Three bags full.... or not....

Today, we decided to shear our three lambs to ensure enough wool would grow back for MD Sheep and Wool festival. Last year was the first year we started shearing our own sheep and today was the first day we've ever sheared lambs. We learned quickly that lambs do not hold perfectly still and patiently wait during shearing, they do anything and everything possible to make the job harder. Two hours after beginning, the blades were dull, and only two sheep were naked; they look good though. For now, the little ram, Holden, will escape the blades...

Attack of the Baby Squirrel!!!

It hasn't even been a month since I left for college and already strange events are occurring at the farm. My younger brother sent me these pictures he took when he was checking on the girls. A baby squirrel was scampering around and giving hugs to the sheep and the ewes don't seem to mind :).

1. 

Above: Carolyn

below: Esmeralda ignores the squirrel on her head.

From Sheep to yarn...and...

This was my first attempt and success at spinning a fleece all the way through without stopping and knitting yarn until I ran out and needed more for a project. It took me two weeks of spinning to achieve spinning all of Lulu's fleece. The yarn weighed in at a little more than 3 lb, which is good considering she was sheared before she had a full year's of growth on her. I'm thinking of experimenting on making a Jacob vest :). Her fleece is definitely my favorite of the adult ewes with a super soft feel and awesome crimp. On another note, this weekend I went to the local 4-H Spring Show where people now recognize the Jacob. Two years ago when I started showing Jacob sheep, nobody knew what these strange "goats" were. Now after many local shows and educational fliers, everybody sees our Jacobs and knows what breed and all kinds of information about them. They even had a judge that knows Jacobs!

Why couldn't I find you at MD Sheep and Wool?

My lovely ashford brush attachment. For some reason, people at Sheep and Wool didn't think you existed, but I found you hiding on the internet at the Woolery :D. My drum card can actually hold two oz of wool with you. After an amazing time at MD sheep and wool, I now have a ton of fiber to spin. From my herd, I have 5 bags of Jacob, one alpaca fleece from my friend's alpaca farm, and from MSW I have a llama fleece, 8 oz angora goat, 4 oz baby camel/silk, and 3 1/2 pounds of suri alpaca phew will I be able to get this all spun?

Hi, this is Emily from Hurley Hideaway Farm, located in Southern Maryland. This is my first attempt at a blog so bear with me >.<. I raise registered Jacob sheep and Pygmy goats. I currently have four breeding ewes, 1 ram, and three lambs--one ram lamb and two ewes; I own four pygmy does and a buck. I also have two crazy horses, two rambunctious dogs, and a ferret to keep me entertained. Of course, owning sheep means I am crazy about wool and spinning :).