The beginning.

And so we begin another year. I never really consider January first the beginning of a new year, but rather the start of Maple Syrup season. Somehow it seems more appropriate, as the world is just waking up and showing signs of Spring. And truth be told, this winter was so very mild here in the Northeast, that I am still waiting, just a little, for a few big snowstorms. I am by no means complaining...in fact, even though I love me a good old fashioned white Christmas, this was the first year I was (secretly) thanking the weather gods, mother nature, and all her employees for such a gentle season.

So, I find myself thinking, "Do we really need this? Do we need more Syrup?" (especially since we still have some left on the shelves from last year!) But then, as it happens every year, the children help us load the buckets, drill the holes, and wait impatiently for those first few cold drops on their tongue. And I realize, yes. Yes, we do need this. We need this to feel connected to the farm and to one another. We need this because it is teaching us lessons about patience and gratitude and the sheer wonder of nature's gifts.

And we need this to get us through March. 

And so, here we are again.

eight.

Somehow, this happened. Somehow, eight years have gone by since this person chose us for his parents and came into our lives. Somehow, he has has gone from being a beautiful, tow-headed, sensitive, loving, kind, gentle and special little boy to this. This young person. So, actually, not much has changed except perhaps a few inches... 

How incredibly blessed we are to have him in our lives.

Wintering.

What's that? This old thing? Oh why thank you, yes, actually, that is a new logo up there. A sweet little bit of artwork from the lovely Sarah Burwash.  I feel so honored to have her touch grace the pages of this blog. If you have a moment, do go and check out her website.

 Oh, and very exciting news (for me, anyhow)...our first batch of fiber is being processed into yarn!   Andy, from Aroostook Fiber Works, actually drove down here all the way from Presque Isle just to pick up the order. It doesn't get any better than that! So, needless to say, I am looking forward to seeing what beauty comes of all that wonderful fiber. I think a road trip to Northern Maine is in order for the pickup, although Andy did offer to drive it down. 

And what else is going on around here? Lots of planning. Seed ordering. Snowshoeing. Skiing. Sledding. Knitting. How very grateful I am to live where we do...I wouldn't have it any other way.

A Baby Sweater.

Before we get any further: no, I am not having a baby. But, that does not stop me from loving hand knits for little ones. My own "little ones" are not so little anymore (meaning it takes more than one skein..or two...or three...to make a garment for them now) and a bit more, shall we say, specific about what they will and will not wear. 

Also...I love neutrals on babies. Besides no clothes at all, I really believe there is nothing more beautiful than natural colors next to their sweet, soft complexions.

I did not finish this sweater in that late night of knitting, nor the next day during the baby shower though I furiously worked to complete it. But, we musn't rush these things, I say. And so, I give the gift of warmth as a loving welcome to this new little life!

a winter's day.

Today we hunkered down. We recovered from a very long week of traveling, events, playtime with friends, and general busyness. I am chomping at the bit to do some sewing, but first, first...there is always something more pressing! Right now it is a knitting project I began only a few days ago (yikes!) for a baby shower tomorrow, telling myself I work better under pressure. Hmmm. I had planned to sit down and spend today on it, but alas, there was this beautiful snow outside just begging to be played in...how could I say no? (Not to mention a house in desperate need of attention, a sink and counter full of dishes, etc.) And now, I predict a late night of knitting in my future...

Fiber Love.

Three of our goats have been with us for just under a year, and the other four, affectionately referred to around here as "the babies", only since July. The adults' first shearing after coming to live with us did not actually yield any useable fiber, as they were severely matted. So, this past fall, along with the first shearing of the littler ones, gave us approximately ten pounds of mohair.

It has taken a while to decide what exactly what to do with the fiber. Do I blend it? What do I blend it with? What percentage of which fiber? Have it made into yarn? Or just washed so I can spin it by hand? In the process of this decision-making, I feel as if I have really gotten to better know the goats as individual beings.  

Loki is our adult male goat. He is very pushy, but sweet, and his fiber is the softest of the three adults. It has several colors in it, which, I believe, will give an incredible depth to whatever natural dye color we choose to use, if any at all. The tips are a bit frosted, which gives the whole effect that of a recent visit to a salon.

Dharma, Loki's sister, has courser fiber, but with a lovely little curl to it. Dharma is sweet and gentle, and I think her locks would benefit from blending with another fiber.

Then the Babies. Oh the babies. Their fiber has the most lovely, soft, baby-fine texture I could ever dream of. Three of the four are siblings, and they all have a similar color and texture, though each is individually slightly different. Two of the three siblings, Clementine and Ezra, are quite precocious and curious, and not even a little bit shy. But their brother, Opi, will only come near us for a treat, and is the loudest and most dramatic when we have to trim hooves or shear.

Our last baby, Odin, is very special. He's a bit aloof, and does not like to be touched. He's always been very quiet, and was larger at the start. Though the same size as all the others now, I think his system seems to be the most sensitive to external stressors, such as weather, illness, bullying, etc. But his fiber. Oh, his fiber. By far the most luxurious of all our angoras, it is silky and soft as a cloud, and the only all-white. My mother and I have a theory that his body is working so hard to produce lustrous locks, that he needs a bit of consistent extra attention to make sure he is getting what he needs to keep him healthy. Odin's fiber is going to be kept separate, it is that special.

We have finally decided that the yarn will be a luxurious blend of Finnish Landrace sheep from Maine and our own Mohair, processed at a mill also right here in Maine. I am so very excited for this first batch, and as always, grateful to our animals for giving us these gifts.

The New Year.

I am not a big fan of new years resolutions. Or, rather, the word "resolutions". However, I have many things that I would like to learn, do more of, or improve upon, and this time of year seems appropriate to lay all those thing out in the open.  

This past year, in hindsight, was very full. In addition to the general business of homeschooling and getting this tiny farm up and running, we managed to build a barn, acquire seven angora goats and a large flock of ducks, purchase 24 guinea hens for tick control (and gradually lose half of them to predators), put in permanent fencing, maintain a very large vegetable garden, installed a wood stove, and bought the house from my parents. 

In between are all the little things. The events, processes and ideas that go along with or into the planning and execution of the finished products are perhaps the more important parts of the whole. I learned so very much in our first year here, too much to list in one post. And in the midst of all these projects, we have learned about our space, our home, the land and our own boundaries. We are gradually coming to love this 1960's split level ranch of ours, with all its quirks and problems. It has welcomed us with no complaints, though we have had many, about finding small ways to make it ours. 

The sheer bounty that this land has provided us, is in itself enough to be thankful for. More vegetables and fruit than I could find time to can or fit in our deep chest freezer, and surprise discoveries than I can count.  

Now, as we enter a new year, this is typically a slower time for our family. A time for resting, crafting and planning. The seed catalogues are sitting before me, and it is fun to dream. Truthfully, I'm not sure I could handle any more on my plate than I had last year, but perhaps I will have learned enough to aid the efficiency of what I need to do, and to accommodate a few new things already in the works (more on that in a future post!). For now, it is time to rest, dream, plan, create. And knit. Yes, lots of that.

Happy New Year, friends!