Right now I am having to get to relearn my entire flock. After shearing, all the animals look completely different. Like, I can’t tell who they are without reading their eartags. A few I can tell, of course. The boys; Herbert, Greyson, and Buddy all have horns and (now) all have bells. When we change …
I recently added three new books to my fiber library that I am so excited about I just had to share. First is the book Lithuanian Knitting: Continuing Traditions by Donna Druchunas and June L. Hall. First off, can I get a WOW just for the book itself. Beautifully bound, well photographed and high-quality printing …
Today was shearing day. It was probably six weeks overdue, but I never planned on the shearing handset to crap out on me while shearing the first sheep. So I had to scramble to find a shearer and then find a time that worked for both of us to do it, and well, you know …
We are as ready as we can be for shearing day tomorrow. The sheep are under cover, the equipment has been readied, the shearer confirmed. After shearing my friend Kendra and I are clipping hooves, vaccinating everyone, deworming the adults, and banding the ram lambs (aka: castrating them). It’s going to be a busy, busy …
I have had my little flock now for just over a year. I learned a ton in this first year and I am beginning to realize just how much more I have to learn. So here are some of my largest lessons learned. 1.) If a sheep looks sick call the vet RIGHT NOW. Do …
Last weekend Mr Luca went home to Wisconsin. He traveled rather inelegantly in a dog crate in the back of my Honda Fit. Yes, there are pictures. This is a selfie I took. I promise I wasn’t driving when I took this:-) Mr Luca took up almost all of the back of the car. Though …
This is Luca (or Mister Luca as I call him). This photo of him was taken at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool festival this past autumn. He has more wool now, but he isn’t terribly keen on being photographed. Mostly I get shots of his behind. And while it’s a nice rear, it wasn’t what …
I am testing a new system for blogging. My computer has aged to a point where blogging was becoming difficult if not impossible. I hope that I will be blogging more in the coming weeks and months using this system.
The last couple of weeks have been all about learning about and getting used-to the new members of the farm. The sheep are getting not only used to us, the humans, but also to the other animals. They are fascinated by the farm cats and will start a small stampede following one of the poor …
Yes, Humke Farm is joining the ranks of having feathered friends to make eggs for us. I had ordered the lovely ladies through Blain’s Farm and Fleet almost two months ago. They are Rhode Island Reds, Aracuna/Easter Eggers, Buff Orpingtons, and a few Black Australorps.
Sarah Jane Humke 