Shearing is Done!
| We managed to accomplish shearing this year for over 70 Ewes. The weather was not as cooperative as we would have liked but we made it work. We had one good day with beautiful sunshine but the other 2 were a bit gloomy and cold. It took 3 days to get every one's hair cut done. We will have a nice selection of fine wool fleeces and some stunning luster long wool fleeces both white and natural colored and a few variegated ones too. We did not open our ranch up to the public for shearing this year. With all the rain and snow it has made our road into the ranch impassable at times. So we felt that it would be best to have only the family and a couple of the local spinning gals helping this year. It has been 20 years since we have had a winter like this and I can’t ever remember so much flooding here in the Sierra Valley. |  These ewes were happy to get all of that wool off and are ready to have their babies!  The driveway into the ranch became flooded over. |
We put all of the ewes and other sheep in the barns with dry bedding for a week prior to shearing. Not only were they we most of the sheep had icicles hanging from their long locks of wool. Some of the fleeces were still wet when they came off at shearing. Those fleeces have to be unrolled onto skirting tables where heaters and fans help dry the fleeces.
This was the first and I hope last year that our ranch experienced some wool rot in our fine wool fleeces (green and peach colored wool) on the sides of the bellies and right between the shoulder blades. They just never really dried out. With all the wool on them they were very comfortable sleeping outside under the trees. They were not seeking the shelter of the barns.
As we get the fleeces dried, skirted, and weighted we will add them to our website www.annagotwool.com so keep checking for that perfect fleece you have been looking for.
This was the first and I hope last year that our ranch experienced some wool rot in our fine wool fleeces (green and peach colored wool) on the sides of the bellies and right between the shoulder blades. They just never really dried out. With all the wool on them they were very comfortable sleeping outside under the trees. They were not seeking the shelter of the barns.
As we get the fleeces dried, skirted, and weighted we will add them to our website www.annagotwool.com so keep checking for that perfect fleece you have been looking for.
The ewes and Anna enjoying the warm sunshine outside of the barn. The ewes were waiting for some food as well. Lambs, Lambs, and more Lambs!
We are in full swing with lambing.
We have had 47 Lambs so far and are only half way through lambing.
Every time we turn around we have a new baby on the ground.
The mothers are doing well with their babies and many babies are itching to have some good weather to get out of the barns and be able to frolic.
Check out our facebook for more pictures and videos of the lambs playing around.
We have had 47 Lambs so far and are only half way through lambing.
Every time we turn around we have a new baby on the ground.
The mothers are doing well with their babies and many babies are itching to have some good weather to get out of the barns and be able to frolic.
Check out our facebook for more pictures and videos of the lambs playing around.
How Do We Know Our Wool's Not Scratchy?
| Here are some of my Rambouillet replacement ewe lambs. I sent in 24 wool samples for micron testing at YoCom McColl in Colorado. All of the samples but two were less than 22 microns. They were 22.3 and 22.6 so they were close. For our ranch I was pleased. The Rambouillet’s range in fiber diameter is 18.5 to 24.5 In general a micron count below 22 is fine enough to wear next to the skin and not be scratchy. So what is a micron? A micron (micrometer) is the measurement used to express the diameter of wool fibers. Fiber diameter is the most important characteristic of wool in determining its greasy value. It is also one of the tools producers use in helping them to select their replacements to keep improving the genetics of their herd. We will have a nice selection of fine wool fleeces this coming year. |  |
Interweave Yarn Fest: March 30th - April 2nd
| We will be attending the Interweave Yarn Fest in Loveland Colorado this year from March 30th to April 2nd, 2017. The location is at the Embassy Suites Hotel this year and hotel rooms are available to book with a discount! There will be plenty of workshops to enjoy and many vendors. We hope to see you visiting us and the others so go ahead and get your passes and come have a good time. |  |
2017 Fiber Show Schedule
March 30th - April 2nd: Interweave Yarn Fest in Loveland, Colorado.
June 3rd: Treadles to Threads Spinners Guild in Livermore, California.
June 10th -11th: Wool Market and Fiber Festival in Estes Park, Colorado.
June 23rd - 25th: Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Oregon.
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.
We will update our schedule as the shows come up to let you know what is happening for us and the ranch!
June 3rd: Treadles to Threads Spinners Guild in Livermore, California.
June 10th -11th: Wool Market and Fiber Festival in Estes Park, Colorado.
June 23rd - 25th: Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Oregon.
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.
We will update our schedule as the shows come up to let you know what is happening for us and the ranch!
2017 Farmer Market Schedule
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.
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.
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