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Seasons Bleatings!
 The newly painted poultry and
attached rabbitry looks nice
It's May and Mother
Nature has been kind... the pastures got green and lush earlier
than usual. All our babies are on the ground safe and
sound... and the rabbits have outdone themselves this year
(perhaps to make up for last year).
With
the help of my brother and my kids, I have also been working hard
renovating, landscaping and updating the facilities. The rabbitry
and chicken house got a much needed paint job and the
maternity shed got its roof painted and is getting
some new landscaping out front. It feels good to be getting
a handle on things again.
The show season is well under
way and although it is difficult for me to leave the farm to
go, I am going to try to attend as many as I can.
 1st place at Fiber Fling!
I just got back from the Spring Fling in Arcadia, Mo
where I taught two workshops and had a booth. This event is new,
but promising. It is held Spring and Fall in southeast Missouri.
to learn more about "The Fling" see http://fiberfling.netfirms.com/index.html. I am proud to announce that HMFF received first
place in the colored fine/medium wool division with a hoggett fleece
from HMFF Ganymeade (Blueface Hybrid) who is on the sheep salelist!
I also got second place for the Autumn Offering bowl (seen in previous
issues of Seasons Bleatings)
 HMFF Farm participated in the 4-H Rabbit Education Day held at the
fairgrounds in Sullivan, Mo.on May 1st (see the rabbit page
for a great picture of the rabbit) I demonstrated plucking
and spinning of angora fiber. ANNIE HAD PUPS! On April 14th,
Annie had two puppies (just two). On May 2nd I heard
them growling for the first time... so cute! She is SUCH a
good mama...very protective of her babies. They are deep under
the front porch, so I have not been able to see if we have girls
or boys yet... but she should be bringing them out soon. If
all goes well, we should have purebred Pyranees out of working parents
available by June. Price will be reasonable... this may be the chance
you were looking for to get a flock guardian.Watch for pictures
and details in the June issue.
 We also have KITTENS ; some (4) with natural bob-tails
like their Manx papa! All in pretty spotted patterns...some fluffy,
some smooth coated. What would a farm be without a cat or
two to keep the rodents from the feed room, clean up after milking
and to curl up in your lap on a cold winter evening? Kittens
will be ready to go by May 10th and are free to good homes.
All
our Border and Blueface fleeces are SOLD! I
only kept two back to take to the shows (and use myself!) Thanks
so much to the folks who so enthusiastically purchased them. Happy
repeat customers are the heart and soul of a venture such as my
farm. You make all the hard work worth while and are much appreciated.
I have been waiting for your sheep to be sheared.
I would like to order 3 fleeces in the grease,
and skirted.
...Thanks so much. I love your fleeces.
Sincerely, Janet N
CA
Oh what a lovely
way to spend a Sunday morning! ... on the computer buying
fleece!
I'm trying
for about 7-8 pounds of white, and around 2 pounds of silver,
which I've never had before ...I know I'll be delighted with anything
you choose for me.I'll wash them. I
love having those silky soft, big white bouncy clouds drying on
racks in the dining room.
Sandoval
White Dog Woolies
www.whitedogwoolies.com CA
Wonderful wonderful
wonderful is all I can say !
Karen
NC
I have been carding
all afternoon and I have to tell you that is some of the most
beautiful wool I
have ever worked with. Worth every penny.
I hate being greedy
but I may have to have some more wool...
Janet N
CA
I received the fleece yesterday,
that was fast! It looks wonderful, so clean. Thank
you.
Becky MO
So,
if the Leicester wool is gone, what kind of fleeces
are available? Well, I have all kinds of fun stuff
to tempt you with!
Available
this month are SELECT
SHETLAND FLEECES from Little Valley Ranch! I have personally reserved four fleeces that
meet my personal standards of quality. They are long stapled
with a distinct wavey lock and carefully skirted for uniformity.
They were expertly sheared with no second cuts and quite clean.
I think you will like them. The Shetland fleeces were also entered in
the fleece competition at Fiber Fling and one of
the white fleeces took 1st place in the white fleece division.
COMING SOON! Alpaca
from Stotler Farms
 The Alpacas will be sheared soon and the
instant the fleeces are weighed and sorted, the entire
harvest will be marketed through Herbal Maid Fiber Farm!
I am currently spinning a bag a delicious black alpaca that Fran
gave me last winter. Boy oh boy! SPINNING WHEELS After giving me
the initial go-ahead, the U.S distributor for Ashford
has been putting me off... probably because I do not have
a "shop in town". This is a disappointment to me of course,
but I have not given up. For those of you looking for a
spinning wheel, I have been keeping my eye out for good used wheels.
Recently, I obtained two great wheels . One is a "barely
used" Ashford Traditional wheel that looks like it was NEVER used.
And the other is a vintage Staphorster wheel (never used).
See the Spinning
Wheels page for more details.
 DYE
WORKSHOP - All
the returning color to the landscape has me wanting to dye! The
next workshop will be "Rainbow Dye Techniques".
Wanna come play? For all the details on this workshop and
other events of interest, see the
"Upcoming Events" below Be sure to contact
me at hmffarm@fidnet.com
to secure your spot at this workshop.
SPRING
LIVESTOCK SALELISTS
Sheep
Salelist - 2005 lambs, yearlings and adults
Rabbit
Salelist - the latest bunny report and salelist
Dairy
Goat Salelist
- news and salelist - including new arrivals
at the farm
Colored
Angora Salelist - 2005 kids, yearlings and adults
Upcoming Events for HMFF!
May 21, 2005 Fiber Faire Marshfield,
Mo Webster Co Fairgrounds. Sponsored by Highland
Fiber Artists Livestock and fiber sales. Competitions. I
will have a booth and will be entering the fleece and knitting contests.
Will demonstrate spinning bunny and will have rabbits for sale. Livestock
deliveries are possible to this event. For more info
see www.confabulation.com/~spinner
June 3-5, 2005 Heart of America
Show Sedalia, MO Sponsored by the MoNCWGA. CAG
show and registry inspections, booths and workshops
I will have a booth and be teaching a workshop called "Knitting
a Designer Mohair Hat" Livestock deliveries
are possible to this event. Details see http://www.moncwga.com/
June (date TBA) 2005 Rainbow Dye Techniques
at the farm: whole fleece and centerpull ball methods of dyeing
Contact me by May 20th at hmffarm@fidnet.com to reserve your spot and
help me pick a day that works for you!
Hope to see you out and about... and as always, I love to hear from you! Kathy Barger-Harbert Herbal Maid Fiber Farm
Rosebud, MO
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