Long Ridge Farm

scribbling

2012-01-21T13:27:00.000-05:00

While looking for a sound and complete edition of The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame for a Christmas gift I found a yummy old, but cared for, hardcover with illustrations by Tasha Tudor. Needless to say that edition will remain on our bookshelf.

Here are a few scribbles I have done lately from her drawings....it's most fun. I claim no originality here. Just the pleasure of pencil on paper and an imagination for what the woodland creatures might be up to as I draw.

Rat and Caroller

Toad

Rat on the river bank

me thinks

2011-12-31T17:22:00.002-05:00

"When you appreciate what you have, what you have appreciates in value. Kinda cool right? So basically, being grateful for the goodness that is already evident in your life will bring you a deeper sense of happiness. And that’s without having to go out and buy anything. It makes sense. We’re gonna have a hard time ever being happy if we aren’t thankful for what we already have".

script from a friend today

as 2011 comes to a close we remember Sidney, who passed away in July,

and who always appreciated the simple gifts life offered.

may your year ahead be replete with joy and thankfulness

stories told

2011-12-18T16:40:00.001-05:00

our pasture is home to a granite podium of sorts. an outcropping.

this summer it was seat for India Flint in the mornings at her workshop

as she told tales from around the world, delighting listeners all.
thoughts of India's return to teach and tell more stories
next summer takes the chill away..

during the winter months the same granite serves for sheep to tell their tales to the flock,

this year especially as we have had little snow of late so they can wander some.

today Griffin is perched atop the podium having gathered his family and friends..

he is asking Della who quietly is waiting by the apple tree

if she'll tell Griffin's favorite story.

"If you lie down and chew your cud,

I'll tell you a story," said Della, a ewe

with the gift of Eternal Patience.

"Oh! Mama's going to tell Griffin a story." whispered Lily
nudging her sister,Magnolia excitedly.

Lily and Magnolia

trotted across the pasture to the apple tree where Griffin

was leaping around Della and poking her with his nose.

"Now lie down," said Della, gently.

"I'd rather stand on your back, if you don't mind,"

said Griffin politely, trying out this precarious position

with interest.

"Very well," said Della, "but you must be still."

She cleared her throat.

"Once, not long ago, four great adventurers held council

on top of the Middle Mountain in the sky...."

and so Della told the story again, to Griffin's joy...

How the Lambs Came to Live at the Farm

written by our dear friend Katie Scrafford.

and to learn how you can hear India's tales

next summer here at the farm visit

Long Ridge Farm

such stories live in the hearts of all of us at Long Ridge Farm and beyond..

rosin up

2011-12-11T20:04:00.001-05:00

After years of lonliness and whining from the violin case

I decided it was time to rosin up the bow

Twelve years ago I knew these pieces

yet not without effort

so I arranged for a tutor...

oh boy, here we go.

it's going to take some doing.

So if you wonder why I am not blogging

this is yet one more joy that needs attending.

Webster (named for the most amazing sax player, Ben Webster)

is not yet impressed.

Come on my bud.

His smiling will be the true test.

Savor the feast

2011-11-24T13:20:00.001-05:00

as we celebrate Thanksgiving here on the farm with our loved ones,

family and furry (Wetherby gets an apple this morning),

we are most thankful for just this.

love, warmth and tradition.

may your day be blessed.

and as we sit around the table this evening for dinner

we will raise a glass to absent friends.

reading material

2011-11-11T12:04:00.001-05:00

feel free to read my review of ISEND2011,
La Rochelle, France.

just published in the lastest issue of

Turkey Red Journal.

enjoy.

Photo by Nancy Zeller, traveling the train from Paris to Bordeaux Region

the last show of the season

2011-11-04T10:55:00.002-04:00

wouldn't you like to come see my shepardess?

we've been growing wool for her for years now

she'll have yarns and roving from us

many naturally dyed

most interesting what she does with our fleeces.
want to try your hand at dyeing?

she sells the dyestuffs too!

she's been cooking up some scarfs and wraps

I think you should come
this weekend November 5th and 6th.

the New England Fiber Festival

all under one roof and warm

just like we are here on the farm

with very good reasons....

2011-10-28T21:33:00.001-04:00

time and events have taken me hither and yon of late...
the weeks before Rhinebeck are always a flurry and then
poof! we are there
dear daughter Faith is now a mainstay at the shows with me.
it's such a special treat

as always I plan to take pictures of the show but only briefly

is there time to capture special moments.

this was one such moment with this most adorable baby and mom who stopped to shop

it was a great show as always and Sunday eve Faith and I made the trek north

arriving home late in the night.

the following day after unpacking from the show

I made my way east a bit to catch a bird in hand

from Australia

the bubbly had survived the trek

and we enjoyed the reunion

the following days were laced together with farm chores

anddrives through New Hampshire and Vermont

gathering black walnuts

moments of alone time

clarity of purpose

apppreciation for the simple joys

togetherness for dinner and gathering

the morning after India's departure
I spied this ephemeral fibre art on our fenceline.

I burst out laughing.

perfect.

a small Sheltie dog, Luna, hung with India all week

and misses her greatly

promises kept for their reunion here again

and now, the snow has arrived too early

more to come tomorrow night.

time to hunker and dream

too much rain, so much gold

2011-09-30T20:52:00.000-04:00

thunder and driving rains tonight.
Sheltie dog Kalie paces, hates this.

too much rain, too much water.

yet fall's glory always shines

in hidden places

stitching is donefor a dear friend

stitching still to do for
a personal goal

before the rains tonight i gathered marigolds
dry, bright and with purpose
and strung them as the rain
poured on

not new england's finest fall

but oh, so beautiful even so.

a great heart must fly

2011-09-27T20:52:00.000-04:00

our dear Katie lived on the farm with us for two and a half years.
she is a beautiful light.

as she worked her way though graduate school we shared an

incredible life here. she taught so much. she gave so much.

and she was just so much fun to be with!

we sheared, we hayed, we detangled skeins, we dyed and we dyed laughing.

and what she gave to our flock was unmeasured.

Katie is in the air tonight somewhere over the Atlantic
on her way to a new adventure in Rwanda, Africa

where she will give her
knowledge to a noble cause.

i have a huge lump in my throat.

go Katie, our great heart! we miss you.

have dyepots will travel

2011-09-17T21:13:00.001-04:00

through Vermont I traveled this morning

on long windy roads

and farmlands

past the ravage of Irene's wrath.

new bridges reuniting towns

so torn apart

to arrive at a fiber oasis

Six Loose Ladies shop

in Proctorsville VT

with a few more than six loose ladies

and a few tricks from my wizard's wand

I helped them conjure some

great naturally dyed colors

the results were stunning

a bright backdrop to what has been a very

difficult time in their region

it was fun, this is a good place to stop

Six Loose Ladies is open.

Vermont is going to be okay.

come visit.

on my descent into town I stopped to pay a hello to the lovely ladies

in waiting (heifers) at Windyhurst Farm

the farm owners happened to stop by, who I'm pretty darned fond of

and Roger asked

"haven't you ever seen a cow before?"
with a big smile from him

and I said "yes, but none so pretty as these"

what a fine day for many good ladies

Chill of an early fall

2011-09-16T20:54:00.000-04:00

early chill, possible frost.

the days are getting shorter

our friends are in full awareness

grateful for just another pasture rotation

and a few windfall apples

they know to soak up the sun.

a mid-afternoon frolick

pasture still wet from Irene's path

meets the fall sun

Of sheep and geese

2011-09-06T20:58:00.000-04:00

the sheep know the days on pasture are waning.

they seize a precious afternoon together with pleasure

quite sure they know much more about the shortening days
and the coming of winter than we credit them for

I took some time amidst regular work in the studio to stick bundle and dye

some small pieces for pleasure,

in honor of India's presence, and saw my

long necked goose is a feeling kinda loose

Whose woods these are...

2011-09-01T13:37:00.000-04:00

...they came to know.
our fieldwork with India is done and it was a profound experience for each and every one of us.

16 women came to learn and soak in what India offered us.
as the days stitched together so did our relationships with each other.

the weather was perfect.
walks in the woods and fields were part of the course line.

and each glorious morning our first event was to open the bundles from nature we had created

and dyed the day before.

here is just a part of one morning's presents.

quietly...both alone and perhaps with a walking mate we wandered

the paths on the farm, sometimes to gather windfall, sometimes just for mindfulness

there is a large stand of milkweed in the far field that my husband and I have preserved for 16 years

to help the monarchs in their life cycle

it's always a joy to find the caterpillars getting ready to make their chrysalis while feeding on the leaves. to learn more about the cycle read here

the days passed, each beginning with opening bundles from the prior days work.

India read us a poem while Luna enjoyed a wild apple

Luna became quite fond of India early on,
in fact she loved the bundle ceremony especially. she couldn't wait to get
to the workshop each morning!
as bundle sticks fell to the ground on unwrapping she happily took them and chewed on them.
then she would rest

making friends was the running stitch between everyone.

Kalie offers her paw

we shared stories and conversation

sometimes no words were needed

India fetched more goodness for the dyepots

pieces drying on a fence line after unbundling

a bouquet of St. John's Wort and a cheerful string of marigold buds

adorn the barn to dry

a piece of wool dyed with eucalyptus

after dying our small pieces we started to stitch them together to form a visual

memory of our week

contemplative moments

wild clematis along the trails....fragrance to capture your heart

and as our last day waned, we shared our stitched stories in progress, set out on the fencelines.

the colors we gathered from nature showed the coming of autumn; golds, browns,

some gentle reds and oranges and still tinges of green.

each of us was proud and awestruck.

our farm was made even more precious with India in our midst.

and each of us who came to learn went away with an intense joy and also

sadness that the week was over.

Long Ridge Farm is on India's wandering list.

a home away from home.

Luna is delighted, as are we.

and yes, she will be back next year to teach.

if interested, sign up on my mailing list for future information as it unbundles!

we've started to wander

2011-08-23T08:15:00.000-04:00

our first day with walks in the woods and fields

and tales from India scattered about as leaves

our first bundles began their simmer

more sharing which Luna loves as well

our bundles are laid out as gifts to be opened. most exciting!
we opened to find some lovely muted greens and shades of brown.

a learning journey of what can happen with
the forest floor, string and cloth.

no scissors needed

another pot simmers with new presents
to open in the morning. I promise to share

a great first day

From across the world

2011-08-21T12:03:00.001-04:00

a forest wanderer, maker of marks, stitcher, kind and gentle soul

has arrived

pots are simmering with windfall bundles

a side trip yesterday found this dear brass teapot

to compliment an eco-dyed wool cloth.....

India is on the farm

"Fieldwork" begins tomorrow

peaceful easy feeling

2011-08-19T22:00:00.000-04:00

this is a great time of the year on the farm

we may have some rain

we may have some heat

but we mostly have peace

in the early morning, the sun catches fenceline work from the overnight

during choretime neither the pups nor the sheep are concerned with moving.

Luna and Kalie in my sights with Della in the background

old Crystal, just hanging waiting for us to open the fenceline to pasture

Tybee, one big wether with NO agenda at all

his mother ewe, Bea. see that eye? that's a happy eye

the hens are living large and loving every minute of it

the additional barn garden is feeding the monarchs, bees and hummers along with some

delicious cucumbers, broccoli, tomats and brussells for us...

it's all good in late August

Stitched, dyed and a wrap-up ~ Joan Morris Shaped Resist With Vegetal Dyes and Indigo

2011-08-15T17:20:00.003-04:00

It was a stellar morning for the first day of the workshop with Joan Morris here at Long Ridge Farm. crisp and bright just like the fabrics we brought to class.
mine drying on the line at the last minute.
Joan asked us early on to "suspend disbelief" and "stay in the present".
wonderful advice under any circumstances.

some pieces of Joan's to spark a visual journey into the art of shaped resist dyeing

a view of 'camp" after hours. my husband walked in to take a peek and said "wow, how do you all know what you are doing?"
we did with Joan's wonderful teaching style and experience

we stitched and stitched and stitched

and took our dyeing tasks like masters.....madder root soaking

Anna in the indigo...the vat was central and ample

view from the field as pieces dry

magnificent color from cochineal bugs. our well water is a gift for natural dyeing

by day four students were working alone with confidence, the sign of a good teacher.
Joan was there to assist but the early first days of instruction paid off
with personal freedom and expression

on the last day we all wished for one more day;
we had so much we wanted to still try.
what a lovely problem to have!

a piece I created that I love.

a technique I enjoyed learning

It was a wonderful week.

The weather cooperated, the students were a great group to be with and Joan Morris is an amazing artist and a very patient and thorough teacher.

pssst! for those with some experience, she will be back next year!

more bird breaks

2011-07-24T08:54:00.001-04:00

...or as Theresa commented yesterday, beak breaks. Mom is getting into feed them, sometimes with us all there and always if we break here and there. the babes are growing fast...here is their standard position all day. my jaw aches just looking at them!

the color exercises continue...we are now in paint boxes working on taking a primary color to it's compliment through careful mixing and blending...challenging work

the heat beat on yesterday and Katie tried to beat the heat on the studio deck doing some skeining yarns....great hat!

this morning we have a lovely summer day on tap, much cooler and less humidity. yea!

Color Institute East begins

2011-07-23T07:53:00.002-04:00

The Color Institute workshop is underway here at the farm. First day gave us scorching temperatures with high humidity. But the class of 10 are eager to learn and increase our levels of expertise in color theory with Michele Wipplinger at the helm. Her experience with color spans more than 30 years with an acute eye and thorough style of teaching.

we spent much of the first day working with the Munsell Color System.

quiet work while the heat pressed on. we had lots of whirring fans, water and refreshments to keep us comfortable.

then the class moved to analyzing textile pieces by finding the nearest matching color chips.

discussions and observations ensued and tomorrow the concepts and training will deepen

the one stickler in the day is we have a robin's nest with two bitty birds in the rafter above our workspace.they are going to fledge any day. the past weeks the mother and I have chatted away while I was getting the space ready. she would come and go and feed them in my company. just this morning I sat and chatted with her in the wee dawn light while she came and went with worms and bugs for the babes. but yesterday she wasn't keen on the other 10 people in the barn. so we took "bird breaks" every hour so she could keep feeding. I am thankful for understanding students who came to learn not worry about the robins. hopefully today she will relax a bit more....we are a peaceful, happy group!

our sweet bear

2011-07-21T21:56:00.000-04:00

it's been a wonderful, challenging and educational run with Sidney.

he was a boy to be reckoned with

he loved our family life

and most of all we loved him.
he was abandoned at our farm in 2001, at the age of 2, in the middle of the night, a young male with a bucket list of issues. the humane society said he was incorrigible so we decided to give him a home on the farm.

it's been a wild 10 years but he was a love and yes,

he passed away yesterday.
see you on the bridge budster. you will always be a part of Long Ridge Farm.

Blue Fingers in Ohio

2011-07-07T22:04:00.001-04:00

Teaching the art of dyeing with indigo in Medina, Ohio was just great. I flew home with blue fingers but left behind 16 students who can now dye confidently with pure indigo using a reduction vat.

From the east coast to the mid-west rain had plagued the region for days but Mother Nature gave us lovely weather the entire weekend.
After some introductions and lecture time we started right in making the indigo stock and then adjusting the vats for dyeing.

I brought a board I created using images kindly and graciously shared by Jenny Balfour-Paul, author of Indigo. Whether you are a dyer or merely interested in the history of indigo around the globe this book is a must read.

While the indigo stock reduced (you can see the lovely jars full of blue) we took a lunch break....

Some textiles I brought to share for inspiration (terribly faded photo, sorry!)

a students work ready to dip...

another student, Betsy, brought a stunning woven piece she created which had a supplemental weft that she pulled to create a resist when dyed. It started as this vibrant salmon pink. You can see how tight the bind is as when undone the piece will be about 22 inches wide.

Betsy dipped the entire piece a few times and the resist started to show....

this was the piece day two, having oxidized overnight. Betsy was done dipping and ready to neutralize, then unbind, wash and rinse the piece. I hope one day to see it in it's finished state.

Some skeins of yarn a student, Karen, had dyed naturally and brought to overdye in indigo....

and here are a few of the skeins.....

other skeins dyed with indigo, the left are white yarn the right are gray yarn....

indigo stock reducing...

a pretty cloth-covered box I thought would overdye nicely which my lodging host, Jan, found when we were out shopping about before the class...indigo will almost always enhance an otherwise unexciting object! This was after it's first dip...

some of the students pieces oxidizing as they kept dipping others...

Amanda showing her war paint....

By day two everyone was learning to adjust their own indigo vats with confidence, a fine balance between enough indigo stock added for depth of color plus raised pH and oxygen reduction for lasting color...

more work oxidizing...

a great tee shirt...

Chris dyed this piece and brought it to show me, using India Flint's technique of eco-bundling. She layed leaves and plant matter on the scarf. The plants she used are celandine (yellow), sand cherry (blue), cochineal (pink) and there are faint whispers of crimson king maple leaves. She bundled it up, let it do it's magic and this beautiful piece developed...

here is Chris modeling the scarf....although Chris isn't able to come to India's workshop in August at my farm I promised to share the project with India...

more pieces continue to emerge....

even a hydranga blossom found indigo!

a delicate scarf with a resist....

I made a woad mother stock on Saturday night and Sunday started a woad vat for everyone to experience...

this was a skein after one 2 minute dip....beautiful French bleu...

woad versus indigo

more woad yarn....

this was a great group of dyers...so much talent, enthusiasm and cool, calm energy. I was treated to a lovely three days. I flew home knowing I had shared the knowledge of dyeing with indigo to them and that will help keep indigo's history and prosperity alive.

Long live indigo and the Medina Spinners and Weavers Guild!

Going down the road with the blues

2011-06-23T18:19:00.000-04:00

...the indigo blues that is.
taking off in the early morn for the mid-west to teach a weekend workshop to a full house of 16.
boxes shipped, bags packed.

looking forward to sharing and teaching the magic of dyeing with the oldest and only natural blue dye in the world.
knowledge of indigo began in the tropics about 5,000 years ago. that's an ancient dye!

An art exhibit perhaps?

2011-06-18T09:45:00.000-04:00

Artist, Joan Morris' art exhibit opens today through July 31st
Aidron Duckworth Art Museum
21 Bean Rd, Meriden, NH
Textile Works of Art: 2009-2011

Be inspired! Please visit Joan's show. She is an artist extraordinaire and dedicated instructor in the art of shaped resist dyeing (shibori). You can learn more about Joan here

We are delighted to be hosting Joan for a five day workshop in August at Long Ridge Farm. The topic? Shaped Resist Dyeing with Indigo and Vegetal Dyes.
For more about the workshop

Perhaps this is just the inspiration you have been looking for? Come learn the ancient art of shaped resist using natural dyes all the while in the peaceful setting of Long Ridge Farm.

And please wend your way to Joan's exhibit...a lovely drive, a stunning exhibit.

love me two times

2011-06-12T22:00:00.003-04:00

We enjoyed last evening here on the farm with a couple of friends, homemade venison pizza, beer, wine and good music. As we walked out to say our goodbyes two beautiful Golden Retrievers were looking at us in the yard...disconcerted at midnight. They were wet and needy. I set them up in the barn across from the house with blankets, and a midnight snack. They were so well behaved and thankful. We retired. This morning at 5am I walked our old lab, Sidney, up back on a leash so he wouldn't have to encounter two yearling un-cut pups at the crack of dawn in his most aged state. I put Sid back in, slept an hour and then got these beautiful boys down the lane and into the fields (after a handsome breakfast, thank you!) for a run.

That boy in the back is a gem. They are brothers, 17 months old, live not too far away (I learned all this after some help from our friend who did some sleuthing). I got the owner's number and by 9AM the pups were picked up and headed off Long Ridge Farm. It's nice to live in a small community where with a little help from our friends and an extra barn for the overnight we were able to reunite...

Tonight the flock got some dessert and a bit of love...

Oh deer my dearie

2011-05-26T21:15:00.003-04:00

My dear sheltie Luna....the love bug who wants to play with everyone got herself in a pickle, not a sweet one.

I was in the studio yesterday working. Jack had gone out across the near and far fields to do some field mowing with the tractor. I heard the shelties yapping all the way as they always do and then I heard the most painful, repetitive yelping. After about 9 yelps I bounded out the door and ran down the hill into the woods where the pain emerged from. Not the scene anyone wants to mentally work through. I was thinking "one of the pups has gotten entangled in the tractor and Jack doesn't know it"...help, help. By then the yelps were up to 25-30.

I called both Luna and Kalie's names over and over as I ran the distance and then Luna heaved into the path, encased in mud, limping and with a swollen eye. Not to mention a bit blown out! I looked at her quickly but then thought maybe Kalie is the worser victim...and I couldn't find her. Jack was mowing the far field unable to hear me. I ran on until I got him to shut down and help me search and rescue. As I approached Jack a huge doe bounded across the field in front of his tractor.

And then I knew. Luna had wandered into the woods and found a cute little fawn to play with, not realizing the mother was going to have no part of it. That doe pummelled Luna with her front feet and I heard ever hoof hit her as she yelped. Quite a sound, really.

Kalie, our smarty-pants sheltie was already at the house with her tail tucked in and Luna was just a muddy, achy mess, sitting in front of my studio. We cleaned her up but I decided (against my better judgement about the gouging vets charge for each visit, sorry if you are a vet but the charges are out of sight, thank you!) to have her checked to be sure she didn't have internal bleeding or broken bones. Here's Luna on the way to the vet...she looked good in this picture but she was truly miserable.

Result...shaken not stirred. She got lots of pain meds, we got a big bill. This is Luna on the way home from the vet. You can see where they shaved her back to determine the amount of bruising and damage. Her eye is fine after a bit of treatment, thank God.

Luna, Luna, Luna. Don't mess with Mother Nature or any mother for that matter!

Wet and wooly weekend

2011-05-16T20:41:00.006-04:00

I am back from the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival...an annual tradition for Long Ridge Farm and many other farms and vendors, showing sheep, selling fleeces and other farm products and just plain good shopping for fiber fans!

The weather was classic, a gray Saturday and a very wet and wooly Sunday with heavy downpours. Thankfully the rain held off until mid-day on Sunday so the roofs didn't start leaking until almost the close of the show. We have come to expect less than perfect weather at this great annual event, in our 35th year!
Faith joined me for the weekend and not only was she a great help but also so fun to be with. My most cheerful gal!
We met so many great people across the weekend and of course saw many good friends as well.
These ladies are sporting some cleverly designed headgear....from Friends In Fiber
getting ready for the show and not happy...baaaaaa
a bumper sticker...
not just another pretty face...
and an awfully cute face!
this lamb was moving so fast we couldn't get a steady picture...
clever art...
All in all a great weekend....enjoying friendship and the reward for all the hours of hard work getting ready for show season!
Thank you to each and everyone who made the weekend a pleasure for Long Ridge Farm.

France and ISEND2011 ~ My Thoughts

2011-05-08T15:57:00.020-04:00

My travels through France from Paris to Brive, the Dordogne Region, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Rocamadour, Sarlat and La Rochelle with my friend Ramona were nothing short of fabulous. We traveled quite nicely together! We navigated, shlepped, spoke French at least 70% of the time, laughed til tears rolled on countless occasions, always made our trains even in the early AM hours, imbibed on balconies across the countryside and ate with pleasure, just taking each day for what it offered, feeling fortunate as heck to be there. It was just a great trip.
A moment in France, frozen. One Bloody Mary for Ramona and a rum and pear juice for me...on a street, mid-afternoon, no stress, no schedule, no problem.

The second week we landed in La Rochelle for ISEND2011. From a perspective of how to host a symposium where 524 attended from 56 countries, it was nothing short of flawless. The center known as Espace Encan, a renovated fish market on a pier

was the perfect environment under one roof for such an event. Each day was completely organized with morning lecture sessions, a three course sit down lunch, including red and white wine, more afternoon lecture sessions, here with a round table discussion about natural indigos.

followed in the late afternoon by simultaneous exhibitions, films, dyeing workshops, poster presentations and a vendor market. There was an amazing Art and Fashion Exhibition ongoing through the week with numerous pieces created by natural dye artists from around the world.

I was pleased to have a small part in one artists work as he bought his dyes from me!

All parts make a whole.

Wednesday there were four possible field trips to sign up for. Buses picked us up at 9AM and in some pre-determined fashion each group (3-4 buses per group) floated to our chosen venue. Some visited the seashore in search of purple dye from molluscs, some to the countryside to a dye plant farm, others to to an extraction and application laboratory plant collection and some visited Old La Rochelle from the natural dye point of view.

The week wrapped up with a gala dinner and dancing to two incredible live bands and an amazing feast. Many times through the week I thought how awesome it was that our globally small and diverse group was able to co-exist for five full days together with such joy, color and shared pleasure. Fabulous group, we were!

During the lecture sessions there was much discussion on the classification, standardization, industrialization and labeling of natural dyes. Although the concepts are laudable they are lost to me. Natural dyes come from nature and each dye is only as strong as it's future as a living organism. Similar to my breed of sheep, the CVM/Romeldale, which is the most rare and endangered breed of sheep in North America today, if the breed vanishes, it's gone forever. Rather, like our sheep, for dye plants, I would like to see the concept of nurturing and careful management always respecting "their" environment, not our needs. Not all living things are in abundance and no matter how much we try to bring the concept to the forefront, the species still need to survive and we need to be the stewards of their future. To this end, I don't support standardizing and general labeling of natural dyes. Stay conscious, stay concerned and never assume longevity.

One afternoon, Ramona and I rented bicycles and rode around La Rochelle...we stopped at a beautiful beach where I was compelled to place my feet in the other side of the Atlantic...it felt marvelous! I still have a love affair with France and always for natural dyes.

To see some great video links about the ISEND conference click here

India Flint "Fieldwork" workshop at Long Ridge Farm

2011-05-03T10:36:00.006-04:00

Fieldwork with India Flint

Date: August 22-26, 2011
Cost: $700(day class only), initial deposit $300 (includes $50 non-refundable) upon registration, balance due 6/01/2011. Credit card required with initial registration.
Contact: longridge@myfairpoint.net
Where: Long Ridge Farm, Westmoreland, NH 03467 USA
Lunch: Catered each day and paid by the student

Working with bio-regional dye sources and gentle stitching during an explorative journey in stitch and colour.

In our ‘fieldwork’ we will colour cloth using very simple ingredients; leaves, water and heat. We will work with bio-regional dye sources, windfall bundle dyeing techniques and gentle meditative stitching. Together we shall take windfall-leaf collecting walks to gather material and supplement the harvest with green waste from the florist as well as discards from the green grocer. During the class we will create beautiful dye samplers, gradually piecing them together to construct the foundation of an exquisite composite textile that may be used as a practical plant dye reference. We will harness the effects of scrap metals, different waters and other easily sourced ingredients to influence dye outcomes as well as discussing a range of methods for plant dye application.

"Field Notes" with India Flint

2011-04-30T04:30:00.006-04:00

India Flint will be teaching at Long Ridge Farm in August! The workshop "Field Notes" will be a 5 day journey of collecting and working with dyestuffs indiginous to our land and using them to create your own expression on cloth such as in this piece created by India which is on exhibit in France. Learn to dye with what you have in your own locale, simply and beautifully. It will be a 5 day workshop the week of August 22nd for a fee of $700. I will have all the particulars within the coming week. Space is limited and already four have enrolled. A not to be missed and rare opportunity to work with this unique artist from Australia. About India Flint.

I will be back in the states Sunday evening. A bientot, mon cheries!

Dimanche de Paques

2011-04-24T17:00:00.004-04:00

I woke up in Bordeaux this morning to a crystal blue sky above the rooftop view from my room. Easter morning. Alleluia! There were birds singing and as I took in the view a lone pidgeon had come to my windowsill to drink water from the ledge catch basin. The city was quiet this morning. France rests on Sundays.

My traveling comrade and friend, Ramona, planned to attend Easter Mass and I decided to join her at the Cathedral Saint Andre. It was 4 blocks or so from the hotel, an enormous, grand cathedral. This is a view of the pipes of the organ.

It was standing room only, high mass, and of course all in French. I sat there in awe that I was celebrating Easter in an ancient church, in a far away place, with the music bellowing about the stone and stained glass.

We realized that in this Easter day Jean Pierre Cardinal Ricard was officiating the service. Perhaps that explained the standing room only but none the less it was a grand occasion.

After the service we took to yet another devine lunch, this time at le Cafe Francais.

We packed our bags, boarded the train to La Rochelle at 5PM and arrived to a thunderstorm and some much needed rain.
And so begins the natural dye symposium in the morning and another old city to meet this week as the days pass to nights.
Bonne nuit.

Beyond my peripheral vision

2011-04-23T18:41:00.003-04:00

Bordeaux. It is alive. France shares a love for life, and gives this gift if you are open to it's hand.

my view of Bordeaux this morning...

holding court with great company....

and my weakness on Rue Porte Dijeaux.

The shops are closed tomorrow for Sunday and even moreso for Easter,....but the romance in Bordeaux doesn't close. A part of my heart remains here. Leaving in the morning for the next destination with reluctance. Je t'aime Bordeaux.

baaaaa from la Madeleine

2011-04-21T13:27:00.003-04:00

Saw the most incredible farmland today from la Madeleine to Fanlac to Bars....this is a very special part of the Dordogne Region.

Off to Bordeaux tomorrow at early dawn....bonne soir!

devine

2011-04-20T18:48:00.002-04:00

Fat is good....duck fat. Sauted potatoes in duck fat and herbs....mmmmm, the food is devine. The trip is fabulous! Cyber communication a challenge. Pardon! Presently in reeelax mode, in the French countryside. Visited Sarlat today for the outdoor market and on to Racamadour. Needless to say, awesome. It was 80 degrees F today, full sun, dined outside both for lunch and this evening in Montignac. I am having a French love affair with Bergerac, a yummy dry, white wine from this very region. Bonne Nuit!

à bientôt chers amis

2011-04-17T21:36:00.003-04:00

It's time to fly...

Leaving for France tomorrow...some time in the Dordogne Region, on to Bordeaux and then up to La Rochelle for the ISEND natural dye conference.
I will be sharing the trip here and on Facebook so do check in.

I feel so blessed if only the pups wouldn't look so weepy now that my suitcase is packed.

All about CVM/Romeldales

2011-04-16T20:52:00.003-04:00

Just published! An article I wrote for the fabulous online fiber resoure, Ennea Collective about our CVM/Romeldale sheep Enjoy!

Whirrr go the shears

2011-04-13T08:03:00.001-04:00

Shearing is done. The weather cooperated with a bright sunny day and no adverse weather for days ahead. What not to wish for is wet and cold. If the sheep are subjected to wet conditions before shearing it affects the shearer's progress and also management of the fleece after it is "on the table". In addition, I am not fond of plummeting temperatures after shearing when the flock is compromised with no fleece. The shiver and shake as they go...

Shearing began...we had three helpers in the shearing section and three helpers in the skirting section. Here is our shearer, Andy Rice, throwing a fleece on the skirting table.

Griffin is a yearling and he was not happy about this...watch the bad boy here.
Hours later, shearing done, we let them out of the barn and whoosh! With no lead and one controlling sheltie (Kalie) the flock was back to their regular digs and full hay racks....ahhhh
We all took a break for some venison chili, warm garlic bread, wine and camaraderie after the shear

Midway through shearing shows the signs of our breed's wool. It's greasy by nature and that manifests itself on the shearer's blades....

Always an event and magnificent each year!

French Bleu

2011-04-02T21:24:00.005-04:00

In anticipation of my upcoming trip back to France I found myself once again in a love affair with woad, the royal blue of France. I spent the day in the studio, immersed in bleu...here is the vat before I began dipping....I wasn't pleased with the color here (eye test) but my eye proved me a bit picky. All turned out stunning!

below are silk ribbons...center: indigo dyed a few weeks ago, right: deeper dyed woad, left: lightly dyed woad...note the difference in the hues added my CVM light worsted at the bottom for comparison.... my end of the day; silks in the top photo are still drying, here are ribbon and yarn dyed in woad along with a run of Victoria (in honor of the royal wedding coming up!) pip-pip!and a bientot!

Great pieces of functional art

2011-03-22T10:19:00.002-04:00

A yarn bowl. Artistic yet completely functional. I love my yarn bowl! It has a wonderful opening to let yarn feed fron the bowl to the needles, a great shape for all balls of yarn and rubber grippers on the bottom to keep it from slipping. I have even set it on the dashboard when riding and knitting (not driving!). It's kept me company with my Cascadia Mitts...
It's kept me company with knitting up some cotton washcloths....
and a cup of coffee....
and currently a pattern from Ravelry my cousin and I are knitting together, the Shroom Slouch

you can find one for yourself at Neal Pottery
Luna has created her own piece of functional art. A snow cave. It faces the sun, has protection from the wind, is cool on the underbelly and beautiful to boot!

A Bit of Ireland

2011-03-17T11:14:00.004-04:00

I was in the barn doing chores this morning on this beautiful St Patrick's Day morning and Danny Boy came on the radio. I wanted to hear it again and found this version...short but absolutely lovely.

Danny Boy

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.

And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

Sugarin'

2011-03-13T20:30:00.007-04:00

Saps running and the mud is rising...spring is in the air!

We are so happy to have our maple sugar groves tapped again after a few years off. The Clace family and friends are local and great to work with. We let them set permanent lines in return for maple syrup and believe me the gift is precious. It runs along the theory of many other things. If you have a sheep, shear it and use the wool, if you have a cow, milk it and drink the milk, if you have land, till and feed the folks. So if you have maple trees, tap them and enjoy the sweetest gift on earth.

The logo tells all. They are doing the tapping, the boiling and the creating. Among other things.

We stopped by the sugar house today to spend a few hours...

They are doing it Yankee style. The sugar content in the sap is so strong right now they've been making fancy grade for 2 days. And I tasted it today and, oh man, is it good!

The fires were stoked constantly to keep the sap boiling.

Being at a sugar house is an event...it's hard work and social. At this house there were people from 9 to 84 years old, sharing stories and friendship.

This shows the syrup coming out of the evaporator into the filter where it then flows into a finishing pan and then is poured off into a container as finished syrup.

The kids went out and scooped snow into cups and then poured syrup over it as a treat known as "sugar on snow".

Things are pointing toward spring....including the outerwear. Here is our corner at the kitchen door. It is now full to the max with cold weather coats, rain coats and possibly a sweater in case we have a day that reaches 45 degrees.

If you want maple syrup you have the number to call!

Dye work continues

2011-03-05T20:36:00.006-05:00

The beat goes on....focusing on the handpainted yarns.

Katie prepped ...

I got a dye lot of Rooster done. It's been a challenge between snow and rain, watching the weather for clear days...the color was developing here and turned out predictably beautiful!

The handpaints piled up...

Steaming and running the indigo vat...

Colors are looking good after a wash and rinse....

Comparing a pair of skeins for saturation and hue after drying...

The weather may be glum in March but creating color warms the palette of life!

Stylish

2011-03-03T08:29:00.002-05:00

Theresa at Camp Runamuck nominated me for this stylish award! I enjoy Theresa's humor, talent at the loom, sewing machine and beyond and perhaps especially her deep affection for animals and the joy they bring to our lives. Thank you Theresa for all you give!

Here's what comes with the award:
1. Thank and link back to the person who sent you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

First, seven things about me!

1. I love natural dyeing. No matter the medium, it is as good as breathing for me.
2. I love snowmobiling.
3. I have been married to the same man for 30 years this May. And that's a good thing!
4. What I see each day and surround myself with fuels my creativity.
5. Music is vital to me.
6. I am a complete and total animal lover. My life will never be without them.
7. Friendship, laughter and honesty...required needs.

Part two: I don't spend a great amount of time strolling the blogosphere...I have those I connect with and consider friends. So here are the blogs I have come to enjoy, some newer, some older, but all good and stylish!

Earthues From both the team at the studio and Michele Wipplinger, owner and founder of Earthues, style exudes through and through. I am eternally grateful for the style they have brought to me over the years.
How The West Was Spun Anne is hands down the most avid spinner and knitter I know AND she's good! Her work is current and stylish!
ConcateKnit Here's a woman with a style for honesty. She holds nothing back and I find that current and real.
Knit Quest Sam is designing style on a full time basis. You need to watch this woman.
Nutmeg Owl The owl works through the night and ferets out fibers and patterns and owlways recognizes what is in style.
PoMoGoLightly Let me say Beverly just has style...she is always working on a new way of being and her fashion sense and writing are most stylish.
Say This About That Laurel has a great style for writing and can spin a mean yarn.
Sweet Georgia Felicia...a great sense of color and that makes her stylish in my book.
Yarnslinger I got to know the yarnslinger through our mutual love for animals and she has an unabashed love for baseball making it stylish to be a fan.
Plucky Knitter New blog to my list but certainly many know Sarah and she puts together a stylish presentation and product.
Yarn Wench Lynn is new to my list but I find her absolutely creative, hip and free-flowing..that's stylish.
The Painted Sheep Kris is a great dyer and business woman AND she snowmobiles! That's stylish!

Congratulations! Here's to your style and love for all you do and share.

Dusk at Long Ridge Farm.

How did this happen?

2011-02-23T20:45:00.004-05:00

We all have things in our life we swore we'd never tumble to...come on, fess up! I half turned my back on the face of the future many a time.

First, mine (well skip the way back ones) was the internet and computers, never going to use them. Phones and letters were just fine for me. And then it was Facebook. Why do I need that when I have email, the phone and letters? But, oh, how the mighty have fallen. I was pulled into the massive FB whoosh last month and have found it reasonable, sensible and absolutely insane all in one fell swoop!
So if you are on Facebook be my friend ! And if you aren't, I totally support your resolve!

Hues to you!

2011-02-16T14:33:00.000-05:00

My studio is brimming with color despite the backdrop of frigid and snowy weather outside. I frequently struggle with the yin and yang between the desk and dyepot with multiple projects and deadlines in both areas. Welcome to a glimpse of what has been cooking in the studio this week. Some freshly dyed lengths of silk ribbon...

I just finished my part of a collaborative this week which was challenging but rewarding. Although the volume of yarn was nominal the work lay in the matching. I ran tests on each sample first before commiting the beautiful one of a kind skeins to the dyepot. I wanted the finished skeins to mirror the original samples with the one variable that the samples are a white base yarn and the finished skeins are a gray base. The yarn is from my CVM/Romeldales.
I will share more when the project is complete...the small butterflies atop the skeins were the original colors for me to match through natural dyeing. Accomplished!
On a personal note, I had promised a skein of sock yarn naturally dyed by me for a business associate. She wanted pink so she could knit a pair of socks for her and her baby girl. My camera didn't do this justice but it is a lovely coral pink with subtle variegation. In the mail and on it's way.

Nothing wasted, for fun, I put a large cotton scarf into the after-bath from the sock dyeing....yummy, warm pale coral...

The indigo vat simmered along so I could alternately dip skeins, scarves and tests I needed to run.
Here's Luna behind the indigo oxidizing tub...clueless to my efforts but happy!

All three dogs spend time with me, although Kalie eyes the door in hopes it will open and free her for a run!

Sidney loves the studio. He is quiet old now and doesn't need too much entertaining, he just loves to be amidst the action with nothing asked of him! This is the perfect place!

A customer arrived yesterday with 3 pounds of her hand-spun yarn for me to dye. She has posed a challenge for her color choice and I look forward to it!
I am half way through a large custom dye order...more color to burst forth soon!

Good Old Fashioned Winter

2011-02-02T14:38:00.005-05:00

It's Groundhog's Day and Punxsutawney Phil predicts an early spring! However today it is still winter and we are in a real live Currier and Ives painting. Here was our snow stick when we started the day at 30". Since then another 10" has fallen. The past three days Jack and I have been raking roofs, shoveling roofs, shoveling paths and plowing. We aren't so concerned about the current load on the roofs but if all of a sudden Mother Nature and Old Man Winter conspire to give us a rain event we'd be in trouble.
We set off to get the animals all fed and set for the day. I looked at the roofs on the way and thought "good grief, they were just done two days ago and it is time to do some more raking!".
To the right of the little building in the middle is the hen house, buried!
But on the backside we built a day pen for them with a roof so they get out and about...happy as can be!
Luna and Kalie are total snowbirds..can't get enough. Good thing!

Dear Jack got the porch roof shoveled off this morning while I shoveled out the generators, walkways and doorways. Who got the better deal?
Old Sid still loves the snow as well, although his hips don't let him stay out too long. Look at that face!
Seemed fitting to make a fire this morning for the day and roast a few plates of root veggies...
and cauliflower with garlic for dinner. Mmmm good!
How do you manage with the winter?

Multi-tasking at it's worst

2011-01-28T12:39:00.002-05:00

I have days like this. Do you?

Come ride with me!

2011-01-22T15:00:00.009-05:00

Call me nuts but winter is made to enjoy and whether you ski, skate, sled, snowshoe, snowmobile or what have you, the season flies by if you get out and about.

We have been snowmobiling for 17 years this winter and still love every minute of it. We've ridden all of NH and Maine north to Canada, depending on the snowfall. This week we have been enjoying our local trails as the snow in southern NH is fabulous this winter. The thermometer got stuck at 10 degrees most of the day and the wind was bitter but we were dressed right and have been having a ball!

Take a ride with me!

A parting shot as the sun went down on trail looking to the hills where our farm is set.

Balance

2011-01-17T11:11:00.012-05:00

New Year's morn I started full throttle at catching up from the Christmas season. So much gets put by the wayside in order to spend time with family and friends and soak up the peace, joy and love that shines throughout the holidays.

These past few weeks I wanted to take stock of my year back and this one early unfolding. What would I accomplish this year that got sidetracked or forgotten in 2010? What matters most as I saw another birthday pass? Is it my work? My family and the farm? Getting in shape? Losing a few pounds? Traveling more? Reading more? Working on my dyeing education? The list is endless and in order not to spiral out of control it takes great balance and thought to keep perspective.

First I tackled the desk. Do away with what I could let go of and focus on the most important tasks for just January. One month at a time. Desk work is so boring though, isn't it? A desk, at least mine, is layered with decisions. Ideas I jot down on post-its for future thought, a stack of files filled with upcoming workshops here at the farm as well as for my teaching, at the farm and away, dyeing projects for other clients, the items are many.

Mid-January I have pulled the reins in on the piles, sorted through the decisions with my plan of attack to focus on just one of the larger items a week with a smattering of niggley items daily. Yet even with that plan of attack, each day brings unexpected interruptions that are more pressing than the last and the post-its morph and exchange spots on the desk pad.

Something else I have come to realize is that entire days can be spent on duties rather than my art, my love for natural dyeing and working with fibers. Maybe it's the time of year? Or perhaps it's my method of peddling through the day and how I prioritize. The days are so short there is barely time to get going before the sun is down again. Or I'll say, "I'll just get these few things accomplished in my office and get them off the "table" and then get to the studio." I always have a backlog of stories I'd like to blog about but by the time I get the camera in the office to download the pics another event comes and goes before I can post the first.

As I look across last year I achieved many of my goals and as I look into the eye of 2011 I am focused. The dreams and goals are in my sights.

Color Institute ~ Michele Wipplinger

Goal accomplished. The 2011 Summer workshops are posted and filling! I am delighted to be hosting The Color Institute with Michele Wipplinger, Earthues in July and Joan Morris will teach a shibori workshop in August. Both are sought after classes with these artist/instructors. Take a look...maybe one will appeal to you!

"forget ginger and bell", detail,
Joan Morris, shaped resist dyeing on wool substrate

Goal in progress. Peach. She and Crystal are still in the big barn on week 6. Peach is balanced and able to put her weight on that leg and get about nicely. It is still inflamed on the front just above the fetlock so it has a way to go before I'll bring her back into the flock. I think both ewes are quite comfortable at this point...treats, comfy digs and no competition at the hay racks. They have been able to get outside daily for the past week. The entry to and from the barn has a ramp which is risky for a leg injury so we put a rubber mat on it for gripping and it seems to work well enough.

The snow is 18" plus deep now with a forecast for 5-10" tomorrow so there isn't much room for them to roam. Winter reigns.

During the storm last week when we were gifted with 24" of snow, Katie and I stopped to talk during shoveling. The flakes were fast and furious and unannounced I tipped over backward whereby Katie followed suit. We laughed and chatted buried deep in white fluff! These moments of spontaneity, quick, fun and easy, are vital and so healthy!

I am staring at a file folder...it beckons me. Must be done. Purchase a plane ticket to Ohio for a teaching workshop in June. Balance, balance, balance.

Lamb's first snow

2010-12-27T20:42:00.009-05:00

Winter snow arrived last night with a vengence although we are always ready for it in New England. We got about 18" of snow overnight so getting to the barns this morning was a knee deep excursion. The wind was howling and the snow still swirling when we met our cheerful greeters at the winter barn this morning.
Due to the storm's wind direction we shut the flock into the open barn last night to reduce the blowing snow load inside this morning. Prudent decision. But in order to get the flock out for loafing Jack had to remove the snow from their area.

While cleaning and feeding I realized the spring lambs hadn't seen snow before as they were born in April so upon opening the barn door what a surprise they found!

From their side they faced a flat wall of snow keeping them inside the barn.
While they licked snow and gazed out upon the morning's wonder, we cleared away an area for them to roam about...they love the snowfall. Shown here are Wetherby and Maggie.

Here is Della with one of her lambs, Maggie. Striking genetic resemblance.

Welcome winter!

Christmas enters....

2010-12-24T22:58:00.004-05:00

and the celebration begins!

Blessings, love and joy to you as the season unfolds!

Three's company

2010-12-20T20:03:00.009-05:00

Things come in threes, they say. And number two was a surprise.
We have had a long period of cold weather this month. Daytime highs in the teens, moderate winds and no snow cover to temper the edge. One day this week we decided to leave the hens in their house for the day, with the option for a small outer fenced area. They have pretty nice digs really but I suspect it was a bit tight for a full day. I actually don't know what happened but when I closed the hens in for the night our beloved Bianca was bloodied up. During the day something got to her (probably literal hen pecking) and the rest of the hens took to the blood, which is their wont, and she was a bit of a mess in the head area by 5pm. Although the damage doesn't show, this was her after I got her to the big barn (now known as the infirmary!)

I wisked her straight away to join Peach and Crystal for some recovery time. I set her up so she could rest and recoup. She is able to get into a pen for her food and water but still be able to come out to hang with the ewes and mill about.

Peach is doing a bit better as of today. Your prayers are helping. Last Friday I called our favorite vet supply, Pipestone Vet Supply, who have, in addition to the best inventory of sheep supplies, a phone line connection to large animal veterinarians. It is the darned best connnection for livestock questions ever. When Pipestone answered the phone, as usual, they forwarded me on to a vet who happened to be Dr. Kennedy, Pipestone's best (and all the docs are darned good). I have called them for about 6 years now and never had the honor of speaking directly with Dr. Kennedy. He's a sheep vet and a sheep owner. He has raised more head than I could ever imagine running. He's encountered it all and he just plain loves sheep farming. I told him about Peach's predicament. I described the place in her leg where the injury is. I explained what course I had taken with injections, meds and x-rays. To make a long story short, he offered a one week course of another anti-inflammatory and the assurance that, knowing the leg wasn't broken, that in due time and limited movement, she would heal. Perhaps this won't be true... but on that backside of a cold day I was given hope that, in time, she would recover. I felt elated.

Peach's course now is for another 8 weeks in the big barn with the company of Crystal and perhaps Bianca! The barn space is large and as healing permits, the area provides enough space to move about for the winter. She is putting actual weight on her hoof now as she ambles about.
While Peach rests, Crystal chooses to have an inquest with Bianca.
Meanwhile at the winter barn Friday night, during chore time, I found one of the wethers had an abcess. Nothing serious...we rounded him up, did a bit of cleaning and flushing and all is healing nicely.
That's farming, that's three and that's it!

Peach's predicament

2010-12-12T17:59:00.004-05:00

Peach's injury has me concerned. After confining her and Crystal Tuesday to the big barn for an unforeseen period I hoped that giving her an anti-inflammatory and "hay rest" would start the healing process. But by Friday morning she was no better. As you can see, she held her right rear leg up off the floor and hobbled on the other three legs to get about. There is a limited course for the drugs to be safely given before other problematic symptoms might set in so I felt a vet visit was in order. The doc was here by 10AM. She checked every possible issue, as we had before. The leg is just so darn swollen above the fetlock.

With no clear answer, I bit the bullet (with Peach) and opted to x-ray the leg to be sure there wasn't a fracture. At least it would rule something out. After a mild sedative we got Peach on her side and I held her, although she was quite peaceful, for the films.

The doc took 4 films, different angles.

Later Friday afternoon the doc called to say nothing was broken. So it must be a torn ligament or tendon. A slow heal if at all. But she did suggest a 5 day course of steroids, one injection per day, with a continued half dose of the anti-inflammatory. I gave Peach her first shot yesterday. This morning no improvement. But she has an appetite and is calm...seemingly accepting her plight with her chum Crystal. We are having a miserable rain storm today and I suspect they are sharing sheep smiles in their high and dry digs despite the confinement. Tonight at chore time, Peach was up and putting ever so little pressure on that hoof. I am looking for any improvement and it was ever so small but perhaps a ray of hope. I know most farmers would cull Peach at this point. It's too expensive and time consuming to treat. But I have to see it through. If she heals, awesome! If she doesn't I have already accepted that reality. For now she is calm, eating, perhaps healing.

If you say prayers, please include Peach. She's a lovely ewe and a special friend.

Meanwhile back at the winter barn Griffin is holding court at the hay racks....

Breakfast of champions

2010-12-07T20:35:00.003-05:00

We're having a serious cold snap for so early in December. Not that the sheep mind. Northern New Hampshire is now blanketed in snow as winter blows on into New England. Our farm ground is frozen and any hope of a snaggle of grass is gone. Hay is now the daily menu, plus we had a few pumpkins left over and put them out this morning after feeding. And a few carrots, too. Mila asks..."what's up doc?"

and tells stories with that tongue...

while sharing a breakfast bowl with Memphis...

but as the flock enjoyed breakfast we had to move Peach to the big barn for some rest and recuperation. A few weeks back I wrote about her having a lame rear leg. It got better but then she must have done something to re-injure it and this morning I decided it was imperative to remove her from the flock with one roomie for company until she heals for sure. After swift and careful consideration, Crystal was nominated the lucky one to live the good life in the big barn with Peach. It is not an easy transition to separate sheep from their flock. They don't like change at all. Seen later today Crystal and Peach having a snack of their own....

There was a lot of baaing tonight as they all sorted out the separation...but Peach is in recuperation, on some anti-inflammatories and limited movement until she heals. Thank you Crystal for carrying the torch with her.

My day

2010-11-30T06:00:00.002-05:00

Today is my birthday! This is where I was born. We had a dairy farm in Amherst, NH.

This is me with my brothers....

This is our family...

me and my big brother with one of our Guernsey's...

my 18th birthday...

and the rest is history! Life is good and I am thankful! Thanks for stopping by today!

Enjoy the feast!

2010-11-25T08:45:00.007-05:00

First a few greens...(mind your manners Griffin!))

Lucy says yum yum...

Peach thinks mmm mmm good...

Della smiles a yes!

then a side dish, stalks of fresh brussel sprouts...

brussels on grass, delightful....

Dessert anyone?

this morning Luna helped me create some paper art with a punch and found one on her nose!

May your Thanksgiving be filled with gratitude, thankfulness and love.

Merging Continuums

2010-11-15T10:20:00.011-05:00

Saturday I took a road trip with Faith and Veronica along the Connecticut River and the White River into the Green Mountains of Vermont to Rochester, a small town which the townspeople describe as "right in the center of things". The countryside was lovely as we wound our way along the mountain roads viewing farmlands and hamlets.

The destination was to see Merging Continuums, Joan Morris's solo show at the BigTown Gallery.

A brief description offered by the BigTown Gallery:
BigTown Gallery is pleased to announce a solo exhibition of Joan Morris's most recent exploration in shaped resist dyeing* on textiles and precious metal mono-printing. Morris's two-year study combining museum textiles with found and natural objects has formed a new vocabulary for visual expression in the realm of dyeing and printing. In her new work, the shadow translation of an opaque gold imprint on the wall uses light to elaborate the description of image, surface, and structure simultaneously. This work opens a fresh perspective on the distinct cultural and natural iconographies that inform the evolution of textile.

One of the striking dimensions of her work was the shadows created behind the artwork.

You can view the details about the show and Joan here. The show is open until the 21st of November. And across the street is a yummy place to eat! Take the trip, if you can!

Red Hens and Redheads

2010-11-12T10:41:00.007-05:00

The weather has been lovely the past few days and afforded us the chance to wrap up hay for the winter months along with flock maintenance. It is always easier to get such duties done when there isn't a biting Northwest wind and no sunshine to ease the chill. Follow the sun, I say!
Hay's in, elevator put down, barn secure. Great feeling!

The hay loft is wiggle room only. I love a hay loft when the bales are more than head high. As a child I spent hour after hour playing in the hay loft on our farm, the memory is always fresh.

The hens are all grown up now and Bianca, our sole hen from last winter has taught them her tricks. They come to the shed door off the kitchen and wait for a treat. And so it's Cheerios!

When it was warmer the hens would lay eggs wherever they pleased, this was not only a clever but cozy choice.

Now that cool weather is here they are all laying in the coop each day. Good girls!

We spent the better part of a day getting all the sheep tended to for winter. We trimmed hooves, changed coats and de-wormed everyone.
Coats are ready...

Maggie and Lily ready...

As the coats came off the fleeces appeared...this is Georgia, I just love the spots!

Jack trims the hooves, while I hold the sheep. We do it while they stand up rather than setting them on their rumps. They have gotten quite used to the process, most are quite compliant. This is Jackie...behaving.

Here's Daphne...waiting for me to get a coat. Her fleece is lovely. I sunk my fingers into it and oh my!

Peach has been lame the last week or so on her right rear leg. I had watched her and treated her with some anti-inflammatory meds but after 10 days I thought a look from the vet was in order. The lambs all needed their rabies shots so Peach popped into the barn and the doc checked her over. As I expected there is no explaination other than she probably did something dumb like jump off a rock and strained it somehow. She is now on a longer dose of meds and time will heal it. Peach is a big ewe and is headstrong to boot. She manages to get to the hay and water and treats just fine!

Jack did some touch-up barn staining while the sheep were out grazing one day. Apparently it didn't dry as quickly as we hoped! For the minimal areas he stained at the winter barn, Mila managed to find one!

Now the North winds can blow...and they will soon enough.

Fiber Festival of New England recap

2010-11-08T18:49:00.013-05:00

I am home from vending the Inaugural Fiber Festival of New England this past weekend. As a vendor there was much to like about this new show. It took place at the Mallary Complex at the Eastern States Exposition (aka the Big E) in West Springfield, MA. The Mallary is BIG! We had 200 vendors plus fiber animal exhibitors, shearing and sheep herding demos, a fiber fashion show and various workshops and lectures....all under one roof! And it still wasn't filled in all the corners. The staff and volunteers were awesome, it was organized and getting in and out to set up was almost seamless. For a new show and the last of the season I believe it has nowhere to go but up!
As usual I don't get out and about as much as I wish to shop and take pictures but here are a few shots to share:

The Long Ridge Farm booth Friday night...

and some of what I offered...

a view down an isle before the opening bell

fiber from the Loop...

my DD Faith came for the weekend to help me and we had a great time being together...her first time "working" with me....

I had a visit from NutmegOwl and KnittingKittens to see the finished shawl that Nutmeg knit with my CVM/Bombyx silk yarn as part of the Knitters Book of Wool woolalong group on Ravelry. The CVM/Romeldale was the featured breed in June. Nutmeg is incognito but the shawl is not! It is lovely and so are these two women!

Some pretty socks....

Faith knitting!

Me seen measuring out some natural dyes for a customer...

It was great to catch up with all of you who came to the show and now for the long hiatus until show season starts again in April. Back to the farm, dyeing and getting ready for winter!

Because of you

2010-11-04T21:35:00.009-04:00

I am spurred on....

by my family, friends, blogger buds and all the wonderful people I have met at shows and beyond. Such encouraging words, ideas and enthusiasm. I have heard from natural dyers who want to link up, knitters who want to knit with my yarns and some who just want to stay in touch through a love of fiber.

As I worked in the studio all week and into tonight getting ready for the show this weekend your energy and friendship spurred me on. My entire journey creating great yarns from our flock of CVM/Romeldales

as well as dyeing successful hues to my fibers using natural dyes has been one of triumph and failure. I finally am looking toward a horizon that is bright and steady. It is your feedback and support that buoys me.

I love you all...it means everything to know you are here.

Fiber on the farm

2010-11-01T11:04:00.013-04:00

I wanted to share a look back across this year's workshops on Long Ridge Farm. Natural dyeing and indigo were taught by me and the fiber workshops were taught by Patty Blomgren. I will post the annual natural dyeing workshops with Earthues soon!

Beginners spinning...

First plied yarns...

Basics in Natural Dyeing....

Unraveling the mystery of dyeing with indigo...

oxidizing after an indigo dip...

Luna...

Sidney...

Working on a custom dye order...

Drum carding for color workshop...

How to choose, prep and wash a fleece workshop...

Kalie...

Washing fleece...

A workshop for intermediate beginner spinners...

Look at that bobbin fly!

Finished skeins again...

Katie helping me get ready for the next show... the Fiber Festival of New England, November 6th and 7th in West Springfield, MA.

Our town spinners and knitters group, The Twisted Sisters, at the farm for a Halloween party...

It's been a fun spring, summer and fall, gathering with so many great people all in the interest of fiber, dyeing, friendship and learning.

Good Growth

2010-10-21T20:50:00.008-04:00

Our lambs are looking good at six months old with proper weight and conformation.

Left to right: Griffin, Maggie and Lily. Maggie and Lily are twin ewes. Maggie's birth weight was 10.5#s and Lily's was 5.5#s and a bottle lamb. You can take a look back at the early days here. After the first few days on the ground, Lily grew steadily and solidly thereafter. Griffin was born big. A single at birth he weighed in at 10.75#s and now a wether, is still just so darn handsome and personable. When looking at sheep for good characteristics one important view is the hind quarters. Each of these lambs show a straight backbone, good spread across the rear, legs not close together, with a solid build and bone structure.

Every feeding the lambs line up at the rack together...awfully cute, eh? Maggie and Lily's mother, Della, is to the left of Griffin. Quite often the lambs will be flanked by one or the other of the mothers at the hay feeder. Now that we are fully into off-pasture feedings I need to get coats on those lambs to protect the fleeces. That's always entertaining when they first sport their new duds!

When the opportunity arises I will catch a photo of Della and Maggie together face on. Their matched resemblance is uncanny and so beautiful.

Rhinebeck ~ from my lens

2010-10-18T11:21:00.017-04:00

Rhinebeck, as always, was incredible. We had awful weather on Friday for the trip out with driving wind and rain but the storm passed in the evening and the weekend, although cool on Saturday, was just perfect. I didn't get out of my booth at all on Saturday. Katie went out for some awesome fruit tarts for us as an afternoon treat but that was it! Needless to say, I didn't get a chance to take very many pictures.I heard from the main office at the fairgrounds that the preliminary head count for Saturday by 4PM was 16,000 and that is more than they have had in any two days in the past. There were a LOT of folks there! I didn
This is a partial view of my booth on Sunday morning before the opening...forgot to get the beginning photos so by this time the stock was gone on a number of yarns.
A beautiful baby and mom....
Here's Katie, my helper and shepherdess on the farm, on the left with a wonderful woman who came to shop with us. We had a great time! She sported one of my Tribal Tiaras that I offered for sale. They make you feel free and offbeat while all the time reigning your kingdom!
Feeling free and happy!
These two ladies stopped by having brought these beautiful brooms from a man who makes them right at the show. Apparently they will last for years and he even suggests leaving the rubber band around the bristles to keep the broom from sloping to the side eventually. That was a new idea to me, but makes sense. These gals swear by these brooms and covet them as do many of his customers. Check him out at Lone Oak Brooms in this youtube video!

The fall colors were spectacular!

Another tiara being sported!

The end of the day Saturday Katie and I passed through the livestock barns on our way to dinner. This dear sheep was so tucked she never even woke up while I watched her.

This ewe was quite the heart throb. When we came upon her she was baaaing away. It was dinner time but she hadn't had her hay yet and so we spent some time just loving her up and whispering sweet nothings in her ear. She was a real schmooze. When we left her I turned back and she had bedded down and was chewing cud. Sheep whisperers?
And always the wonderful music from Peru....you can hear it here

This woman happened to come by as Katie and I were leaving for the evening Saturday and danced to their music....quite a sight, a number of children joined in, all of it unrehearsed.

Another cute-as-a-bug baby who stopped to shop with his dad.

As Katie and I finished loaded on Sunday night and headed out I looked over to my left and this dog caught my eye. Looks like he is ready to go home!

I want to thank all of you who came to visit this year. It is what makes the show worthwhile for all of the weeks and months of preparation. My new line of yarns has hit the ground running and I so appreciate the enormous round of compliments and purchases you gave.

On another note, there will be a final show in New England and you can check it out
here in case you need yet another fiber fix before the snow flies! I'll be there in booth 463E.

Rhinebeck 2010

2010-10-11T21:23:00.003-04:00

Countdown....Rhinebeck 2010 is this coming weekend. A few of the boxes that are packed with yarns....

all in natural dyed hues with yarn from the flock! Looking forward to the show! Please stop and say hello!

Her final pasture

2010-09-29T10:11:00.021-04:00

Ashley, our most famous, beautiful ewe has gone to greener pastures. Her health has been slowly declining since early summer and with each passing week it has been harder and harder to watch. She still ate well and grazed but she walked ever so slowly from stiffness and lost her eyesight just weeks ago and her hearing was sketchy.

A few days ago we moved her and the rest of the flock back to the winter barn and pasture for the year. Here she was that afternoon, blind and tired but happy. But in the late day when the rest of the flock headed for the barn, Ashley would still be in the pasture, alone and baaaing. She knew they were gone but wasn't sure how to get back. She couldn't see and her safety was in jeopardy. Each evening we would lead her back with grain, loving words and a nudge from behind. She hated coming down to the pasture sheds all summer for the night shift. Ashley loved the high life and pasture was her glory. It was a hard transition for sheep and shepherd.

The day after we brought Ashley and the flock home I happened to be outside just at dusk. I heard a round of commotion, low key, but odd. I decided to walk down and double check the barn when I heard Ashley's big bellow baaa from the wrong direction. She should have been in the barn but she was across the lane. I looked into the dusk and saw Ashley headed into the woods.

It was pouring rain, damn near dark and she was hobbling off into the woods, blind and lame and tired. I ran up to Katie's cottage on the farm (our dearly beloved assistant shepherd) and asked for her to help me wrangle Ashley back to the barn. Jack was away for the evening so it was girl's night! We quickly got back to where Ashley had last been roaming and meanwhile she had wedged herself between the ledge on the right and the tree on the left and she was down.

After a good 10 minutes of pushing, pulling and coaxing with grain and halter we got Ashley back in the barn in a private suite fit for a queen. The rain hammered down and at one point as Katie and I were pushing and pulling Ashley home, I looked at Katie and said "isn't this a scene from Cold Mountain". We both briefly chuckled. As it turned out Ashley had blindly walked into the electric fence outside the barn, gone through it at what cost and then wandered away, not sure where she was headed. I am so eternally grateful I was there in the barnyard at the moment I heard some off beat sounds. Otherwise she would have spent the night in the woods and perhaps not survived the night predators.

The next twenty four hours we devoted to Ashley's comfort. She had her evening alone, safe in the barn adjacent to the rest of the flock but with her own water, hay, salt and comfy bedding and during the day she was with the rest of the flock. But we knew it was a lost cause. If she couldn't see, nothing could be safe for her. Wednesday we made arrangements with the doc to make that hard, hard final decision. It was a lovely day on pasture, all the sheep were just mellow and cruising. I "asked" the rest of the flock late-morning to spend some time with Ashley as she would be departing later in the day and as God is my witness within two hours most of the flock was resting around her. Up until this time, all summer, Ashley quite often was just sleeping alone somewhere on pasture. They know.

Ashley was a queen. I bought her when she was 8 years old as she traveled the sales circuit. To others she was a "has been". Old and useless. I came to learn she had the most divine fleece I have ever encountered. In fact, I never sold her fleece after the second year I owned her because it was too good to be true! Soft as butter. Her cheeks were soft, her neck, her hind quarters, all of her. I chose to buy her so she'd have a good final run on life. And she did. She lived here for 8 more years and gave us more than we dreamed of in so many ways. In 2006 she gave us triplets at 10 years old!

She loved the fall when the apples fell...like an elixir.

She was a clown.

And most of all a lady.

She was laid to rest, September 29th, 2010 at Long Ridge Farm. A jewel in the crown. Forever loved, forever missed.

Summer reflections

2010-08-25T08:53:00.011-04:00

Today is the day before the annual workshops begin here at Long Ridge Farm taught by Michele Wipplinger, founder/owner of Earthues in Seattle. I am almost ready, save for a little more fussing here and there. Michele arrives mid-day and so I have a few peaceful hours before the real work begins. As I looked out across my desk and on into the back gardens, the hens cruised by looking for some early morning goodies in the grass. It is a gray and misty day with a bit of a fall feel and we finally are having rain after nearly 8 weeks of next to none. My mind drifted as I thought '8weeks ago' and mentally counted back, recollecting the spring and summer, and my jaw dropped thinking of all that has happened these past 4 months.

Mid-April we were lambing, I was vending at CT Sheep and Wool, April 24th and then onto NH Sheep and Wool, 5/8-9 and then May 10th promptly left for the trip to France with Michele and friends from Earthues for 2 weeks, arrived home for a week, taught two natural dyeing workshops, repacked and left for Seattle, June 20th for another week, then home again (super kudos to Jack and Katie for holding down the farm!!) to settle down (?) for the summer with a planned foot surgery scheduled for July 2nd. But that had to be postponed for a week due to a rotten cold I picked up on the plane from Seattle. Surgery 7/9 and after a week of behaving I started moving about more and more. I have healed well, it is still a long road and will be months til my dear foot is back to "normal".

Life moves at variable speeds although at this point in mine I find it is zoomier than ever! I would be remiss if I didn't apologise right now for not keeping in touch better these past weeks and months with you, my blogger buds. I suspect it is the state of hobbling that has thrown me off completely. But hopefully as things are now back to my normal zoomy, I will be able to catch up with blogs and all the other regular rituals I have missed.

The lambs and moms have now moved to pasture and joined the regular flock. Here they are coming up the road, with Kalie's help (mmmaybe!) to join the others.

It was a bit chaotic for the first day; lambs couldn't find their moms amidst the "who are you fest" and moms were trying to teach their young to stay clear here and there. Lots of baaaing and jockeying.

But now they are all settled in, grazing, sleeping peacefully by night and the daily chores are immensely easier. You can see Della to the left with three lambs in this picture. Della is all the lambs favorite. She is calm, protective and never minds an occasional jump on the back.

The fields suffered this summer with the lack of rain but they will manage to inch along until pasture season ends late September.

Thank for your continued interest in the goings on here...it means a lot to me!
I hope you are enjoying these last few weeks of summer!

Where the boys are

2010-08-03T20:52:00.008-04:00

The ram boys (now not so rammy) traveled north into the White Mountains with us on Saturday to their new home. It was a difficult extraction from the farm. I frankly hate it. At 8AM the farm was a hush. It was a very cool morning and the two groups were all happily settled in their morning routine: laying around chewing cud and waiting for us to come feed them, freshen water, open up the pasture gates for the day...same old, same old. And then in the blink of the eye, while Katie harmlessly did the chores, I gave Vitamin B shots for travel stress and Jack whisked them into the transporter. Wails came from ewe and lamb as we drove off into the morning sun. It is indescribable. I wept. And then we rounded the corner at the bottom of the hill and said " we are on the way". We had an uneventful three hour trip despite the baaaing from the rear. We laughed as we drove through downtown Littleton at a snail's pace, both lambs baaing quite loudly as innocent bystanders and shoppers spun to see the ruckus! My truck plate said it all Baaaa- Finally we found the entrance to Austin and Guthrie's new home.

We wound our way up the drive and on approach the Mountain View Grand heaved into view.

We found our way around the back of the hotel to the big red barn where the farm manager, Krista, and a few other farm employees were anxiously awaiting our arrival.

With speedy dispatch we offloaded the boys and got them settled in the barn in their own pen. Within short order they had met the llamas and alpaca.

We stayed and observed for at least a half hour and the boys eventually started eating hay, found the mineral salt and had a big drink of water so we were satisfied they would be comfortable.

Krista is the farm manager and her husband is the GM at Mountain View Grand and he stopped down to see the lambs and took a photo of us before we left.

We were invited to enjoy lunch at the country club. It was a yummy feast and of course we enjoyed the wine and view.

After lunch we took a walk up to the hotel, I on crutches with my walking boot. After roaming through the lobby we walked out onto the front porch which offered a vista of 19 peaks of the White Mountains and I met a lovely woman who began our conversation by saying "You shouldn't have kicked him!" after Jack had already strolled by. There she was, dressed to the nines, on a lazy Saturday afternoon, enjoying life. I had to take time to visit with her!

Since that day, the boys have had a breakout, made best friends with the smaller llama, and been chased by a Leister Longwool ewe a few times. I get daily reports as to their progess and believe they are in for a pretty good run there with lots of friendly guests to visit with and a superb farm staff. All the while bearing in mind I will have to go up from time to time for a sheep squeeze. I will always miss the ones that get away.

Meanwhile back at the farm this is the second harvest this week from the veggie garden. We have already put up 36 bags of green beans and broccoli and these baskets will put us up to 60! We have had little rain but with our evening watering the sunshine has provided a formidable harvest. Kalie, looks shy in this picture but she was just kidding!

He's leaving home

2010-07-30T20:30:00.004-04:00

We leave bright and early with Austin (shown here yesterday with his mom, Bea) and Guthrie for their new home.....

Wait until you see where they will be living. Sheep are lucky to live here on Long Ridge Farm but then there are new options somewhere in NH.

The destination revealed Sunday.

Out and About

2010-07-20T20:12:00.005-04:00

First and foremost, thank you all for the summer reading suggestions while I continue to spend more time off my feet than on them! I have to say, I had not read one book from your suggestions so the list is fabulous!

I have been abysmal at keeping up with things this week. I have found myself just hobbling from bed to chair to kitchen counter, between ice packs and naps. The heat has been oppressive for the most part and so I am trying to stay low and cool to keep the swelling down. Yesterday I couldn't stand another minute prone and got out and about to say hello to the farm. I wound my way down to the big barn to see the lambs and moms. Wow, how they have grown! Kalie made sure to accompany me and stay spotter for chipmunks on the stone walls.

It is a foregone conclusion that Della, our mama Romeldale, is fondly known as Aunt Della by all the lambs. Since they were all born it's Della they hang with. She is mellow and forgiving. They climb on her and snuggle with her and she has never tossed her head or given them the boot. The lambs love her. Here she is with Lilly, Griffin and Maggie (on the backside) taking some shade and a rest while the others graze.

Our new baby chicks are almost full grown and out and about now. This flock is NH Reds and so far are quite different from the last flock of Buff Sex Links for which our dear Bianca stems from. This flock stays in and amongst the bushes and shade....but everyday are venturing further about the barnyard.

As soon as I came down to say hello, they popped out of the bushes and made a brief appearance before they headed up around the studio to forage for bugs.

As I found my way back up to the house Webster and Bianca were having a visit by the cottage. Our Bianca is the best darn hen ever. She is living with the lambs and mamas now in the big barn, she finds her way into the barn each night where she roosts, lays her egg each morning before heading out for the day. She is not mad for the new flock of hens yet but hopefully by winter we will be able to soften her up. For now though Bianca is everyone's friend and a bright spot around the yard, dependable, personable and so friendly.

Wanted!

2010-07-17T15:28:00.010-04:00

Your recent favorite reads!
Me, a Type A personality, left to my own devices for weeks on end with limited time to motor about on both feet,am in need of more books to read. In the past week I have read these three books:

How To Knit A Love Song
A lusty, predictable love story with a very light drama laced throughout but with lots of references to farming, knitting and love, it was a fun read.

Little Bee
I wasn't attracted to this book on the shelf but then thought better of it and found it a fast and moving read. I wept as I finished the last page.

Incendiary
So I had to have some more by Chris Cleave and just finished Incendiary today. Now this book was tough. From page one to the last page it was hard to continue and yet impossible to put it down. Therefore I didn't. Not a happy book, not at all. But if you are brave and can work through it's dark spots, take it on.

What are you reading, what can you suggest next for me? Kris, thanks for your offerings today: Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamont and also Still Alice. While I wait to hear your thoughts, I have The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark waiting.....

The Blues ~ For students not for me!

2010-07-13T19:33:00.000-04:00

Recovery is treacherous, cruel and oh, so boring! Here is my existence to some degree. I mean from here I travel on crutches to the bathroom, the bedroom and the kitchen. I have a spot in the kitchen at the island where I can elevate the foot and at least converse with Jack during meals.

Yesterday, my friend, Betsy came by and brought some lunch from the Putney Coop (yum!) and we sat on the porch for a visit. Now I haven't been to the porch since surgery as it's been too hot and this foot wants to swell at the first opportunity. So when I'd had enough I got up on the crutches and headed back to the living room and did a skid on a throw rug. I didn't fall down but did hurl forward onto the ball of my healing foot. Oh boy, did that feel great! I hit the icepacks and made an appointment with the doc for today just to be sure something hadn't gone awry. It felt odd but may just be a bit of aggravation. Today the doctor unwrapped the bandages and noted I had minimally caused some bleeding but all in all I am okay. She wrapped me up with the next appointment for 9 more days if I don't do something silly!
So what was a breeze on day one has become a bit of a trial, but I will survive it! I am just so not a couch potato and the hard part is staying down. A true test of MY patience!

Backing up a few weeks, I taught Basics in Natural Dyeing, here at the farm to a great group of students on June 12th working through the steps to become a successful dyer using Earthues natural dyes. I was full of enthusiasm after returning from France. After a brief lecture we jumped into dyeing two colors from one dyepot. I set up the day so each student would go home with 8 dye formulations with yarn samples to build from for their own personal work.

It was a rainy day but it didn't dampen our spirits.
As we rolled along through the dyeing schedule students watched the yarns to be sure the skeins took the dyes evenly.

Sidney couldn't help himself....he just loves a room full of people and happy sounds. Puts him right to sleep!
The skeins get sorted for each student at the end of the day.
And yes, I asked for a group photo! After just a day together relationships form as we share a common interest.
The following day, June 13th, I taught Unravel The Magic and Mystery of Indigo. Each student came with a drive to learn the indigo process and also various areas or interest. Margo brought a number of pieces she had prepared in the shibori fashion where others brought raw fleece, roving and yarns.
I love to teach indigo and I prefer students bring their own fibers because once they connect with the process, applying the range of blues to their own work is the kiss of success! Here are some fibers oxidizing between dips.
Helen is building her layers of indigo to some beautiful yarns she spun. Indigo dyeing works on the concept of building the blue through multiple dips until the prefered blue hue is acheived.

If you have yearned to get started with natural dyes consider joining me and Michele Wipplinger for one of the workshops coming up in August and September which you can review here.

Pasture days

2010-07-08T21:25:00.006-04:00

It's been another whirlwind couple of weeks since I returned from Seattle. The lambs are now taking day trips with their Moms to pasture. It's good to get them used to the pasture changing and the routes around the farm. The ewes know the way well and the lambs surely follow!

They found a patch of daisies along the way....delish!

Clover and tall green grass...the best in sheepdom....

Each night we lead them back to the big barn. Until they are a bit larger I feel better with them nearer civilization after dark. It's a cheerful commute each day!

We, along with much of the nation, have been struggling with extreme heat and humidity for the past week. I'm not a fan of this kind of weather and find myself looking to the sky for a glimmer of a rain cloud or even a fresh breeze. So far neither one presents itself. The sheep are bearing up with lots of shade and water, not to mention TLC and pep talks to help them through. I do find spending time with them and giving them a rubdown, ear scratch or a chin rub mellows them immensely during these hot weather patterns.

I am checking out for a few days (again!). I have foot surgery tomorrow morning and will be home and recovering, slowly albeit. I'll be back with an update in a few days or so. Meanwhile I hope you are finding ways to beat the heat!

Greasy winner!

2010-06-28T19:32:00.006-04:00

Beverly wins! And you were all so close. I am impressed.
The actual weight of the sheep coat in full grease was 28 oz. Beverly came closest at 29 ounces. Congratulations! More fun and games to follow.

I just returned Saturday night from a week in Seattle working with Earthues and a small group of natural dyers on some interesting projects. Our group was diverse and incredibly talented and I was honored to be amongst them. We made our own handpainted silk ribbon yarns...

and worked through some basic but stunning dyes on two yummy substrates, did some handpainting on shibori scarves, did overdyeing with woad and spent considerable time on current trend colors and their relationships on fabric and yarn.

As always the Pacific Northwest holds a special beauty and this was one such evening on Puget Sound.

Thank you all for your thoughts on the loss of David Hinman, our sheep shearer and friend. I received the news from Jack while I was in Seattle and I was quite set aback while so far away. Our community is small here and such a loss is profound and personal. Jack was able to attend the memorial service atop a hill on David's land in Acworth. 100's attended and it was a fitting farewell to a both unique and authentic man.

In Memory of David Hinman

2010-06-24T23:04:00.001-04:00

...our shearer and friend suffered a heart attack and died Monday. He has sheared our flock for 10 years.

God speed. We will miss you.

Greasy!

2010-06-18T20:37:00.001-04:00

Phew! It's been four weeks since I returned from France and I am apologetic as all get-out to my loyal readers! I returned in the dark, and I mean dark of the night, from France. I missed my connecting flight from Paris to Boston. I had an hour to connect from my flight into Paris from Toulouse to the flight to Boston but I was in the back of the plane and by the time I got from the gate around the airport on a bus to the right terminal I missed checkpoint security by 5 minutes! So after much hemming, hawing and tears I found a flight into JFK that night with a connector to Boston due in at midnight. I rescheduled my transport from Logan to the farm (hooray for Ken's Transportation in the Southern NH area!!) and arrived back at Long Ridge Farm at 3AM, May 22st. It turned into a full 24 hours of awakeness and I crashed.
Up that morning at 7AM...afterall it was 1PM in France and I was thinking isn't it time for some great food and a splash of wine? After stumbling through that glaring disappointment for a few days (the one where I wasn't in France, eating great food, drinking scrumptious wines and leaning over dyepots or viewing yet another incredible vista) I grappled with my reality and saw my responsibilities looming.
But Luna and Kalie were just happy as could be!

It was time to get the sheep's hooves trimmed, coats changed, de-worming done and some lamb vaccinations, ram lamb castrations, not to mention setting up pasture fencing for summer and a few farm improvements. Here is Lilly, the bottle lamb, having gained 12 pounds in my absence!

And the sheep have moved to pasture....ahhhh.

The baby chicks had leaped forward into young chickhood, the lambs were all chewing cud and boldly moving about further from their moms.

Bianca, our lone adult hen was managing to cover the farm from front steps to the field edges in grand style and overall the farm was bursting forth since my departure to France.
We got the vegetable garden planted with Bianca's help by Memorial Day.

Then two weeks ago an awful spell of weather came through and we had reports of tornado warnings among the thunderstoms rolling through. It was a pretty hot spell and I was delighted to see it go. The weather alerts were pretty ominous so we stayed close to the radio. We got the animals secure in their pastures and barns, tucked in the chickens and waited. It got darker and darker and then the rain came. The weather radio gave us a direction for the storm but it appeared to be headed a bit south of us. And so it was. Averted. But not for Harrisville.

Harrisville, NH is our prior home town and not only holds many fond memories but still many dear friends. I learned that, now what has been coined a microburst, touched down along a route near Wellscroft Farm to Silver Lake to Child's Bog and on to Cabot Rd and Tolman Rd in Nelson.

We took a drive over the next day and saw the force of nature with fury unfurled. Even after 24 hours and 80 trucks and men working many roads were still closed but we did travel along the Nelson Rd to Child's Bog to see one touchtown and back on the Chesham Rd where the destruction was shocking.

Folks endure these storms in all parts of the country but I am always in awe as I stare at the ruins, and think how frightening the moments were before, during and after the fury was inleashed.

Back to chores, as I was washing sheep coats I thought what fun to try your hand at weights and measures! Here I am holding an amazingly greasy sheep coat.

Here's the game:
How much does this coat weigh "in the grease"? Dry and clean this particular coat weighs a mere 8 ounces.

Two part answer: 1) your answer within 1 ounce of the grease weight
2) Share this post with one other blogger and post their blog address along with your answer.

The prize is the Long Ridge Farm Cascadia Mitt kit in Chameleon (green) or Rubia (shown) just released at the spring shows, designed by Jennifer Chase- Rappaport. It's an awesome mitt knit up with my fingering weight Romeldale/mohair yarn.

Game open until 6/27 so spread the word and I'll be posting the winner 6/28! Good luck!

Nanette's last stop

2010-05-20T01:56:00.008-04:00

I am in the Bordeaux region. It is absoulutely stunning country. It is the region I feel most at home in since arriving. Having said that, there have been welcoming villages, inns and people all along the trip. But Bordeaux is to behold! Mile after mile of farmland where it is planting time for many crops. Beautiful stone homes and chateaus dot the hillsides. The population is sparse to the amount of land with small villages that accomodate the residents rather than travelers. It is peaceful and agricultural.

The past two days we have all been learning about Woad (Isatis Tinctoria), the European blue. Woad is a plant, native to Europe and belongs to the family of cabbage, broccolli and rape seed.

It has been my first time dyeing with woad and I must say the blue shades we obtained are spectacular.

We are being wined and dined by Kate Hill at her lovely farm on a river.

There are chickens pecking about with a big handsome rooster.Baby chicks are hatching as well as ducks. Recently Kate aquuired two ewes, about 6 months old now.

For the final fling....who am I learning how to dye Woad with? And what breed of sheep does Kate Hill own?

Previous winners welcome....and thank you for traveling along with me! Back to the states tomorrow. Au revoir!

Where's Nanette now?

2010-05-16T12:34:00.012-04:00

It's been a non-stop trip so far. Our group of seven are veteran travelers, shoppers and full of the desire to learn and try new things!

We spent three full days in Saigon and traveled to Lauris each day to study in the atelier of Michel Garcia, natural dye expert and former president of the Association Couleur Garance, the French natural dye organization. The course was entitled Printing on Fabric with Natural Coulors From Plants. It was absolutely great to work with Michel. He taught us how to achieve a range of colours from one plant material by adjusting the mordant variable on cloth. It was an intensive but we also enjoyed lunch together each day at Michel's favorite eateries. And the French enjoy food and wine! Wine was included as part of every meal where we ate. That is not always the case but Lauris served with style.

Then we travelled by private transfer to a new auberge a bit further south with our wonderful tour guide Marlene. She knows Provence like the back of her hand and as we had some time after we left Michel until our next destination she drove us to Rousillion so we could see the ochre quarry and also do a bit of shopping. We also toured the ochre museum to see how ochres were mined and created. Rousillion is a beautiful village sitting atop a hill. It has narrow streets, beautiful vistas and small shops dotted everywhere.

We have spent the last three days in another area sightseeing both known and less known attractions.

Where's Nanette?

Atop a rocky outcrop crowned with a castle ruins. The Mistral winds are blowing and it was extremely difficult to navigate the rugged terrain with a constant wind speed in excess of 40mph and gusts up to 70mph. What was discovered there which would be of interest to a natural dyer?

One note.....you only have one chance to win during this series. When I return from France I will get in touch with the winners about mailing your token from France!

Where's Nanette?

2010-05-14T01:38:00.007-04:00

Bonjour! I arrived in Paris early Tuesday morning and after a bit of confusion found the gent that would drive me from the airport to the train where I would go to meet up with the rest of my group. However the traffic was a complete logjam and it took far longer than expected. He was very kind and took me into the station which is quite large and got me to the ticket line as I had to cancel and buy a new ticket. Within time I had a new ticket on the marvelous TGV. We departed at 11:15 and I took a seat in the upper level. The TGV quietly travels though the French countryside at about 180mph, I believe! I had lunch in the cafe and listened to music, napped and with a few hours was at my next spot. Here I was supposed to join everyone but they had a glitch also and so I took a cab about 45 minutes to where they were having lunch.

Where's Nanette?

An absolutely beautiful village in the south of France. Within the village was a quarry known for ochre production up until the 1940's. It still serves as a museum and educational center for the history of ochres at this quarry.

Internet communications are a bit of a challenge so bear with me as I travel this incredible journey.

The first person (not privy to my whereabouts) to guess my correct whereabouts will receive a small gift from my travels! Good luck!

Bonne nuit ~ Au revoir

2010-05-09T21:51:00.004-04:00

For the bonne nuit part...I am home from the NH Sheep and Wool Festival and as always it was just a great show. The weather was challenging with driving rains on Saturday, leaky roofs and an overall damp feeling. Today it was dry but a gray sky loomed with a cold wind. However that is the best conditions for us fiber folk who love wool! It may sound like a broken record but I love seeing you all....just the comraderie, hugs, smiles and happy faces work for me! Is this a pair of happy faces or what?

They came down the isle by my booth and I just couldn't resist this baby face, or the Mom! 5 months old and just so happy she was, as was her mom on Mother's Day today.

There were a couple of difficult moments in my building...Josie and Tom had to close yesterday as she was rushed to the hospital with a medical problem and then Lars Garrison's wife, Gail, suffered a heart attack late yesterday and her prognosis is unclear. I spoke with Lars this morning and he was more than concerned for her recovery. Please say a prayer for them all, they are mainstays in the New England fiber community.

As for the Au revoir part....I depart for France tomorrow for a 2 week journey with Earthues and friends working with two French natural dyers along with days of sights relevant to the natural dye world. Very exciting and a once in a lifetime trip!

Because I enjoy your company on my blog and would wish you could take this same trip with me I am doing the best next option....

I will be posting blog entries here and there entitled "Where's Nanette?" I will show a photo and a clue as to where I am. It will be your job to determine where I am in France. The first correct entry posted on the blog post will win a token gift from the area in France I am located.

This is for the fun of it....it will take a few days for me to get settled and of course the internet connection challenge exists. If all else fails I will still post the game on my return. The geography challenge exists! Good luck and be well!

Catch up

2010-05-02T20:37:00.013-04:00

Recapping the past 10 days.....

First, the Ct Sheep and Wool Festival last weekend was a great show as always. We had beautiful weather, not too hot but lots of sun. As I drove home Saturday night I reflected on the day and was happy. It is an incredible amount of work but always the reward is meeting fiber lovers and dear friends, some who I only see a handful of days each year. As always it was great to visit with Kris, Bev, Manise and to meet so many new people as well. There is nothing quite like doing what you love and be able to share it with others.

On the farm front it's calmed down a bit. I settled on the names for the lambs, finally. It takes time to get to know them! So here's Griffin. His name was an instant yes.

He's so cool. He loves everyone and I can scratch his chest and within a few minutes he just lays down and schmoozes. Of course I will have to wether him as I have been way to sweet on him and if he remained an intact ram, I'd have a mess on my hands. But he was slated for a wether from the get go!

And this is Magnolia, Maggie for short, hanging under her mom, Della. Smart little ewe, it was actually sprinkling rain and she knew how to get undercover!

And this is Austin with his mom, Bea! Thank you Sam for the great suggestion. He is such an Austin type. I am not spoiling him as he will be sold and should someone want to keep him for a ram he will be perfect. Strong bodied and handsome.

And then there is Lily. I originally chose Phoenix but she has grown into a Lily. Lily is a town in Georgia so I was delighted to crown her with the name! Here she was at 4 days old, weighing about 7 pounds, right in the swing of bottle feedings.

And a week later she gained 5 pounds and is thrifty as can be! You can see how her belly has rounded out. She is one lovely little ewe, Della loves her just fine and cares for and protects her so it is a blessing all we have to do is provide the food.

It is taking a small toll on our sleep as we get the last bottle to her at 11PM and the first at 5AM, not to mention not being able to leave the farm for more than 4 hours at a time, but that will ease up as she grows and turns to more grain and green grass.

We moved Bianca, the hen, into the barn with the lambing group as we have a new flock of chicks now.

We made her a roost and she actually loves her post. She made a nest in the hay bales and each morning by 8AM she has laid her egg and is off and running for the day. She comes and goes as she pleases. Come night fall we make sure she is in the barn and tucked in with the flock. It was a long winter for her as the lone hen here and I trust in time she'll be happy to have some new hen friends. I have to say, Bianca is unique. She walks with us around the farm and joins us as we work on projects. She is so personable and cool.

The chicks are in the hen house and will learn to come and go from there once they are old enough. Here they are the first day while we got them adjusted. I put a small plate in their box and they all fit on it! A week later they are already showing wing feathers and flitting around their domain.

At the studio color is continually being poured on fibers and I have a great group of four-legged friends to help me! Kalie guards the door on the roadside while Sidney and Luna man the dyepots. Right....

Today we celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary with Faith and Derek here at the farm. A wonderful start to a new year together.

The NH Sheep and Wool Festival is coming up this weekend and I am wrapping up the preparations this week and look forward to being part of this great New England festival! Hope to see you there!

Out and about

2010-04-23T12:22:00.006-04:00

Ewes and lambs joined forces yesterday. No more health concerns and all are happy!

Griffin has a crush on Phoenix.

Griffin is the ram lamb of Memphis and he carries the same clown face Memphis' daughter Charlotte has. So cute!

Here is Bea's boy...still haven't named him. He is awfully cute. Any ideas?

Meanwhile I am headed out shortly as show season kicks off tomorrow in CT at the Tolland Agricultural Center, Vernon Ct. I completed 40#s of custom dye work, part of the work shown here, along with another 20#s to start show season for Long Ridge Farm. It's been a whirlwind month! Perhaps I'll see you at the show. Have a great weekend.

Bing, bang, boom

2010-04-19T13:46:00.015-04:00

Della and Bea kept us busy over the weekend. Della went into labor on Friday and we helped her bring triplet ewe lambs into the world. Regrettably the last lamb was stillborn. We couldn't have saved her. But just imagine one CVM ewe lamb and one Romeldale ewe lamb! Della gave it her all and delivered perfectly. Friday was a rainy cold day and it settled in on Friday night. The little gray ewe was shivery so I put sweater sleeves on them.
The gray ewe weighed in at 6#! Tiny. The white ewe at 10.5#s.The gray ewe was born first but had the biggest fight ahead. On Saturday morning I called the Doc as Della was unable to give any milk out of the right half. Try as we might she would not let down any milk. We felt she needed some extra attention. He came and confirmed our fears that, unbenounced to us, she had an old case of mastitis and her right half was completely scarred and after every effort he found the teat completely scarred over. I bought Della from a farm in Ohio who had bought her from another farm in Ohio who had bought her from a farm in Washington state. I was assured she had no issues but that wasn't the case. This is the risk when purchasing adult sheep from other farms. I had given her an injection in the morning for the infection, the Doc gave a couple more to help her and we put her on an anti-inflammatory. She will continue with injections and anti-inflammatory for the remainder of the week.

The good news is her left half is still intact and giving enough milk for one and a half lambs. The white ewe is much more vigorous than the gray lamb and all of Saturday got the lions share of what Della had to give. We gave each lamb a tube of colostrum Friday night (meaning we run a flexible tube into their mouth and down into their belly and with a plastic syring push the milk down through the tube into the belly)which gives them that first milk from the mother plus assures they are getting enough nutrition but by Saturday poor Della was so weary from her trial she hardly cared if they nursed or not. Saturday night we fed the gray one a bottle, reluctant as she was, and the white ewe was getting enough from Della.

Sunday morning we did early barn check and the little gray ewe was very weak. It doesn't take long in the first few days. So we decided she needed to get on milk replacer immediately and let the white ewe milk out Della. We gave the gray ewe a bottle every 3 hours on Sunday and by evening she was pretty happy again. As of this morning she sees us and sees bottle which equals happiness and comfort. At day three she just stands and takes it down lickety split. Here she is this morning after feeding.

We have an ongoing name theme here of cities and towns in the South. Memphis started the name game and it has been fun all these years. The gray ewe is now known as Phoenix, a gray bird who rose up from the ashes. The white ewe is Magnolia. Bright, light and full of spring!

Here they are this morning. Looking 100% better! Della has improved vastly. She will recover.

I hosted a Carding and Combing for Spinners workshop Saturday, amidst all of this, and at lunch time I decided to take a quick look on the barn cam and saw Bea licking a small lamb in the barn. At first I thought Phoenix must have gotten out (intellectually I knew that wasn't the case!). The surprise was, although she was due, she had shown no signs of getting ready to lamb. Boom, one hour out of the barn and she did it! Welcome a little ram lamb, a single! He weighed in at a whopping 13.5#! Bea is a big ewe, striking really. She is also a daughter of the great old line of Todd, and the granddaughter of Dud, so this ram lamb could prove a winner.

Here they were this morning. Look at how big he is at two days old!

Meanwhile good old Memphis and her ram lamb are eager to meet the new arrivals. I decided on Griffin for his name. State by state, Griffin is in Georgia, Magnolia is in Arkansas and we all know Phoenix! So here is Griffin looking in at Bea and her lamb. Too cute! Come on out, I need a playmate.

I haven't decided on Bea's lambs name yet, he needs to grow just a bit more. If all goes well, Bea and lamb will join Memphis and lamb tomorrow. I suspect Della and babes will stay in the barn a bit longer til they are all strong enough.

The line continues!

2010-04-12T07:34:00.002-04:00

Memphis spent all day yesterday in the silent stage of labor. We watched and waited.

At 9pm her water bag appeared and shortly thereafter a little ram lamb was born. Memphis is the daughter of Todd, a famous old line of CVMs. At first I was sad she bore a ram but then I thought this is good! The Todd line continues with some new genes from Neville (the lamb's sire) mixed in.

He knew just what to do and was on his feet and nursing within minutes. Strong and healthy.

We went to bed at midnight and I went down early this morning to clean up the jug and give Memphis fresh water and some alfalfa treats. All is well. He's just a perfect CVM, dark legs, light body and the badger face (it will develop in time).

Have a cigar!

Waiting, watching and spoiling

2010-04-07T08:40:00.001-04:00

Lambs are due within the week so I spend a fair amount of time coming and going from the barn to spoil the girls. Here is Memphis looking quite pregnant!

Thankfully the lamcam connected to our bedroom TV allows me to keep an eye on them during the overnight without disturbing them or us. It is the best invention for lambing time.

One of the ewes highlights is alfalfa cubes broken up and drizzled with molasses. It's a great source of energy and protein wrapped up in one.

The other highlight is individual massages from head to toe. The ewes just love their shoulders, hips and backbones rubbed. Who doesn't?! Bea's in the moment.

Now it's Memphis' turn....

and Della's turn.

Welcome Kalie!

2010-03-27T10:24:00.007-04:00

We have another new addition, a friend for Luna and a wonderful companion for us human types. Kalie is a Blue Merle Sheltie. Another rescue from Maine. She and Luna are both the same age, this side and that of three. At first, Kalie was so timid I worried for her. Sidney is always a bit of a handful, but they straighted things out quite quickly. She and Luna are really great together, they play well and they share their love with us without too much jealousy! Here was Kalie when she arrived on our first walk. She runs like a gazelle, fast as lightening and so agile compared to Luna who is all heart and a little workhorse.

Of course we introduced Kalie to the sheep right off as the dogs stay with me when I do the chores. She is such a shy bird!

And it really does take time to get used to such a mass of larger animals!

But she has met a few up close and personal, Georgia here, with a kiss! Luna will take this position and lick the sheep's noses.....where is my camera when that happens?

The best part is Luna has a friend she can really play with. She and Sidney did their best although Sid isn't the playing type anymore. Webster, the cat, still plays with Luna but at least he isn't THE man anymore. And well, Bianca, the hen, is really off the hook now...and in a month a new flock of baby chicks arrive to eventually keep Bianca company again when they grow large enough.

And here is Sidney...this afternoon on the deck, getting some of that peace and quiet Ed thought he should have!! You can see some of the lambing group in the background.

If you are looking for a Sheltie and you are willing to try a rescue Holly is the best! You can reach her here. Holly KNOWS Shelties and she has an innate ability at matching dogs with families.

First day of spring!

2010-03-21T10:34:00.005-04:00

Hope springs eternal today! We have been having the most beautiful pattern of dry weather that is so healing for all. The sheep rested in the sun with a nice breeze blowing all day...

I worked on a custom dye order on the deck and got some good work done in the studio. So restorative.

At the end of the day Jack and I sat up on the bench and took in the most beautiful sunset. It was so peaceful to just sit and look across the farm, robins and bluebirds aloft, the dogs playing in the field, simply watching the life around us.

As we sat atop the hill a car drove up the road, stopped, we could see some movement and then they were gone. And in an instant I knew we'd been flocked! Our local school is doing a fund drive and they are moving flocks of flamingos from one house to the next. To move them on, we donated money and passed on the name of the home we'd like them to land next. A clever idea and probably a profitable venture.

I hope your first day of spring was equally as pleasant!

I'm no doctor

2010-03-18T16:48:00.004-04:00

My diagnosis last week of being on the mend was not true!
I wound up with pneumonia and didn't get it diagnosed until yesterday.
After chest x-rays and blood work the verdict was solid. The drugs are
incredibly effective, as in Prednisone and antibiotics. The hard part is laying low because the Prednisone gives energy. Darn steroids!
So I can now say I am on the mend!

Memphis and the lambing girls are all doing great. Growing by the day and we have a lovely stretch of spring weather this week with lots of sun, light breezes and temps in the 60's! Just what the doctor ordered for us!

Memphis and I

2010-03-13T15:50:00.011-05:00

Memphis and I have been under the weather the past few days but seem to have rallied thanks to rest and good medicine. The day after shearing Memphis didn't seem quite right and neither did I. What I thought was just a case of barn dust in my lungs was turning into a whopper of a chest cold. Memphis, on the other hand, would not lie down for most of 36 hours after shearing and that was enough to tip me off. Here she is Wednesday morning, to the right. Not her usual bright self.

The barn cam gives me the option to watch the lambing ewes 24/7. Tuesday I served our town as supervisor of the checklist for voting day and that night I lay in bed, quite miserable, but also watching Memphis feeling the same. Nothing glaring but I could tell she wasn't up to snuff. She was eating and chewing cud so I knew she'd make the night. But in the early morning I called the doc and asked for him to come by. We needed to give vaccinations plus an ultrasound on one ewe in question. I dosed Memphis early Wednesday with some glycol to boost her energy and we waited for the doc to come at 3. I sat in the barn on the floor with the girls and just nodded off, (wishing for my bed) thinking at least we'd all be together in our misery! I think the ewes appreciated my support. At the very least they pretended quite nicely.

By the time the doc arrived Memphis was already brighter and so with a plan of action for her future days in late gestation, we proceeded to vaccinations and the ultrasound. Sadly Charlotte didn't take during breeding. I didn't breed many this year anyway so this was a big disappointment. I still won't rule out it is Charlotte's fault, possible just off cycle. I will try her again next year.

Funny how much space there was between the sheep and the doc! They can reduce down to a small ball of fleece when the vet arrives. As if he won't see them! After he left I treated everyone to some alfalfa cubes and doesn't Memphis look happy.

After serving duties as supervisor of the checklist Wednesday night at town meeting, I spent the following two days under the covers while dear Jack and Katie managed the farm. I awoke today to thoughts of survival and just came back from a visit to the barns and everyone is looking perky, cozy and happy. We are in for some driving wind and rain from the east tonight and tomorrow so the barns are closed up and fielding the blow for the flock.

Click Go the Shears....

2010-03-06T11:39:00.021-05:00

click, click, click This tune is great backdrop while you follow along with the day's events. Just drop it down and open the blog up here
Shearing is done. It was absolutely scrumptious weather for it with lots of sunshine and no wind. We are in a lovely weather pattern this week with temperatures cresting in the 50's during the day and only the 20's overnight.

The shearer, David Hinman, got some ever-wary looks from the flock as he set up.

I was so thankful for the help of Patty and Betsy holding fast at the skirting table.

While Katie managed the broom and trekked the fleeces from the shearer to the skirting table (and romanced Bianca), Jack and I worked the barn, getting each sheep refitted after shearing with fresh coats, a de-worming and a belly full of hay.

David moved through the flock swiftly and we were done within a few hours.

Now the bred ewes are comfortably settled in the lambing barn awaiting their special day...

to warm you up to the sounds of things to come listen
here

Learning to Spin!

2010-03-03T12:45:00.007-05:00

Saturday's Spinning Basics workshop with Patty Blomgren was grand! We all awoke to a very snowy scene in New Hampshire but it made a lovely backdrop for a warm and woolly day to learn to spin!

While students simply treadled at their wheels to get the feel for the motion, Patty gave an overview of spinning history, fibers and their qualities and the mechanics of the wheel. Then she made the rounds as students began making their first skeins.

Learning to use a niddy noddy to wind off their skein...

and after a plying demonstration, everyone spun two more bobbins to then be plyed. Check out Patty's socks with spinning wheels on them!

And lo and behold...plyed yarns!

With the exception of two students, the rest had never set foot to a spinning wheel and within the day everyone had spun and plyed yarns to take home.

For me, the class got me back on track and gave me many tips that I had lost or never learned. For a list of all Long Ridge Farm's workshops visit events. Maybe one will be right for you!