Can We Say "Spring" Yet?

Pussywillow Catkins

Probably not, but the weather has been lovely for the last few days.  Only a hint of ice in a couple of rabbit water bottles this morning!  Lily was positively frisky on her walk around the farm.  I think she smells spring, although I don't think it's quite here yet.  I saw a robin, foolish bird, but the red-winged black birds are nowhere in sight and the pussywillow pushes the season a bit.

Fresh Texel Fleece

Last weekend I received an invitation to go to Border Springs Farm, here in Patrick County, for sheep shearing day.  Linda and I headed out early for the lovely drive down the mountain from Meadows of Dan.  The trees are still bare but the sun was shining and it was wonderful to look out across the mountains as we traveled.  The farm is at the back of beautiful Patrick Springs, Virginia, and it's a lovely location with beautiful mountain views.

Craig and Joan Rogers were delightful hosts and Linda and I plunged into the work of skirting fleece with joy.  I forgot my camera, of course, but there are some wonderful pictures on the farm site that look to have been taken later in the day.  And some great videos of sheep shearing in action!  It was fantastic to watch the dogs at work.  The farm is planning a "Lamb Day" sometime soon...watch this space for more information when I receive it.

The fleece were very nice!  I haven't worked with Texel before so I can't say what the resulting yarns and roving will be like, but the wool that Linda and I brought home looks lovely.  It's nice and soft, very clean and of good length.  At the moment I'm looking for a Virginia fiber processor for these fleeces.  I'd like to have a totally "Virginia" product with these fleeces...good selling point!   We had a lovely time at Border Springs, even though we both wore out and left around noon.  I understand that lots of wool was sold that day but the farm still has some left.  According to articles on the Internet, Texel is good for felting.  These fleeces look like they will be good to spin, too.  So contact Craig if you're interested in trying this interesting wool!

TJ: Ready for a mission

Every morning I take TJ for a long walk.  He's behaving so much better...walks nicely by my side and seems to enjoy every minute.  He does better when we're alone, although we enjoy the walks with Kym and Bently more.  Most of our walks with Kym are very early, before daylight for most of the year.  So on weekends we get to sleep in....until 7 AM!

Luxury!

Lazy Day of Luxury

Waht to do on a rainy afternoon, after a delightful trip with friends into town? My choice was curling up in my cozy sitting room with good books, a purring cat, a contented spaniel at my feet and a cool yogurt shake. The rain pounded the windows and roof and the wind blew, but we were happy in our little corner. It's the little things that make me happy; an old tin tray, a book loaned by a friend and the closeness of the animals.

Today the sun is bright and I'm listening to old Paul Simon while I work. Already customers are wandering in out of the sunshine and it should be a nice day. I spent the last week doing a complete overhaul of Mountain Meadow Farm and Craft Market's web site. Check it out when you get the chance; I think it turned out beautifully!


After Dinner Gardening

Sister-in-law Sue gave me ripe avocados from California on Sunday, and I had to hurry and do something with them on Monday. Since I was going to Danville, Monday night dinner took place without me but I went ahead and made soup and guacamole for next week and froze them.

When I was a teenager I loved having plants and did a lot of experimenting with growing things from seed. A neighbor of a friend (we called her "Grandma Yeatts" even though she was no relation) gave us cuttings from her vast collection and seeds from a very, very hot ornamental pepper that we kept going for years. I found a book, After Dinner Gardening in a used book store not long after I got my first driver's licence and Judy and I spent half our time rescuing vegetable seeds from our mothers. Avocados, however, were rarely on the dinner table so we bought the fruit ourselves to obtain the pits just fo planting. Neither of us at the time knew anything about avocados, and I had barely heard of guacamole. We threw away the fruit and kept the pit!

I abandoned my horticultural efforts over the years, ,but when I saw the pits resting in the avocado peels I couldn't resist potting them up. They're nestled by the window in the corner of my sitting room, and we'll see if I get an avocado tree before long.