Ears Up!

It looks like it's an "ears up" from all of the llamas overseeing our progress yesterday, and that's a good sign. We finally started putting up the rafters and even worked on some interior walls...it's really starting to take shape now! Only a few more steps to go and we'll be putting on some roofing. If the weather holds, we're hoping that will be this week. Keep your toenails crossed :)

This last pic is of our ever threatening sky, taken through our new barn rafters. I just thought it was such a telling picture. ..something about our plodding progress occuring in the midst of Mother Nature at work, makes me feel more a part of the land.

Today, of course...it's snowing.

Fiber Arts Fridays-Drying and Picking Table

I don't know about all of you...but I like to dye and process fibers and yarns all year long, not just when the sun is shining! This little gem has been a lifesaver for me in both Winter and Summer. The idea was given to us by our goat mentors Carol and Jeff from Ronan Country Fibers. It is technically a "sorting table" but I use it to pick fiber, sort and to dry. The best part about it is that it is so portable. I can set it up or take it down in a matter of seconds.

The materials you will need are (8) 3' pieces of 1 1/2" PVC pipe, (4) 2" long pieces of 1 1/2" PVC pipe, (4) 1 1/2" T's, (4) 1 1/2" elbows, a can of PVC glue, a 4x4" section of bird netting or plastic deer fencing, and a bunch of zip ties.

First, glue each of the four small 2" pieces of pipe to each of the four elbows.

Next glue each of the four T's onto the other end of the small pieces, making sure that the Elbow and the T are perpendicular.

Next insert the 3' pieces of pipe in between each of the Elbows and T's, making a square, with all the T openings facing up.

Next, insert the remaining (4) 3' pieces of pipe into each of the T openings and turn the table rightside up.

Last, lay the netting over the table and attach with zip ties, stretching and adjusting as you go.

Note: You can glue all the pieces together except the legs, or just some of the pieces, whichever you prefer. I did it this way, so that I could more easily store it away when not in use.

PS. This table also makes a great doggie spot (see picture #1) and an even greater playhouse for my two grandaughters. Just throw a couple of blankets over it and...Voila! Instant entertainment!

For more Fiber Arts Fridays posts, please visit Alpaca Farmgirl at http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com/

Migrating Friends

Good morning all! I wanted to share with you this couple of geese who have taken to stopping by our yard. We have a pond next door to us, and another on the other side of our property. My hubby says it must be too long between ponds (it's about a mile :)) because they use our place as

a rest stop a couple of times each day. I love to watch them. First the female eats while the male keeps watch for predators, then they switch places. And boy do they make a racket when they are arriving or departing! Today I know they saw me sneak out on the deck, and they were good enough to let me photograph them. Such a lovely couple!

Fiber Arts Friday-Threads of Magique

For this week's Fiber Arts Fridays I would like to introduce two of my Market friends Judy and Donna. They own this beautiful Etsy shop called http://www.threadsofmagique.etsy.com/ and make gorgeous quilts, dolls and fiber arts wall hangings. Here are just a couple of their recent creations.

Please let them know if you love their work....and who wouldn't ?! Their blog address is http://www.threadsofmagique.blogspot.com/

and they have some lovely pics there as well!

On top of it all, their "hubby" and "brother in law" Tim has his own beautiful items on display at http://www.woodikidyou.etsy.com/. What a talented family! Next thing you know, their dog Nicky will be opening his own on-line store!

For more fiber fun, check out the other Fiber Arts Fridays participants at http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com/ Thanks for looking!

Living in Color!

I was five years old in 1963 when my parents announced that we would be watching The Wizard of Oz on a friend's new TV. We had a black and white television...no remote or cable...just rabbit ears and three channels, and that's all I'd ever known. I will never forget the feeling of wonder and awe when Dorothy's house touched down and she (with Toto wrapped in her arms) opened her front door on the Land of Oz. Because what my parents had "neglected" to mention, was that the new set was a COLOR television...the first we'd ever seen! That transformation from black and white to a world in living color was so spectacular that even now it gives me goosebumps! And from such a small beginning, sprang a life-long affair with color!

Our local Grower's Market begins this week, and even though we're a few days early, for me it always signifies the start of Spring. I've spent the last few days getting ready... spinning up a few new yarns, tagging stock, and of course dying. I never tire of the sense of suspense, the "tickle me" wonder of dying a new batch of yarn or fiber. I never know exactly how it will turn out, and I'm glad that I don't. It's kind of like opening that Land of Oz door and never quite knowing what will be on the other side!

So many people tell me that my husband and I are "living their dream", running our small farm, doing what we love to do, and aiming towards making a sustainable living. And they are so right! I feel so blessed to be taking care of our "critters", harvesting their fiber and spinning my yarns. And what better way to express my happiness than through these colors and textures? I attribute my new lifestyle to my Dad, who loved my llamas, who bought me my first wheel, and who always told me "If you don't love what you do, then you'd better go do something else"...and so we did!

For more looks at my yarns please visit my etsy store at http://www.frolicnfibers.etsy.com/ and be sure to check out Fiber Fridays at http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com/ for wonderful articles on all things fiber related!

Now We're Cookin' !

Or as my mother used to say, "Now we're cookin' with gas!" Les and I tackled the remaining six poles today, since the weather has been cooperating. We didn't want to chance waiting until Saturday, since we're expecting some more rain. We lucked out...today was picture perfect! I almost put shorts on, that's how gorgeous it was! Perfect pole sinking weather. I thought we made pretty good time at just one hour per pole to dig the hole, set the pole and concrete it in. And we only had one major "boo-boo" which Les is going to correct tomorrow. Luckily it is on one of the short poles. Those 17' Big Berthas are really a bugger to set. So we held off concreting that one in, and he'll fix it in the morning. Can you spot it? It's about 4" out of line, and we decided that was just too far off. Oh well, live and learn :)

It's finally starting to take shape now, and I'm having so much fun just standing in the middle of my barn and planning the interior. We decided we're going to incorporate the chicken coop and yard into the barn as well. It will allow me access to their nesting boxes from either inside or outside of the barn and that will be convenient. Here's a couple pics of our current layers, giving their approval to the project...can't you just see them smiling?!

Visiting the goats and Badger

Yesterday was my hubby's birthday. He turned 55, so I gave him the option of either running around town and trying to find places that would give him a senior discount (he,he,he....) or going to visit our favorite goat farm to see Mr. T and to meet our new LGD, Badger. He picked the goat farm. What a surprise! Our goat "grandparents" from Ronan Country Fibers are housing Mr. T for us until we get our barn done, and our pastures re-fenced. They have been so wonderful to us...I don't know what we'd do without them! Carol called last week with the best surprise ever. She knew that we had been looking for a Large Guard Dog to protect our animals and she got a line on one that needed a new home. Long story short is that he was raised as a "goat dog" and had lost his flock...so like many of us today, he found himself unemployed. Unfortunately there are no unemployment benefits for dogs that lose their goats! I was so anxious to meet him, and now that we have, we are convinced that he will work out beautifully...and the plus is that he's such a pretty boy also!

The bonus of the trip was getting to see the new baby goats! These pictures really don't do them justice. They are such a lovely shade of russet! One of them wandered off from mom and my hubby got these pics of their LGDs babysitting the little guy. Such a wonderful day!

Teakettle Llamas

My Llama Grandma calls this the Teakettle position...we call it "Happy Llamas"! We have a storm moving in and it's clouding up and very windy. The girls are "cushed" and enjoying the fresh air before the rain hits, I think. It's so good to see them looking relaxed and happy. It does my soul good :)