The Shepherd at work

The Shepherd has been working on skirting fleeces to take to Gretchen's Wool Mill on Saturday. He has this Shetland fleece from a couple of years ago and has another from this year. We also have a couple of #1 alpaca fleeces (that is the neck wool I guess) to take down to be processed and/or blended with the Shetland.




He was very sweet and offered to skirt the Icelandic fleece that I got from our friend Nancy. It is the fleece from Lila, who we brought over to keep Violet company while she was getting used to our flock. Icelandic fleeces are definitely a "different animal" from the Shetlands - they are double coated - and we not sure if this one is "cotted" (kind of like matted, or felted right on the sheep) or if this is how an Icelandic fleece really is. I guess we'll find out when Gretchen looks at it.




As you can see, the long staples are a good 8 or 9 inches long, and the shorter stuff, well, it's shorter.... I'm not inclined to separate it, so hopefully Gretchen will be able to work a little bit of magic on this one. I'm keeping my finger's crossed.

One of the alpaca fleeces is almost a complete match for color on the undercoat - Anyone have any comments on blending alpaca with Icelandic?



Tonight I gave my new swift a work out - I had the final 100 yards of yarn for the sweater that our friend is going to knit for The Shepherd plus about 100 yards to sell to my co-worker and I balled up the Possum/Wool that Kathy sent me earlier this month. That Targhee top I got last weekend - spins like a dream on my new wheel - but I love spinning targhee anyhow. I'll take a picture when I get it all finished - it will be going towards a set of wrist warmers and hat for my church auction, plus I promised them I'd donate a couple of skeins of handspun yarn. Looks like I have my work cut out for me, huh?

Gretchen's Fiber Frolic

On April 25, we celebrated our anniversary by taking a drive down I-5 to Monroe to go to the Spring Fiber Frolic at Gretchen's Wool Mill and Quiet Waters Farm.

True to form - there were lambs frolicking in the pastures - coming down to see who was there.

After being used to our itty bitty Shetland lambs - these guys are huge! But very cute!





2009 is the United Nations International Year of Natural Fibers - and one event that is happening is the World's longest scarf competition. Check out the "Keep The Fleece" icon on my sidebar - and read all about it. I really want to put a team together - the event will benefit the Heifer Project - (you couldn't find a more worthy beneficiary)






There were about 8 or 10 people spinning and many looking on - there was much talk about which wheel was best - and much buzz about our friend Doug's litttle pocket wheel.

Sometimes I think I'd like a new wheel - at least one that was easier to carry around than my Ashford Standard.


























And the most exciting thing of the day for me was getting to meet Meg Gregory from The Black Sheep Creamery. What a lovely and sweet woman. And if you get a chance to try their soft cheeses, don't pass it up. They are delish.









A friend of Gretchen's was there with this interesting great wheel - it was like having a wheel and a drop spindle mixed into one.

I also want to let you know that I restrained myself and did NOT buy any fiber - but there was lots to look at.

A good time was had by all.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Here's to another 15 years of peaceful co-existence.

We celebrated with a dinner of leftovers and fresh baked rhubarb pie.

Saturday we'll go on a trek, ending up at Gretchen's Wool Mill Spring Fiber Frolic and Spin-In. Should be a fun afternoon.

Happy Anniversary Sweetie.

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.

Yes sir, yes sir, FIVE bags full!

Do you remember our road trip at the end of March to Gretchen's Wool Mill? We took seven fleeces - four from this year and three from last down for processing. True to her word, she called last week - in just a month, our fleeces were ready to pick up!





Luckily the weather was much better this time around - heavy rain in spots, but no rain at all once we got to Gretchen's place. Finished fleeces were inspected and duly loaded into the truck for the ride home.

Here they are - five bags full - (Anna Dee's & Regina's were combined)

All nicely wrapped in paper - this is Susie's from last year.

Click on the pictures to biggify so you can see the beautiful fibers!

I get to choose between Susie's fleece from last year and Gwennie's from this year - The Shepherd wants to have the other three made into sweater vests for himself. The one I don't choose will be our first offering for sale on the Washington Wool dot Net website!

No snow, yet...

Just grey and rainy and COLD - but, not as cold as it is in other places, and not as rainy as it is in other places. Guess "grey" will have to be our claim to fame.

Church newsletter is almost done, so I'll have more time soon. We're going to Monroe on Saturday to take some fleeces to Gretchen's Wool Mill . I "met" Gretchen last December from her email about the Black Sheep Creamery in Lewis County being flooded. She has also become our first new farm member of Washington Wool Dot Net. I'm hoping that she'll let me take lots of pictures to show you!

Well, the newsletter is calling my name - I have to have it at the printer's at 8:30 in the a.m. - Catch you later!