“Oh, those West Virginia Hills!”
We never tire of your beauty and inspiration, especially on these misty, mountain mornings as the fog slowly burns off and you appear in the distance.
Author: Sheeps & Peeps
Sheeps and Peeps Farm Arroyo
We’re often asked “What can I knit with your yarn?” So we thought we would start sharing a series of patterns and photos of finished projects that have been knit with our farm-grown yarn.
First up Arroyo by Sarah H. Wolf shown here in our Sheeps and Peeps Farm Millspun Yarn
Arroyo was knit by our middle sister using size 8 needles and resulting in a shawlette with lovely drape. We love the way it turned out! It makes such a lovely three-season chill chaser.
Sunday Muse
“Grass is the forgiveness of nature – her constant benediction.
Its tenacious fibers hold the earth in its place, and prevent its soluble components from washing into the sea. It invades the solitude of deserts, climbs the inaccessible slopes and forbidding pinnacles of mountains, modifies climates and determines the history, character and destiny of nations…
Grass yields no fruit in earth or air, and yet should its harvest fail for single year, famine would depopulate the world.”
~ John Ingalls, U.S. Senator , 1873-1891
Ode to Samson
A little over 12 years ago we brought home this beautiful, enthusiastic Komodor. He was the runt of the litter and covered with bite marks from his litter mates. We gave him a big, strong, brave name – Samson.
Growing into his name, Samson became a brave and caring guardian of the flock, family and farm, taking his responsibilities very seriously as he patrolled the perimeter of the pastures.
Three years ago, Mother Nature, in her own time and season, took charge of our planning, scheming, counting, watching and waiting and at the age of nine, our Sam proved everyone wrong as he and Bella became parents of seven beautiful puppies. We are so blessed that three of them, Asher, Birka and Red are following in his footsteps guarding the flock.
And so it is that as all stories come to an end, it was with great sadness, that we had to put our brave Samson to sleep yesterday. We buried him in a corner of his beloved pasture. He was a great friend and companion, and lived a full and happy life. Still… we are heart broken.
Sunday Muse
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.”
— John Lubbock
Sunday Muse
The Lightest Touch
Good poetry begins with
the lightest touch,
a breeze arriving from nowhere,
a whispered healing arrival,
a word in your ear,
a settling into things,
then like a hand in the dark
it arrests your whole body,
steeling you for revelation.
In the silence that follows
a great line
you can feel Lazarus
deep inside
even the laziest, most deathly afraid
part of you,
lift up his hands and walk toward the light.
~ David Whyte from “Everything is Waiting for You”
In the Fiber Room
We’ve combined the lovely Lucy’s wool with some fawn mohair for these beautiful spinning batts!
Available here http://ow.ly/ZkS7q
Late Winter
As we go through our normal day to day late winter chores, this year we’re busy getting ready for some early arrivals. Nine of the ewes were bred early by two ‘bad boy’ fence jumping rams and are due, not in April with the rest of the flock, but in the next couple weeks. It is a challenge to adjust our usual spring lambing and feeding routine to a winter one, but we’re working hard on the logistics.
We’re also working with Tilly, the family milk cow (wow, it feels really great saying that) who will be having her first calf in March. We’re so excited about this addition to our family and our daily routine. So wish us luck for the next month or so, it’s been a long time since we’ve milked a cow. Oh, and be sure to stay tuned for the baby pictures ☺
Sunday Muse
“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”
~ John Muir
In the Fiber Room
We’ve been busy skirting raw fleeces in the fiber room. Check out the new listings in our Etsy shop.
