Where has the summer gone???

As sit here writing this post I wonder just where has the summer gone?  As fall is in the air and I am just not ready for what is to come.....snow and such.
Did I make too many project lists for this year?  Well, yes I probably did, but I didn't get them all done either!
From shearing to lambing then getting in the garden to maintaining the yard, making hay, attending group meetings, trying to work on projects, add in family functions, working a "day" job, monday through friday.

Now at this time of the year we (Guild) have Festivals that we participate in for the next two months, beginning with Great Trail this weekend in Carrollton, Ohio. 

So, what is the answer?  I don't really know.....but I will try to slow down, do the things I enjoy, don't set myself up for failure with too many projects on my list....just don't make the list......but enjoy the ones you do finish. 

Sweater

This is my first clothing project, although it is not finished I thought I needed to post something.  I just purchased the buttons.  I only have to add the front bands and tuck in my loose ends and I will be finished.
This was a great pattern for a first time project by: "knitting pure & simple", v neck neckdown cardigan for women #994.
The Spinning/Weaving Guild that I am a member of, http://algonquinmillspinnersandweavers.blogspot.com/
decided to try this pattern as a group project, for any of the membership that wanted to try  the pattern.  This way we would be able to help each other through the pattern if there were question or you just got stuck.

The fleece I used came from one of my Shetlands, a fawn ewe named Gwendolyn, although she is no longer with us I will always have this sweater to remind me of her.  I had her fleece blended with a similar color of alpaca fiber for this project.

I spun a medium worsted yarn for this sweater, a future note to myself when spinning for a clothing item; I must spin a much finer yarn.  I love this sweater that I've made, but I don't think that I would be able to wear it all day long, the sweater is a little bulky.  It would work as a light coat if you were outside all day.

I have a future pull over mock turtle neck sweater planned, but I will take into consideration what I've learned from this project to make the next one even better.

 

Ohio Grasslands & Forage Council Grazing Tour

Today I have taken my first "grazing farm tour"  The "OFGC" was in our area, eastern Ohio for the first time.  This event co-ensides with the Ohio Sheep Day which will be Saturday.
It was just nice to see other operations and get some ideas for pasture management.  I did get to meet some folks from across the state, although I am terrible at remembering names, we did all "talk sheep".

This pic. shows the grasses of a rotational grazing operation, brome grass, white clover and orchard grass.

 I couldn't get this pic. to enlarge.  This farmer, was showing his portable watering system.  He runs a 160p.s.i. line with a quick couple, hydrolic fitting as the connector for watering with an on/off valve.  He grazes 43 cows and calves and one bull on 1 acre per day, a 24hrs. period then moves them.

This farmer feels that the red angus are more heat tolerant than the black angus.  He shoots for 1250# cows.  He sells his calves in December when they are 500-600 #.  His goal is to run more cows on less ground & using less hay.  He tries to graze into November, then keep 50 cows and feed 100 round bales per year.

They follow the grazed paddocks with 75 broiler chickens.  These are two weeks old, they will be finished at eight weeks.  They send them to a local processor and take orders for birds. The chickens follow the cattle and manage fly control.

This is the traveling enclosure that the fryers are in.  They keep an electric netting fence around it to keep racoons and such out.

This was an inventive idea.  A cheap wore our travel trailer, converted into a traveling chicken house.

I'm not certain of the spelling of these breed names, I just scribbled them down, Americanas and Barder Rocker.  I'm not a chicken person, hope I've got the names somewhat right.....

They have 50 birds, they get about 48 eggs a day and sell them to local businesses and individuals.

They also use the chickens to follow the cattle in paddocks for fly control.  They market them as free range.

An inside view of the chicken trailer

Nesting boxes inside the converted travel trailer.

This was our Farm Tour "Bus".

Another operation we visited was a commercial hay/grain operation.  We didn't get to check out his equipment, which was all put away in buildings, we did gather in his large shop and he spoke of lime & fertilizer and the like.  A representative from Agland  was also there.  They did discuss a problem that I had not heard of, recent findings of fields that have been planted with timothy and orchard grass and these grasses are dying out after a year, they do not know if it is a disease or insect problem.  But this is not good since these are two grasses that are in much demand.  They mentioned that Penn. State has more information about what they think it might be.  I haven't researched that yet.

The last farm we visited for the day was a 250 commercial ewe operation.  This farm practices rotational grazing also.  The sheep are of a mixed breed, they try to have some lamb in the fall and winter to have lambs to sell in December and for Easter.  The husband and wife team both work off their farm, so their farm practice has to work around their schedules with lambing and such.

The rams used in their operation.

Some pretty flowers sprucing up the out house.

...more pretty flowers.

this concludes my day on the farm grazing tours.   Tomorrow will be the Ohio Sheep Day, hopefully more pics. to post.....

How did I spend my Memorial Day?

Since the rain had finally stopped, I had to get into the garden and til it.  I started early in the morning because I knew it was going to get hot, 90 degrees today.

I finished about 11:00 am, so I decided to wash the rest of my fleeces so I can start working with them.

I washed 10 fleeces today!  I am beat, too much for one person.  Next time I will have to recruit help, maybe a labor for fiber deal.

I now have everything washed, except the britch.  I'm not too concerned about that right now. 

It just feels good knowing that it is done and I can walk downstairs at any time, look over my fleeces and pull out what ever I have the desire to  work with.

Fun Stuff!

Day 2, final day of Great Lakes Fiber Show

I took this picture because of their sign, I don't know if you can read it completely or not, but it says "Look !! No Rain Today !

This weekend was the first nice weather that we have had in two months

I had to buy a skein of this......it was calling me!  It is a blend of SuperWash Merino, Bamboo & Nylon.  I don't have a clue what I will make with it, I just want to spin it.  Maybe I've save it and enter it in next years competition...hmmm.

Always good to carry a camera, you never know what you might want to take a picture of.  Someone was selling these feeders for $800.00.  I've been telling my husband this is the type of feeder that I would like to have, now he can make one for me. 

That is it for this years Local Fiber Event.  I think there is a Mid-Ohio Fiber event in August, but I have to do more checking on that one and get the details.

Fleece / Skein results

This year I entered a fleece from Harvest Thyme Autum Thyme, she has a very crimpy soft fleece.  I entered her fleece into the fine fleece competition and she took first place in the natural color division.  I am very happy to have Autum Thyme, she came into my flock this past fall and she gave us a grey single ewe lamb this spring that has an awesome fleece too. 

This year I decided to also enter a skein in the skein competition, I haven't in the past, but I thought that I would support the local competition.  My skein is under the red 2nd place ribbon, I chose to try my hand at a fine 2ply yarn.  I spun a few ounces from one of my finest fleeced ewes, the skein came out wonderful, the judge liked it too but chose the green spun skein over it because it was a blend of silk, wool and seacell, which she felt would have been harder to spin and keep a consistent yarn.

We have had great weather for this Fiber Show, a good crowd too.  Hope to get a few more pictures tomorrow.

2011 Great Lakes Fiber Show

Time passes so quickly, before I realize it almost a month has passed since my last post. 
I wanted to share info. about a local fiber show, The Great Lakes Fiber Show in Wooster, Ohio.
This is the 16th Annual Show and it keeps growing every year, the show is only a two day event.  Saturday,May 28th 10am-5pm & Sunday, May 29th 10am-4pm.  If you are not able to make it check out their web site:  http://www.greatlakesfibershow.com/ 
Two full days of much to see and do, classes to take (I'm taking a class on steeks), a skein competition (which I have prepared a fine two-ply skein to enter).  A fleece competition (of which I have entered a fine moorit fleece). 
Eighty plus vendors will be there, also a sheep show and sale.

I will posted soon after the show to update how things turned out.

Keep those spinning wheels turning with great shetland fiber!