how sweet it is

This is Charlotte. Once a lamb, now 7 years old.

This is Memphis, Charlotte's dam. Memphis won me a quite a few

fleece ribbons and Memphis' dam, Athena, took Grand Champion fleece 

at Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, OR.

Just this spring this photo of Memphis was a winner

in a photo contest for a breed specific CVM/Romeldale.

I got an email this morning 

that Charlotte's fleece took 1st place in the 

breed specific CVM/Romeldale division

at the Maryland show. It's the largest show in the east.

I can't be more proud. Something as simple as this 

makes me higher than a kite.

a lady's man

Neville, a most handsome CVM/Romeldale ram, lived across the river on Betsy's farm. He vacationed on our farm and spent time with our pretty ladies.

A romancer caught in early morning.

He chose his women one by one and gave them a whole

day, complete with breakfast the day after.

and quiet time alone.

Pretty sweet offspring were created.

 

Sadly this love bear's time had come.

I was thankful to be there with Betsy when he died.

It was big and sad.

He left behind a good crop of lambs on both sides of the river.

He'll be missed.

 

another go round

 If you love winter blooms inside,
I suggest you don't discard your spent Amaryllis

bulbs after the holidays. Christmas 2011

a good friend gave me a lovely bulb which

bloomed in February. I didn't have the heart to throw it out

so instead waited until late spring and
planted it down in a protected area.

One day in late August the Amaryllis, once again,

spewed forth it's beauty. Surprise!

I thought best to read up and found that the bulb

will continue to renew seasonally. In the late fall I dug it up,

planted it in light soil and put it in the cellar until November.

[dark and cool being needed ~ a closet will do]

In December I brought it up and set it out of the sun in a cool room.

Just this week it began sending new buds.

It was suggested to feed it once a week

during this stage. 

I am using a liquid 10-15-10 fertilizer.

We have been doing the same with five Cyclamen for

many years and they just keep working their magic;
same pot, same soil, year in, year out.
The blooms begin in October and run through June each year.
This is a north facing window.

The difference with the Cyclamen is to just "dry them off"

in the June and put in the dark until September.

a heart for you

Notice hearts as you walk the path, smile to them, give back

 and put a swing in your STEP
with this fun snippet

cloud hidden

I have taken an unintentional disappearance that is clearly needed.
Once I got that clue, the rest has been easy. 

Hanging out on the farm, with all my animals friends
has been a good prescription.

Google (Blogger) informed me I had used up all my picture storage and

 now I would have to pay to post. 

Ya, ya, I said. Perfect excuse not to.

I burrowed deeper.

I prefer focusing on the good things like a gift of firewood
to a dear friend who needed some warmth.

And getting an order of yarns and roving 

shipped off to Japan from my great wooly producers.
Overdue writing, updating the website and
summer workshops is getting checked off.

Long walks to clear last year's gray ghosts away.

  I have new promises for each day.

I don't want to miss a minute of it hunched over the 

computer pecking away, when I could be here.

And here, meeting this flock of sheep.
 [I can't spill the whole bean pot just yet.]

Working with a group of women on growing and

dyeing their own indigo to produce products to sell

to improve their lives. No one is famous there.

It's beautifully simple.

The seeds have been shipped to be sown.

An adventure is in the works.

I can't lug my sax there but a recorder may do the trick
or even some percussion.
I will be dancing, giving, sharing, singing,
whatever comes to the fore.

For now, I am here, cloud hidden [unless the sun comes out].

with love

As 2012 closes, I want to thank each of you for following along with me at Long Ridge Farm. Your presence is felt and enjoyed and it makes the travel all the lighter!
I wish you good health, prosperity and a large dose of peace in the coming year, however you may seek and find it. Cheers!

awaiting

The hour draws closer to the most magical night of the year. 

Past the solstice now, a minute more light and a bit

higher in the sky, the sun mellows us.

Snow is coming tonight, the best of gifts

on this coming silent night.

Our tree is trimmed simply this year as if to make 

a promise for a simpler year to come. This was not

a year I will soon forget. 

Lots of loss and heart wrenching days. 

There is a gift in that though. 

Steering my life ship

away from the hidden ocean ledges 

along the shoreline, further into calmer waters, 

I hope to sail there more often.

The ornaments are few but reminders of loved ones.

Above is one made by our dear friend, Katie,

frames of our farm, sheep and dogs.

 

One special friend is truly suffering having lost her

love. Nothing to do but ride out the storm.

Christmas and the light of it's force will

kiss her gently.

The pups got an early chew today to work

off the boredom of waiting while I finished all the

preparations.

Now we celebrate the reason for this special time.

Music, conversation, friendship, wood fires, 

phone calls to those not near, 

a Christmas pageant nearby in the twinkling evening.

I wish each of you the gift of love. 

It is all we need. 

Merry Christmas, Happy holidays!