Dairy up and running...

We bought new Jersey cows for the dairy and it has been a bit stressful for them as well as us, but hopefully soon things will settle down. Also I got the dreaded "cold" with sinus problems and the sore throat, which did not help. cell count has been a problem but hoping to get on top of this.

So, up early at 5am with a bit of breakfast, then down to the dairy yard forr me to feed my sheep and shut them into their other paddocks away from the dairy, and then the cows into the yard for milking. we have 54 milking cows at the moment and 4 calves we are feeding which will be sufficient for this season. A nice Jersey bull has been hired and arrived yesterday, and was extremely happy to see his new girls. He is a quiet boy which is good because I do not like being around bulls.

My craftwork has to continue, but sadly I have lost some hours, but as it approaches the warmer months I hope to get some spinning done. I will still be attending the 3 regular markets I attend, Nagambie, Girgarre, and Mooroopna, plus some sharing days and of course the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show.

I continue to work on my machine knitting and have made a few more garment over the last few months, and hope to produce some summer cotton garments soon.

I have some fleeces washed waiting for picking and carding, so never a dull moment and more organisation will get me going.

More Rain...

...here today which means wearing gumboots to the studio. 39mm at 7am still showering on and off during the day.
Have completed the back and 2 sleeves of a cardigan for an  machine knit order. And I am continuing with spinning some hand dyed tops (mine) and plying them with natural coloured wool. Also working on carding more wool for a spinning supply. Winter is fast approaching and I will need lots of handspun for the markets.
Working on a project for myself as well. Sometimes a girl has got to get some new winter woollies.
Need to post some photos when they are done.

Winding down for Christmas...

I am winding down the markets with only one to go at Girgarre before Christmas.
We are having a surprise party for my father's 80th birthday the week before Christmas, so will be able to catch up with family that we haven't seen in awhile.
Fleeces have been baled up in the North East for value adding.
The remainder of the fleeces will be taken over to Riverina wool company in Moama, and some will remain for wool dyeing and spinning. I am hoping to have 100gm lots of hand dyed Corriedale fleeces for sale on the website and at the markets, next year.
A gentleman has approached me asking if I could use his Saxon merino fleeces. As these are very fine fleeces, I have offered to trial washing and dyeing and making small rolags with the handcarders as I don't think they will be suitable through the motorized carder. Could be very interesting. I will be getting these samples sometime after Christmas. The possible outcome may be suitable for felters.
The Vat room has almost been cleaned out of fleeces in preparation for the dairy revamp. Hard finding a new home for fleeces.
In the garden, tomato lants are growing, beetroot, zucchini, and bean seeds have sprouted. Have to keep up the watering with a lack of rain.
I am now ready to do the bands on the grey cardigan. I am happy with the lacework, and my compatriots love it, so I might get this in the Beechworth Old Schoolhouse Gallery for display.


 I am having a serious look at my natural fleeces and am working at spinning these for most of the summer, as well as my spinning commission.

Just another scarf that has been knitted on the machine.

Ok the car is packed....

.. and wool carded for spinning.
Off to Mooroopna Farmers market tomorrow after a break of 2 months. Previously I have been at the Bendigo Wool Show and a workshop with Jacey Boggs, the Insubordiknit spinner. Hope the weather holds up, as it looks grey and the Barometer has dropped.
Have to get up extra early as we always feed the sheep first, but we now have a calf to feed as her mum didn't make it. She was an older jersey cow( as are the others) and we weren't sure she was in calf, but calve she did, but from the outset you could see her slowing. Gorgeous heifer calf for future generations.

Craft & Quilt Fair

Off to the quilt show tomorrow for the day. Travelling by bus/train from Kyabram. Always look forward to more crafty sessions.
This weekend I have none of the regular markets so am taking the weekend to do more work at home, including getting on with some Alpaca for a customer.
I am on the computer now also working on some borders for round robin quilts. EQ6 is very helpful.
Better then go into town for some shopping and some material for these projects.
So, currently picking more Alpaca fleece, carding some very light grey, almost silver Corriedale fleece, 2 earflap beanies are off the machine, and another beanie waiting to finish. Handspun wool yarn drying on the clothes horse. Some thick & thin handspun yesterday waiting for the dyepot.
Sunday will incorporate a visit to Rushworth for a Chat & Choose your Craft day. Then sometime I must run into Tongala to catch up with Mandie at Ewe Give Me The Knits.
Two more calves born last night so will have to check on them last thing today as we won't be home till 9.30pm tomorrow.
I am looking forward to reorganzing my days better after this.

More busy days ahead...

Apart from having more glitzes with the computer which I hope improves as nothing wrong could be found this time, it has been busy with the Steam Rally and Girgarre Market on the long weekend. I was quite happy with sales at Girgarre, as there was a lot of competition with markets in several areas.
On the farm front over the last 10 days we have had 9 live calves from 9 cows, but 3 cows went down with milk fever and 1 cow had to be vet assisted. At this stage 2 more cows to g with another 3 suspected not in calf.
My upcoming studio/workshop now has sand plopped down ready for the concretor who had to postpone due to destructive weather uprooting another job. Never mind my turn will come.
My middle daughter was in echuca for a party on the weekend, so we got together for lunch at the Wisteria with my other 2 daughters and grandchildren on the sunday.
In the meantime more carding and woolspinning happening, and a few projects on the needles.
Photos coming soon.

Today I am....

...picking, carding and spinning some Suri fleece for a client. It is an extremely long fleece, and I wanted to spin it as a raw fleece. Because of it's length it has proved a little challenging. I cut it half and hand carded originally, but now I am picking as a whole length then drum carding several times before spinning. I think the skeins still look lovely. This I am spinning on my Ashford Joy.
Over the last week or so I have also commenced another alpaca fleece for another client, this is on my electric wheel, another alpaca fleece is being spun on the Tara wheel.
In the meantime a grey fleece has been picked and carded, the remainder of a white fleece is halfway through being carded, and the brown fleece has been picked.
Out on the verandah a tan alpaca fleece, and a dark brown sheep fleece are drying after their washing process.
I now feel productive. Will get more photos on here soon.
I might go to Merrigum this afternoon to catch up with the ArtMooveau girls.