Senile_Texas_Aggie
Herd Master
Glad to know that your family's bout with COVID wasn't as bad as other folks have had.
SA Farm's journal
- Thread starter SA Farm
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #812
SA Farm
Herd Master
Girls are doing so good with their sheep tractor. Fat and happy with their rotation around the yard. Not sure if I mentioned previously that our lawnmower died, so they’ve been acting as our mowers all summer. They do a pretty good job, though some of the weeds get big enough by the time they rotate all the way around that there are a bunch of thick naked stalks all over the place 
Coy:
Foxy:
Kit:
Their new winter house is just about done, so I’m happy about that. Hay is scheduled to come next week, so I’m just feeling really good about fall winter prep so far.
Last year they grazed right through until about mid-December, so I’m hoping that will happen again this year.
I’ve been playing with their wool again. I think I may have overdone it by getting so many fleeces to process. It’s fun, but so time consuming. Mind you, I say that because I’m working on the small amount of Foxy fleece that I kept and it’s just full of vm, hair, and some sections are badly matted, so it’s a lot harder to work with than the other fleeces. The softness of the finished product makes it worth it though.
I’m thinking about putting coats on them for the winter so I won’t have as much vm to deal with, but not sure if it’s worth the effort...They’re so clean and nice right now...
Coy:
Foxy:
Kit:
Their new winter house is just about done, so I’m happy about that. Hay is scheduled to come next week, so I’m just feeling really good about fall winter prep so far.
Last year they grazed right through until about mid-December, so I’m hoping that will happen again this year.
I’ve been playing with their wool again. I think I may have overdone it by getting so many fleeces to process. It’s fun, but so time consuming. Mind you, I say that because I’m working on the small amount of Foxy fleece that I kept and it’s just full of vm, hair, and some sections are badly matted, so it’s a lot harder to work with than the other fleeces. The softness of the finished product makes it worth it though.
I’m thinking about putting coats on them for the winter so I won’t have as much vm to deal with, but not sure if it’s worth the effort...They’re so clean and nice right now...
- Thread starter
- #813
SA Farm
Herd Master
I’m tired, sore, and grumpy today so I thought I’d take a break and start to catch up a bit on here. It was a good move since I feel very humble after reading the trials and tribulations of others. I have my own problems, sure, but they could always be worse.
Summer dulls are over and I’m back in work mode. Got my basement stairs painted with gritty paint that will help with traction - or cause road rash if anyone does fall...but it feels safer to me atm. Did it one half at a time and actually remembered to take a pic! (They were in pretty rough shape and worn way too smooth for my comfort.)
Got my chickens cleaned out and their nest box reattached since I only had grow-outs in that pen for the summer.
Got Woolfie and Dingo back on grass, well, weeds, for the next few weeks. I’m still trying to figure out who I want bred when. DH has suggestions, but I don’t like all of them
But starting next month we’ll be playing musical sheep. Just not sure of the tune yet.
Last night I finished spinning Foxy’s wool and plying it. I’m almost ready to make some fingerless gloves to go with my Woolfie/Foxy hat. Then maybe some slippers/booties for baby?
Kit’s wool is all washed and drying, so I think I’ll start picking through it soon. Lots more wool waiting for me to play with it over the winter
The other thing I’ve been thinking about doing is reinvigorating my YouTube channel. I currently only have one video up of a baby turkey strutting...from 3 years ago
Maybe do a vlog or something? I just watched a ton of Sandi Brock and felt a little inspired to do something similar. Of course I don’t have video equipment or editing software, but I could probably do some short videos...
My main concern is that it’s a passing fancy that I’ll start, then quit when I’m going through a less chatty phase.
Thoughts?
Pic of my flowering rosemary just for fun.
Summer dulls are over and I’m back in work mode. Got my basement stairs painted with gritty paint that will help with traction - or cause road rash if anyone does fall...but it feels safer to me atm. Did it one half at a time and actually remembered to take a pic! (They were in pretty rough shape and worn way too smooth for my comfort.)
Got my chickens cleaned out and their nest box reattached since I only had grow-outs in that pen for the summer.
Got Woolfie and Dingo back on grass, well, weeds, for the next few weeks. I’m still trying to figure out who I want bred when. DH has suggestions, but I don’t like all of them
But starting next month we’ll be playing musical sheep. Just not sure of the tune yet.Last night I finished spinning Foxy’s wool and plying it. I’m almost ready to make some fingerless gloves to go with my Woolfie/Foxy hat. Then maybe some slippers/booties for baby?
Kit’s wool is all washed and drying, so I think I’ll start picking through it soon. Lots more wool waiting for me to play with it over the winter
The other thing I’ve been thinking about doing is reinvigorating my YouTube channel. I currently only have one video up of a baby turkey strutting...from 3 years ago
Maybe do a vlog or something? I just watched a ton of Sandi Brock and felt a little inspired to do something similar. Of course I don’t have video equipment or editing software, but I could probably do some short videos...
My main concern is that it’s a passing fancy that I’ll start, then quit when I’m going through a less chatty phase.
Thoughts?
Pic of my flowering rosemary just for fun.
Bruce
Herd Master
Those stairs look great!
I didn't know rosemary put out such beautiful flowers. Do the bees or butterflies like them?
I didn't know rosemary put out such beautiful flowers. Do the bees or butterflies like them?
- Thread starter
- #815
Baymule
Herd Master
I am in awe of your spinning and knit/crochet skills.
What a blessing that Covid didn't do any long lasting damage to you or family.
What a blessing that Covid didn't do any long lasting damage to you or family.
Senile_Texas_Aggie
Herd Master
Miss @SA Farm,
Regarding your YouTube channel, I say go for it! I know you would have at least one subscriber -- me -- and probably thousands more.
Senile Texas Aggie
Regarding your YouTube channel, I say go for it! I know you would have at least one subscriber -- me -- and probably thousands more.
Senile Texas Aggie
- Thread starter
- #818
SA Farm
Herd Master
Hay is coming today! I’m always so happy to get my hay in. The security of knowing my sheepies will have plenty to eat over the winter is just...a load off my mind.
I think we’ve figured out the breeding schedule. Dingo is currently with Woolfie, so about mid-October I’m going to switch him and Coy so she’ll be with Woolfie for a month or two.
Foxy and Kit will (hopefully) get bred, then I’ll put them all back together for Coy to get bred and to give Woolfie one last chance if she isn’t bred already. Then we’ll pull Dingo the beginning of January to make sure we know the last possible due dates so I’m not waiting all summer with empty hope like I did this year.
Phew!
Dingo approves this plan of action! (Taken from a video I was getting to post to YouTube 
I’m working on my website now and hope to get a domain name and publish it in the spring. Really get connected. I think people feel more comfortable buying from someone they feel they know - I know I do! There are way too many scammers out there!
My biggest challenge with the plan is my spotty internet
and my up and down ambition. But I really want my animals to do better at paying for themselves, and doing the work to market them successfully is on me. I have to do better.
Anyway, here’s some freshly picked through Kit wool
It’s really nice and super soft! I can’t wait to spin it and see how it behaves 
I think we’ve figured out the breeding schedule. Dingo is currently with Woolfie, so about mid-October I’m going to switch him and Coy so she’ll be with Woolfie for a month or two.
Foxy and Kit will (hopefully) get bred, then I’ll put them all back together for Coy to get bred and to give Woolfie one last chance if she isn’t bred already. Then we’ll pull Dingo the beginning of January to make sure we know the last possible due dates so I’m not waiting all summer with empty hope like I did this year.
Phew!
Dingo approves this plan of action!
(Taken from a video I was getting to post to YouTube I’m working on my website now and hope to get a domain name and publish it in the spring. Really get connected. I think people feel more comfortable buying from someone they feel they know - I know I do! There are way too many scammers out there!
My biggest challenge with the plan is my spotty internet
and my up and down ambition. But I really want my animals to do better at paying for themselves, and doing the work to market them successfully is on me. I have to do better.Anyway, here’s some freshly picked through Kit wool
It’s really nice and super soft! I can’t wait to spin it and see how it behaves - Thread starter
- #819
SA Farm
Herd Master
I took my broody turkeys eggs so I could candle them to determine fertility since I don’t want my girls sitting for no good reason and getting thin into the colder weather and...the worst thing ever happened!
I’m usually super careful even though I often place eggs on the ground but this time, I must’ve had my head on wrong since I stepped on them!
Thankfully only 2 were developing, but still! I’ve never even dropped a fertile egg before. I feel awful
I locked the girls out of the nest box. Hopefully they’ll give up soon...*sad sigh*
I’m also getting worried about this winter. They say the more orange on a wooly caterpillar, the shorter and milder the winter...I found this guy in my barn:
Not a stitch of orange on him! I’m going to have to brace myself for a bitter cold, long winter. I know we’re due for one, but it’s been awhile. DH said he’s going to try to get me one of those cozy coop heaters for the barn. So there’s hope yet.
I want tomorrow to come. Today sucks
I’m usually super careful even though I often place eggs on the ground but this time, I must’ve had my head on wrong since I stepped on them!
Thankfully only 2 were developing, but still! I’ve never even dropped a fertile egg before. I feel awful
I locked the girls out of the nest box. Hopefully they’ll give up soon...*sad sigh*
I’m also getting worried about this winter. They say the more orange on a wooly caterpillar, the shorter and milder the winter...I found this guy in my barn:
Not a stitch of orange on him! I’m going to have to brace myself for a bitter cold, long winter. I know we’re due for one, but it’s been awhile. DH said he’s going to try to get me one of those cozy coop heaters for the barn. So there’s hope yet.
I want tomorrow to come. Today sucks
Bruce
Herd Master
Sorry about your bad day SA 
Maybe that wooly bear just cleaned a chimney??
Maybe that wooly bear just cleaned a chimney??
