Latest Posts
Readying for Lambing Season
With udders filling, and bellies rounding, my thoughts go to readying for lambing season. If I have learned anything at all from my many years of lambings, it is that with each year, I will push myself to my limit, I will see and do things that will bring me to my knees in awe and wonder, as well as … Read More
Ask the Shepherd-Scrapie Disease and Testing for Susceptibility
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. There is no cure and there is no treatment for scrapie, though scientists around the world are searching hard for one. Scrapie is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). Both scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE; a.k.a. “Mad Cow” disease) are TSEs, as is … Read More
Felting With Gotland Gray Curls
Joining Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm Craft On, to share my latest felting project. I spent the past few days, felting with Gotland gray curls. I set out to make a felted jacket, but had to abandon the sleeves when I realized that I would not have enough wool for both sleeves. So instead, I made a … Read More
Hoarding Yarn
Joining Ginny at Yarn Along to share my latest knit! Thanks for stopping by! Once I made the decision to begin selling my Romney sheep so that we could bring Gotland sheep to our farm, I began hoarding the last of my Romney yarn. As I sold off the ewe lambs more than a year ago, I tightened my grip … Read More
The Challenge of Keeping Two Breeds of Sheep
About 18 months ago, we made the decision to transition over from raising Romney sheep to raising Gotland sheep. A little over a year ago, our small starter flock of Gotland sheep arrived to our farm. Looking back, it was, and still is, an extremely difficult process, and I am learning the challenges of keeping two breeds of sheep. Selling … Read More