OMG!  I cannot believe how long it has been since I posted anything to the farm blog.  It is time to dust off the blog and bring it back to life!

Around the farm, there have been many changes, some of our beloved Animals have passed away since the last posting.  However, we still have several llamas, one alpaca, 7 sheep, 1 chicken and a multitude of barn cats.

We still grow our own yarn, and we have also expanded into custom knitting bags and other sewn items.

Christmas Day at Winding Creek

Check out the following picture and . . .. .guess what it is . .. . yes, looks like some groceries and old bread . ..

This is the wonderful bounty that Santa left for our furry and feathered critters!  They are all well behaved, if you forget about all the getting out of the fencing, geting into stuff that is not theirs, etc, they were all good kids this past year.

Carrots for the llamas, alpacas and bunnies, cubed bread for the chickens, Vanilla wafers for the sheep, a bone for Hoover and furry mice for the cats!  Everyone enjoyed their treats.

It's a quiet holiday today, Jeff is under the weather and snuggled on the couch with various "medicine kitties" as they change shifts as to whose turn it is to snuggle with him.  They are very attentive when either of us are not feeling well.

Mom and I are are about the only ones well, we had a nice time attending Christmas Eve service last night and today will probably be a quiet dinner of ham and scalloped potatoes - we'll save our actual celebration and fun dinner for when Jeff is feeling better.  The Findlay crew is under the weather also, along with Jeff's Mom, so Christmas with family will be next weekend.  A quiet day of knitting, enjoying the critters and a nap are on tap for me today!

I am working on plans to update the blog - hoping to actually get to adding the "what is on the needles" and "what is on the loom" to the blog this year.  Along with some other website upgrades and more online sales.

I am participating in my first MKAL (Mystery Knit Along) starting December 27.  I have my yarn and needles ready to go to start a mystery shawl. .. . .yep, that's all I know right now. . .. .come on Dec. 27 - I am ready to start knitting . .. . LOL, I am always knitting. . .but this is a MYSTERY Shawl . .. should be fun.  I'll post updates of my progress.  The KAL takes about a month as we get a new clue every week starting this Thursday. 

Well. .. back to knitting or napping for me . .. . I'll decide when I get snuggled in my big chair with a cat, my kindle and my knitting.

Merry Christmas to all!

Open House Details

Short and sweet post, check out the new page - listed on the left - Holiday Open House. ..


Need directions?  Give us a call at 419-428-0303 or email llamaluv1@yahoo.com - put open house directions in the subject line, please

Or use mapquest - 4208 Evansport Rd, Defiance, OH 43512

See you at the farm!

Beautiful, Overcast Fall Day!

Okay, so it seems very odd to think an overcast, chilly day as a beautiful day . .. . .to me, right now, it is! 

I have spent the last two weeks fitting way too much in my work, home and farm schedule!  I have been on the road and gone over night a couple times and working from a different banking center everyday . . .kind of forget what my own office looks like . .. .so this is a perfect day for me.  I have three pairs of mittens to have knit by the 28th of the month . . .I have 1 1/2 pairs done . .so, woo hoo - I'm 50% done!  I'll be spending the day alternating between working inside and knitting . .. the working inside will be the "time out" from the knitting . . .as I will be "power knitting"

As I walked around the farm this morning, I took some pictures to share .. .  .. enjoy!

The morning glorys don't seem to mind the overcast weather.

Now the Geraniums bloom!  The summer was too HOT for them.

The "little chicks" - they should be laying eggs next month, then soon they will be out with the "big" girls.

The "big" girls enjoying some scratch grains

Some of the big girls, getting their work done.

Included in my 10+ days of craziness. . .. I spent two days in Columbus at a Security Seminar, Including and overnight and great visit with my friend Sheila,Two days in Bowling Green at the Black Swamp Arts Festival, Two days in Yellow Springs at the Wool Gathering fiber show - which included a great visit with my friend Deb and it included a fun trip to MI with Mom, Aunt Skip and Aunt Mar for a great day of visiting, including AWESOME lunch at the home of my cousin Jim and his wonderful wife, Mary. (How about sending me the chicken salad and lemon muffin recipes?)

And, it ended with a farm tour for a great group of people from a church in Montpelier where I spoke last winter.  With the farm tour, comes a weaving and spinning demo - this cute little loom is what I used for the weaving demo - donated to our farm by a school teacher in Defiance.

Have a wonderful weekend - enjoy the chilly weather!

Farm Clean Up Days 2012

What a fun thing to do. . .. Farm Clean up days . . .may not sound like fun to you, but think of how you feel when you get Spring cleaning done in the house - the feeling of accomplishment, the enjoyment of everything neat and tidy. .. just for a bit. . . .well . .. some things never change. .. . My Dad could never understand how the barn could always be neat and tidy with everything in it's place and my room . . well let's say he preferred to keep the door shut - so he did not have to think about it. .. .He quickly learned, I have my priorities. . . well, I still think that way.  Thank goodness Jeff does dishes and laundry or we'd be in big trouble.

So, what was on the agenda for Farm clean up days . . .center of barn, bunnies, chickens, girls stall, girls pasture, clean out truck, wash truck, weed landscaping, trim landscaping, put in mulch. .. .and a few other things. . .. .did I get them all done? I still have one day . . ..something is not gonna get done. . .here is what I've done.

Cleaned the barn, bunnies, chickens, pasture and girls stall.  Cleaned out my truck and washed it (by hand) . .. Cleared brush, with Jeff, behind the sheep barn. . . and best of all. . .my favorite. .. Jeff finally put up the curtain rod for the curtains that Debbie made for me. .. .

Here are some farm pictures. .. .

Llavendar, Llizzie, Purple, Annie, Dorrie, Montgomery

Elizabeth, Lily and Peter

Okay, the computer is really slow. .. . more pictures later!

Twin Update!

Hard to believe the twins are just 5 days old - they run around and play like crazy, then plop down for a nap.  Their names are Lilly and Peter.  "Knock on wood" there have not been any more escapes . . .Peter decided on day two, to visit the alpacas . .. Jeff happen to stop home so he noticed and helped Peter get back in the right pasture.

Here are some pictures from today . .. .. . around the farm. . .

Elizabeth and Peter

Lilly and Peter

Dorrie

Annie, and if you look real closely, Llizzie

Montgomery watching Jeff get the tractor out.

Snowflake

Hope you enjoyed the pictures, time for me to go out and feed everyone so they can settle down for the night.  Next blog. . .. . .winter shawl project update. . . .

TWINS ! ! ! ! ! !

We have two new additions to the farm. . .. .. Elizabeth blessed us with a ram lamb and a ewe lamb early today.  Elizabeth is a wonderful mother and she will take good care of the lambs.

Jeff glanced outside this morning to see the alpacas staring intently into the ewe pasture, the wethers staring in and the llama girls straining at their fence to see what was happening two pastures over.  When he went down to the barn, he found two lambs up and walking!

I went down to the barn as soon as I got home and one of the lambs was in the llama stall . ..so I did some lamb proofing and they should stay contained.  I say should because. . .. sheep are as mischevious as llamas. . always into something!

Here are some pictures:

Elizabeth and the lambs, one is hiding behind momma.

The Ram Lamb

The Ewe Lamb

We are taking ideas for names. .. . . .so send me some suggestions.

Other than lambs being born, it is BUNNY week here - cleaning up bunnies, cages and their area.

Little Chicken Littles!

I've always called our chickens by the nickname "Chicken Little" . .. .so when we got some new chicks. . .. they needed a name. . so until they grow up . . .or maybe forever, their nickname is "little chicken littles".  The new chicks started out in the chicken coop in a big water tub . . just like you see at the farm store.    that lasted quite a while. .. when it was time for them to move to a bigger space. .. my original plan did not work. . so I moved them to the "old chicken coop"  aka  "bunny barn"  aka my soon to be fiber dyeing shed. .. . anyway. . .this past week they began coming out into a little pasture to start exploring the great outdoors. 

It did not take long for them to figure out how to jump the fence and wander around the back yard.  So, now their gate is open and they are beginning to mingle with the big "chicken littles". .. this should introduce them and then plan will be for the little chicken littles to migrate to the big chicken littles chicken coop and all live together. .. . this will make chores easier. .  .nature will take it's course and they will slowly move to the big coop!

The new chicks are Barred Rocks (black w/white speckles) and a couple aracanas - the "easter egg" chickens - they lay eggs with green, pink or blue shells. .. the colored eggs are really pretty!

Barn Cleaning Vacation!

So, to most, a barn cleaning vacation sounds like a crazy thing to do!  However, I have been on vacation most of this past week and barn cleaning was one huge task that I accomplished.  Just like house cleaning - barn cleaning has to be done. .. maintenance and spring and fall cleaning. .. .it can be very satisfying work!  Here is a picture of the boys, and the chickens, enjoying the clean barn. . .


Who let the chicken in the llama barn?



More chickens in the llama barn

My barn cleaning was made a bit easier by what most would think is "just a tractor" . .to me it's a great big pooper scooper!

I'll post more fun "vacation" pics this week . . .stay tuned. . .. . Have a great week!

Favorite Fuzzy Llama!

Montgomery is the "ham" of our farm.  Always looking like the innocent boy!  Likes to think he runs the entire farm . .. well. .. I guess he kind of does. . .he is our Logo and has been our Christmas Card picture many times. . .. he is "The picture of Winding  Creek" . .. .

Gabby Popped!

I've been waiting for you!

When I got home from work, I looked out at the sheep barn and Gabby was in the stall on the left.  I didn't think much of it and didn't really see any extra legs - so I did not think she had lambed.  Well, then I looked back and she was paying close attention to something at her side. . .so I changed my clothes and headed down . ...and found twins - just a few hours old.

We have not picked them up yet - we will check them out and weigh them tomorrow.  As long as everyone seems healthy, I like to let them bond for the first 24 hours without interruption.

Our sheep herd is complete - from 6 to 10 in less than two weeks - no more :)

What hay bucket?

The llama girls are just a bit mischevious. . ... when I went in the barn, my new hay hauler bucket was way over by the girls stall - certainly not where Jeff left it.  Then the funniest thing.  .. . .. .. .. .Dorrie still says she knows NOTHING about a hay bucket!

Happy Easter!

The ewe lambs are doing very well, along with their momma, Elizabeth.  We seem to have gotten Elizabeth through her plugged teat problem and the lambs are using both sides to nurse - what a relief - for us AND Elizabeth.

The little ewe lambs are scampering around the pasture and climbing on eveything - including climbing right in the hay bucket to eat.  Yes, they are eating hay at one week old - not the main staple of their diet - but a good sign.

What?  I like to be comfy when I eat!

We know there is grain in this bag!

Gabby is ready to have her lamb, we are hoping for just one from her.  She is not stressed and is still eating well, so we are not concerned.  Hopefully, sometime this week she will lamb.

Gabby Girl

TWINS ! ! ! !!

Saturday, April 16 . ..what a dreary day, rain, wind and clouds. .. ..but, the icky weather brought a ray of sunshine to our farm . .. .Elizabeth finally popped!  What we did not expect. ..  .twins!  Cute little girls!  Yes! Two girls :)  Now we'll wait for Gabby to show us what she has "baking".

Here are some pictures of Elizabeth with her girls.

Chick Day!

Some things just go with Spring . .. like little chicks. ... . we got a shipment of Barred Rocks and Aracunas.  They are cute as can be.  They are settled in the chicken coop in a big water tank so they are protected from the big girls and the barn cats.  Boy do they have good lungs - you could hear them chirping all the way up at the house as we were getting their light set up.  When they are cold, they are cranky! 

Here are some pictures of the big girls and the little chicks.

Sad, Sad Day on the farm

The heat the last couple of weeks have been extremely challenging.  The llamas that have not been shorn are holding up really well and seek the fans and hosing off to keep cool.  The sheep seemed to be doing fine, but the other night Talker seemed to be not quite right.  With quick research I found that he was bloated which can be induced by heat.  Unfortunately, we lost Talker this morning.  Talker was one of our original wethers and he was very sociable and met us at the gate at feeding time to "test" the hay each night.  He was a very sweet little boy and we will miss him.  The other sheep are grieving and paying their final respects to him this afternoon under the shade trees in the pasture.  Tonight, Talker will join the "Winding Creek" cemetery and be buried next to Bethany and her unborn lambs, the ewe we lost earlier in the year.  Losing animals does not get any easier as time goes by and at times like this I wonder why we have them.  But, within a few days someone out in the pasture will make my day with some funny antic or some gentle gesture and I will be reminded why we love them so much and keep them. 

Talker

We will miss your friendly, kind nature.

Farmland Vacation

Well, another July 4th holiday has come and gone.  We love to take advantage of the 4th of July as our scheduled holiday.  We spent 4 days at the lake visiting Jeff's mom and my mom tagged along to have a great time.  Jeff cooked way too much food on the grill as usual, but everyone had fun and the fireworks were great.

Now, back to "vacation" for me.  We are back home, Jeff is back to work and I have a few days off from the bank to try to accomplish way too many things.  One item on my list is to finish shearing the girls.  It has been extremely hot and more fans are not enough.  This morning, I decided to try to hand shear Purple - well as you can see. .. it started out well. . .but Purple decided she did not want to participate.  So, she's looking just a mite funny now!

Although I only got a little bit of wool off of her, hopefully it will help.  Looks like Purple would prefer a professional.

On the other hand. .. Llizzie thought it was great fun to be hand sheared.  We started with her neck, which was matted and had never been shorn.  I did leave her a little llama mohawk since the fiber was nice and silky.  But for the barrel cut, she just stood there . .no halter, no restraints. .just stood while I hacked away with the scissors, shook out the second cuts and walked over and put her wool in a bucket.  She thinks her new hair cut is just grand.  Such a good girl.

A few other things I have planned for my "vacation" are sorting and cleaning fleeces, sorting and packaging yarn, inputting items on our etsy store, http://www.windingcreekalpacas.etsy.com/ and organizing all my knitting patterns.  Some other things I hope to find time for are finishing my items for the Ohio State Llama show, cleaning the barn and a little antique browsing. 

I am headed to the Columbus area to deliver a loom to my friend Vicky - who got the loom as a birthday gift. .. so tomorrow will be spent on the road and teaching weaving . . .. should be a fun day. 

More vacation updates later, for now I am headed off to do something, who knows what :)

Farm Population Increase

The internet group - Free Cycle - really is a great place to find things and give things away.  I received an email from a friend that someone had some Angora rabbits to give away. . .. .so . .. .. being a fiber-a-holic - I responded to the email.  .. and made plans to meet the bunnies that were looking for a new home.

I went with the intention of only bringing home two bunnies. .. so the fact that I brought home "just" three is quite an accomplishment for me!  The little boy, who is the extra, is just so cute . .. I could not leave him behind.  The bunnies come from a very good home and I am sure they were perfectly happy - but that farm needed a herd reduction. . .so our herd increased. ... is that what you call a bunch of bunnies??? I don't know. .. geese are a flock, sheep are a flock, llamas and alpacas travel as a herd. . .what is a group of bunnies. .. . Happy at our house - for sure. .. not positive of what they would be called.  Rambling now, so I am just tired. .. here's the fun part  - the pictures of Elizabeth (gray), Nigel (bottom) and Llillie (right).

Spring Lambs

Well, I am traveling North driving from Florida to Ohio and my husband, Jeff, is at home with a very sick ewe.  Elizabeth dropped that beautiful black lamb, fondly referred to as "trouble" with no problem.  However, Bethany, is not quite so lucky.  She must have twins in the oven and apparently they are too much for her body.  She has developed Toxemia and is quite ill.  The vet was out on Wed the 21st and gave her an injection to induce labor.  We have been force feeding the poor girl and she has perked up a bit, but she is still too quiet and weak.  We are doing everything we can to save her and her lambs.  I am anxious to get north and be home with Bethany and do what I can to help.

Jeff is even creating a "grass cocktail" three times a day and feeding it to Bethany along with her other meds. This grass cocktail involves blending grass and water in the blender, straining out the grass and adding yogurt and other nutrients and they using a syringe to feed it to Bethany.

Bethany is a great ewe and very strong willed and Shetlands are a hardy breed, so if you are reading this please say a little prayer for Bethany and her ewes and stayed tuned to see pictures. . yes, I am optimistic that I will have happy pictures to post.

Check back for any update :)

Lambs!

What a wonderful suprize!  I got to leave work on time - actually at 5:00 as it should be and I was really happy about that.  It really is the little things!  Anyway, when I got home, I glanced out in the back yard and one of the ewes was facing the back of the pasture kind of bobbing her head up and down like she was eating grass. . . why does this seem odd, you might ask . .. well, there is no grass in their pasture.  So, I changed and headed out to the barn and sure enough. . Elizabeth had given birth to a beautiful black ram lamb.  I don't know if he'll stay the pretty black that he is now, but he sure is cute.  He's been up and nursing and seems to be doing well.  I'll weigh him tomorrow, turns out the sling to the scale was dirty from being in the barn and I did not want to put his clean belly in the dirty sling. .. so weight will have to wait until tomorrow.  I did pick him up and he is a solid little lamb.

Elizabeth seems to be a very attentive momma!