Penelope & Sweetpea

Penelope was given back to us (thank you Martha) and we bred her with Figaro. Her dad was Roy Orb our first stud muffin. I bred her very late and figured she was not bred. Then she started to form an udder about a week before the date I wrote on my calendar that she could possibly have a lamb. We started checking on Penelope every 4 hours the day before her due date. She seperated from her buddy, Unise (is she bred also? No lamb yet and no udder). Penelope kept hanging next to the barn wall and in the old goat barn. Around 4 am on the 19th I asked my husband, Bill, to check on her. He came back and said you have a lamb. She had delivered all by herself, which is wonderful as Babydolls have large triangular heads!! Her lamb, Sweetpea, is very tiny and black, which are both good things for Olde English "Babydoll" Southdowns. We plan on showing them both off at the Common Ground Fair, September 19, 20 and 21.

So much has been happening here! Monika brought her mother and sister to learn how to spin. She shared some of her sheep's wonderful fleece. On her second visit she showed me her spining she did on a drop spindle. She shared her blog with me. I gave Monika a colored Angora goat, Hermonie, and she put a picture of her on her blog. We made an arrangement so and I get 2 doe kids in return, and we use my stud, Midnight. Talk about beautiful fiber (both doe & buck - thick and soft and tri colored, Buck has a very, very thick fleece, check out Monika's blog http://www.wildermirth.blogspot.com/. Monika is a wonderful writer and she shared a story about her partner, Joe, who tried to save a couple of chicks and I almost cried. All we can do is try!

Champion Masada Spinnakees' Cameo had a litter of Keeshonden May 2. Our last Kees is going to Carol's August 5th. Thank you so much Carol. I know he will have a wonderful home. I had them all sold when they were born and a lady couldn't care for this boy and Carol came to the rescue. I'll share a picture of him and you'll find it hard not to want one of these babies.

When done I'd like to share pictures of a chicken I am rug hooking with yarn and making into a pillow. My next project will be a rug hooked American Flag I'll attach to a footstool. I am also working on a mobias Wrap. The yarn is from my "Babydoll sheep, Angora goats and Angora rabbits and spun by Diane Knowles in Otisfield. It is so soft, warm and strong. So much to do and so little time. Thank you God for giving me the talent to make so many fun things.

This is Woody, my newest ram. What a fleece - downy, soft, white! I have some being processed into roving at Friends and Folly Farm. They can process anything, if it is clean. I know this for a fact. I've had the vet do some testing for me. I had CAE tested on all my goats "negative", and OPP tested on my sheep "negative", and CL on my buck "negative". Makes me feel good to sell healthy animals. I also bought a microscope and am doing fecals. That is a job and a 1/2!! So far so good. Would like to work with someone to get their opinion on identifying parisites.

Off to feed my animals and my human family.