Two Years Ago Today...

Two years ago today was the worst ice storm we've ever had. We were without electricity for nearly three weeks. Imagine trees down everywhere, no water, no heat, and no way to get out. Our driveway is 1/4 mile long at the end of a dirt road, my dear hubby had to chainsaw his way out of the driveway and then chainsaw as far as he could up the dirt road that is a mile long. We had to walk to town to try and find bottled water (which was nearly all gone). Thank goodness for the kind couple that picked us up and took us part way into town, and a friend that was able to get us to Walmart and back partway home. He couldn't drive up our dirt road due to the trees that were too big for us to chainsaw away from the road. So we had to carry the water and kerosene home.

Here's a video I took out of the back door. Since we didn't have radio or cell phone service, we had no idea how bad our area had been hit by this storm until we had gotten into town 3 days later.

Today in comparison, is blue skies and spring like. I'll be planting sugar snap peas this afternoon.

Feels Like Spring is In The Air

What a beautiful day it has been! It was actually nice enough that I opened the doors and let some fresh air into the house. I got a lot done today, inside and out. I plied another skein of yarn this morning. White alpaca and some of Moonstruck's fleece. Washed it and dried it. Now it's ready to go. Moonstruck's combed top is all spun and plied as well. Just have the woolen prep to do and then spin that and her fleece will be all done.

I've been teaching Shadow to drive so that I can steer him from behind and pick up rocks to put in the wagon. Sometimes he forgets that he has to take directions, those acorns are so tempting. But, once I get him focused on where I want him to go and not the acorns he does very well. I'm gathering rocks from the field to make raised garden beds, it's a good use for some of the many rocks we have. Seems like every time I turn around more rocks have sprouted!

I also burned some tree limbs that had fallen the last wind storm we had. And since I had a fire going I thought I might as well take advantage of the free heat and bake me a couple of Yukon Gold potatoes. Yum.

I've decided which fleeces I'm having made into roving and which I'm keeping here to process into yarn by hand. After pulling out and sorting the fleece, I can't believe how much I have! Two shearings from Jacinda, Raven, Guthrie, and one from Robin (lamb). So, I'm sending out Jacinda's, Guthrie's, and one of Raven's and keeping Robins' and one of Raven's. I'm hoping to shear before lambing, but it depends on how warm it is mid Feb.

Snow!

Last night we got our first snow this winter. Further south, it snowed much more than what we received. Malvern was hit with 8 inches and Interstate 30 is supposed to be closed, according to my dear hubby. I'd rather snow than ice!

I'm back spinning Moonstruck's fleece that I've hand combed into top. I have one full bobbin and a half done. Then on to plying that.

The ewe's are looking very pregnant! If my calculations are correct Jacinda (white ewe pictured) should lamb at the end of Feb. She had a very nice ram lamb last yr.

A Pile of Alpaca

On Ravelry, I was offered a Spin a Fleece, get a Fleece of alpaca. I just could not help myself and have been spinning the fleece that needs to be returned to the alpaca owner. It is nice fleece. However, I've decided that I need to have more self control! I still have 5 fleeeces of my own sheep to process and spin into yarn before spring comes and time to shear them. So, this year I WILL NOT take any more fleeces so that I can catch up on my own fleeces. Just do not have enough time in the day to do that and get the garden and other things done. I am thinking about sending out some of the fleeces to have made into roving so that I can catch up a little. I am also going through my yarn stash and taking pictures of yarn that I don't have a project already picked out for and am going to do a destash on Ravelry within the next month or so. I have so little storage space, that it just needs to be done.

Why Every Small Homestead Should Have a Draft Animal

Small draft animals are a wonderful way to have cheap help around the small homestead when you need that extra helping hand.  Goats, in my opinion, are the most versatile. They are small, inexpensive to feed, are easy to maneuver in tight quarters, are easy to train for most people, and are less prone to step on your feet. I'm not saying they are the only, or the best draft animal. Every homesteader needs to take stock of what their needs are to determine what animal they should use. Very small places could go with one or even two large dogs. But they do eat a lot and require that you feed them meat. Pony's would be good to have if you needed much more strength than what a goat could provide, pound for pound. However, they do get frightened easier, are harder to train for someone not familiar with horse personalities, and they eat more.

Here Shadow is helping me clean out the sheep shed. I do this weekly. It only takes two loads of this stone boat to get the job done. I do need to raise the height of the sides of the stone boat. If I did that, it would only take one trip. After unloading the sheep droppings into the compost pile, Shadow then helps me with moving leaves to the compost pile. Four loads of leaves, 2 loads of sheep droppings = black gold in the garden!

Look What Came In the Mail Today!

My wonderful husband bought me a beautiful skein winder for Christmas. I love this skein winder! It has everything I would want in a skein winder/swift. Yardage counter, different skein sizes, solid wood, and easy to use.

This is the picture from the website, but it looks exactly like the one I received. Here's their etsy shop address, in case someone was interested in checking them out. Wooden Spinner skein winder

Merry Christmas!

Catching Up...

My son is home for the holidays and he brought his camera with him.

Yea, now I can catch up on all the things I've been doing. To me, blogging without pictures is boring (no offense to anyone who doesn't blog with pics) so that's why I haven't done any posting lately. 

The lincoln/alpaca yarn came out lovely.

I would certainly do this mix again, should I come across more lincoln.

I'm knitting Spring Tulips Stole as an introduction to lace work because I have to admit, I'm a bit intimidated by Gwendolyn, the shawl I'm going to make with the lace yarn I've made with Moonstruck's  fleece.

I've also finally gotten through combing Moonstruck's June clip 2010.  It was soo clean that I am able to use the "waste" from combing. That will be hand carded for wollen spinning. But, that will have to wait till I've gotten a few other projects completed, and Christmas over with. Next yr, I'm GOING to start Christmas projects in summer!!! So much to do, and so little time (grin).

Here's what I've been doing outside with Shadow as my helper.  Raking leaves and piling them up for a compost pile for the spring garden. This pile is about four feet tall and about 30 feet around. When I clean out the sheep shed (thank you Shadow for helping here too) the cleanings go into this pile. I still have more leaves to gather, but it's been so cold and damp I haven't been out to get it done. Plus, Christmas is coming upon us very quickly and I have many projects to finish!

I've also added a solar light on my portable chicken house. Yea, solar chickens! It only cost $15, and works very well for what I'm using it for. Lighting for winter eggs.

I'm closing for now, though I'm sure I've left something out. But anyways, Have a Very Merry Christmas.