Happy Holy Days

A whirlwind autumn gave way to winter last week. A visit from mom for Thanksgiving, record low temps in early December( negative 35), a new job, Advent, and more have filled our days to bursting.
We have been blessed with a traintrip to the North Pole with the grandkids, good theatre, music and hard work. Advent was white here and so is Christmas. Weather has varied from near +60 to negative 40 in the past few weeks. Must be Montana!
The sheep do well in this weather with their full winter woolies on. The horses have done very well also in spite of amazing white eyelashes and hoarfrost faces during "the negatives". I hope to get time for spinning and weaving now that the Holidays are fading. God's  blessings to all during this season of quiet.


Hoarfrost Harvy-negative 35

Wearin' woolies to the North Pole



Fiber-like icecrystals on the grass



shoveling for the sheep

Bridget The Ever-Milker

     "Tuffy"; Uber-Milker; "Our Lady of Perpetual Lactation"........

These are a few of the nicknames Bridget earned over the past 10 years with us.

Bridget was born at our Washington place in '03, on St Patrick's day.
She earned the name of our favorite Irish Saint, Bridget, who is patron of dairies and shepherdesses.
Bridget was the first lamb of Venus and Hank--our black ram, and first foray into natural colored dairy sheep.
Venus decided to reject her little black lamb. We raised the darling, black Bridget in the house, in diapers. She enjoyed old Marx brother's movies, the cats, the kitchen, the couch....you name it.  She made the most of her hard beginning!!
Bridget's first lamb was a premie and born dead. Another set-back.
Learning to get on the milk-stand was a trauma as Bridget seemed inclined to slip off....but she perserveared (and so did we) as she was an excellent milker.


Soon, the first commercial sheep dairy in Washington state, Black Sheep Creamery, was started by our friends, Meg and Brad Gregory. A jaunty drawing of Bridget became their logo. 
Bridget's next lambs were a set of 3 black  beauties.

The next year's lambing, she endured a bad bout with ketosis requiring 2 vet visits and expert lamb pulling. Triplets again. But.....as the vet said.... "she's a Tuffy".
Another set of lambs the following year and her abundant udder lost its ligature pinning and became pendulous. We decided against breeding her again.
This is when her career as "uber-milker" began.
We tried in vain to dry her off that fall. She kept making milk--enough that we could not ignore it.
Next spring she upped her production to match the ewes who had lambed. Amazing! Rob says, "Her "on switch" just got stuck!"

For the following 6 years she continued to lactate whether we wanted her to or not.
We became accustomed to, and grateful for her fresh creamy milk in the winters, when all else were dry.
We thought, surely moving her to Montana would "shut off the switch". But no.
As the oldest sheep we moved, we worried about her making climate transition and the trip. She did go down in the trailer part way here. We were unsure whether she'd make it.
But "Tuffy Bridget" sprang up and out of the trailer as soon as the door opened. She endured the first Montana winter in the drafty rented cow barn and came into glorious milk on the lush green grass here over the past 2 summers.
But, this fall Bridget lost condition rapidly in spite of our various attempts to keep her well. We knew she should not face another winter.
So did she. Two days ago she stopped eating, and the fight was gone from her eyes. It was time for her to leave us.
We will certainly miss her fresh winter milk. And her silvery fleeces. And her "flock-boss" presence in the barn.
Over 10 years of life, and 7 of it in continuous milk production, Bridget gave us 100's of pounds of milk and cheese and dozens of lbs of lovely wool.
It is fitting that the likeness of this "Ever Milker Ewe", who gave so very much to us, should grace countless sheep milk products from Black Sheep Creamery.
Rest in Peace Bridget

Winter Woolies

 Our first snow fell last week. Rob was pictured on the front page of the Great Falls Tribune carrying the mail in the 7 inches that fell that day there. He was wearing wool socks and long underwear top to bottom. A pet peeve of ours is that the US Postal Service does not have ANY wool clothing available from their official  uniform suppliers. And the 1000's of USPS employees are required to wear official uniforms ---at least on the outside! Wool outperforms synthetics in average conditions, let alone extreme ones! Synthetics get colder when they are wet; they do not breath when a person in sub-freezing temps works up a sweat; they chafe skin to an unbearable degree when wet or cold. Wouldn't it be great if our USPS supported US wool producers AND kept their employees better equipped? Ok......Enough of the "peeves".

**If you need handspun yarns for your holiday projects check out my sale pages. I have new yarn blends all the time, or can custom spin for you.
I have 2 pretty new rovings for you spinners.
And cute sheepy tree ornaments which also make good nativity scene figures.

The term "smallholding" is used in England to describe small farms. In this land of really BIG holdings--like our friends who farm many 1000's of acres--"small holding" seems to fit what we do on our modest 4 acres.
SO on our smallholding, we have been winterizing for weeks. We made the final "animal addition" to our place with the arrival of our new ram-lamb from Tucker Family Farms in Victor MT. Tyler Tucker's uncle, who lives near us, found the time to haul our sweet ewe lamb, Twinkie, over the Rockies on the 4 hour trip to Victor. He then brought home our new little ram, affectionately named, Tucker.  Tyler and his wife have been busy developing their organic, self-contained farm....and having their first baby! So life there has been hectic. We are grateful to know this delightful family! Other activities here include reducing the animal census, drying off the milkers, setting up heated watertanks and heat lamps, worming, hoof-trimming etc. I even got a new snowshovel!

The Montana Farmer's Union conference was a happy success! Five MT wool businesses showcased their products in a booth we organized. Area spinning guild members staffed the colorful booth and delighted people with their spinning and weaving skills. Our grandson, Toby, helped me set up the Fiber Market as well as my Heifer International booth.


As you do your Holiday shopping, Heifer International offers a unique approach to gift-giving which you may enjoy. They seek to end world hunger through gifts of agricultural development, so people in various parts of the world can become self-reliant. Check out their website at www.heifer.org  for "honor gifts" of animals, trees, water and more.

Blessings on your Thanksgiving!

Local Fiber Market

Oct. 18-19, is the Montana Farmer's Union annual conference in Great Falls. It is at the Heritage Inn.
Last year I did a lecture and trade booth for Heifer International at this event. It was an exhilarating experience, and I met many great people.


Beaverslide DryGoods

I love the mission of the  Montana Farmer's Union as it supports smaller and working family farms. They have been doing this for 92 years and counting in myriad ways. MFU's commitment to global family farmers is carried on through their  association in the National and International Farmers Unions as well.
This year the conference is focusing on Local Food and Fiber Farming.
There will be a Local Fiber MarketPlace in the trade show with fabulous yarns, rovings felts, mattress toppers, comforters, pillows and other great fiber products!
All from local ranches and wool mills.
Everyone is invited to shop the trade show from 10-5 each day.
Spinners are invited to bring their wheels for the Spinner"s Circle available daily.

Here is a sample of the products and info available:
13 Mile Wool Mill;  Bozeman: Natural dyed, and blended yarns, felts and rovings.
Beaverslide DryGoods; Dupuyer: Merino, mulespun custom-dyed yarns, rovings
Sugarloaf Wool Mill; Hall: Pillows; felts
A Land of Grass Ranch; Conrad: comforters, mattress toppers, rovings
Wilson Woolens; Highwood: Handspun blends, Freisian rovings





A Land of Grass Ranch-local wool on the hoof!



13 Mile Mill Yarns

Harvest Time Hats

When not wearing my "wooly hat", I am also known locally as Gretchen the Gardener. I earned this title not because I am a great gardener....but because I corral the Highwood Afterschool Garden Club. In spring, the students and I plant early greens in the school greenhouse for school lunches while we  get the big garden started. During summer I keep the school garden alive and weeded. Now it is


Highwood School Garden

harvest time!! The local farm families are just finishing their harvest of wheat, peas, mustards, barley and more. Now the school garden kids gear up for tons of tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, cukes and more! The school cooks use it all in the students' lunch program bringing fresh veggies front and center in Highwood school. Seven lbs of cherry tomatoes were consumed the first day of school as snacks! Recent studies show that when kids grow their own food......they make better choices at the table. When I see 1st graders vying for the biggest carrot or grabbing bunches of salad greens like hungry horses....I believe those studies!!
The "Harvest Hat" also extends to our Montana Woolies. I JUST got our over-dyed, natural color, Friesian roving from Sugar Loaf Wool Mill! It looks superb.
For a "totally Montana" and totally unique spinning or felting experience, be sure to order some Luscious Plum or Crazy Cranberry roving. See the sales page for prices.


Crazy Cranberry Friesian Wool Roving

Another "hat" I wear is a "Horsey Hat". We just added another horse for the winter. Harvey, one of my mom's Morgans, needed winter digs and he arrived last week. MANY thanks to Lynda Henning of GF for her help hauling him! He and our Morgan gelding, Tanner, are VERY happy for each other's company.

Great Falls Farmers Market- there are 4 weeks left in the market on Saturday mornings. It is at its very best right now! THE best selection of local veggies and goods are available in September. If you came earlier and were looking for more--NOW is the time to come back!
I will be there selling rovings, yarn and other wool goods for most of the next 4 weeks at a Land of Grass Ranch. Right near Faster Basset.
Blogwatch: Be sure to check out these blogs!
Life in an Island Monastery;
Prairie Heritage Farm;
Peter and Molly's Music.



Happy Highwood Gardeners



Peter and Molly play Concert on the Lawn in Great Falls



Summer Woolies

Yikes! Summer is flying by!
I have enjoyed spinning at the Great Falls Farmers Market with Lisa Schmidt of A Land of Grass Ranch. Lisa and her family raise grassfed lamb and beef in Conrad. She recently sent her Targhee wool to Zeilinger's Mill for duvets and mattress toppers.
Selling wool on a 95 degree day CAN be a challenge! But..... my wool comforter is the "game-changer" for sleepless summer nights in my bed! It wicks away sweat and keeps my body temperature regulated all night. And it is light as a feather.
We take our wool pillows with us when we travel--they make sleep in a different bed possible as they fit our heads just right and keep us comfortable in many ways.
So....I can always sell wool. It is a miracle fiber!
I have sold out my sheepskin rugs at the market but still have my handspun available as well as felt goods.I hope to be there most weeks until market's close in late September.
Last week,  we had a week of unsettled thunder storm activity. But Saturday morning sparkled. However, dark clouds gathered about 11 AM growing intense. We started pulling the wool goods under the tent. As soon as the Market-ending horn blasted at noon-- the clouds burst a little deluge which cleared out the lingers and got the vendors packed in a jiffy!
We entered 3 of our best fleeces in the hand-spinning department of the Montana State fair in Great Falls. We took 3 blues, and sold the 2 natural color fleeces there.
That, coupled with market fleece sales almost cleans out the 2013 fleeces.
Left for sale is a gorgeous white lustrous fleece from our former ram, Cooper. His fleece won best luster-long-wool last year at the Trailing of the Sheep festival in Idaho. This year's fleece from Cooper looks just as nice. See the sales page for photos.
I recently enjoyed using my extractor from our former  Washington wool mill as I cleaned and dyed 2 fleeces here at home. I love dying the fleeces while washing as colors go interesting directions in the process.  A silver grey fleece from Bridget turned out a luscious purple when over-dyed. Those fleeces went to Sugarloaf Mill in Hall for roving.
Stay tuned for lovely Freisian rovings for sale!

Home again

It seems a LONG time since we got home from our whirlwind coastal vacation....but its only been 10 days!
We had a great time seeing many family members and friends in our old hometown of Sultan Washington.
Time in the San Juans at our monastery was precious.
In Seattle we visited with friend, Aimee Robinson of EcoBalanza Artisan Furniture. Aimee showed us and our grandson a great Seattle day  and we hope to help her find a new wool processor.
Her furniture business is thriving which is a huge blessing!.

We really enjoyed meeting Tyler Tucker on his new farm in Victor, MT and seeing our new ram lamb.We also really enjoyed seeing the Sugarloaf Wool Mill in Hall, MT.

Since home, we have worked to get the place back in shape. Though, our caretakers did a fab job with the animals!
Best gift was a local family who weeded the school garden for me! 2 weeks worth of June weeds would have been a jungle!
 Last week a friend's brother used our sheep barn to test a new ammonia control product for home use. With ammonia/ph control the flies and bacteria go down as well. We will continue testing the product.
I had a visit from good friend Lisa Schmidt of Land of Grass Ranch and taught her more about skirting a fleece for show entry. Her Targhee fleece was fine and lovely.
I hope to be in her stall spinning at the Great Falls Farmers' Market in mid-July.
 Happy summer--remember to buy local produce!!
And in fiber arts--support your local shepherd!

at the Monastery farm

Mother Prioress with Rob and Salem

On the ferry!

Tyler Tucker, Tucker Family farm, in Victor
Pastured lamb and pork!!

Sugarloaf Wool Mill BIG carder!

Going Coastal

Last time we vacationed in June I said I'd never do it again!  But.........here I am trying to wean a bummer lamb, prep the school garden in deluge rains, fend off floody fields and accompanying mosquitos etc. etc.  Rob is weed-eating like mad to keep the hotwire working--our first line of predator defense!
We head for Sultan Washington and points West soon on a family vacation.  Our wonderful neighbors in Highwood will look after all our creatures.We plan to see friends and family in our hometown of 30 years.  And catch a nice play in Seattle for our 32nd wedding anniversary.
We will meet up with Peter and Molly and their kids on Shaw Island for time with our Benedictine community at Our Lady of the Rock Monastery. Plus just  enjoy some slow "island-time".

YAY!

Well it seems I conquered some of my blog design issues! YAY!
Check out my sale items on the for sale page. Thanks for stopping!

new blogger

I am trying to get a blog going and have struggled with the template and using my own photos.
So--I hope this works.
 I have a few wooly items for sale including raw Freisian sheep fleeces, handspun yarn and felted items.
We recently did a Heritage Field Day for 3 local schools with a "Ewe to You" theme.
See some photos below.
And we enjoyed a visit from my parents who were good listeners for their "great grands".
Today is the Feast of the Visitation when Mary visited Elizabeth.
Great scriptures and meditations.
ttfn~ Gretchen