9/8/2008

Hay & Straw Stash

A sigh of Relief…………. Got most of the hay in the barn and all the straw we’ll need for the winter. It’s been a very challenging year up here for making hay and straw with all the wet weather. It’s lovely hay though. I had to take more first cutting than I usually do on the advise of the farmer that makes it, just to be sure I got enough in the barn and in case the second cut wasn’t successful. I’d say the second cut was successful, in that the quality is nice, but the amount is not to the same count as last season. It’s tough on the farmers this year. If I hadn’t sold half the flock earlier this summer, I’d be more concerned about the number of bales of hay I need. But I’m thinking the smaller flock is going to do well enough over winter here with what I have stashed. My days are totally FULL with wool related activities. I’m sorting and skirting and weighting wool for Rhinebeck. I’m planning to sell raw wool, both Romney and English Leicester Longwool and a few miscellaneous fleeces. I’m also washing mohair at the moment. Some great fleeces came in from Oregon and I’m trying to clean them up for my blending needs. I also am going to move the ewe flock once again to a neigboring field, but have to get the temporary fencing in place first. That’s a two person job, really, so my doing it by myself takes twice as long. So I continue to "Stay Focused". This is my latest moto, not totally of my choosing, but it a useful mantra and I’m sure getting a bunch of things accomplished. Oh yeah, a couple more things of interest……. I was featured in an article in Berkshire Living magazine, with other Berkshire Hills and Dales Spinners. It was a well written article and the photos of me and the sheep are well done too. The other news is one of my photographs will be printed in the Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar for 2009. I will be honored with the other winners at the Big E on September 18th, Massachusetts Day, by the Agriculture Commissioner and possibly the Governor. So that’s exciting for me and nice to be recognized for the sheep related things I’m involved with.