From the Pastures: Preparing for winter

Is anyone else having a hard time realizing it is November? I sure am. Maybe I need to play some Christmas music to get ready for the holidays. Starting to decorate is on my list for this weekend. Lucky it is not going to be real cold this weekend.

I am getting everything ready in the barn for winter. We do not have a lot to do since we do not lamb in the winter. This past week the water hydrant started to leak. Hopefully it is just the screws and pin that need to be tightened. Not a good time of year to have to dig up a water line. I also need to get something to use for the duck’s water, so it does not freeze. I have been doing some research on the best method. Ducks have different requirements for water than sheep. My husband laughed and said your “cheap” ducks are getting more expensive. They are still laying eggs, so they are earning their keep.

I have been washing a lot of my Shetland fleeces, and I am happy with how soft their wool is. My flock has always had nice wool. Recently we had a lot of requests for what we call stuffing fiber. It is wool that has been washed and then picked to fluff it up. People use it for making pillows and other “stuffed” items.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday, a day to support local, small business. We always have a big sale in the store and mill. I like to get cookies and juice for shoppers. Marketing for this sale is always time-consuming. I send some direct mailings, social media posts and send a lot of emails. It is really fun when you see people visit your store year after year. It is a good chance for us to promote all the benefits of wool.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!