Monday, March 30, 2009

Looking back Sunday -


Looking back only a year ago, March 29 found us in the middle of a huge snow storm, determined to get to Monroe, WA, where we went to Gretchen's Wool Mill to take some of our fleeces for processing.

Gretchen showed us all around her lovely little farm, where she and her husband raise East Fresian Dairy Sheep. They are large, friendly sheep that often have triplets or even more.







Undeterred by the snow, The Shepherd had the back of the truck filled with carefully skirted fleeces.






Here is a picture of Gretchen's magic mill - the bats that she produces are very nice and easy to process for spinning.

And by the time we got back home, the snow was almost gone. We will have more fleeces for Gretchen to wash and card up from this year's shearing. Two are already sold - one for my spinner guild's sheep to shawl next summer and one for the upcoming spring Youth Fair here in the county. One, maybe two he will skirt up and take to Eugene next June and see if we can beat last year's Blue Ribbon with a Best of Show.

3 comments:

Michelle said...

So does the Shepherd do all the skirting? Rick used my "skirting table" to make a gate for the sheepfold, so I need to find something else to use - and fast!

Michelle said...

Tina, come on over to Boulderneigh to pick up an award -- and see LOTS of lamb pix!

Donna said...

Este Blog investe e acredita na... PROXIMIDADE!


I received this award from Michelle:
"I received this award from two dear blogpals, first MiniKat and then Sharon. I wasn't going to post about it, since it's given to blogs that "invest and believe in the PROXIMITY- nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!” See that little line, "not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement"? How do you accept an award without appearing interested in self-aggrandizement? But when it came my way a second time, it seemed rude to ignore the kind gestures of these two ladies, and not pass the award on to eight others. When I looked through the list of blogs I follow, I realized I've had the fun of meeting nine of them (not counting my sister, neighbor, and the proprietors of two local yarn shops). So although this award is not necessarily for those with whom one has shared a physical proximity, these bloggers fit the other descriptions, too. Tina, Allena, Karla, Franna, Tammy, Donna, Lois, Shannon, and Tammy - consider yourselves awarded!"

So in considering this, I chose 6 bloggers that have relative proximity in relationships and in physical location who have charming blogs. (There are two repeats from the above.) They are:
Al
Dave
Tina
Denise
Franna
Ondra