July Newsletter 2017

Happy Independence Day

​We hope that everyone had a great 4th of July. We are proud to be an American. We are so blessed to live in America and have the freedom to own and operate our own ranching business.  We fly our flag in honor of all the men, women and families that have sacrificed for us.  Thank you for your service.

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Gold Discovery Days - Mo & Jo will be there, Will You?

Mo and Joe will be up at the Plumas Eureka State Park on Saturday.  Come by and pet them and feed them some treats.

They both even got baths to help welcome everyone to the event!

Mo and Jo during their baths.

Shannon took a nap while holding the goats as they dried off in the sun.

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Summer Heat

​We are definitely feeling the summer heat.  The sheep and dogs are out grazing well before 6:00am and seeking the shade of the pines by 9:30am.  They don’t really start moving again until after 4:00pm.  The yellow tar flowers show their faces only in the cool of the early morning or at dusk.  They close up tight during the heat of the day, trying to conserver their moisture.  I call them tar flowers because the sheep’s noses really do get a sticky tar from grazing amongst the flowers.  A weed that nothing eats but sure is a pretty sight in the summer.

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Keeping the Sheep in Coats

​The boys are putting coats on our replacement ewe lambs.  The coats help keep the stickers and burrs out of their wool.  The coats also keep the ends of their wool protected from the suns harsh rays otherwise it fades and becomes brittle.  Making a less desirable fleece for the hand spinners.  In a perfect world four coat changes would be all a sheep needs to accommodate their growing wool.  But out here there are so many things to rip, tear and shred their coats.  It seems we are always changing torn coats for patched coats.  It seems like a full time job.

This coat has become more of a scarf.

The boys replacing a coat.

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2017 Farmers Market Schedule

​Farmers Markets are going strong.  We have lots of grass-fed lamb to BBQ this summer.  You will find yarn, blankets, pelts and felted soap at our booth.  You can place your order for a whole lamb cut and wrapped to your liking.
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Tahoe City Farmers Market: May 18th - October 12th.
It will be on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Commons Beach, Tahoe City.

Romano's Farmers Market: June 2nd - September 15th.
It will be on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sierra Valley Farms, 1329 A23, Beckworth, California.

Truckee Community Farmers Market: June 4th - September 25th.
It will be on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Factory Outlet Stores 12047 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, California.

2017 Fiber Show Schedule

We will update our schedule as the shows get closer to keep you updated on the ranch activities :)
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September 4th: Monterey Wool Auction in Monterey, California.

September 15th - 17th: CA National Wool Show in Boonville, California.

October 7th - 8th: Lambtown in Dixon, California.

October 12th - 15th: Trailing of the Sheep in Sun Vallley, Ketchum, Hailey Idaho.

October 14th - 15th: Mt. Lassen Fiber Guild's Fiber Fusion

November 5th: Southern CA Handweavers in Torrance, California.

2017 Art & Ag Tours

​​We are happy to say that we will be doing the Sierra Valley Art & Ag Trail again!

It will take place on Saturday September 30th 2017.

To keep up on current news make sure you go and Like the page for the Art and Ag Trail on facebook!