The Auction - Part Two

Where to start - I guess with the first event - the floods of December in Lewis county Washington - devastating many small farms & businesses in the area. Our NW Shetland Sheep Owners group decided that we needed to help - specifically the The Black Sheep Creamery who was hit very hard and lost a good percentage of their flock of milking sheep.

So we put on an on-line auction. I must admit that Franna did a lion's share of the work - she offered up her web page to host and kept all the records of who was bidding and who was donating. What a teriffic job she did, and now, we're at it again! There is still a great need for assistance and there have been lots of fantastic people - spinners, knitters, fiber types of all kind, who have come out of the woodwork to donate - so we're having The Auction, Part Two!

This also launches our new Washington Wool website - a co-op / marketplace for Washington shepherds. Keep an eye on it - great things will be happening!

So, CLICK HERE and join the fun - you might just find the fiber for that next project you've been thinking about!





"Those Shetland Shepherds, aren't they just the nicest lot?"

"And they've got great friends, too!"

T'was the night AFTER Christmas

...and all through the house, The Shepherd is happily watching football games & here I sit, on the computer. A few words for you all then I have to get cracking on my church's newsletter, of which I am "The Editor" - which mostly means I nag at people until they get their articles to me, and try to find other news-worthy items that I think might be of interest to our church members.

But first - check it out - look what Santa brought our friend Yvonne!! These two cute little critters are CVM babies.(short for California Varigated Mutant - sounds like some sort of strange nasturcium don't you think?) I love the little brown spot on the backside of the one on the left - They were born on the 20th and joined this fellow - the birth weight of the CVM lambs is almost triple that of the birth weight of a Shetland lamb - so these little ones look half grown to us!









Yvonne was telling The Shepherd about the fact that her "teenage girls" (the yearling ewes behind the mom in the picture above) were having a pretty hard time with everyone fawning over the new rug rats - since before THEY had been the centers of attention. Yvonne had one of her friends come over and, instead of going to the babies first, talked to the older girls and told them how beautiful they were what good aunties they were being. Problem solved - things settled right down. A sheep whisperer - who'd a thought?

Yvonne is a very talented spinner, weaver, & knitter - I met her at the Skagit Highland Games in 2006, when our spinner's guild did a Sheep to Shawl using one of our Shetland fleeces. Then less than a week later, I saw the name "Yvonne" as a commenter on a blog I had just begun to read on a regular basis - Leigh's Fiber Journal and I'll be darned if it wasn't one and the same. (Leigh is a very talented spinner, weaver, knitter too, so it shouldn't have surprised me that they would "know" each other in the blogosphere - I love reading her blog and have learned tons from it - I just find it funny that two people from Bellingham separately knowing another blogger from a whole 'nother part of the country.) Anyhow, I digress.......

Anyhow - Congratulations to Yvonne and her hubby Doug who are not only learning to be shepherds, but, because they want to move their barn, they are learning to be land use consultants too!

On another note - I get a very sweet note of thanks from Meg Gregory at Black Sheep Creamery. I had sent a donation to her directly through our friends Kim & Doug who are caring for the remaining sheep in their flock.

Reading her blog on their website (click on "Musings") is somewhat of a teary adventure. The stories of their flood clean-up rip at your heart, but reading of the generosity of the folks who have come down to their farm to help them clean up and rebuild, mends those rips. Understandably, they have a long way to go. I hope that the money our NW Shetland Sheep Owners raised from our auction helps them a little - and that it helps them to know that other "sheep people" are holding them in their hearts and prayers as well.

Thank you, Karen Jo

Thank you to Karen Jo of Kitty Limericks for the beautiful gold rose. She awarded it to me for the posts that I did to raise awareness of the recent losses from the early December flooding in Lewis County, WA.

It is still unimaginable to me - the losses that so many incurred from this flood. In areas that had never flooded before - even in the "hundred year flood" area - carefully tended flocks of sheep, herds of dairy cattle - years of genetic planning & hard work - destroyed in such a short amount of time.

Tragedies sometimes bring out the good in people. Our local radio station raised over $17,000 for the Red Cross - earmarked for the flood area. The Washington State Farm Bureau's disaster fund exceeded $50,000 - monies that have been given directly to farmers - (members of thw WSFB or not) - dairy, sheep, nursreymen, organic food growers - to help them get their feet back on the ground. Our NW Shetland Sheep Owners auction raised over $4500 for the Black Sheep Creamery - the generosity of the "fiber folks" overwhelming the computer server where the auction was hosted. We hope that everyone will stay tuned for "Auction - Part Two" to benefit another shepherd in the Adna area who lost his flock.

One of our members of the NWSSO group Franna did the huge job of hosting the auction and then keeping the donations and the bids sorted out. Thank you Franna!

And I would like to recognize my friend Leigh, and her kitties, Rascal and CatZee who were wonderful to publicize our auction - because as Rascal said "there are so many Cat Blogosphere humans who love to play with sticks and yarn. " They certainly deserve a bouquet of golden roses for their help.

So, as Joni Mitchell says in her song "River"

It's coming on Christmas

They're cutting down trees

They're putting up reindeer

And singing songs of joy and peace

Christmas Blessings to you and your family. Thanks so much for stopping in to visit and read my blog - yesterday I had my 5000th visitor - I wonder, sometimes, because I see that you have visited - and that you keep coming back - so, I guess I'll keep on telling you my stories.

Have a good one, and stay safe!

Additional flood victims have no voice...

The most recent figures tally the losses from the flooding at $165 million to date. Among the victims of the recent flooding in Lewis county are the household pets of those displaced by the floods. Many were simply washed away in the torents of water that went through the area, but the (Lewis County) Chronicle reported last week:

"A statement from the Friends of the Lewis County Animal Shelter this morning said donations and supplies are needed for displaced animals, which are filling up the county's shelter on Centralia-Alpha Road. The statement says:

The Lewis County Animal Shelter is full and supplies are running low. Many displaced animals have no other place to go until their owners can reclaim them. Dog and cat food, cat litter, bleach, cleaning supplies and monetary donations are needed. We are coordinating with Red Cross and United Way to get pet food to pet owners who need it.

Supplies may be dropped off at the Lewis County Animal Shelter at 560 Centralia-Alpha Road in Chehalis (360-740-1290) or at Kaija's at 623 NW State Ave. in Chehalis (360)748-4221.

Monetary donations may be made at any Security State Bank, online at www.folcas.org or mailed to FOLCAS at PO Box 1421, Chehalis, WA 98532.Friends of the Lewis County Animal Shelter (folcas) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible."

Most animal shelters are on a pretty skinny budget to begin with, however the impact that a disaster such as this is huge and uses resources that were previously planned for other uses. If you've been thinking of donating and haven't yet, this is a worthy recipient. Thanks.

An Update and An Online Auction

Here is the latest update I received from Gretchen Wilson about the Black Sheep Creamery Flood situation. Then, please go to the end of her message to read about the On-Line auction that is being sponsored by the Northwest Shetland Sheep Owners!

"Great Thanks to ALL of you for the overwhelming support you have shown the Gregory family during this ongoing time of crisis.

One of my favorite verses is "Let us not grow weary of doing good". I confess that I have been a little weary of phone calls and emails lately--but as I talked with Brad on the phone today, I heard what true weariness sounds like. The volunteers are dwindling, the mess is still overwhelming. The decisions never stop coming.

For those who want to help, they still need LOTS of it. The rental house they own still has wet insulation needing pulling, there is still much to be done in that house as soon as possible before the mold overwhelms it.. Lots of sheds, fences, buildings are yet to clear as well.

Meg is doing a great daily update on their wesbite's "musings" page. www.blacksheepcreamery.com I encourage you to read it.

If you can go there and help they are happy to have you.
Take I-5 south to Chehalis. At the 2nd Chehalis exit take hiway 6 west. Follow it for about 8 miles to Adna. At Adna, turn right onto Bunker Creek Rd. Follow this for about 2 miles to their farm on the left. Big hiproof barn and tall old white farm house. 345 Bunker Cr Rd.

If you want to ask Brad of specific things to bring you can call him on his cell at 360-520-3397. Otherwise bring your lunch, change of clothes, muck boots, work gloves, surgical gloves as liners, warm clothes you can get filthy,basic tools, shovel. Try to keep your calls at night. Email and calls are welcome but realize Meg and Brad don't have a lot of time for communicating right now.

If you go, maybe bringing a soup pot for lots of people would be a nice way to help.

For those who wish to donate money to the Gregories:
We have spent much time trying to set up an assitance fund and it seems the simplest way to get money to them is to just send it to them!!
The website and paypal options all cost money, the banks have lots of legal rules about assistance funds.
SO-- please do help them financially if you wish to.

Below is a partial list of costs of things they will need in the next year as they rebuild.
Shipping for donated ewes: $500.00
Milk: $2000.00 per pallet; $1.00 per pound
Hay:$12.00 per bale
Grain:$10.00 bag
Ewes:$300.00 each
This is just a beginning of things to replace. There will be much, much more. Plus living expenses.

To Send a check to the Gregories:
Make checks out to Brad or Meg Gregory
Mail to:
Black Sheep Creamery
PO 293
Adna, WA 98522-0293

For those who wish to give a gift certificate at a feed store:
There is a feed store in Chehalis called "The Farm Store" and also a "Del's".

Thanks especially to the MANY of you who have offered stock. Brad is taking one offer of some ewes soon, since the donor needed to send them soon.
BUT--for the most part they really don't know how fast things will come together at the farm. The fields all have up to a foot of silt; and no one knows when the grass will be useable. It seems they will have room for most of the donated stock in the summer. So for most of you who have offered spring ewe lambs that should work out well. Brad will be in touch with you this winter. God Bless you all and Merry Christmas!!
Gretchen Wilson rgpwilson@skyvalley.net"

Our Northwest Shetland Sheep Owners Association has put together an On-Line Auction to benefit the Gregories. Many thanks to Franna from EverRanch in Auburn, WA for all her hard work in putting this together!

The web site for the auction is here:

Black Sheep Creamery Benefit Auction

Check it out - you never know what you might find, and it's for a great cause.

Flood update -

A friend sent me these three pictures from the recent floods in Lewis county (These pictures were taken in Chehalis - Centralia Washington area) - Interstate 5 was closed down for several days. (it has since re-opened)











They showed one area on TV where the jersey barriers between the lanes had been strewed about like some child's toys. Those things weigh 4000 pounds a piece!







I think this is the airport - the Walmart looked like this as well. My sister said that they had just opened a new Walgreens Pharmacy - it had 6" of water throughout. Pretty amazing.

I emailed Gretchen Wilson of Gretchen's Woll Mill last night about how to get aid to the people at the Black Sheep Creamery. Her response is as follows:



"Thanks Tina -I have fielded about 100 emails a day and 30 calls a day since I sent that email to close friends and dairy sheep folks. It continues to go people I have never heard of, and of course is old news now.
I wrote it Tuesday. Since then I have sent out updates but those don't seem to be making the rounds! I have not had time to see Meg's musings but I know they did get the computer up finally and she got to the website. Good thing.
Please stay tuned there for updates- and please pass this one on to your group.
MANY thanks to the folks housing their ewes!

I have not spoken with Brad for a couple days but know they are getting lots of help. A Heifer International Volunteer group went from Seattle today. MANY replacment sheep have been offered from around the country. Beechers was sending truck and crew to resuce the cheeses. Keep praying for Meg and Brad and kids, as the adrenalin will wear off by first of the week and exhaustion will set in.
Money is a good thing. the best at this point I think.
We are setting up an Assistance Fund with website and paypal options. There will hopefully be a link from their website. But I will also send you the info when we get it up on Tuesday.
If folks want to send a check sooner they can mail it to me:
Gretchen Wilson
28014 120th ST SE
Monroe WA 98272. Make the check to Black Sheep Creamery and I will get them all to Brad.
The mail is still pretty messed up down there.
Thanks so much!! God Bless- Gretchen"

I did find out that their surving sheep are currently being cared for by Kim & Doug at Mt. Niche Farms in Chehalis - Kim said that they were doing well and the three injured ones were improving.

More information can be found on http://www.chronline.com/ (the local newspaper on line)