Season's Bleatings and Happy New Year!

Here it is January 2006! Not even one week into the new year and I am already behind... <sigh>

January is the quiet month between holiday madness and farm babies. A small window of opportunity that allows me to reflect, plan, and prepare. A new look for the website is going to be my main focus... so watch for big changes SOON! As always, I have a marvelous webmaster to thank for his efforts and if you should ever have need of his services, I could not recommend him more highly: Bill Kammer of bdotweb.com

Last years experiment with EBAY proved to be a success... so look for "herbalmaid" fleeces to be a regular feature there. I will still post all the fleeces to the faithful subscribers to Season's Bleatings! first... so you will still have first crack at everything.

PAYPAL has also proved to be a valuable addition, even though it costs me to use, it is worth it. Fast electronic payments mean I can get your package in the mail to you so much faster.... and no waiting time for a check to clear.... and no verification of deposit charges to me either.

One sour note is that Postal Prices are going up again as of January 8th, 2006 and I may have to raise my postage costs to you... but we'll see. I'll try to keep it as economical as possible.

So with that bit of business out of the way... lets get on to the fun stuff in this newsletter!

RABBITS Have you seen the new Wallace & Gromit Were Rabbit movie ? I haven't yet, but ran across this article about a town that has banned the posters ! An interesting read about bad and good luck associated with rabbits...see the rabbit page. No rabbits for sale this month, but will start breeding soon!

GOATS - This month I include an article that I wrote for CAGBA on "Hypothermia in Newborns". On the goat page you will also find my HMFF kid sweaters (I always knit them in January!) and a special deal on Tattoo ink that I want to share with you.

SHEEP - On the sheep page you will find an exerpt from a wonderful book I am reading called Heavy Words, Lightly Thrown which recounts the story behind the nursery rhyme BaaBaa Black Sheep... and just in time for tax season! And to go with the story, I am offering a black yearling ewe for sale (probably bred) and several assorted rams.

POULTRY - On the poultry page you will find my research on the rare Sebastopol Geese which have joined us here at HMFF. Also instructions for crafting a goose feather tree and the latest on Avian flu issues.

I leave you this month with one of my favorite poems that when I wrote it, every time I re-read it , every time I recall it, leaves me with a sense of deep peace. It is called

"Comfort"

The house is wrapped in the sweet softness

of the moments before dawn lights the sky

A sudden cough wakes me and I turn

to shield you from the intrusion upon your sleep

You stretch and press your leg

full length against mine in silent comfort

then moments later pull away, too hot,

and replace it with one foot against my calf

while soft white woodsmoke curls towards

a still dark sky filled with fading stars.

kbh 1-23-98

May your winter be restful and your new year be blessed

Kathy Barger-Harbert

Herbal Maid Fiber Farm

hmffarm@fidnet.com

Season's Bleatings and Happy New Year!

Here it is January 2006! Not even one week into the new year and I am already behind... <sigh>

January is the quiet month between holiday madness and farm babies. A small window of opportunity that allows me to reflect, plan, and prepare. A new look for the website is going to be my main focus... so watch for big changes SOON!   As always, I have a marvelous webmaster to thank for his efforts and if you should ever have need of his services, I could not recommend him more highly: Bill Kammer of bdotweb.com

Last years experiment with EBAY proved to be a success... so look for "herbalmaid" fleeces to be a regular feature there. I will still post all the fleeces to the faithful subscribers to Season's Bleatings! first... so you will still have first crack at everything.

PAYPAL has also proved to be a valuable addition, even though it costs me to use, it is worth it. Fast electronic payments mean I can get your package in the mail to you so much faster.... and no waiting time for a check to clear.... and no verification of deposit charges to me either.

One sour note is that Postal Prices are going up again as of January 8th, 2006 and I may have to raise my postage costs to you... but we'll see. I'll try to keep it as economical as possible.

So with that bit of business out of the way... lets get on to the fun stuff in this newsletter!

RABBITS   Have you seen the new Wallace & Gromit Were Rabbit movie ? I haven't yet, but ran across this article about a town that has banned the posters ! An interesting read about bad and good luck associated with rabbits...see the rabbit page. No rabbits for sale this month, but will start breeding soon!

GOATS - This month I include an article that I wrote for CAGBA on "Hypothermia in Newborns". On the goat page you will also find my HMFF kid sweaters (I always knit them in January!) and a special deal on Tattoo ink that I want to share with you.

SHEEP - On the sheep page you will find an exerpt from a wonderful book I am reading called Heavy Words, Lightly Thrown which recounts the story behind the nursery rhyme BaaBaa Black Sheep... and just in time for tax season!    And to go with the story, I am offering a black yearling ewe for sale (probably bred) and several assorted rams.

POULTRY - On the poultry page you will find my research on the rare Sebastopol Geese which have joined us here at HMFF. Also instructions for crafting a goose feather tree and the latest on Avian flu issues.

I leave you this month with one of my favorite poems that when I wrote it, every time I re-read it , every time I recall it, leaves me with a sense of deep peace. It is called

"Comfort"

The house is wrapped in the sweet softness

of the moments before dawn lights the sky

A sudden cough wakes me and I turn

to shield you from the intrusion upon your sleep

You stretch and press your leg

full length against mine in silent comfort

then moments later pull away, too hot,

and replace it with one foot against my calf

while soft white woodsmoke curls towards

a still dark sky filled with fading stars.

kbh 1-23-98

May your winter be restful and your new year be blessed

Kathy Barger-Harbert

Herbal Maid Fiber Farm

hmffarm@fidnet.com