In the thick of Summer
It has been a while since I shared an update on the farm. I have been busy cleaning up and reorganizing, which is a less fun and glamourous job but it is easy to put things off because my time and attention is needed elsewhere. But, I am making progress each day and things are looking pretty tidy and I can actually find what I am looking for! I really love organizing to be honest, and I enjoy doing it when it happens in preparation for another season.
The next big farm event is calving! We are calving in October, and I had the vet out two weeks ago to do a health check on all the girls. He said they all look in great health and body condition. They were bred by a highland cross bull, so I am excited to see what the babies look like given we have a mix of breeds in our cows/heifers (angus, Dexter, white dexter, and jersey)
Ruthie, Tallulah Twyla, Elsie and Clara.
Besides cleaning, I have spent a lot of time buried in bags of wool. Sorting, cleaning, spinning, and feltings, SO much felting (More on that later). We are shearing much earlier this year, in September (last year was November, and year before was October) so I am trying to work through what we have now. We have such a variety of fleeces! From Jacob fleeces, Icelandic, and a cross between and even Finn. Colors ranging from black to white to grey, to brown and cream and everything in between. I have been felting the wool to make not only blankets, but wool collars to wear (much like a scarf or a shrug!). The lamb fleeces are so incredibly soft, and the adult ewes produce thick durable collars that really can handle the rough and tough life of anyone outdoors. They have been so fun to make! Two are now in the shop and ready to go to their new homes.
Although I have been tanning for many years now, wool has taken a back seat to it. But, I have made it my focus the last several years to have our sheep professionally sheared so that I have wonderful fleeces to work with. Creating the collars and blankets are a labor of love, as each lock has to be individually placed (if the wool is not all in one piece after shearing. )Techniques I use are needle felting as well as wet felting (hot soapy water).
Many farmers do not use the wool from their sheep. It is merely tossed in the garden or compost. I love that our sheep have such beautiful fleeces I can create so many things with each one.
This collar is made entirely from Hazel’s wool. She is still alive and on the farm living her best life. There are silver grommets and leather strings to tie it if you choose a more snug look and feel. The colors are natural, not dyed and are a range of greys, blacks and silver. Each lock of wool was strategically placed and a combination of wet felting and needle felting techniques were used to make the collar. It labor of love with beautiful results! This collar is thicker, with shorter locks, so it will stand up to heavy use in wind, rain and snow. It will keep you warm whether you are doing chores outdoors, going for a hike, or heading into town. The wool is washed gently with soap, no harsh chemicals. Instructions on care will be included in the order.
This felted collar is incredibly soft and 100% made of wool from a lamb Prometheus, (Icelandic) and the backing from a blend of wool from our Jacob sheep. It is light weight and feels so soft against the skin. This is a beautiful way to stay warm this fall and winter. Icelandic wool is going to stand up to windy, rainy and snow days! The colors are natural, not dyed and are a range of browns, golds and creams. Each lock of wool was strategically placed and a combination of wet felting and needle felting techniques were used to make the collar. It labor of love with beautiful results! The wool is washed gently with soap, no harsh chemicals. Instructions on care will be included in the order.
It is hard to believe August is here already, if I am being honest. It feels like June and July flew by and before you know it, Autumn is here. Summer has brought with it a few heat waves, but overall it has been pretty mild. As I am typing this in the afternoon, it is only 74F and a gentle breeze is blowing. That is pretty amazing for August in the Ohio River Valley area if you ask me! Not to mention we had 1.88 inches of rain over the weekend. Starting off August with milder temps and rain, is so welcome and needed since the last two years we were in a drought in August.
That is all the updates for now. I am also trying to get better at writing here. Let’s see if I can stick to it this year. :)