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**Welcome Wagon:  Newbie from Central Washington  |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 08:05:11 AM
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Hi there:
Just learned of this forum from a spinning friend the other day and thought I would try to take part.
I've been a farmgirl at heart all of my life but have been living it for a few years now. We raise sheep, have a few horses, some chickens and way too many dogs and barn cats on our farm in Ellensburg, WA.
At the latest get together, several gals were telling me about going to the farm school and/or being involved in fun stuff like craft swaps on this list.
I enjoy crafting--sew, knit, crochet, quilt (guess that's sewing) but I'm a folk art quilter...not very precise so my quilts always a bit "artsy"...that's the comment I've gotten from real quilter friends. My latest passion is wool...straight from our sheep to a garment...that process is just a joy. I have a garage wall full of fleeces, baskets and a closet full of yarn and bags of roving stuffed under beds, etc. I think it's a bit of an addiction but it's not illegal or immoral so think I'm okay.
I have 2 part-time jobs besides the farm/sheep stuff so I keep busy but I am lucky to work out of my home so I'm here for lambing and farm visitors and such. My kids are college age so my days of going to ball games and 4-H meetings and such are completed...whew! It was fun but glad it's slowing down around here.
That's enough for now!
Jami
Ellensburg, WA |
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Miss Bee Haven
True Blue Farmgirl
4331 Posts
Janice
Louisville/Irvington
Kentucky
USA
4331 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 08:24:03 AM
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Welcome, Jami! I also have too many dogs and cats - and a 'moved out' son(I didn't lose a son, I gained a room!). Your place sounds wonderful and you sound like a woman happy with her life. You're going to love it here. :)
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner |
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BlueApple
True Blue Farmgirl
430 Posts
Julia
Oregon
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 09:02:38 AM
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Welcome Jami! I'm a newly "empty nester" and have been bitten by the "spinning" bug! I'm new at it but LOVE IT! What kind of wheel do you have? I also have too many cats and dogs but I don't know what I'd do without them now that all my girls are in college or married! What kind of sheep do you have? I'm still trying to talk hubby into a couple of Angoras! Glad you are here!
Julia
BlueApple Farm |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 09:20:54 AM
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Thanks for the welcome, Julia and Miss Bee Haven!
I forgot to mention I have a wonderful husband but he's shy and so I don't usually talk about him online much.
We have 50 ewes, Texel and Coopworths mostly but a few Clun Forest/Texel crosses.
I started out with a traditional Ashford wheel off of Ebay but soon found I needed more ratio options so sold it to help defray the costs of a used Majacraft Rose I found in Oregon. It's my "life" wheel I think...just seems to fit everything I want to do or will do in the future when I improve my spinning skills. Plus, it folds up so I can haul it around buckled up in my passenger seat! I love spinning...and knitting although I am scared of doing anything too complicated yet. I seem to stick with simple projects, or stitches anyhow. That way I can zone out and not have to think too hard while I'm clicking the needles away in the evening listening to TV or having a chatting (literally, not computer chat) with DH.
Well, time to get to work but look forward to more later!
Jami
The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.
Henri B. Stendhal |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 09:56:36 AM
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Welcome Jami!! How fun to have another spinner here!! Wow..a majacraft..my dream wheel..someday...I do know that dreams come true...it happened with me getting the milk cow of my dreams last year!
It will be so fun to have your input here. I am a shepherdess too...although right now I just have two Icelandic ewes (and an angora goat) I have never had more than 10...not enough space. I can't imagine no sheep here though!!
I am glad you found us!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 11:03:39 AM
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welcome Jami!
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 11:16:07 AM
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Welcome Jami and shy husband
Great to hear that we have someone who also breeds sheep. I love the clun forest sheep - so sweet and on the ball. I have a variety of fiber animals here and have always wanted to add clun forest but the breeders here did not have stock that I thought where true confirmation wise. Glad to also here that others have the overflowing fiber issue. I am excited to here more about your life and as time goes on I am sure we will be sharing our never normal lives with you.
Again Welcome!
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 12:01:39 PM
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Hi everyone again!
Grace, I had the same problem finding Cluns and thus have sold my purebreds as I couldn't find a ram within a reasonable distance and since we have only so much feed and room, stuck with other breeds. The Cluns have a really fun fleece to work with so I've been hoarding those and saving them for future use...I have enough fiber to last me a lifetime already but it seems I can't get enough. Right now I'm washing and combing a Texel fleece from one of my favorite ewes. It's really unusual for a Texel and beautiful. Something special will come of that fleece I hope. I am having fun with dying too and had a dye garden this year, my first one. It has been fun.
I found my Majacraft used, otherwise couldn't have hoped for one so soon in my spinning career. It's truly the last wheel I will ever need or want.
Julia, you said you wanted an angora...a goat or a rabbit?
A milk cow...wow. I'm impressed. I milk my sheep when we wean just to get enough to make sheep-milk soap with...again, a new project on my list of things to do. Milk's in the freezer waiting for me. Anyone have experience with that?
This is such a fun group, I can tell already! |
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nouveau_farmchick
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
Paris
Sequim
Wa
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 2:31:33 PM
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Hi Jami,
sounds like you will have much to add to the group, glad that you joined in!
Pennie
God bless Farmers |
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BlueApple
True Blue Farmgirl
430 Posts
Julia
Oregon
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 3:18:25 PM
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Oh sorry, I forget there are bunnies too - would love to have Angora goats. I would love to have my own fiber to spin!
Julia
BlueApple Farm |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 3:24:15 PM
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Hi Julia:
The one thing I've noticed about angora is that it's really slick to work with...as in slippery slick. I bought a sample to try at a fiber festival and I'm really not very good at spinning it yet...it still sits waiting for my patience to build up.
It is enjoyable to have your own fiber although that has its own challenges as well, like finding a shearer! But if you dream it, you will find a way to get-er-done.
Jami
The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same--and a good border collie doesnt hurt! |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 3:34:56 PM
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finding a shearer IS hard!! Well, especially for my tiny flock!! I had a guy who was willing to always come out for me when I lived in Calif..but here I hand shear my own.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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jo Thompson
True Blue Farmgirl
603 Posts
Jo
the mountainside of the Chugach
in Alaska
USA
603 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 3:43:51 PM
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I think we could organize a few shearers out of this bunch for a shearingly fun weekend! Does it make your nose itch? I watched sheep shearing in my childhood near Pendleton Oregon. Hence my lifelong love of wool (knitter). I'm envious of you sheep folks. Don't think I can talk Paul into more critters though! jo in Alaska
"friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon"
http://homepage.mac.com/thomja/Anchorage/PhotoAlbum14.html |
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lambgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
93 Posts
Heidi
Ellensburg
wa
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 5:10:29 PM
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Jami,
Isn't this great. I am so glad you joined. I had so much fun Saturday spinning with you and the girls I hope I can make it to the next event if only for half the day. (4-H in the morning). Keep in touch and you won't meet any nicer ladies then at Mary Janes.
Heidi |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 07:55:26 AM
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This is great, Heidi. Thanks for telling me about it.
Jo, I helped out with shearing at a neighbor's last year with 250 ewes and I have to say it was fun because he has a really nice setup and each person had just a few tasks so I wasn't trying to do everything. With our smaller flock I don't have extra help so we scurry all day and we don't have the perfect setup either so it's more labor intensive. DH is building a handling system for the sheep so it should get easier as we get older and smarter (and our backs complain more!)
Jami |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 08:06:44 AM
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Here is an idea that worked great here at our farm. First get your smaller breeders organized. Then get a head count of number of farms and number of animals and type of animals, next decided if one farm wishes to host the shear day or if you want to do it at the local fair grounds. Then contact all your spinning, knitting and weaving guilds together along with any shops in your area and get them to come out and help but also it is a great way for them to purchase fleece. I would have my youngest son take their photo with their sheep, llama or alpaca that they picked the fleece before shearing. Then they had the fleece right after the shearing (they had to help some) and a photo of before and after. They got a real kick out of it. We also got a local buffalo rancher to come and make buffalo bugers and a local farmer had his vegies and such there and each one of the vendor helped pay for the cost of the fairground barn, potties and such. Remember this will take some planning but it is a great one to work on during the winter months. Also, you can get a vet there to do routine shots or checks and also to sell animals he can prepare the travel papers. We have done this type of set up for years and it really solves a ton of issues that the small flock breeder is faced with. Take care and great to have you here.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 09:26:49 AM
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Welcome Jami- Glad you found us here at the forum! You will lovwe it here. I do not have sheep, but I want to learn how to spin. I'm starting with a drop spindle. I am making my own. (Yikes.)
It is the only spinning item my husband will let me have right now. (Because I have too much craft stuff all over the house already!!) I hope you enjoy your time here!!
Karin |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 09:42:48 AM
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Hi Karin:
What are you making your spindle out of? I've heard of using a CD and a dowel and a cup hook and I don't own a spindle but thought making one would enable me to spin while camping or horseback riding!
I'm already having a grand time. Thanks!
Jami |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 4:48:26 PM
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Oh Thanks so much for the welcome, girls!
I enjoyed hearing of the enthusiam for sheep and sheep "functions" and ideas so far! And to all of you fiber fanatics out there and those who have other things to be fanatic about...helloooo!
Once I get a big work project overwith, I'll be posting more about fiber and such, in a week or so.
Jami
The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same--and a good border collie doesn't hurt! |
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**Welcome Wagon: Newbie from Central Washington |
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Newbie from Central Washington
