What happens when you try to sneak up for a photo

The days are still warm in Marana, AZ. Today, Sunday it was in the 90's and thought I would take some pictures. The bottom picture I took from the side of the house. On the right hand side of the picture is Double D. He is my oldest buck at about a year and a half. Next to him standing is Cherry Berry......half mountain goat......there is nothing she won't jump on or try to eat. To the left of her is Samson my newest buck. His father No Size has produced some awesome mohair and I am hoping Samson will as well.

So I thought I would sneak out from the patio doors. As you can see from the top picture it didn't work so well. I really tried to be quiet but once Farley....you can see a little of him, he is the black and white one, got one look at me......his belly went off and he came a running. They soon discovered that I didn't have any food but that didn't stop them from trying....so I gave up on the pictures for now.

One day I will get a few good ones.

Chris

Two batts that I created with some help from Kathy

Kathy Withers is just great. Two weeks ago I went over to her ranch to begin learning about carding. The carder that I am using is on the left and to the right are the batts that I created. They are still from Double D's fleece.

The next step for me will be to take the batts back over to Kathy's and start learning how to spin them. Oh boy, hopefully I won't get stuck in the spinning wheel. I can see if now....my fingers all up in the wheel and Kathy saying 'What did I get myself into'.


I am having lots of fun learning new things.

Chris

My Top Secret drying process...

So, what can you do with a tank full of nothing. Well, make a mohair drying unit out of it. I put a small fan in the middle of the tank inside blowing up.....the top where the mohair is on is a screen mesh....only obstacle is the middle piece of glass. It holds the tank together so I won't bother it.

This is still Double D's fleece that I am working with. After being washed it came out pretty good. After it drys it will be ready for pre-picking and then carding.

OK, so maybe it's not so Top Secret but I thought it was a good idea for me.

Chris

My Top Secret mohair washing process

Well, it could be....somewhere. OK, maybe not. I think it is the orange buckets that make the process or maybe the big spoon. Yep, it is the big spoon that makes it all work.

I was just impressed with myself for beginning to process some of my mohair today. The mohair is from my buck Double D. It was from his second shearing in April of 2007. In the next post you will see my Top Secret way of drying. OK, it could be........

Chris

Are you looking at me...

I woke up one morning to see Abby laying like she owned the place. I think she does. So I had to take a picture.

The only thing I can think of at 6 am was her saying to me 'Are you looking at me'.

Chris

Whew - What is that smell..!

On Monday I came home, opened the door to my house and whew…..what a smell. It was something rotten. I thought, did Abby, my dog bring something in….hmmm. I walked through the house going man that smell is just awful but, where is it coming from.

Well, as I got close to the patio…..it became apparent to me. My carrion cactus was blossoming all over the place. When I took a closer look, WHEW……that is exactly where the smell was coming from the cactus…and with the full sun on them they were just a smelling the whole place up. Funny, after the sun goes down the smell goes with it. In a week or two they will have all flowered and smell will be gone for another year.

The blossom is pretty and I like them because they are big.

Oyster - Come back to me - Where are you Oyster

Well, once the shearing was done....I was, oh my, where is the rest of Oyster.

I didn't realize their necks were so skinny......Their was like nothing left of her...it took several weeks before she started looking like herself again. Once she started to grow in I felt better....not that she cared but, I did. I thought to myself......I hope someone doesn't she her and think I don't feed her enough....I overfeed that way it is.......but after a few weeks she started looking like MY Oyster again.

I won't be shearing her this October because she will be too cold so she will be sheared in April with the rest of my herd.

This Picture was taken about an hour after the shearing and shots, everyone seemed to be running around a lot cooler and eating like there was no tomorrow.

Oyster is just so darn cute.

Chris