were such good boys and made hardly a sound all day. At first they were having no part of all these staring people, but by the end of the day, Angus in particular was eating it up and coming up for rubs and pets. Deen never got as comfortable, but he would sniff hands and look people over. Angus and his new friend

Angus developed a firm friendship with the teenage boy from the Dexter display. It was a very interesting thing to see. Every time the boy would come over and kneel down, Angus would walk up and go into the typical Shetland trance, and they seemed to be communing with each other. One time the boy was petting Velveteen in the next stall, and Angus did not like that at all. He tried to push his nose into the stall with them, and then seemed a bit huffy about it.

Velveteen's mom thought the brome hay was better in the boy's stall and kept sticking her tongue through, trying to lure some bits out. The boy's were quite intimidated by her, although she was pleasant about it all. I told them they had horns too! They did enjoy sniffing noses with the calf, Velveteen, who was close to their size. I thought I might be able to smuggle that precious looking little calf out with the boys, but alas the plan fell through. ;-) On the other side was the Dexter cattle. Patrick the bull was quite in love with Velveteen's mom and was often vocal about it. Poor guy sounded like nothing so much as a bull elk (or so I'm told, not having actually ever heard a bull elk....). At one point the Clydesdale horse went by pulling a carriage, and nickered. One of the cows answered, and then someone said, now all we need is for the sheep to chime in.. and funnily enough they did! Perhaps they were all speaking animal Celtic-ese.

All the cattle people were very nice and we had many friendly discussions through out the day. It was funny that this year all the livestock were in 'tones of brown'. They thought it hilarious that as we were winding down, I got the boys haltered. They were standing there with their little halters on, waiting just like the big livestock boys and girls. Oh, and the boys were such little gentmen as I led them to the truck after the festival was over. All in the incentive I guess. Folks like to say animals are dumb, but I fear it isn't the animals that are dumb! When it came time to load up, the Dexter's recognized their stock trailer as it was pulled around and became very antsy to be loaded. The placid Highland cow started pacing when her limo, er trailer pulled up, and the little Shetland boys, who had remained calm and quiet all day, began pacing and baaing when I started packing up. They even stood completely still as I buckled their halters on (as opposed to the morning's rodeo of trapping them in the corner and wanting to say some not very nice words as the buckles or sheep wouldn't cooperate).

I took several things to keep busy with, if needed. I took my (hated) drop spindle, some felting projects and even a book. However the day was full of visiting and answering questions, so I never got around to needing to fill my time. On a whole, this crowd was very friendly, interested and respectful. Most people would ask permission before they even tried to pet the sheep, and there were many questions about the sheep, the wool and the processes required to get it to a final product. Both my parent's and sister stopped in and stayed awhile and that also helped to pass the time. I got to go out for a bit and check out some of the vendors--I ended up buying some Blackberry body spray and a little bamboo flute. The spray smells so good--my sister thinks someone might think I'm a cobbler.... ;-)Lively Music on Stage

There were various types of Celtic music going on the whole day--bagpipes, flutes, and other instruments, with some singing and dancing as well. I had a pretty good view of the stage until someone with the stage production pulled a large white van in the way. I could still hear it though, and most of it was quite nice, some of it just a little strange, and a few numbers quite loud and annoying. I really enjoyed the 'sweeter' lilting music. Across the field the giant men in kilts were playing games---tossing telephone poles about as if they were matchsticks (I'm told this is called the caber toss....), and other feats of strength. They consistently got rained on, but soldiered on. Playing in the Rain

Every so often a different clan would come marching up, playing their drums, bagpipes and flutes and would put on a little show by the grandstand.

I met several interesting folks as well, there were a couple of ladies who are into the fiber arts and we talked at length about that. One even said, oh, I read your blog! That was a first for me, and I laughed. It made for an interesting conversation as she came up with Boone's name and asked if the boy's were the ones I'd been working with the last few weeks. There was also a lady from Ireland, whose accent was very pronounced. She wondered about the cost of the hand cards in America and we ended up agreeing they were quite expensive! One of the highlights was a visit from a gentlemen, who I believe said he was from Scotland (he was in kilt and stockings to match his accent!). Even better when he lived there he actually had Shetland sheep! Their primary goal was raising the Cheviot (and another breed, which I can't remember) crossed with the Shetland. We talked about how the boys compared to the Shetland sheep over there, and went a little into some of the ideas of breeders, here and there. His accent was well, very Scottish, so I'm pretty sure I didn't catch all that he said, but it was a charming visit, and he told me several times that my sheep were lovely. (My sister says she tells me that, and I said, yes, but you don't matter, this guy is from Scotland! heh..heh)

All in all a good day. Lots of interesting conversation. Many good questions, amusing moments, and some (hopefully) more educated folks--young and old out there. I passed out quite a few business cards and brochures and had several folks express interest in getting into the Shetland breed. I think since it was a 'non-selling' event, people were much more willing to hang around, ask questions and just be sociable, as opposed to sailing by, barely making eye contact. I had everything packed and pulled out around 6:00 p.m., so it was a very long, but satisfying day.

Giant, but Gentle Clydesdale's

Plans are already underway for next year, and my invitation to come has been extended. Maybe I should learn more about this Celtic stuff......Back Home Again
Boone works hard at bomb proofing the sheepies! ;-)