Author Archives: WoolyMama

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New Members of the Flock

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Today we brought home two new hens (I know, we need more chickens like we need a hole in the head). I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity when I saw someone on Craigslist selling a Sicilian Buttercup hen. They’re not exactly the most common of breeds.
I didn’t want to bring her home alone (there’s that anthropomorphising I tend to do) so I bought a blue Maran hen as well.

They’ve been named Melinda (the buttercup, after Ghost Whisperer, Emily’s favorite show) and Amelie (the blue one, on the right).

She’s got quite an impressive comb.  I went through all her feathers, checking for any pointy hackle or saddle feathers.  I just do NOT need another rooster!

So far they are getting along fine in our front pen with Paddy duck, Berry the lame rooster (“lame” as in he has a bad foot) and little CC the hen who won’t stay out back with all the others.

If we keep on at this rate we may need to open our own “Chicken World”.

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More Scenes from Rhinebeck

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Alpacas!!!

There were incredible little felted woodland creatures.

AND…….

All Things Llama!  Complete with felted llama wool slippers:

I am craving these pot pies again.  The line for the tent was ridiculous long, but they were well worth it.

The Rhinebeck House Party crew.

My very small stash of fiber – I did not really have a budget for it this year (next year, however……).  I did snag this super soft hank of Maple Creek Farm Merino Superwash in colorway “Spices” and two hanks of Fine Wool Sock yarn from Juniper Moon Farm in Colorways “Sea Witch” and “Merlot”.  And I have to admit I bought those directly from Susie here in Va and not exactly at Rhinebeck.  It’s to die for.  Can’t wait to knit all of it up!

I also brought home 3 big bags of Maple cotton candy.  Yum!

If you’ve never been to the Sheep and Wool Festival I highly suggest you try for next year – there’s a huge amount of people there and you’ll need to plan your accommodations well in advance but it’s a great time. We had a blast!

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Country Living y’all!!!

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The November issue of Country Living magazine is out, and it features none other than my awesome friend Susie!

Click HERE to see the online link to the article.

There are some great pictures of the animals, the people and the yarn at Juniper Moon Farm.

Speaking of Susie, she and I are headed up to the New York Sheep & Wool Festival at Rhinebeck this weekend.  (Paul will be holding down the fort here with the kids and animals).  I’ll do my best to post pics from the road; otherwise check back Monday.  Until then, check out that article and buy some yarn!!!

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Jerry’s New Attitude

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There’s been a gradual shift going on around here.  A change in demeanor, in behavior, in attitude. Jerry seems to have a whole new outlook on the humans around him.

He’s been letting us pet him.  Kiss his soft fuzzy nose, even (it feels like velvet!).

Sometimes he gets all in your face and nibbles on your lips and nose.  This all started around the time he realized that us bipedal types more often than not have little apple slices for him.  And he loooooooves apple slices.

It’s certainly made taking care of his vaccinations easier.

It also means that at times it looks like you’re making out with a llama.

I’m not honestly sure that making out with a llama is necessarily the best choice a person could make.

I’m just saying.

Either way, we’re all glad Jerry’s decided he likes us.

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A New Baby – Daddy

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Meet Jack.

Jack is Susie’s Angora herd sire.  Isn’t he handsome?

Milkshakes doesn’t know it yet, but this gorgeous hunka – he – goat is going to be her booty – call in about a month.

I just can’t resist.  They are going to make some super – cute  mutt kids, let me tell you.

In other news, the chickens have apparently gone on strike – I am getting one egg a day – two if I am lucky.  I imagine it’s because we went from brutal heat to low 40’s at night in the blink of an eye.

Of course today it’s like 80 out there.

Go figure.

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Old Farm Day!

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Today was one of my favorite days of the year.  Our county holds “Old Farm Day” every October to showcase local farmers, 4H groups and small businesses, as well as antique cars and farm equipment.  As if October needed anything to make it better!!!

The weather was perfect this year as well.  After a week of rain the skies cleared and the sun came out and warmed us up to about the  mid 7o’s.  The smell of hay, pulled pork bbq and funnel cake was in the air and there was a light breeze.  Cows mooed, sheep and goats baa’d and children were squealing with delight.

Llamas!!!!!!!!!!!

Emily reeeeeeeaaaaallly wanted these.  I am not positive, but I believe they are Exchequer Leghorns.

Sheep!!!  There was also a Rambouillet lamb for auction.  Oh, if only.

I want one of these portable sawmills.  Think of all the fencing I could make!!!!

Beautiful mule getting a nice mani/pedi.

This look says, “Oh please may I have this puppy????”

$5 pony rides.  EACH. These people know how to support their pony upkeep!

Mechanical Bull rides.  Also $5 each.  Emily lasted 8 seconds.

Neve lasted 22.

Emily maintains that they set it on an easier speed for Neve, and that she was therefore “robbed”.

Open – kettle apple butter.  Yummy!!!!  I am going to make some stove – top apple butter tomorrow, I think, and can it.

Oona loved riding on Brittney’s shoulders.  She was one tired little baby by the time we left.

I was pretty tired, too.

It’s a lot of work having this much fun.  Can’t wait for next year!!!

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A Tiny Visitor

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We had a tiny visitor here the other day. I have no idea how Paul even spotted him.

He was dang cute, though.

Look at that little froggy!!!

After we were done “oo-ing” and “ah-ing” over him I placed in him the garden, where I hope he’s safer than in the driveway or garage.

Lovely Japser- cat scratch on my hand, no?

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Happy Autumn!!! and other things…..

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Today is the Autumn Equinox!

We are all very excited for fall here at Merry Magpie.  Too bad it’s 95 degrees outside today!

Our school lessons today revolved around learning about the various harvest and equinox celebrations around the world and throughout history followed by crafts.  All three girls knew that papier mache was on the agenda and they could barely contain themselves to sit through the lessons first.

Martha Stewart came through in a big way for us today.  I have, like many of you, a love/hate relationship with the eminent Ms. Stewart.  I won’t get into that right now except to say that all of the ideas I took from her books and magazines today went off without a hitch, beginning with the aforementioned papier mache.

We glued black and orange crepe paper onto balloons and hung them to dry.  Once they are done, we can pop the balloons inside them and they will hold their shapes.  The black ones are destined to become cat faces with open mouths to hold candy.  The orange will become a pumpkin.

It was extremely messy,but remarkably easy.

Next we assembled crowns of leaves made from rubber stamps, black tempera paint and colored construction paper.

Oona hasn’t taken hers off.

After our school day ended we celebrated by watching It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and eating Ghost Toast with Boo-nilla milk.

When you get right down to it, none of us will be the least bit sorry to bid summer 2010 adieu.  It’s been brutally hot and dry this year.  The only sadness is closing the pool for the year and saying goodbye to fresh summer food.

Luckily, I really enjoy cold weather foods as well.

Fresh pumpernickel anyone?  Or how about the delectable Pirate Peaches I made the other night?  Next year I will be certain to make at least 100 jars of it once peaches are in season again.

We mustn’t leave out Martha’s puff pastry pumpkins I tried out as well.  I didn’t have a pumpkin cookie cutter (go figure) so I had to use an acorn shape.  They are filled with gruyere and dijon.  So good!!!

Emily especially liked these.

The coming of autumn means the animals should be more comfortable, as well.  They’re definitely more playful when it’s cooler.

You can see Milkshakes is getting a bit shaggy.  She’s part Cashmere – I don’t know what else she might be, and for all I know she could be ALL Cashmere.  Either way I am going to try and comb her and see if I can get some of that shagginess taken care of.  She is beginning to put on some weight as well, which will help if we breed her.

Jerry’s wool is growing in very nice as well.  I am going to try and do a better job of shearing him in the spring so I can spin the fleece.   Or at least sell it to someone else who’ll want to spin it. I have more than enough knitting and yarn projects to keep me going through the next millenium. And really I do need the cooler weather for those.  Sitting with a huge pile of wool in your lap is not the most comfortable summer activity.

At least it looks like fall out there.

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Clams and Mussels, Oh My!

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You can’t say my kids aren’t adventurous.  Neve upped the ante this past weekend by attempting to expand her culinary experience.

My aunt Leisa was in town so we all headed over to my parents’ for raw clams and steamed mussels (and pizza for the kids) .

Emily declared herself unable to eat something that was rather alive at the time of purchase (she’s a vegetarian but will eat fish…..as long as it comes frozen in a box).  Neve was fascinated by the shells and the whole process of cleaning them.  As the adults started scarfing them down (with a dollop of dad’s fabulous cocktail sauce) we could all tell Neve was trying to summon up the courage to try one.

She liked the sauce and really wanted to see what raw clam tasted like, but she was also a bit nervous about the whole thing.

So we did what any other good family would do.

We bribed her.  A bag of M&M’s would head her way if she’d try a clam.

It took her all her courage and quite a few starts and stops…….

She did it!

She got it part way down her throat and then…..

Back it came.

At least she tried.

The amazing thing is, we got her to try a steamed mussel a little while later.

It came back, too.

Maybe when she’s older.