Gedgrave Wensleydales

Can it REALLY be 6 months ........

2011-11-21T05:05:00.001-08:00

....... since I wrote my last blog - where has that time gone to? Well I can't possibly catch up with all that has happened - I would drive you to distraction - safe to say all is well on the holding and rest assured quiet does not mean inactive!

Our rams have now been with the girls and all being well, all are in lamb - the boys are now taking a well-earned rest - there was a bit of argy-bargying going on this morning but I am sure they will soon settle down - they have a long winter ahead of them now to recuperate - don't look bad though do they? Stanley certainly doesn't think so!

The girls are all sporting coloured bottoms - what is the in colour this year? The orange is rather fetching I think!

My first lambs went off to the abattoir on Friday - poor boys - but I have their skins back and they are now salted down on the garage floor, before being sent off to the lovely Nicki Port at Organic Sheepskins for her to do her stuff - they will come back as beautiful sheepskin rugs which will be on sale at Orford Country Market after Christmas now. The meat also will be winging its way to friends and family.

I have also sold my unregistered ewe lambs to a lovely lady Rachel in Bressingham where I am sure they will be very happy - she has the most amazing place - trains horses for film sets and other mad activities, so check out her website!

There has been a new addition to the holding - I have inherited 8 guinea fowl! They are funny things and make a terrible noise if they are taken unawares but they seemed to have settled in ok and I am rather enjoying having them I must say! Can anyone tell the difference between boys and girls?

This blog would not be complete without a mention of Beatrix our little orphan Golden Guernsey who is absolutely amazing - she is the dearest, sweetest thing - but unfortunately thinks she is a human rather than a goat and cannot quite understand why she now has to live outside! After Saturday she is now sporting her new earrings - not very impressed I have to say but sorry Beatrix - it just has to be!

(Sorry about the picture - she would not stand still!)

Well, that is a quick round up - I am busy making all sorts of woolly items now - I will be at Orford Country Markets as always on Saturday mornings in the run up to Christmas along with a great Craft Fair at Orford Town Hall on Sunday 27th November and Wickham Street Market on Saturday 3rd December, so do try and catch up with me before Christmas!

All for now - will try and do better in future - an early New Year's resolution .............
x

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2011-06-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

3 cheers for Alicia!

Reserve Wensleydale Champ at Suffolk Show

Well so much has happened since I last blogged - sorry for the delay - not quite sure where all the time has gone!

We are just about to head off to the East of England Show on Thursday - all sheep washed, pampered and ready to go - tent is packed - bet it rains! Last year it was absolutely freezing there so extra blankets this year are definitely on the packing pile - along with fleecy pyjamas!

Since I last blogged we have been to the Suffolk Show where we had a great time and achieved some good results. We had our own Wensleydale class for the first time so the competition was steep. My lambs always seem to do well there and this year was no exception - a second placing for my ram lamb and a brilliant 1st place and Reserve Champion for the ewe lamb - really pleased!

The Wensleydale Ram line up

Jonah my ram lamb

We also entered some black Wensleydales in the Longwool classes and had a 2nd for my ram lamb along with a good third for my lovely shearling ram Lenny.

Davies the Ram Lamb!

Lenny the Shearling Ram

A good time was had by all - let's hope we do as well at Peterborough this weekend.

Work didn't stop there and the Saturday after getting back from the show is our traditional shearing day, so Ben duly turned up at 12 noon and in the heat of the afternoon we whipped off most of those lovely woolly coats to give the girls, and boys, a bit of a blow! Now starts the long job of sorting wool ready for my patient customers and the lovely Sheila for handspinning - exciting times!

Well wish me luck on Saturday and keep your fingers crossed it doesn't rain too hard!

T x

Show Time!

2011-05-12T04:39:00.000-07:00

Well, have been a bit behind on my blogging so thought I ought to do a quick catch up on all things Wensleydale and other.

We have now moved all ewes and lambs to better grazing although we are now desperate for rain - none for 10 weeks except for a token 0.3mm the other night! Have today put out a bale of haylage for rams and older girls to keep them going until the grass decides to show it's face.

We had our first show on Sunday at Ampton Point to Point Course near Bury St Edmunds. A lot of stiff competition but did get a 'highly commended' for Winston my ram - good day though and very hot - none of the promised rain either. We need to start gearing up now for the Suffolk Show at the beginning of June - hope to catch up with you all there.

Here are a couple of pictures from the South Suffolk Show:

Beatrix is doing really well and growing daily - she is quite a character and never stops larking about - totally out of control - but a happy thriving girl!

and finally, just had some great wool back from my friend Sheila who hand spins the most lovely Wensley yarns - just a sneak preview of some hand spun Grey Wensley with recycled sari silk - fantastic!

Bye for now!

T x

Job Done!

2011-04-05T03:18:00.000-07:00

Well, finished at last! The last couple lambed last week so we are now back to normal sleep patterns and all are doing well.

Jacine produced two lovely little girls on Sunday morning - they are very sweet and delicate - just what you would expect from Jacine!

Last but not least was little Eve who produced a tiny baby boy on Tuesday morning last - his name is Eric and he is as petulant as she is! Both are doing well and she absolutely adores him. I thought she was going to have a stonking great lamb as she was like a little barrel but thank goodness for her he was tiny as she is not very big herself - as round as she is tall in fact!

So the final count is 37 lambs all safe and sound and enjoying this beautiful sunny warm weather.

Just a quick update on Beatrix who is growing by the moment, is a little terror and thinks she is of course human - so nicknamed 'the guman'. Aunty Abbey has taken her under her wing and looks out for her but Tabitha and Betsy play madly with her so they do make one big happy family!

A Green Guide to Country Crafts.....

2011-03-25T03:09:00.000-07:00

Have I told you about this fantastic new book? No? Well I really should then! You mean I haven't mentioned that my wool is featured in it? That is very remiss of me - had better put that right straight away!

We went to the launch party for the book last night at Alder Carr Farm Needham Market - we were invited by my very good friend and author of said book Nic Gouldsmith (www.halfpennyhome.blogspot.com). We had a fab evening and got to meet some lovely people, all of whom had a hand in the making of the book.

Here are the author's Nic Gouldmsith and Jacquie Mann

A basket made out of Wensley fleece on show

Other handmade goodies - all the instructions are in the book for all of these fab projects

The barn cafe at Alder Carr Farm

Joking aside, the book is full of fab projects from soap making, to dyeing, to candle making and rug making. All the projects are explained fully and the photography is just amazing. This is a book that you just can't do without! So, put it on your wish list now .......

T x

ps Thanks to Ali for holding the fort last night while we were out gallivanting! No new arrivals in my absence :(

Time for an update?

2011-03-23T04:19:00.000-07:00

Well, just stealing time for a quick update!

Firstly, Beatrix - she is a girl on the move now! We had a slight blip last week when she picked up an infection but seems to have got over that fully and is back out with the big girls again - still sleeping indoors at night as the weather is still a little on the cold side - but out on sunny days racing around.

We also have a few new arrivals.

Mara - daughter of Mable - produced 2 lovely ewe lambs - only one can be seen here feeding, but rest assured the other is latched onto the other side!

Izzy - wild and woolly - produced a pigeon pair - unfortunately we lost the little girl a day later so just has her little boy left now who she is totally devoted to - was a total nightmare last year and ended up killing her lamb - I think she may have turned over a new leaf!

The final two black girls have been busy - Ella - daughter of Tillie - producing twin girls on Sunday morning early

and Sable - daughter of Rosie (who is Tillie's sister - all white) doing the same - twin girls - on Monday morning at 2am! So had an early start!

Both are doing really well - I am so pleased as both lost their lambs last year and I wasn't quite sure how they would fair this year - but all seems well and they have both taken to motherhood like a dream!

Well, 23 down and just 2 to go now - both first timers and both due on the 25th March - so we wait with baited breath and the tantalizing thought of a whole night's sleep soon!

Will keep you posted

T x

Beatrix it is!

2011-03-17T03:58:00.001-07:00

We decided that after a week of uncertainty whether she would make it, it was probably time that our little girl had a name. So keeping to our true Potter theme her name is Beatrix - I think it suits her very well!

She is coming along leaps and bounds now and is spending the days outside in the goat house with the big girls, but still comes in overnight as it is pretty chilly out there. We are trying to work to her being outside with more company of her own sort 24/7 but it is slow progress. Still this morning we found an old coat belonging to our dear Bertie who we lost a couple of years ago - we haven't told her it is a dog coat - but she does look fairly smart in it and seems to enjoy the added warmth - there is room to grow into it though!

Watch this space for more lambs pics - 2 more sets of twins under our belt - only 4 ewes to go now - I am longing for sleep! T x

Picking up the Pieces

2011-03-11T07:53:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update on events here.

We have sadly lost another of the triplet kids so just have one left with us now - a little girl. She is doing well though, drinking from a bottle, and I think has even grown a little. She is so sweet and we are desperately hoping that we can keep her alive - she is now all we have left from this terrible tragedy.

All hands are to the pump and even Mr R has been encouraged to do his bit!

No more lambs yet to report on but 4 due in the next couple of days so we hope for a busy weekend!

All for now

T x

Cottontail RIP

2011-03-08T02:19:00.000-08:00

Well, the very sad news is that Cottontail passed away last night. The pregnancy toxaemia proved to be too much for her body to take - she will be so sadly missed. T x

Cottontail has produced triplets!

2011-03-07T07:57:00.001-08:00

Just a quick post to say that my lovely Golden Guernsey goat Cottontail has produced triplets over night - 2 girls and a boy - I think the names will be Flopsy, Mopsy and Bob! They had a bit of a rough start and spent 3 hours under hair dryers trying to get them back up to temperature because their cores had got so cold - but they made it through the night being fed by tube straight into their bellies and look fairly good today.

Cottontail however is not so good as we speak. She has pregnancy toxaemia and is very poorly. The vet has been, she has had 7 injections and an oral drench, with more to follow later, so now we just hope for the best. She has no milk to feed the kids, so there goes another extra 3 jobs to add to the day - heh ho - it's worth it they are fab!

Will keep you posted on progress and photos - but here is a quickie!

Oh, and Mable had twin boys on Sunday morning - no names or photos yet - watch this space!

T x

Quiet doesn't necessarily mean not busy!

2011-03-03T01:54:00.000-08:00

Thought I had better bring you up to date with the current situation! Since I spoke to you last we have had 3 sets of twins and another set of triplets! And at last our first set of black lambs - hurray!

Everyone is doing well despite the cold winds and the awful weather - I had just forgotten how cold it can be living here and especially at 4.15am on Tuesday morning delivering triplets - exhausting and that was just me!

Anyway here goes - be prepared for the 'cute' factor!

This is Ebony with her twin black boys! I think they are going to be named Sammie & Davis!

Next came Cadre with her 'twin' girls - she was scanned as triplets but there was definitely only two in there!

Then came Rosie, completely unaided at around 3am with her boy and girl!

Closely followed by Masquerade and her triplet girls

I thought you might also like a picture of the other set of triplets that were born a couple of weeks ago. All three are great and despite having spent the first day or so under a heat lamp, Midge is now thriving and loving being hand fed by a bottle - not quite sure where a tiny lamb puts 7oz of milk at a time but there we are - hollow legs I reckon!

Still we are cracking on now - only another 3 weeks to go and I can have a full night's sleep - bliss! Roll on!

T x

Malt's first lambs arrive!

2011-02-25T04:55:00.001-08:00

Just had to do a quick blog to say that the first of Millhouse Maltster's lambs were born last night - but not to me! Do you remember the four Wensley girls that belong to my friend Kirsten?

They came a visiting in October in order to take advantage of Malt's services! Well, Elisha, who we thought had not been served as she had no raddle marks on her (a raddle is a harness that you put on the ram which holds a coloured crayon - this crayon marks the girls backs once he has served them) gave birth to triplets in the early hours of this morning. She did it all on her own, first time lamber, and had 3 beautiful girls! How amazing is that?

Mother & 3 girls doing well!

Meanwhile we still sit and wait for Rosie to have her lambs - she looks more like a walrus every day!

Triplets and More!

2011-02-22T05:05:00.000-08:00

Thought I had just better update you on how we are doing on the lamb score! Life has been a little quiet on the homefront - everybody seems to be wanting to hang on for better weather. We did have a natural break at the beginning of Feb but seem to be all stations go again now!

So on Sunday morning, Serena gave birth to a lovely girl - big and bonny - her name is Bea.

And on Sunday evening we had our first set of triplets to another black girl called Mystique - the first one was breach and a little on the small side. He struggled to start with a bit so he had a night under the heat lamp and improved greatly. He is now back with his mum and doing ok - their names are Mary, Mungo and Midge!

All the lambs have been white unfortunately so will not be able to register them. We tried an experiment with our blacks this year putting them to a white ram that we knew threw black lambs last year. In theory we should have 50/50 white and black lambs but so far we are all white - so experiment doesn't seem to have worked this far - we still have some to go so we continue to hope!

This week should be busy with another 7 due to lamb - watch this space for hot off the press pics!

T x

And then there were 7!

2011-02-07T09:22:00.000-08:00

Just thought I would send you a quick up date on progress .....

We now have 7 lovely lambs - all doing well and seem very contented to be in the world. Mums are doing an amazing job feeding as always.

Here is the role call ....

This is a grown up Josie and her mum Candy - she is huge now at just under 3 weeks!

This is Venus - eyes on stalks as usual - with her boy Mo

Next came Ginger - unaided at midnight - with her girl Nutmeg

On the same night but not with the same efficiency Jessie with her twins, Owen and Jessica

Then late one Saturday afternoon after waiting 7 hours for her lamb came Maizie with her boy Jude who was determined not to be rushed!

And last, but certainly not least at the moment, comes Truffles with her little girl (she always had girls!) whose name is Joanna

We are having a bit of a lull now but normal service should be resumed hopefully later this week!

Just thought I would also pop in a quick picture of Cottontail my lovely Golden Guernsey goat, who is expecting twins on 7th March - now she is enormous and still a month to go!

Well, she did it!

2011-01-27T07:53:00.000-08:00

Well, Venus finally had her lambs yesterday afternoon. She did have a boy and a girl but unfortunately the little girl was born very weak and had a lot of fluid on her chest which we just couldn't clear so she only lived for about an hour. The little boy however is full of beans and coming along very nicely - but, spot the deliberate mistake - he is white as you can see - not really the desired colour for a Black Wensleydale. This will mean of course that I cannot register him as that is not permitted under the rules of the Wensleydale Association - Venus of course thinks he is totally adorable, which is all that really matters!

Venus in waiting!

This is him about 15 minutes old - I think his name will be Mo as we promised Ali's daughter the next lamb would be called Mo as that was her preferred name for Josie, who of course didn't suit it at all!

I am also £5 worse off as I predicted Venus would lamb early and just to be completely awkward as is her want, she produced on her allotted day! Hey ho!

Joy and Sorrow!

2011-01-20T02:01:00.000-08:00

Well, I think I tempted fate yesterday by doing my blog. I was going to wait until the first lambs had arrived but got impatient - and then needless to say, have been up most of the night lambing now!

The first lamb arrived, virtually unaided, at about 6.00pm - a really cute little girl who we have called Josie (named after her dad Pyghtle Joseph, who is now abiding in Northampshire looking after another flock of Wensley girls). Both mum (Candy - known as 'the Candy man') and daughter are doing really well!

During all of this fuss, another ewe, Tillie (my favourite!) decided that she might quite like to have her lamb too. Well, it was clear that something was not quite right as she had no udder or milk at all. She spent most of the evening laying down, then standing up and generally feeling really uncomfortable. I checked her at midnight and it was clear that something was starting to happen. I called my friend Ali to help and after about half an hour it was clear that I was going to need further assistance as her womb was refusing to open to let the lamb out. I called another friend Maria who is much more experienced than me, for extra assistance - it is now 12.45pm. Well, to cut a long story short at 2.45am we finally got the lamb out - a little girl which had been dead for some time - very sad. Mum is ok but fed up bless her heart. Poor Tillie - next year girl!

No news on Venus yet - full of milk and ready to go - who knows - today maybe?

T x

Happy New Year!

2011-01-19T07:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I can't believe we are the middle of January already - what happened to the time between Christmas and now?

We have been very busy getting ready for lambing which is due to start any day now. In fact I was hoping we would have had one or two new arrivals but I think because of the awful weather the mums have decided to hang onto them a bit longer - do you blame them? I do have to say though, one or two are looking decidedly fat and fed up! So watch this space for the first photos...... My friend Ali and I have a bet on who will be first - don't let me down Venus!

There has been a lot of exciting things going on though in other parts! My great friend Nicola at Halfpenny Home has now launched her website and great it looks too - do check her out and of course she is selling my yarn - including a special chunky with silk that I have had spun for her - catch the website here. Nic has also written her first book - I have ordered an advance copy so can't wait for March! It is available through Amazon here.

There have been new goat arrivals to - just look at this little one!

A friend nearby bought this little goat Eve and a friend from a lady who said that there was just an outside chance that she may be in kid - despite just being a kid herself still. Well it soon turned out that she was and that an arrival was fairly imminent - despite having been reassured that it was an October mating therefore not due to March. Well look what arrived a couple of days ago - isn't she just gorgeous - her name is Milka and she is sporting a cut down 100% cashmere jumper just to keep her warm! Mum and babe are doing really well ......

Well, that is all the excitement for now - hoping for some babies of my own soon!

Don't forget I will be at the Orford Country Market now every Saturday between 9.30 and 12.30 in the Town Hall - if you are in the area, just drop in!

T x

Christmas Shopping Evening

2010-11-29T02:35:00.001-08:00

We are once again having our Christmas Shopping Evening in Orford on Thursday, 9th December 4pm - 9pm in Barts Hall, Broad Street, Orford IP12 2NQ.

I will be there with lovely cozy warm winter knits as well as wool and felted jewellery, along with many other crafts including jewellery, beautiful cushions and lavender bags, cards & wrapping, prints and scrummy Christmas fayre.

We will be serving refreshments, so why not come and spend an hour doing some last minute Christmas shopping and share a mince pie with us?

Hope to see you there!

T x

View our poster here

https://acrobat.com/app.html#d=*KnKSi96igcXWocqqiYR6A

Great day yesterday!

2010-11-22T02:58:00.000-08:00

Well, we had a great time at St Peter's Street Fair in Ipswich yesterday. It didn't rain and wasn't that cold, and Jess and her team at I make fun stuff http://www.imakefunstuff.co.uk/ did a fantastic job setting everything up - the whole day ran without a hitch - well that we could tell anyway!

We received lots of very happy visitors to our stall and so many nice comments about our wool and things - thank you so much for everyone who came to see us and if you missed us you can find us at Orford Country Market every Saturday now until Christmas between 9.30 and 12.30!

Thanks also to Debby my newly found Ravelry friend from Ipswich for coming again to say hello! Also a big thank you to Ali my friend for all her help and for fluttering her eyelashes and securing another table!!

Don't forget also that we are having our Christmas Shopping evening again in Orford Bart's Hall on Thursday 9th December between 4pm and 8pm - look out for the posters!

All for now but will leave you with some pics of the stall on Sunday and will update again soon - I promise ...........

T x

Where has the last month gone?

2010-11-17T06:52:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been a whole month since I last did my blog - where has that time gone to? If that happens again we will be in December with Christmas just around the corner! Help!!

Anyway back to business. We spent last weekend at Sutton Hoo taking part in their Christmas Shopping Weekend which was fab. The weather on Sunday admittedly wasn't great but we had loads of visitors and I had such nice comments about my woolly things - aren't people lovely?

Feast your eyes

We have also been dying like mad to keep up with knitting yarns as everyone is thinking about those special Christmas treats - and for wrapping up warm in these cold frosty nights. Really pleased with the results of the wool - what do you think?

Have taken some of our lovely wool over to Nic at Halfpenny Home - my favourite haberdashery shop in the whole world! Do catch up with her blog at http://halfpennyhome.blogspot.com/2010/11/every-other-thursday-evening-sam-and-i.html

Well must get cracking now as getting ready for the 'I make fun stuff' fair at St Peter's Street, Ipswich on Sunday - check out their site at http://www.imakefunstuff.co.uk/ or here are the details of the fair

Hope you can catch up with us there! If you can't make it we will be back to normal from now until Christmas as Orford Country Market Saturdays 9.30 - 12.30 in the Town Hall http://www.orfordcountrymarket.blogspot.com/.

Love for now

T x

Old Friends!

2010-09-29T03:17:00.000-07:00

We have had a very exciting weekend - we took at trip to Norfolk to deliver 4 lovely ewe lambs to some old friends there - Kirsten & Richard and one of their lovely daughters Bryony - and we brought home with us the 4 ewes that I sold to them as lambs last year! Kirsten doesn't want to have a ram of her own for many reasons so we agreed that when the time came, her girls could come back to me to go to my ram, hence the reason for the trip.

I have a lovely new ram this year called Millhouse Maltster who came from another friend Sue Holdich at Stowmarket - he is a huge boy but very sweet and calm and the girls seem to really like him - very important!

So we trundled back with the trailer and let the girls straight out into the field. They trotted off the trailer and went straight over to my girls to check out the competition - had a bit of a rub and then decided that all seemed to be well - and got on with eating!

I am so pleased to see them again - they look fantastic and are quite clearly very well looked after and totally adjusted to people just like mine! The friendliest seems to be Elisha who always comes to the fence to say hello, with her sister Erin not far behind.

They will be with me for a few weeks, then alas back to the Barrs and their beautiful grassy paddock overlooking Happisburgh Lighthouse!

Funday Dyeing & Other Exciting News

2010-09-14T04:27:00.000-07:00

We made it back from Melton Mowbray in one piece. Slightly bizarre weekend as very fortunately we sold both Matty and Joe the rams before we went on the Friday, to a couple of friends from Northampton so it is good to know where they are going to and who with. They are still with us until next weekend and then they should be off to their new homes with their new girls to make friends with!

Well, I thought it was time that I got down to some serious dyeing so having bought a sample kit from Wingham Woolworks of Landscape dyes, I decided to give them a go and was REALLY pleased with the results!

I used a kit called 'Destinations' which gave me 6 colours - only got round to doing 3 though - surprising how long it all takes! I used Waratah, Barossa and Broome (Waratah above). I dyed wool skeins as well as some rovings and locks and I have to say they look fab! I even did a bit of experimenting with shading which for a first attempt was ok. In fact I have already sold the two Barossa shaded skeins!

They were good to use and surprisingly easy. I set up my pans on my camping stoves outside under my covered area at the back door and away I went - better outside and then I don't get accused of dyeing the worktop in the utility room and steaming up the kitchen! Just need to find time now to finish off the other three colours!

The other very exciting news I have is that I have sold some of my very special wool to a new young design company in London called The North Circular! They specialise in using British Wool from British Breeds - very refreshing in this day and age of cheap knits from Tescos!

http://thenorthcircular.com/

Do check out their website and look out for them during London Fashion Week - you never know some of the garments may be made with wool from my Wensleys!!

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/designer_profile.aspx?DesignerID=1270

I'm Back!

2010-09-09T01:28:00.001-07:00

Well, first blog for a while as I am just catching up after a busy time on the farm and in the workshop.

The guys and girls have settled down well in their new home in Germany. They have mountains of grass so will get big and fat in no time at all!

Silvio says "They have an enormous appetite and eat nearly the hole day with only small brakes for ruminating!" That is what Wensleydales do really well - EAT!

We have a busy weekend ahead. My friend Ali and I are off to Melton Mowbray Traditional Breeds Sale on Saturday - early start I am afraid - we have to be there by 9.00am so we need to leave home at an ungodly hour of 5.00am so that means up at 4.00am! The goats won't know what has hit them on Saturday morning with breakfast and milking at 4.30am! Yawn - feeling tired just thinking about it.

I am taking a black ram and a black ram lamb to sell and Ali is taking her show ram Joe - let's hope they find a nice new home. Her is a picture of Matty the ram - he looks a bit different now though without his coat.

Here is the link to the catalogue if you are interested!

http://www.grassroots.co.uk/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/00218.1.4289678319735567103/push//sales/melton/swensleydale.pdf

Wish me luck!

T x

Second blog of the day!

2010-08-06T02:53:00.000-07:00

I couldn't contain myself any longer - I was going to call this blog 'They have arrived (2)' but that doesn't express how excited I am about the arrival of my new dyed wool! Feast your eyes on this yarn lovers ...............

Don't you want to just eat it!

Alas, there won't be any at the Orford Country Market on Saturday but it will be making a guest appearance very soon! Start saving your pennies now! T x

They have arrived!

2010-08-06T01:20:00.000-07:00

The lambs have arrived at their new home in a small village called Raddingsdorf which is near Lubeck in Germany. Silvio has sent me some photos - they all look so relaxed and at home!

They have loads of lovely grass - lamb heaven!

I am so excited to have been part of establishing the first Black Wensleydale flock in Germany! We have a long wait now for their lambs but see them here first ..............

Well back to the more mundane aspects of sheep keeping now. We have fly treatment to do this weekend if it stops raining - not complaining as we have grass now at least - and then girls and boys together again - and there we re-start the cycle!

As I wave goodbye to my Germany lambs ........

2010-08-03T05:28:00.001-07:00

I have had a stressful couple of days trying to get to grips with the export papers required in order to send my black lambs to Germany. You would not believe the process - which at times I nearly gave up on. But I persevered through scrapie tests and brucellosis tests and the mountains of forms and vet inspections required, but finally yesterday morning I waved them goodbye as they were loaded onto the trailer for their onward journey to Germany, via the Dover - Dunkerque ferry. The man who has bought them says that they will be the first black Wensleydales in Germany so I am really thrilled that we are not only spreading the word, but that I have provided the foundation flock for this lovely man Silvio.

They arrived safely at the home of the transporter in Holland last night and have left there today, Tuesday, for their new home .............. am eagerly awaiting to here that they have arrived!

The other exciting news is that yesterday I picked up a new white ram and a black ram lamb for new breeding stock this year. The white ram has come from good fleece producing stock so am hoping for even more fleece improvement for this year - watch this space! Will try and post a picture soon.

Now, back to the fleece sorting .................. x

Fantastic Haberdashery and Gorgeous Dyed Yarns!

2010-07-22T02:55:00.001-07:00

(Some of my wool at Halfpenny Home)

Well I have had a great week exploring new avenues for anything woolly - in fact anything vaguely crafty actually!

With things being flat out at the ranch currently, I have been investigating the possibility of getting some wool dyed off farm, as there are just not enough hours in the day here. Well, I have found a lovely lady Debbie who has done a trial run for me and I think you will agree the colours are just gorgeous ........

I am hoping to have some seasonal colours - starting with these for the autumn and then moving on to some icy blues and greys & greens for the winter - watch this space ....... Do let me know what you think about these though!

So armed with these lovely skeins, I made it my mission this week to get to Halfpenny Home in Needham Market, the fab haberdashery shop run by my new friend and blogger Nic.

Have you ever been into a shop where you shake with the thrill of gorgeous things? I didn't know where to look first - and now I think I missed something I can see in one of my photos! Nic has been a great supporter of my wool and I am very grateful to her for that. She has a real aladdin's cave of everything you could possibly want and runs some great workshops too - you must put her on your ' places I must visit ' list! She sells anything from wool to vintage buttons to fabric to feathers! I bought some lovely buttons, some beautiful cotton yarn and some cape fastenings - not sure what for yet but couldn't resist them!

Feast your eyes!

Nic has a great blog - do check it out at http://halfpennyhome.blogspot.com/

I'm at the Orford Country Market as usual on Saturday, so why not catch up with me there if you can. T x

Haymaking and Showing

2010-07-12T02:52:00.000-07:00

Well, we attended the Tendring Show on Saturday as planned - wow it was hot! The sheep really didn't want to be there - the rams huffed and puffed across the field in the morning, snorting at us and swinging their heads in a bid to be let off the leads. Noah spent most of the day when not in the ring flat out on his side sound asleep - oh to be a sheep.... Anyway the long and short of it was I don't think they all performed at their best but we achieved a 2nd place for Jacine (shearling ewe) - judge said that the top 3 ewes were cracking and it was a very close thing - a 3rd for Noah (shearling ram) - judge said he had a phenomenal top line but preferred the fleece on others - 2 4th places for lambs and a 5th for my aged ewe Mable. Not a bad result - must try harder for next year!

So, now we have finished showing for the year we can get down to some real work! All the show sheep plus a couple of spares, 8 in total, need to be hand sheared, so we set about that task yesterday and completed 2 of the rams between us, which took about 3 1/2 hours per ram! Don't think we will make much money at shearing do you? Still good job done and just before the rain which was much needed - will have to wait for the others to dry out now.

We also managed to get the hay in before the downpour too - whew! Only two thirds cut as the mower hit a concrete block and broke a something or other (not that good at mechanics!) but all that was cut has been turned and baled - fantastic hay and smells of summer breeze! The girls will love it! Got 80 bales into the barn but couldn't face the other 80 - they are still sat on the trailer, under cover, waiting for me to get up the strength to move them - perhaps later this week!

So down to serious work - more wool sorting, honey harvesting and hopefully a bit of felting! Watch this space ...............

Back from the Norfolk Show!

2010-07-02T02:40:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are, hot-foot from the Norfolk Show! I don't usually do very well at this show but this year has been my best result there to date. I got a first placing in the Female Wool on Hoof class with my ewe Jacine which I am thrilled with - Ali got first place for her boy Joe in the Male Wool on Hoof - so success all round! I also achieved 3 2nd placings and 3 3rd placings so not a bad result on the whole!

It was a good show but very hot! They had moved the sheep and goats in to the same area on another part of the showground which actually worked very well - lots of sheep there - they were 100 pens oversubscribed this year! Still the weather was better for camping - talk about opposite ends of the temperature scale - and only 10 days apart - that's what we love about British weather - still it would be good to have some rain - no grass now and feeding hay already!

One more show to go now on the 10th July - just a one day one but a great little show all the same - the Tendring Hundred Show near Manningtree - do join us if you get the chance!

I Make Fun Stuff Market and photos ...

2010-06-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

We visited the 'I make fun stuff' street market in Ipswich on Sunday - primarily to at last meet my emailing and blogging friend Nic from Halfpenny Home - well it felt like we had known each other for years, and scarily, we loved the same things - all those fab buttons! My word, need to save up for a visit to her shop in Needham Market - think I might need more than an hour as well - and definitely not taking him indoors - why do men just not get it! How can you possibly have ENOUGH buttons or wool!

Anyway she had a great stall - just a fraction (she tells me) of her main shop ( note to self - go soon!)

I have also now had some fun photos from our resident photographer of our time at the East of England Show, so here are a few to wet your appetite!

Off to the Norfolk Show tomorrow so wish me luck! ....................

Bees and More Show News!

2010-06-25T02:32:00.000-07:00

Well, we started the week with another swarm of bees in the fruit trees - alas the other one left again - but I was determined to try and keep this one. It was a smaller swarm but precious all the same, so armed with a photographer this time to capture the moment, I set off with my skep to retrieve them - and as I write this they are still with me so we hope for the best!

After a busy start to the beginning of last week, we packed up again and set off for the East of England show, which has been our best show this year for results - not I have to say for weather though! It was absolutely freezing! Despite there being three of us crammed in the tent, we had to wear several layers and my sister Em had to purchase a blanket - all wool of course! Still a good time was had by all and I achieved 4 1st placings, Reserve Male Champion, Female champion and Reserve Longwool Champion. My friend Ali won the Wool on Hoof and Champion Wool on Hoof which was excellent. Photos to follow .......

Having got back last Sunday, this week has also been non-stop with worming, craft fairs and tonight - oh joy - ragwort pulling! What an incredibly interesting life I lead! But someone has to do it! Hope hay making will start next week - we have no grass again so will have to start feeding hay soon if it doesn't rain.

I am at the Country Market in Orford tomorrow morning so do come and see us if you get the chance - there will be the usual goodies on sale and then we start washing ready for the Royal Norfolk Show on Wednesday next week - hope the weather stays like this and then the tent won't seem so bad!

Will post some photos when I have them - wish me luck in the meantime!

One Down Three to Go!

2010-06-08T02:23:00.000-07:00

Well, we now have one show under our belts so life has settled down very slightly. We had a good time at the Suffolk Show and did ok - we had 3 3rd placings, a fourth and a reserve - lambs could have done better but at least we had a placing for every class we entered! All were well behaved but glad to get home I think!

Here is the link for the results!

http://mailgate.suffolkshow.co.uk/saa/Default.asp?ScheduleSectionID=915&ClassNumber=&NumberOfPrizes=0

Off to the East of England show next which is Thursday 17th - Sunday 20th June. Hope the weather improves as we are camping! My friend Ali comes along with her Wensleydales and my sister Emma is coming with us this time as 'catering manager' so all should be well! Watch this space for the pictures of our encampment!

Managed to catch a swarm of bees yesterday for my empty hive so that was good. Should have taken a photo as it was a huge swarm hanging on one of my fruit trees, but don't seem to be totally in blog mode yet as forgot the photo! Hopefully next time ......

We also managed to get sheared at the weekend which was great - I think the sheep are pleased as they must get sooo hot in those coats! They don't half look funny now though!

Lambs are also weaned from their mums so we had a VERY noisey night on Saturday night - poor things! But mums have to be rested now before they start all over again.

On a sadder note - I lost my poor nannie goat Bluebell. She had produced 2 beautiful baby girls in March but unfortunately contracted mastitis which we struggled to clear. She obviously then contracted a further infection of some sort which resulted in her stopping eating completely. She passed away quietly on Friday 28th May........

Where did the last 2 months go?

2010-05-27T02:36:00.000-07:00

Well, I can't believe it is 2 months since I wrote my last blog. I was all full of intentions of at least trying to do an update every week, but here we are 2 months down the road and nothing. Well, you ask, what have you been doing? Good question!

We finally got away on our planned trip to Alaska to see my husband's new grand daughter - what a cutie! Her name is Madeleine Rose and she is a darling! Now a bumper 2 1/2 months old! We had a fantastic time - Alaska is just amazing.

I was busy knitting away before I left home trying to finish a blanket that I was making for Madeleine - 100% Wensleydale of course - I am rather pleased with the results ...........

Whilst there we also visited the only flock of Wensleydales in the country (well, why not!) They have been bred up from other stock and are now about 85% Wensleydale - look pretty good though!

..........Well, we are now back to reality and show time is fast approaching. The girls and boys are being washed and pampered - having their faces rubbed in with baby oil and their little feet trimmed - not sure they are as happy about it as we are - but they are coming together.

The lambs are starting to walk on leads which is hilarious. We either have 'woolly jumpers' or 'sleeping policemen' nothing in between at the moment. Still by next week I am hoping that they will at least walk to the ring if given enough time!

We didn't quite make it to the South Suffolk Show with ours because of our delayed trip to colder climes (wretched ash cloud) but we went along anyway to support our friends and eye up the competition of course!

The bank holiday is now nearly upon us - our shop will be open Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 2 - 5 (directions on the website) and I will be at the Orford Country Market as usual on Saturday morning - this week in the church!

Hope you have a good holiday and if you are about next week come and see us at the Suffolk Show - we will be in the MV accredited sheep shed - I think we are in the ring at about 11.00am - so wish me luck!

2010-03-23T03:07:00.000-07:00

Well I have been badgered into have a blog so here goes!

I will do my best to post regularly just to update you all with sheep and goat news, as well as any other tit bits of information that may seem appropriate.

We have finished lambing and kidding now - finally - and have a beautiful selection of white and black lambs as well as 4 lovely goat kids. Here are some pictures for you to swoon over!

It feels like it has been a long hard winter this year, but the sun is at last shining and the lambs are all out in the field waiting for the grass to grow - roll on summer!

My Golden Guernseys lead a slightly sheltered life and only come out on lovely warm spring days at the moment - they are off to be de-horned so so will probably not like me very much after the end of the week! How cute are these!!

Well there is plenty to get on with now - the on-farm shop will be open over Easter with lots of lovely woolly goodies for sale - plus tagging, worming and generally getting organised - so signing off now - more updates on the way later!

Bye for now T x