THE GREAT AMERICAN SPIN OFF AT NAILE

Each year at Naile there is a spin off where spinners come from all over and sit around and spin in the big area. Today was the day.... Good crowd and we all enjoyed visiting. The Friendship spinners go every year to Shaker village at Christmas time. I hope we can go. Some stay the night....

I came home and made more Felting kits. I Have my vehicle ready to go in the morning.

Em had scrubbed my kitty today. There was a scrub brush laying in the tub. He is going to learn to run when she shows up. Of course it is nice for him to be rid of fleas. She just put a new collar on him. Poor thing....

Ummm....I am Holiday Happy Now.

One more successful Holiday Market today. It was once again very well organized. The new location worked out and the people came.....of course not near as many kids as came to see us on the wool stage yesterday at NAILE. They had said 1300 would come through. I am not sure all came by but I bet we had more than half of them.

David and I went to Paoli to our favorite Mexican restaurant after the market today. El Compadra is the place. They have even opened up one in Mitchell also...

I usually am out with my animals off and on all day. Boy do I feel guilty right now being gone so much. I promise them my schedule will soon be back to norm... Well, as soon as I can. I am checking to see now if I can go to French Lick to set up at the Hotel for a show they are having...

I have to go and cut up a roast I cooked today. I am going to take pork roast sandwiches with us tomorrow. David is going with me...It is the Great American Spin In.

TO MARKET WE GO

Tomorrow is the holiday market in Orleans...I took the day off at NAILE. David & Jarrod went to set up this evening.

Tomorrow is the first of the wool show at NAILE. The rest is on Tuesday. I really enjoy getting to see all the different breeds of sheep wool.

BOY, DID WE WORK TODAY.....

The school kids came in today at NAILE. One time we had over 75 kids. We got it pretty mastered to keep the info flowing and keep their attention. I guess we made up for having a slow day yesterday. I am so excited about the sheep coming in tomorrow. You see a whole new crowd of people come through...

SLOW DAY DOWN AT NAILE...

TODAY WAS A LITTLE SLOW AT THE SHOW BUT WE STILL GOT LOTS OF GOOD SPINNING DONE. THE PEOPLE THAT DID COME BY AND VISIT GET A LITTLE MORE ONE ON ONE VISITING ABOUT WOOL.

DARRYL WILSON WAS DOWN THERE WITH A FRIEND OF HIS AND THEY CAME BY TO VISIT. THEY WERE WORKING IN THE COWBOY FOR CHRIST BOOTH. THEY TOOK A BREAK AND CAME OUT TO SEE US. DIANE WAS EVEN WORKING ON HER LOOM TODAY. SHE REALLY CAN CRANK OUT SOME WEAVING. A YOUNG LADY FROM TEXAS CAME BY TO VISIT WITH US THAT WORKS IN THE STORE AREA. THEY SELL DRIED SOUP MIXES. I WILL HAVE TO GO SEE HER TOMORROW AND GET THE DEFINITE NAME OF HER STORE. THEY TRAVEL ALL OVER GOING TO SHOWS.

WHEN I PULLED IN THIS MORNING THE PARKING LOT WAS COVERED WITH VANS FROM DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES. THERE IS COMPETITIONS GOING ON. COMMUNICATION TYPE SITUATIONS...VERY INTERESTING. a LADY FROM MAINE CAME BY AND WAS TELLING US ABOUT THE 4-H LEVELS. THEY ARE PRETTY TOUGH SITUATIONS...LOTS OF SMART KIDS. ALL DRESSED VERY NICELY.

AFTER I LEFT THE FAIR GROUNDS I WENT TO CORYDON TO BUY FEED AND TRY TO GET FARM WORLD PAPERS TO SEE OUR ARTICLE. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY.

I JUST WORKED ON SOME OF THE DISH TOWELS i MAKE. ALL I NEED TO DO NOW IS PUT BUTTON AND BUTTON HOLES IN....EM AND DAVID BOTH ARE HERE THIS EVENING AND I WAS GOING OVER WHAT WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE FRIDAY NIGHT. THEY WILL HAVE TO GO SET UP MY BOOTH AT ORLEANS. I DON'T GET OFF TIL 7 IN LOUISVILLE...NEXT FEW DAYS WILL BE A TIGHT SCHEDULE. BUT FUN.....

I NEED TO GO GET CLOTHS READY FOR TOMORROW....

...CAN'T GET ANY BETTER THIS....

FRIDAY I was down at Sam-Tec where my husband works at a Bazarre. We were definately different from everyone else there but had a very good time and met some really nice people. David sat and spun for 2 hours. Boy was that funny when some people he works with came through. I loved the expression on the faces...The bazarre was only 2 hours long but a busy time...
I came ohome from that and loaded the HHR to go to Louisville to NAILE. I have been down there spinning on the wool stage...I have already met so many nice people. The llama shows were this weekend. The next few days there will mainly be school kids coming through and then Wednesday the sheep start coming in...and the rodeo people. I do like to people watch and how much more fun can a person have having a front and center seat spinning wool, talking and people watching....

If you get the Farm World Magazine please take a peek in last weeks addition. We are in there. I haven't gotten to see it yet but we actually had visitors today from Indy becauseof the article...It is in reference to the Hoosier Fiber Arts Festival...

At the festival lots of people came through with cameras. I was asked if I could be put on somes blogs...Take a look at this...

http://hollybyhand.squarespace.com/blog/2009/11/8/sifaf-09-part-four-vendor-roundup.html

If anyone is interested in a pincushion let me know. I don't have them in a store yet. I will be in Orleans IN at the High School the 14th of Nov. It is the Holiday Market and also the next 2 weeks at NAILE....

I better get this day rounded up. I got home and had to debone a turkey and get that meat put away. That gives David something to eat every evening when he gets home before me... This evening I assembled another 8 felted stars to take with me tomorrow. I have some felting kits going to Maine, North Carolina and Virginia...

LITTLE CHILLY THIS MORNING

I JUST CAME BACK IN FROM LETTING OUT EVERYBODY. THE LLAMA LADIES SPOTTED THE DONKEY IN THE NEXT PASTURE OVER. THEY WERE QUITE UPSET & GIVING HIM HECK ORGLING AT HIM. I GOT THE DONKEY TO COME OVER TO THE FENCE SO THEY COULD SMELL HIM. i WAS VERY IMPRESSED ON THE LLAMAS PART. CC, THE CRIA IS BEING TAUGHT WELL...

I AM HEADING TO TOWN TO GET SOME PICTURES DEVELOPED OF THE ANIMALS TO TAKE TO THE BAZAAR TOMORROW.

BEEN ASSEMBLING MORE FELTING KITS

Friday IS MOVING IN ON ME QUICK. i HAVE BEEN PUTTING TTOGETHER FELTING KITS, TAGGING FELTED STARS, AND PUTTING FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE PIN CUSHIONS....

I WAS SO EXCITED TODAY TO GO OUT TO FIND THE DONKEY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GOATS. I HAD TO LOOK CLOSE TO FIND HIM. A LITTLE LATER I WENT OUT AND HE HAD FOLLOWED THE GIRLS OVER TO ANOTHER PASTURE AND HE WAS SITTING DOWN. THEY WERE GRAZING ALL AROUND HIM...THIS IS WHAT I HAD PLANNED FOR. I WAS JUST WAITING TO SEE IF HE AGREED.

THE LITTLE DONKEY ....

I have got to think of a name for the little donkey guy. He is so funny and does like to be petted. It was a beautiful day yesterday. He followed Cluckie & Muckie out into the pasture. Hung pretty close to them but toward evening he and the goats got together. They look at him like, oh, heck what are you...He is about the size of the older does...

I am going out to do some hand mowing after lunch. I have so much to do right now I don't know what to do first. I have a bizarre to set up at on Friday. I am trying to get everything in good order. It will only be for 2 hours. I have to go pick up the kids checks after that then get back to Salem.

Saturday is the beginning of the North American International Livestock Expo. I had sent off some really nice fiber to be done into roving. I wanted to take with me down there. Stonehedge Fiber Mill called this morning and they are shipping it out to day. I am so excited. It is Finn/ Shetland/kid mohair....

MARKETS OVER!....

This weekend was the last Farmer's Market for the 2009 season. It has been a good year for us at Market. Wool has done us well this year. My brain is doing over time now trying to think of what I will do for next year...I still have 2 more enagements before I will totally finish up the season. I will be at the North American International Livestock Expo starting Nov 7th thru the 19th. You will find me on the wool stage spinning and talking wool. The only day I won't be there will be the the 14th. We will be at The Farmer's Market Holiday Market at the Orlean's High School. This will be our second year at both the Market and NAILE.

2 weeks ago we were at the Southern Indiana Fiber Arts Festival. There was over 200 people there on Friday and 800 on Saturday. It rained on us Friday or should I say misted on us all day. A friend of mine from Crawford county came and helped us out Friday. We enjoyed that also. We did get a little visiting in. I had a table of roving out in baskets. It would slow down msiting and I would uncover it then it would kick up again and we would have to throw the cloth back over. As the day went we finally had to put a tarp on then throw the table cloth over to anchor because the wind was kicking up. BUT, we had a very good day in sales and enjoyed visiting with lots of the people. This was the second time I was out with the spinning wheels...Saturday rolled around. We started out really cloudy and no rain. Aboutr 10am the wind kicked up. Day started out slow but about 11:00 the people decended on us and I mean to tell you by 1:30 I was frozen and exhausted. I went and got the down coat & took a walk and warmed up ...Jarrod showed up with us some lunch and I was ready to finish off what was a very nice day. Oh, yes....We were interviewd to be in the Farm World Magazine. I look for it to be in there in the next week or 2.

About a month ago David and I went and set up at Bear Hollow Indiana(ST Croix). Are you ready for this....A Chain Saw Carving Competion. It is their fall Festival....Echo brand chainsaws sponsors it and they have carvers from all over the US come in. What a nice group of people. Let me tell you onece again the weather was crummy but the people came...

Between the Chain Saw Festival and Corydon David and made a quick run to OH to buy 2 new Finn Rams. The fleece on these guys are just outstanding...I am so anxious to shear them in the spring....Oh, yes the important part. These will be a great asset to the breeding program. It will add a big variety to what we have going on...

Oh, yes....The spinning wheels. I am so excited...We have added Kromski Spinning wheels to Rooster's Run interest. We are very pleased of the reaction of people. They really look old and will be a nice piece of furniture also...If you ever have any questions on the spinning wheels feel free to email. THEY ARE PERFECT FOR THE RE-ENACTORS. NO PLASTIC PIECES AND PERFECT STYLES...after the first of the year we will add weaving supplies...

Oh.....I almost forgot. You won't believe what I did this week. I have a new minature donkey. He is a cutie. David is even a bit smitten with him. I wasn't sure if I would get traded off that evening when David got home...He has made his way over to the llamas and seems to have found where he wants to be...

David spent this morning putting up the fences around the alfalfa. We will be letting the girls out on there. Breeding season isn't far away. I double checked to make sure I have plenty of baking soda on hand. Sometimes when they first get out on the alfalfa they need the soda. We start out with only letting them out like a hour and then put them up for the first few days and then go from there....

We had a guy out here David works with. He is in from the Costa Rico plant. We showed him around here. David and him went over to Beck's Mill and then when we got back , David, he and I went to Paoli to eat Supper...at El Compadra. Good mexican food. Juan was telling us the difference in Mexico spanish and Costa Rico spanish. Kinda like When I married David we had to get PA english sorted out with TX english....I asked Juan questions about Costa Rico. He was a very patient guy answering them. Just quite a interesting day. We have a lady that buys our older hens. She came out today also...She was a little late getting here so Emily stayed here and helped her.

I have been busy washing wool. The last month I have sold alot of locks so I have to get them restocked. I had a lady from Farmer's Market tell me about a month ago she would be here the first part of Nov to buy. I have to get the blk shetland and the llama fiber done and I think I will have enough for her to choose from...

Every other week or so I go and volunteer my time at The French Lick Farmer's Market store. This last week I was there. I usually spend that time checking in new items. Thursdays are kinda slow days. If I get a minute I usually spinn a while or Felt some stars...We will be open til mid Dec and then close for the winter...Not to bad a trip out there unless it has been raining for days like about a month ago. I went around the square at Paoli and it was like whoops....The water was high and they had the signs up way back in town which I was glad for...About a year ago French Lick flooded. They were suppose to go through and drudge lots of creeks etc to help that out. Still must have more to do....

Lately when I go out on Hwy 56 I average seeing at least 1 Texas Car....Makes my day. 1 day I saw 3....Yep, all the way out here in the sticks of Indiana....

I better get busy and get to bed...I have been trying to keep a schedule similar to the one I will have when I go to NAILE. Some days I will work 10 hours and some only 5....

Working on the garden a little bit more...

The beautiful day like to got past me before I got outside to get some work done. a person has to go in town every once in awhile. But I finally got out and cut some okra. Got some beets seeds sowed. I may be ok there but time will tell.... David plowed on the garden. We want to get garlic planted. Here we almost had so much rain we rotted over the summer and now we haven't had any in a week or so and just about can't get the dirt broke. I have no doubt where I will put the next barn cleaning...

The van decided to tell me the coolant was low when I got ready to head out yesterday morning. I was heading to a appointment so I came back parked the van and took the ole faithful truck. It is funny to see somebodies face when I get out of the dear ole truck dressed pretty decent. One of these days I will get me a new truck...

I have the sweetest little brown angora buck. Originally when we put him to be weaned he would yell for his Mom to talk. Em has been busy so she hasn't been here daily to know what he is up to. She came in the other day and said, Mom, will that goat ever be happy. I told her now he yells for us to come over and scratch him. He strains and it sounds like he is just a dieing. We were afraid at first he would have a attitude but when we got him away from all the little girls he has calmed down and quite a sweetie...

I was very excited to see this morning that the magazine that Tractor supply puts out ea season has put a lady with Angora goats as their front page article. Very nice article.

We are waiting on 2 silkie hens setting on eggs to get finished up. That is the only reason we are glad it hasn't rained. We have the pens ready to move them and chicks inside when they get here. One hen has a young chcik from her last time by her side so they all tend to a couple nest.

I better get back at it. I have to go to French Lick store Thursday so I am trying to do extra to accomidate that day....

A SUMMER SUNDAY AFTERNOON

What a beautiful day! We had to run over to the Mill after lunch. I had made contact with a Fiber Mill over in OH to buy some wool. They loved the old wool machines and had wanted to come take a look at them. They made it out today. The machines need a little more help and everybody learned lots. I took my spinning wheel and sat there and spun with another lady and visited with people as they came up to take a look at the second floor at the Mill...

David and I excused ourselves when they saw the problem with the machines and nothing else could be done. We came on back and got a couple goats sheared. Just got that done and a guy called and wanted to come look at goats. He is real interested. We encouraged him to bring his wife back over and visit. We will bring the goats up to the barn and close them up in a pen. We will set some chairs in the pen and just let the people see if they really conect with the goats...

I just came in from the garden. Jarrod mowed down all the corn stalks etc. David will plow in the next day or 2 so we can get the garlic in hopefully before it rains.

We had a good week around here. Sold one puppy. Still have more to go...Had a busy day at Farmers Market. I have sold out of all my felting kits. I have to get busy putting more of those together. I washed load of wool and need to get another load in soaking tonight. I sent some wool back to OH to be processed. I hope I can get it back in time for The Corydon Fiber show.
www.southernindianafiberarts.com/ It isn't long til then. I have lots to do to get ready.

I found a kitty on the side of the road the other evening when I went to the vet. I brought it home thinking I could give it away and it hasn't worked so it looks like it is nestling in here.

I better get this day rounded up here. Tomorrow will be another busy one.

It's Saturday....

What a busy day...Farmer's Market went well this morning. We had Spaghetti Squash this morning and then we passed out recipes to go with them and the different kinds of peppers... Some ladies that had bought Sweet Annie Anise came by to order their bunches ...Both ladies own Antique shops. I had just noticed this week when mowing it was starting to put on seeds. I smell Fall in the air.

I came home after market and David went to Bloomington. We need to add a dog pen. Probably will just fix both ends of a pen we have and go from there....

Em just text and she is going to work extra and Jarrod has gone to Bloomington w/ Hannah. His one book he needs for school is at Barnes and Noble. They were going to get that and then get me a spinning wheel maintenance kit at Yarns Unlimited.

I came in to cool off after mowing on the tree line. Guess I better get back at it...

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

BOY IS IT HOT IN INDIANA NOW...We are paying for all the cool days. It was a busy day yesterday keeping everybodies water buckets full. I made sure all the pens had loose salt for heat stress.

I have been out this morning working on the rabbit area. Washing wool. Did a little mowing. I guess here after lunch I will start picking produce for tomorrow at Farmer's Market.

We sold a Border Collie Pup yesterday evening. The guy took a male. He melted right to the guy. That is always good to see.

We put up another 20 or so bales of hay in the barn yesterday evening. The barns are looking nice being full of hay. David thinks we can get one more good cutting of alfalfa. It will have been a good year for hay...

OUT VISITING

We went to friends house last night for supper. They had some fresh chickens to serve fried up. Oh, it was so good. Had a fresh tomato salad, green beans, potatoes & gravy, fresh biscuits. Some more friends came from about 15 miles the other direction. She brought a rice dish. I got some good ideals for some new dishes to have around here...OK, I must confess. I took dessert and cheated. I went to grocery store to buy mine. I spent alot of time out cleaning chicken and goat pen yesterday. Time slipped up on me. While we were at it last night we went ahead and celebrated David's Birthday... We enjoyed eating outside. After dark the sky was good and clear and the stars were easy to see...All the kids had a good time playing.

Much Needed Rain

Em just left out for work. We got lots done in the house this morning. Rain came. The weather guy said we wouldn't get it til after lunch. That was about 5:30 this morning. By 8:30 we could hear it coming...I worked hard on getting the road side tree line mowed yesterday evening. Glad I did now.

We have 4 little Millie De Flour chicks in the house with their Mom. They are so small and sweet. They are about 4 days old now. The first few days they pretty much stayed under her but are coming out more. Maybe I can get a picture soon.

The Shetland - Finn Lamb crosses

I have been out this afternoon in the lamb pen. We do have some nice crosses w/ excellent fleeces. I can't wait for fall shearing.

Hi....Everyone!

I want to try blogging more consistent & combine the Farm and some at the Beck's Mill. Sooo...

Yesterday afternoon I was out in the sheep pen just visiting and noticed lots of ewes kicking off the lambs. Ummm....Just what I wanted to see. I have several sold and needed to start weaning. We were out in the feed area so I got up to shut the gate. When David got home I told him I had them caught so after supper we went out and moved them up to a front pen. They are all doing well today. It probably helps that the big boys are across the driveway from them. We have 2 more lambs to catch and will try to do that in the next couple afternoons when I catch them in the right place.

My garden is doing great. I start gathering green beans on Thursday evening. Usually pick all day on Fridays and do well selling on Saturday. It won't be long til I have some peppers and egg plants ready. Corn is doing excellent this year. Makes me want to go sleep with it in case some coon comes a calling...

Last Sunday at the Mill was a busy one. I enjoy it when people come in that have their family history well tracked out. Grandma Agnes Beck's grandchildren came in. We enjoyed visting with them. We at the Mill are planing a Washington County Day. We want to have a cornmeal cook off at that time. Stay tuned for more info. Do you have any favorite cornmeal recipes we could publish in a cook book? Please send them in soon. I saw a picture of the Mill today that showed the lean to on the side of the mill where the creek is if you can imagine that. I had been told that the wool processing equipment had been in a lean too. Someone asked me where the lean to was and I just had to say I didn't know so I was really glad to get the answer to my question seeing that picture. All those trees were not always around the Mill so it is more beautiful than ever around there.

I am heading outside to do some feeding the chickens. Need to mow. It is going to rain tomorrow. Seems like I can't stay ahead of the weeds...Maybe can til some in the garden when David gets home to help start the tiller. He has to help start it. Needs the cable worked on.