Monday, July 31, 2023

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Finish Line - 2023 Tour de Fleece

  Here are the results of my 2023 Tour de Fleece. (July1-23) 2451 total yards; that is 1.4 miles. With 6 skeins, 17.5 hours of spinning: 1634 singles, 817 plying. I averaged 140 yards per hour. I did not put in as many hours, nor make as many yards of finished yarn, but I did spin the yardage faster this year. (140 per hour, vs 125 last year.)







Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Meet BC Betuse (rhymes with Lettuce)

 Betuse came with the group that I purchased from KS this spring.  I had not planned to keep any of the juniors, but when it came time to place them, she had a watery eye, so I kept her back.  I have decided to keep and show her this fall.  She is like a furry 2 liter pop bottle, just like the standard says.  She is also very quiet and calm for a Frosty, and has been easy to teach to pose for judging.  





Sunday, July 16, 2023

Blue Chip kits

 Look how much they have grown in a week!   They are so even and fat, and Chippy is still very protective of them.  What dirty looks I get when I dare to check the nestbox.  Hooman - I know what I am doing, she says!  


Saturday, July 15, 2023

Day 15 of the Tour

 Finished up 4 oz of olive BFL from TerraMia in OR.  186 yards.  I am still on track to spin some each day.  



Monday, July 10, 2023

Day Ten - Tour de Fleece 2023

174 yards, 4 oz BFL from TerraMia purebred BFL flock in OR

4 oz, 172 yards BFL from Desert Panda - this is imported BFL, and so
probably not purebred. 

 

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Newborn CF

 Born last night, Somerhill Arlo and Rose Arbor Blue Chip have 6 kits.  These are the first from my homebred buck, and I am excited about them. 


Friday, July 7, 2023

1 month old

 Unless the sex change fairy pays a visit, which is likely, we have 3 does.  These are from Knight & Kashi.  There is a REW, a chocolate tort, and a red.  All are reserved.  




Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Day 5 - Tour de Fleece 2023

 Today is the fifth day of the Tour, and I have finished spinning the 4 oz of teal BFL and started in on the second braid of BFL in black/natural/green/blues.   Because it is a commercial roving, likely sourced from the UK, it is noticeably coarser in texture from the teal skein, which came from a noted US BFL breeder.  The fiber from the UK that is labeled BFL is not necessarily from purebred sheep - most likely it is from crosses called mules, which are the backbone of the UK sheep industry.  Nevertheless, it is a pleasant spin.  


This year, the Tour runs from July 1-23.  My goal is to spin some each day.   I hope to complete (at least) this collection of rovings.  

Lake picnic

 We picked the perfect day for a spring picnic on the lake.  The rains stopped for a bit, sun came out, and it was perfect temp to sit on th...