Daisy Hill Fiber Farm

Hi, I’d like to introduce myself – my name is Sue. It’s been so long since I blogged that I figure you’ve all forgotten who I am, and what’s going on this direction. Heck, folks have even been actually writing me REAL emails to enquire if I’m still breathing… bout time I dropped you all a note.

Whats been going on is life. I’ve reached that place where the more I try to get things done the more I’m just treading water and making no headway. So this is my first attempt to advance just a bit further up my “to do” list.

What’s been happening here? Well fibery things, christmasy things, frozen things. Thanks to some sub artic temperatures the chores have been taking me a good 3+ hours a day to get accomplished. Imagine lots of individual rabbit cages full of lots of individual bowls of water frozen solid – twice a day…. And you can imagine what a time waster that becomes. Not that it’s a waste to have fresh water in front of my bunnies… but the amount of effort involved is amazing, even to me. And the term freeze your butt off… (sorry for those of you with tender temperaments) is really true. I have determined that the part of my anatomy with the most sluggish blood flow truly is my bum. Spending two hours in –10 degree weather and encouraged me to wear long johns!

So one of the things you’ve missed is the Great Alpaca Importation of 2009. I ran across an ad on Craigs List (as I am often able to do…) for a great deal on a group of young male alpacas from North Idaho. I decided to buy the lot to get the group price, and sell off the ones that wouldn’t be “mine”. Chuck took a couple tranquilizers and agreed to the plan. Have I ever mentioned how much I appreciate his kind hearted support of my schemes and plans? I do. Anyway, 6 alpacas were delivered (another aspect of the great deal!) to our place along with samples of their June shearing… very important to us spinners. Within the first two days I had observed enough to select the two that would stay with us… and started to promote the rest amongst our local fiber guild. This past week the last “extra” guy left for his new home, and our two were turned loose with the flock. They weren’t embraced with open arms… “Hey buddy, sit down and have a drink… tell us about your Mom” sort of thing… but there has been no open hostility and our two male llamas have taken the stand that the new guys are close to invisible. If you don’t see something, then you don’t have to have an opinion – right?

Here’s a few photos of our new guys….

This is Kris Krinkle, named in honor of the K year, the season and his habit of having his nose all crinkled up as if his surroundings are distasteful to him.

This is Valdez, he retained his arrival name.  He is a rose gray, though a bit more rose than gray at the moment.

Snow is starting to finally arrive, along with freezing rain…. So it appears that we may end up with a white Christmas after all. I took a couple photos of Iden this past weekend trying to capture how wonderfully her coat has grown back in after the puppies. She had a good coat pre-pup, and then dropped almost all her fur to the point that she had a black lab coat for much of the summer… but is now in the best coat she’s ever had. Of course the attempt to capture her fur beauty was thwarted by these two marauders:

And one last quick piece of news… is this modification to the “Annex” next to the shop.

I had placed an ad on Craigs List for some laying hens, and when I mentioned to Chuck that I was getting quite a few responses I discovered that I had skipped the conversation about why we needed Laying hens. Now. It actually took me some time to convince him that buying them this time of year was preferable to hatching them next spring and waiting until fall for them to start laying… or being big enough to eat lots of bugs. We went through much of last summer without any chickens and really missed their ability to keep the fly and bug population to a dull roar. This coming weekend I’m scheduled to go pick up some chickens south of us, and bring our new young women home to their co-op coop.

Can't see what I'm talking about?  Let's go closer...

And this will end this installment of our blog. Chuck calls it OUR blog, which I find endearing – though I’m curious as to whether he plans on doing any entries himself. But I will have to agree that it is a blog about our life. Thanks for stopping by and sharing it with us!

(Note... I suspect that when I have time (?!) I will be looking for a blogging site to move the blog to - Webs is just not user friendly or cooperative. This said after wrestling with it for over 2 hours and getting close at least a half dozen times. Either I am Blog Challenged, or I've missed some very important instruction. Since Webs comes without any instruction... its probably a combination of both)

Just a quick note, as it is very late and dark O'Clock right now.  Life hasn't slowed down quite enough yet...  but I have high hopes.  I've procrastinated on a woven tea towel exchange, and I keep looking at the loom that is sitting in the MIDDLE of my living room needing to be warped, then woven, then hemmed... wondering if its just insane to contemplate doing it at this late date.  They need to be done in less than a month.  But I work better with a deadline, right?!  And of course there are other items fighting for my time and attention - sheep that need to be recoated, rabbits that need to be sheared, blogs that need to be written.  Well we can cross one of those partially off the list.  And add in that this is one of the craziest times of the year at work, so no chance of taking a few extra days off.  Sigh... those towels aren't looking like they have a chance.

I wanted to show you a few new family members...  well, Daisy Hill family members.  Thats your tip off that they won't be human by the way.  First off there is a button quail which I don't have a photo of.  He lives in the bottom of Finley's cage.  I was a bit worried that Finley was lonely for bird companionship, but didn't want to spring for another canary.  I've always loved quail, so the concept of a button quail that would roam the floor of Finley's cage seemed to be a good plan.  Finley at first was a bit annoyed that I had made such a bold move without consulting him... but I've noticed that he seems to enjoy having the company.  In a canary sort of way anyway.  Don't let anyone tell you that button quail are quiet.  They are NOT.  (Pet Shop Lady - you liar, liar pants on fire)  Kanary (get it?!) makes two different noises (alot).  One sounds like a chicken clearing its throat, ther other sounds like a hawk or eagle coming down for a kill.  Both are lovely noises to have happening at a fairly loud level in ones living room.  Kanary is not necessarily camera shy, he just never stops moving.  He is a very handsome fellow though.

Two new felines were added to the barn population.  Our mouse population has reached plague proportions.  Ugly vision isn't it.  They eat enough rabbit food, straight from the feeders, to cost me a pretty penny on a weekly basis.  So despite our last experience of trying to add a pair of barn cats, I made the decision to try again.  This time my criteria was an older kitten, past the soft and fuzzy stage.  I was hoping to find a pair that had been raised in a barn by a Mom who was a mouser herself.  Not only did I find a pair of brothers that met that to a T, but they were also neutered with their first shots as well!  Oh, and only three miles from home...  pretty darn good manifestation I think!  And the fact that this pair are sweet as could be, with purr machines that can be heard a good 25 feet away... well thats just icing on the cake. 

This spiffy guy is Konan.  He's the leader and explorer of the two.  I do have a weakness for the tuxedo cats.  But really, I didn't choose these guys - they were the only two there were.  I just lucked out!

This fella is Konrad.  He's as gentle and handsome as he looks.  A medium length fur makes him seem like a cremepuff, yet I think that he was the first to make a kill.

The mice hid for the first week or so that the cats were home.  But now they are out in force, so I'm hoping that these boys get busy!  Konan is busy meeting and greeting the sheep and llamas and wandering far and wide.  They have a fine apartment in the barn's grain room, and seem content to make that their headquarters.

Another photo of my newest rabbit.  He's in the rabbit section of the website, but I know a few of you never wander that direction.  I encourage you to go take a look at the angora section to see the rainbow of coat colors we have now.  Lovely.  This guy is special because he is a world traveler.  I bought him from a breeder in New York State.  He was transported from NY to San Diego California, where the National Rabbit Convention was being held.  It is THE rabbit show of the year.  There he won Best of Opposite Sex in the colored variety of Satin Angoras.  From there he was transported back to our little corner of the world by a fellow rabbit breeder.  Thank You again Anne.  He brings with him genetics that are new to the Northwest.  It will be wonderful to cross him into some of the other lines I've collected.

Oh, and did I mention that he is CHOCOLATE?!  We've named him Kadbury. 

And now I NEED to call this done for the time being.  Thanks for stopping by.  A comment now and then might encourage me... not so subtle hint.

It’s a glorious Veterans day. Skys are a blend of threatening clouds and blue with sunshine. The woodsmoke from our woodstove is hanging like fog over Daisy Hill and I’m sitting here in my robe at nearly 9am because it’s a holiday. Time to catch up on a few tasks… like a blog post!

The last of the scheduled events are behind us now, so hopefully the blog will get a bit more attention. It is my goal to get all the necessary photos this weekend to update the furred and feathered folk. There have been additions! And yes, we have them stowed in every nook and cranny at this point. But watch for a post either this weekend or early next week that will have lots of new and shinning faces in it.

This post is just going to be a bit of Potpourri…

I’ll take Potpourri for $200 Alex (a Jeopardy reference for those of you that are TV shy) . Yesterday I tried to go to Webs to check and see if a potential rabbit customer had stopped by to look at photos (yes, I am big brother where this website is concerned), only to find that Freewebs and daisydeva.webs.com was no where to be found. You can just imagine my dismay, and many other descriptive words to that effect! Multiply your confusion by about 1000 and you’d have my reaction. And the relief this morning when it woke up and was there again was extreme. Now, if it would just start accepting things and loading up pages I could get this blog out to you. Fingers crossed.

Here’s a few recent photos. In no particular order or thought pattern.  OK... so at the photos we reach an impasse.  I suspect that all the folks that panicked when they couldn't find Webs yesterday are online trying to accomplish something.  And I think the website is much like a person that is getting over the last of the flu - there is a limit to what it wants to do.  I'll try to slip back later in the day when it might be feeling a bit more vigorous to try to add a few photos.  Know that I'm thinking of you - and am standing here on my tippy toes waiving in your direction!

I'll try one last time this visit....

Apparently Webs just wants a little understanding... note to self.  This is Katie and Tiger the other day.  She's not as small as this photo suggests, he's just a big old cat.  And apparently too big to snooze on the arm of the loveseat without a little cushion behind his back.  They are a nice coordinating color scheme too.

Another view with one of those spinning wheels sneaking into the photo.

Chuck is working on his very best Santa looks, you know its almost the season!  Katie and Blue are helping hold him down, you know we need their assistance for so many every day tasks.  Look at the sweet (yet red eyed demonic) look that Blue has.  Its because he's looking at me, and he loves his human Mom.  I love him right back.  And Katie (and Chuck) too!

A closer view and a kiss for Papa.  We have no shortage of affection around here.  Feeling down? Unloved?  Unwanted?  Come visit and I'll have the crowd love you up a bunch... you'll leave feeling all warm and important!

And just so you can see the similarities...

Same Chuck, but this is Iden - not Blue.  We've determined that Blue is most likely a black & white, whereas Iden is a seal & white.  But their faces are so similar that we are often glancing down and talking to the wrong dog.  It is helped by the fact that they are both built like crates and are, at the moment, the same size.  Often we just default to - does this dog have a tail?  If the answer is yes, its Iden - no, its Blue. 

And the final photo for the moment is....

This is a photo from the front of the main rabbitry (yes, you heard me right, there are cages elsewhere as well!) that shows my new lights.  After doing the whole barn 12 X 24ish with two light bulbs for years, this is cause for great excitement (I'm fairly simple in my pleasures).  I can SEE.  And despite my worries that 8 flourescent long bulbs would light the barn up like an operating theater and just point out how dirty everything is... I've decided that I don't see that dirt, and that the lights are just about right.   And for those of you wondering (I know WHO you are!) there are 34 "holes" in the main rabbitry.  10 more in the Annex (which now has a window shutter to close out the strong weather - yeah!), 3 in the quarrentine space at the house, and 3 in the sales/growout space next door to the main rabbitry.  And for those of you wondering, I'm still considered by rabbit industry standards to be a small operation.  And no, all the cages are not filled.  Just most of them.

Have a great Wednesday, and watch for more photos coming soon.  And if you have a Facebook page come visit me on mine - you'll find me out toiling in the fields on FarmVille, enjoying my climate controlled, non-dirt related environment as I harvest my virtual farm.

We live in an area that is beautiful. I can expound on that now because it is autumn, my favorite time of year. A time when the rains have come to remove the fear of wildfires, but the snows have yet to settle in to make driving a risky task. A time when there is a crispness in the air that has a tang to it like a fine Honeycrisp apple. Wood smoke smells good, and doesn't make me worry about how many animals I can stuff into our livestock trailer to evacuate.

It brings out the hoarder, or squirrel in me. I love to stock up on staples. I really must have spent some time in the days of pioneers, when having a full pantry made a family wealthy. We gather the hay and the firewood and the basics we'll need for the winter, which includes special items that bring out the creative aspects of ourselves. I think we both have romantic notions of holing up in our little home with the wood stove burning, and the wind howling outside and doing hobbies and crafts to entertain ourselves and each other. And it happens, just enough to wet our appetites for more...

So we've been busy preparing. Gathering and storing, and repairing and building. Two weeks ago I wandered off on a Saturday morning to attend a spinning retreat in the next county. I used the excuse to myself that I was going so that I could take a spinning wheel I have for sale.

(She's still available, if you know anyone that would like to have this beautiful wheel!)

To get to the event I drove over a small range of mountains to the east. It was a wonderful, quiet morning to soak in the season and the quiet stillness of nature. I came around a corner at one point and saw a blanket of clouds and fog covering the valley below. I had to stop and take a couple photos.

I drove down into the fog and started to enjoy taking “on the fly” photos. Driving through fog at 50 MPH, holding a camera as I drove to try to capture the feeling of disappearing into the mist. It was fun, and of limited success in the photos… but you can get a feel for it.

I had a grand time at the event. A large group of spinners, friendly, enabling, and able to rekindle my obsessions (not that it was very hard!). A good friend, Shannon, was there as well and we had some wonderful talks as I treadled myself into some deep contemplations. While I was away Chuck finished the barn extension. And now the woolies have a wonderful place to get out of the weather, sit and chew their cuds and gossip about life in the corral.

We had several litters of rabbits due last week. Out of three does, we got one litter… cold temperatures and new Moms is just not a good combination. The litter we did get is an American Chinchilla litter that was sired by a buck that was sold and has left the farm. It is nice to know that some of his genetics are still here. Fingers are crossed that they will continue to flourish. In about two weeks we are expecting another 4 litters. 2 new Moms, 2 experienced Moms. Fingers are crossed once more. Chuck has installed the fluorescent lighting in the rabbitry. It is bright and beautiful. And I keep threatening to take my morning coffee down there every day – it seems cozier than ever at the barn. Between the new woolie house, and the improvements to the rabbitry, I think we just might be almost ready for winter down there.

A person should never say things like "Back on Track"... because that person may end up eating those words (just like Webs did with my last attempt at a Blog entry).

Reports of my death have been highly exaggerated.

                                                             Mark Twain

I have things to say, I have photos (!), what I don't have is time at the moment.  So hang in there, something being posted in this spot soon.  I won't guarantee that you'll read it and say "well that was certainly worth waiting for!"  but maybe it will reinforce the idea of stopping by once in awhile to checkout what we're up to.

Enjoy your Monday - they keep coming every week even though I try to manifest something differently.  Perhaps if we all work together as a unit?!

Where have I been?  I know a few of you may have asked... well the few that have noticed that I've not been here posting blog entries.  Since my last entry I've had a Mother Visit, a Professional Conference, and Life intruding into prime blogging time.  And I will be the first to admit that personal priorities should be rearranged to make room!  I shall try better in the future.  Promise to try, don't necessarily promise to suceed. 

It is my hope that this past weekend marks the beginning of the winter slow downs.  In my personal life at least...  At work things are still ramping up and will continue to reach a frenzied pace by November, and then just stay that way untill spring.  But at home we're working our way through squirrel mode, and then will go into a holding pattern until spring.  Its my pipedream anyway...

This past weekend was our yearly trek to the Big Barter Faire.  As usual it was wonderful.  Every little thing you can think of plus more.  We came home with soaps, flutes (his & hers this time!), condiments, potatoes, cheeses, dried fruits, pottery... full tummies.  We didn't remember to get many photos this trip.  But wanted to share a few.

If you ever get really, REALLY bored you can wander back in the blog archives and find the one from mid October last year.  There is a similar shot.  Chuck enroute to the entrance of the barter faire.  While last year our wagon was actually a basket on wheels - the photo looks very similar.  We upgraded this year to a wagon.  We loved it!  The larger wheels and higher center of gravity made towing it over all the uneven ground so much easier, empty or loaded.  And just to check its helpfulness I tried it out in the rabbitry housekeeping yesterday - see this is a dump wagon!  Way cool... 

This may seem a strange shot - but this is the parking lot as we were leaving.  (I told you I didn't get many photos!)  Do you see the fine film of dust on the car next door?  How about all of it in the air?  And the layer of smoke hanging on the trees on the hillside across the way?  All signs of Barter Faire.

I can smell it even now... Woodsmoke and dust. 

More to come, out of time this morning.  I must go deal with frozen water dishes.  Lots and lots of frozen water dishes.  Thankfully it appears that things will warm up and get damp in a day or two and stay that way for awhile. 

Here's wishing you a wonderful start to your week!

We trekked far.  We drove down to Oregon last Thursday.  It was a lovely drive.  We are really blessed to live in an area of great beauty.  This trip I didn't get all misty eyed as we passed down the gorge and traversed the landscape that went from dry sandy land sprinkled with yellowed grasses and sagebrush to the landscape that was thick with foliage, ferns and tall trees.  Often that transition makes me long for that climate that feeds such a thick ecosystem.  But this time I was aware enough to see that many others were there as well.  The population seemed to explode - and they were all wanting to go fast.  And I would slip a bit deeper in my seat and tighten my seat belt, and adjust my dark glasses so that people wouldn't necessarily know that I closed my eyes every time we passed a big rig.  Oh, a hint - I wasn't driving.  But I wax poetic.... or at least descriptive.

We spent some wonderful time with our lone Grandchild Lily.  We had a very nice time with her, her parents... and even made it to the coast for a few hours.  The seashore does feed the soul. 

To share the beauty and power with a young soul... makes it easy to see it through new eyes.  We stopped and visited one of our favorite "special shops". 

A place of unique items full of wonderful energies. 

We parted from the family and that sweet little Lily and went on to the fiber festival.  All of our rabbits found good homes with nice people, and I was able to haul home many treasures.  Also a re-ignited desire to be creative and to play amoungst my fibers.  We also brought home some more rabbits...  (they are like potato chips - you can never have enough).  We spent some very "close" time with the rabbits this trip, and I really enjoyed their quiet company.

On the way home on Sunday we traveled a different route through the dry and dusty portions of mid-Washington.  We left the interstate and wandered through the wheatfields of the Palouse.  It was a wonderful diversion and change from the speed and passing of the semi trucks.  It allowed us to enjoy some small central Washington towns... and imagine what it must be like to live there.  Several were no more than 5-7 homes around a grain elevator.  How must it be to be so close to some folks, but only those folks for those long winters and even longer hot summers?  But the peace and beauty sort of snuck up on us.  Even wheat stubble and tumbleweeds have a beauty.  Especially at dusk when the horizon just seems to come forward to land at our feet. 

And I'm starting to  develope a relationship with my little 'antique' digital camera.  OK, its Chucks camera - but possesion is 9/10ths of the law.  I've even started to get a little artsy about it.

This was an unaltered shot.  But I've discovered a few special features... and ended up with some of these -

By 10pm we made it home from our adventure.  Wonderful memories, and a pile of purchased treasures.  And a long blog entry.  New photos for the website of the new buns soon.  Also am planning a style change to the website.  Fingers crossed that it is an improvement.

So I didn’t post last week, my heartfelt apologies! We’ve reached a place right now where busy seems to have taken on a whole new meaning. I was busy this summer, I was busy this spring…. But this fall, this fall is Busy (capital B) and perhaps BUSY (say with emphasis, toss in some four letter words as spice to the word – busy with oregano). I’ve got my fingers crossed (and toes too) that it will drop down to warp 9 in about three weeks.

Things are in high gear at work, and that probably won’t change until next March or April – which is a frightening thought! But here at home we’re in full blown squirrel mode. Winters coming, we have almost reached the feeling of Autumn in the air. This weekend we got 2 cords of wood delivered, and Chuck took a few young guys down to get a load of hay – 4 tons this time. We’ve got another 7 tons, or two trips to go. But that sounds doable… now to get the woolies to slow down in their consumption of said hay.

This week we leave home (Yes, I think the world is still revolving at the same speed, but perhaps with a wobble!). Its been a year since Chuck and I left home overnight together… it just doesn’t seem to happen. Might, just might, have something to do with the vast number of dependants we have at home. Thursday morning we take off for Oregon. We’ll spend Thursday night and Friday with family outside of Portland. Grandparent time!!! Then Saturday we’ll go to the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. Oh, be still my heart… my credit cards are all a twitter (the original kind of twitter, not that new thing). We’re taking down 5 rabbits, and bringing back 4 different ones. Again, my tail wags (metaphorically speaking of course!).

In the world of rabbits (or our little corner of it) we’ve been doing well. We have five litters in nest boxes now. This weekend 3 rabbits left to a fantastic home. Tuesday another few will go. By the time I make it down to OFFF there will hardly be any for sale at home, other than the wee little ones. A nice way to start the next cycle of births. We have a few more does to get bred before we call the breeding season complete because of cold temperatures on their way. Yes, baby bunnies are a bit addictive.

One of the reasons that I didn’t write last week is because Busy doesn’t seem to have a photo montage that goes along with it. Sure I could take a photo of my desk at work so you could see the piles, and piles of applications all over it. Or a picture of our woodpile. Though I do draw the line at photos of our house in need of preparation for a Mom visit (next week – I TOLD you I was Busy!). But in the midst of all this stuff on the To Do list we also did this…

We found a nice little Motorhome. Yes, we’ve been looking. Yes, we have a 5th Wheel. But a 5th Wheel isn’t a Motorhome. Or rather it isn’t a LITTLE Motorhome. We hope that I can get comfortable driving the little Motorhome (name to be determined soon). So then we can take it places either together, or alone. To rabbit shows and other events. And despite what this looks like in the photos – it isn’t an ambulance, just made by a company that use ambulance parts and chassis as a start for their motorhomes. It seems that it is very good mechanically, solid and strong. But needs some work inside. Well, a fair amount of work inside. I really didn’t want a project. But the price was good, and the basics were right. And perhaps we needed a project… I mean, perhaps we weren’t Busy enough?

Lets give this a try!  A drum roll please....

Oh my goodness, it actually worked!!!

And another?

My goodness, I could get used to this.....

Tired of the photos yet?  Figured out what they are?  Hard not to tell with Hill and Kyrie being space models.  Its a new lean to off the barn, for the woolly crowd.  Still in its skeletal stage - but obvious in how usefull it will me.  Finished size will be about 10 X 20, with the outside walled in but the two ends left open.  It should give the crowd a wonderful place to lounge and gossip throughout the winter months while the storms rage on outside.  Despite what some people think, my sheep do not like to get wet.  A co-worker suggested it was because their wool tightened up when it got wet (yes, she's a blonde, why do you ask?).  I think perhaps they just don't like the extra weight of hauling around all that wet, heavy wool.  Or perhaps even they notice they smell a bit more strongly when they're wet?  Whatever the reason, they will now have OPTIONS on where to rest out of the damp and cold.  With the back porch, the side lean to and the enclosed space on the far side of the barn... they can break up into little poker playing groups if need be.  And they will.  They are a cliquey crowd - and will forever remind me of what I didn't like about Junior and Senior High School.

Thank you Chuck for making a space to keep my woolies dry!  And thank all of you (including the techies at Freewebs) for being patient enough to keep checking back for this posting.

So you know... I HAVE been trying to get the additional photos posted.  But the great gremlin Freewebs has been thwarting my every move.  I even spoke to a happy little representative named Ashley (do we really think that is her name?  I question it....) who assured me that their technicians knew of the problem, and that it was system wide.  So I left a blog entry about it - which mysteriously vanished.  Hmmm....  am I being a bit paranoid and suspicious tonight?  You betcha.  And I think squirrels are plotting the over throw of the 100 acre wood too.  But I've wanderd off...

Actually, I really am not crazy, just dealing with technological glitches puts me in a very strange place.  I've grown to depend on them....

But rest assured that I will keep checking on the status of "photos and Freewebs" (the title of a novel perhaps?  Written in the Vonnegut style of total incomprehension?) and at the slightest hint of cooperation I will post the additional photos from my Blog entry.  The suspense builds... and I suspect you may be disappointed.  But time will tell!