I had the most marvelous time at the Estes Park Wool Market this year! I judged a marathon 5 hours worth of angora goats on Saturday and then spoke on Modern Marketing Techniques at the goat breeders dinner... but Friday and Sunday were just play days and I enjoyed catching up with old friends and making some new ones! I also got to meet a few of you who get this newsletter! If you have never been to the Wool Market, be sure to put this on your list of things to do for next year. There is nothing like it... See the special Estes Park page for more pictures and the Colored Angora show results!

Hay time!

Its summer and haymaking time again. My brother John has been working for weeks : repairing the hydraulics on the tractor, replacing and adjusting cutters on the mower, welding repairs to the brush hog, greasing up the rotobaler... now if it would just stop raining long enough to take it to the field and see if we can make some hay!

How wonderful it is to see the sheep and goats finally in their new pasture at last! And when all was said and done at the USDA office paperwork-wise, it looks like the entire fencing project actually cost me only about $20 out of pocket... thanks to the donated labor of friends and family. Now the plan is to graze it down pretty hard until fall, then lime... then later this winter overseed and fertilize for a better stand of forage next summer.

I have some friends with Anatolian x Pyranees pups that are about 8 weeks old . Born and raised with all classes of livestock (horses, cattle, sheep, llamas, goats, chickens, etc). If you want something a tad more aggressive than a Pyranees... this may be just the thing.

For the next three months, I will be featuring one of my housemilkers on the goat page. These girls are such characters and are so important to the farm. I drink the milk, make cheese and yogurt, and FILL my freezer with milk for the inevitable bottle babies. With the sky-high price of milk replacer this is no small savings! This month you will meet HMFF Cozette and her buck kid (who is on sale this month!). Look for a delicious recipe for raspberry/chevre crepes as well!

This month you will find an updated bunnylist on the rabbit page along with a Summer Wooler Special ! Each year the extreme heat and humidity of Missouri causes some rabbits to drop an ear. While this will in no way affect their ability to produce gorgeous hair, it does make them unsuitable for show. So on these fiber-pet quality rabbits, I have a special discount. Need a show quality rabbit? I have those too!

I posted the last of the 2007 fleeces on ebay this month... with the exception of one that I am taking to Bethel for the fleece competition. On the sheep page, you will find a lineup of potential herdsires for the upcoming breeding season. Its not too early to be thinking about who you are going to use on your flock this fall.

Creative Marketing and a Great Outing!

Just thought I would pass on this fun opportunity for all you knitters out there! See www.valuedvenues.com for more info and to print registration form. Sounds like FUN for anyone within driving distance of Kansas City, Mo.

Yarn Shoppers Express

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Must register by July 30

All Day Excursion, via luxury motorcoach, leaving Kansas City at 8am, Arriving back at 6pm

Cost is $99 per person and includes gift/snack pack upon boarding

shopping bag

catered lunch,

stops at 3 yarn shops and one handspinners farm

Stop 1: Stitch Knitch, NKC, MO where you will receive a sock blocker keychain and stitch knitch exclusive hand dyed sock yarn and double point needles

Stop 2: Yarn Barn, Lawrence, KS where you will receive textured alpaca yarn called PUNCH that will make a great scarf on size 13 needles (not included)

Stop 3: Lunch catered by Sugarfoot Catering

Stop 4: Maggies Farm, a hand-dyer and hand-spinners farm in Lawrence where you will meet the sheep who produce the yarn she spins and you will have the opportunity to buy her hand-dyed and spun wool and receive a complimentary photo card of the sheep

Stop 5: Yarn Stop and More, Overland Park, KS where you will receive the yarn, buckles and pattern to make a summer belt

Other Upcoming Events