Nothing like a completely deceiving title that screams for attention. I could have personalized it, like naked ladies in the barn, or something of that nature. Its even remotely true. There are some ewes that were just shorn this week, hence the naked part. And they were just in the barn. Sorry. Bad marketing hype I suppose.
However, if one could have a busier farm week, I'd like to know how. Be it picking up and delivering lamb from the butchers, organzing and pricing the new yarn and roving fresh from the fiber mill or having the shearer visit and lots and lots of skirting fresh fleeces, I earned my breakfast this past week. I now have enough lanolin on my hands to last me the year. I don't knit, and I can't spin; but anyone handling wool right off a sheep's back can't help but appreciate the fiber. I envy people that can take it from this raw state where you can see the lanolin luster droplets on the tips of the fibers and still feel the sheeps warmth trapped within the wool, and create items to wear be it hats, mittens or sweaters. It's a skill to say the least; one that I'm okay with not having at this point. But I do appreciate it, and it is something I use to take for granted. It's one thing to buy a commercially processed sweater that has been mass produced with over worked and dyed merino wool shipped from God knows where clear across to who knows what before its primped and fussed with on mall store shelves. No. This is as close as you can get; where you catch a stink eye from the ewe whose wool is now in your hands and no long on her back.
September has closed its doors and October annouced itself with amazing colors and sunshine (imagine that). Now that we can check a few things off the list, it is time to make way for final seasonal farm duties like fresh stalls, final filling of the hay loft and of course breeding season responsiblities. The boys sit patiently, waiting down wind from the girls, watching them get flushed with grain every day in an effort to make them fat, happy and fertile if you will. The bonus jolt of protein and calories can increase one's odds of twinning, which in terms of business equates to bang for your buck. The boys have definitely been acting like boys, ramming eachother to establish whose boss; like anyone stands a chance against Johnny. 250 pounds of beast pictures all the way to left. He is gentle enough to not cause alarm, but big enough to make you think twice about turning your back. There is some strategery to breeding. You have to know your genetics, like whats dominant and whats recessive. Then you map out your needs; what sells, what combos produce large enough lambs and high quality fibers. Then of course you must consider your bloodlines to prevent inbreeding. Sure there are farms that open the gates and let nature takes its course. But when you take pride in your flock, and study the genetics behind each and every possible combination, one can really produce a wide variety of bloodlines and types even within a smaller flock like Windy Knob. And of course my sheep are the best. Duh.
Be sure to watch the website (http://www.windyknobfarms.com/) for updates. Soon there will be pictures of fleeces and wool products which are always available for purchase and we do ship orders as well. A half order of grass fed lamb is all that remains after our first butchering. Also some skeins of yarn are for sale including Moorit browns and a white 50/50 llama and sheep blend. Roving is now available so please contact us with any questions or interest in any of these products. Selling them is the only thing that seperates this operation from becoming my very own crazy petting farm. I joke about that now because of the influx of new products this week, but fleeces sell fast around here people. In the previous two shearings, all fleeces were sold out within three weeks. Get your orders in now. And please tell a friend or two about us. Time for another glass of apple cider and maybe a run to get more pumpkin sugar donuts. Again.
