Early Spring

Montana Aerie Ranch

Sean and new freinds at MT Aerie

February has flown past and march came in like a lamb. With lots of lambs as well for many sheepy freinds! We recently enjoyed taking the Highwood sheep 4-H kids for a lambtour of Montana Aerie Ranch in Great Falls. MT Aerie raises purebred show animals in Columbia, Border Liecester, Ramboulliette and Natural Color versions on the latter  two. With 400 lambs in the ground they were 70% done with lambing. We enjoyed the various lambs and delighted to see all the breeds mixed together for good a education in breed characteristics. Shepherd Brian Hart showed us how the wool compacter works and answered many questions about care and handling. Then we went to the lower property to see "the Big boys"! The mature rams in some of these breeds weighed nearly 500 lbs and stood taller than me at the topknot! I worried over the smaller breed rams being bullied by the bigger rams....."No maam." explained Shepherd Brian,"... the small rams get the bigger ones in a corner and place their heads squarley in the larger animals gut...repeatedly! They are all well matched."

Montana Aerie

Dinah gets a haircut

Soon after our lambtour we hauled our ewes down the road to our neighbor's place to meet the shearer. A good freind came to shear their small flock of Columbias and Targhees. Shearing in their centuryold barn brought scenes which could have taken place  many years ago and renewed our bonds with this ancient art form.

Watch my sale page and etsy page for new raw fleeces or CSA's as soon as I get them skirted!

shearing in highwood

I recently enjoyed making cheese with the 2nd grade class of Highwood school and look forward to upcoming Fiber workshops during their Art Week in April. We are planning a nuno scarf for the older kids and felt soap balls for the younger.

A new customer recently is another etsy vendor Lisa Hey. Lisa's felt scuptures are unique and exotic. Check her out on etsy at ursasuzanne.

Lisa Hey's felt creations can be found on etsy-
I cannot wait to see what Dinah's fleece becomes!!

MT Aerie guard dog

Happy Lamb Sightings!

New Year's Baby

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

some winter lambs at church

Clare the new "lambie in the fold"

Our fall was spent preparing for the advent of our newest grandaughter, Clare Felicity Wilson. Clare came on January 2 after much anticipation. She is healthy and lovely. Molly and Peter are relieved and grateful. We look forward to watching yet another "lamb in the fold" grow and thrive.







We have enjoyed a relatively mild winter here in central Montana. However, deep snow has kept the ewes barn-bound much of the time. We enjoy the extra barn space a smaller sheep population affords this time of year. No mucky stalls keep the bedding costs down and fleeces as clean as possible.

Our shearer should be coming in March for nice fleeces. Everyone's fleeces look very good this year; no breaks or stresses and minimal VM. Be sure to watch here or on my Etsy page for raw fleeces.

MILL NEWS

Lydia Christiansen

We enjoyed touring a newer mill in WA state last summer: Abundant Earth Fiber owned by Lydia Christiansen. Abundant Earth Mill is on Whidbey Island--an enchanted place. Lydia gave us a wonderful tour on short notice. What a delight!! Her mill employs a few people in a sustainable operation featuring full washing carding blending and spinning services.

Abundant Earth Fiber

After running into old freinds Barb Seeler and her hubby  in her receiving-room, the door opened on a wonderland of wool, whirring machines, yarns and dyestuffs. The smell of wet wool  immediatly caught my senses  and made me smile. We especially enjoyed watching the roving spooling off the pin drafter into huge rounds. Her spinning frame is amazing. And seeing a room full of drying skeins and lavender made my day. Check out her excellent webiste and consider Abundant Earth Mill for your carding-spinning needs.

Closer to home, Going to the Sun Fiber Mill in Kalsipell MT recently purchased a dear old freind. "Olga the carder", my previous commercial carding partner, sits wrapped in plastic waiting for spring  and final installation in Diana Blair's operation. I have dealt with Going to the Sun mill and known of her  since well before I moved to MT. I hope to visit my old freind this summer and see Diana's operation.

Abundant Earth Fiber