I have created a new facebook page.  Some of you who follow my blog have got invites.  I decided since my blog doesn't get alot of traffic that I am going to use the facebook page of my farm instead and see how that works.  Seems facebook has been very popular as I use it quite a bit.  If you want to follow, the address is www.facebook.com/LivingWaterFarm.

See you there!!

Dyeing again

Well I tried dyeing some of my angora again.  I got a new dyeing fiber and yarn book and I just followed some instructions there-in.  They instructed to soak the yarn in a vinegar-water mix and then squeeze out the water.  Add the dye and heat.  I spot-dyed this fiber and I think it turned out just like I wanted it to.  I wanted to keep some of the grey but still have the blue.  Can't wait to spin it!  This is just a half ounce of Black Giant angora, compliments of  Jan's Giants.  I also dyed another half ounce and have it drying.  I fluffed this up to get it dryed faster.  Next post will be of the spun yarn.  Cool huh??

Pink and Blue

Here is some yarn I've been working on.  The blue is 100% Suri Alpaca.  I bought it already dyed and spun it from the lock (no carding done) and that was quite difficult.  I think that was because it had been dyed so it didn't want to draft well.  The suri I'm working on now is right off the hoof and it is drafting much better. 
the pink is 100% german angora that I dyed supposedly red.  It turned out pink, dyeing 101 gone wrong but still turned out quite pretty.  It is a varigated pink and white from where some of the angora didn't take the dye.  Still awesome!  Both these are available in my etsy store.  There is a link to get there from my blog.
No photos of new bunnies because I still just got the one.  She is doing well and is happy with her new house.

Sheepish

This is a pretty cool book.  Learned quite a bit of history about sheep and wool.  It pretty much states it correct, "two women, fifty sheep, and enough wool to save the planet"  The title is what got me interested in purchasing this book.  It talks about farming, the environment, livestock, wool and more.  It's a view of farming thru the eyes of women along with the ups and downs of it all.  I especially liked her journey thru the wool and yarn.  She finally got it!!  Enough said.

The Building is Gone!

 




Well this is the spot where the building was.  We got alot of rain so our burn ban was lifted and we burned the building last weekend..  We did it over two days and actually in the rain.  All that is left of it is the pile of ash in the yard.  We do all our burning here and have since we moved here.  My husband plans to put another building up and on the burn pile location so we will have to pick another spot to do our burning.  We get alot of branches from the trees around the house and in the horse pastures so we burn that a few times a year.  Lots of wind here.

Interesting Day

Yesterday I planned on going to Cabin Spring Farm's journey to fiberart's spring show and sheep shearing.  It was a real nice day and I made some new friends.  The farmer only has about 10 sheep so I got to see the last sheep being shorn.  Nice black cotswold cross I believe is what they told me.  She had a lovely fleece.  I am still sticking to my guns sort of.  I didn't buy anything at least there.  They had about 3 vendors and one had the most beautiful yarns and another had lovely dyed spinning batts and roving.  But I didn't buy anything.  They were letting people try spinning and carding on a drum carder so it was quite nice.  I didn't take my camera so no photos.  I ended up doing some errands and as I was getting the milk it was pouring rain. 
I also had quite a productive week, I got two alpaca fleeces sorted and ready for carding.  Unfortunately the suri fleece, I will have to wash it a bit.  She had a lot of hay in parts of her fleece and I am going to try to wash it out by hand.  I am also spinning some satin angora because I am thinking about entering a fiberarts competition in May.  It is turning out lovely and I am inspired by it's beautiful color.  I definately will post a photo of it later when it is done.  I ended up buying some more Satin angora on etsy just because I will be entering the competition and that will be one of the skeins entered.  I am also thinking of spinning the pink dyed angora I have in my etsy store and make a art skein out of it to enter.
I have a stash sale going on in my store and am offering free shipping on anything in my stash until May 31st so if you buy those items the shipping is on me!

Autumn's New Cage

This is Autumn's new cage that I got for her about a month ago.  Tractor Supply special and I can move it around if needed.  It is right outside the back door under the shade of a large tree.  Don't worry!  If it gets too hot outside I can bring her in the house.  I also have sides to protect her from the weather.  A nice cage except when windy the top blows up.  Put some hooks on it to discourage this.  Yes, the top is hinged so you can get into the entire cage. 
The pile of wood is where Autumn used to live.  The building was falling down and I am glad I got her out of it.  It didn't blow down, we pulled it down and are taking it apart to cart away to the landfill.  We have a burn ban here so we can't burn it.

Etsy store update

Just listed some new stuff in my etsy store.  Got a stash sale going on....

Kinda busy...

Been spinning...  (wish my camera took better pictures, "sigh")  guess I will have to re-read the manual.  Working on some alpaca that I have, actually I have 6 alpaca fleeces to process, the black is one of those fleeces but the white is some roving I bought at Sedalia 2 yrs ago.  My goal is by the end of the year to have most of the fleeces processed either by me or by Wooly Knob Fiber Mill.  I won't be buying any more fiber till I can get this task done.  That would also include whatever rovings and little bunches of fleece I have in my stash.  I am also going to list some of my stash in my etsy store.  Gonna have a pretty good sale going on by the weekend.  I also decided to get rid of some stuff I don't use anymore.  Going to list it on Ebay and hope it sells.  Got quite a few things to sell.  I'm going to be pretty busy going thru stuff.

New yarn

Have been spinning all week and just finished spinning this wonderful cormo/angora blend I bought from Dustin quite a while back. Beautiful color and was a joy to spin, very soft and easy to draft. I listed it in my etsy store if anyone is interested in purchasing it. tlrobertson.etsy.com I am working toward attempting to spin what I have in my stash before I will buy any more fiber by the end of the year. I also have to decide if I want to send out some fleeces to be processed into roving to make it easier to get them spun. I only have two more bags of bought roving to spin and then I need to make my own. I might drum card some batts and list them on etsy too. I still need to card some more black alpaca and spin it to be able to finish the shrug I am working on. I have spun up one skein of that as well this week. Started on the Cormo because I got tired of black!

Spinning and things

Here is a project I was working on. I built my own skein winder. You can buy these for the babes but I can't seem to get one this small. So I made one for myself. Now I can wind my skeins into balls without having a "helper" and in this case they are few and far between at my house. It works great!

Autumn

This is Autumn, my chestnut agouti German angora. She was given to me and had the summer ear when I got her. She looks like a fuzzy french lop but she isn't. These are before and after photos. I put all my angora in grocery bags to store it. She gave me a total of about 10 ozs of prime and 2 ozs of seconds and matts. She has more of a blue undercolor but has black tipping and some shades of brown in her fiber. But not much brown.

She's quite a pretty girl.

Lots of changes....

Well I guess it's time for me to update this blog! Poor neglected blog. I have had a lot of changes in my life this winter. They all happened so fast, it seems one right after the other. First my daughter moved out of the house. She decided to move in with a friend and help share the rent and so on. So I became an empty-nester. That first weekend was hard and so was cleaning out her room of all the things she left and didn't take with her. Then three months later my husband loses his job. Pretty scary but we were able to get unemployment and that helped. Then I find out that I am going to lose my job! My facility closed down and they had no where for me to go. I ended up with two parttime jobs. Also my daughter informed me that she was going to move to NC to be with her new marine boyfriend. All I can say is "when things hit rock bottom, the only place left to go is up!" So up we go and the Lord provided, my husband lands a great job as a welder. Then another problem, I lose one of my parttime jobs after just two weeks of working in it. Just wasn't a good fit, they said. So I was upset and my husband said maybe this is the Lord saying he doesn't want you there anymore. So my career as a phlebotomist has come to an end. But now I have more time and I am enjoying myself. I still work parttime and learned how to be a DCA (direct care aide) for a assisted living facility. Pay isn't the same but that gets better too. Since my daughter started college, we ended up getting a tax break on that and when we filed our taxes we got a really nice refund! So all the bills that we were able to pay in full we did, my husband bought a motorcycle to help on gas expenses, and since I don't work as much I do not have to pay so much for gas either. We can afford for me to work parttime and him fulltime with overtime and make it quite comfortably to say the least. My husband is also home every night as opposed to being gone for two weeks at a time driving a tractor trailer. I have time to spend with him and also to be able to play with my horses and do things I was too tired to do when I got home from work. I can keep my house sparkling clean and even catch up on all that spinning I need to do. My daughter is doing well and has a fulltime job (in NC) and is also taking classes online at Liberty University. I also can keep up better with my etsy store so look for more to be put on there. All in all I can say we are doing better than we have in the past few years.

Don't stop believing!

Hey!

Been a while, but I have been doing an in-depth study on Joyce Meyer's book "Power Thoughts" and I am going to post messages about what I learn and how I am applying them to my daily life. The first PT is "I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ" so the first question would be do you believe you can do whatever you need to do in life??? Really, do you believe?? I got hit hard with this by the Lord last Thursday when I had a so-called "crisis". Did I believe?? I had been reading the chapter all week and meditating on it and then the car had a problem and what turned out to be a little problem, we complicated it trying to fix it ourselves. Then it became an "expensive" repair. When I got the price that it had cost, I had a serious "pity party", ever have one of those? Did I say I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ?? No. I didn't believe. Then God sent the blessing he had planned all along, my dad paid for just about all of the repair bill and all I had to pay was $90! God is good! The bill was $400 and we also had to buy $100 in parts.

As I sat thinking about this on Friday I had asked myself what happened?? And the Lord said "You didn't believe it." So I have been on a serious study as to why I believe some scripture and why I seem not to believe others the same way. I read them and understand them but that doesn't mean I believe them. Interesting.... Joyce Meyer has several things I pulled out of her book after this had happened. It seemed that I was reading the chapter for the first time. First one I saw was we are partners with God. We cannot do his part and He will not do our part. He wants us to believe and take action on His direction and leading, but He insists that we trust Him every step of the way. Next is we can easily deceive ourselves into thinking we have great faith but if we are easily defeated by challenges, then perhaps our faith is not as great as we thought it was. (that one hit hard) Next is did I want to be able to meet all challenges head-on and overcome them? Then I have to get mentally prepared for whatever comes. Colossians 3:2 says "set your mind and keep it set." You need to have your mind renewed and set on the Word. This trial will work out for your good! John 15:5 says apart from Jesus you can do nothing.

This would also mean I didn't believe the Lord would provide. I think I am going to learn alot from this study. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says God provides a way out , and it also says that He gives us strength to bear up under our challenge patiently. That means we can go thru it with a good attitude! You attitude is actually more important than your challenges in life. God is looking to see if you are going to stand on His Word. It is your choice! He gave you the help you needed, now you have to choose that path. Don't make excuses, stop looking at all your weaknesses. God actually chooses people on purpose who absolutely cannot do what He is asking them to do unless they allow Him to do it through them.

I seem to have a hard time trusting God, trusting God requires that we believe He gives us our "daily bread." In other words, we receive what we need as we need it and usually not before. I have seen this happen in my life so many times and yet I still "whine" when everything seems to be going wrong. As I thought about my lack of belief, a scripture came to mind about the man whose son was possessed by a demon and the disciples couldn't cast it out. Jesus came along and said "you have little faith, just believe" and the boy's father said "I do believe, help my unbelief!" That's how I am praying right now, I do believe, help my unbelief! Adults seem to complicate things so much. Kids believe so much easier. I think that's why Jesus said you must be like a little child. You would believe so much faster and hold onto it. Like I said some scripture I believe without a shadow of a doubt and some scripture I say I believe but I do not seem to at all.

I will leave you with some Power Pack scripture, Philippians 4:13, Romans 8:37, Hebrews 12:2

Blessings!!

I got a Cow Share!

Yes, I bought a piece of a cow. A registered Jersey milk cow. So now for a small boarding fee I get to have fresh milk from my cow! And I don't even have to milk it. I am going to try my hand at making butter this week. I ended up with almost a quart of cream so we shall see what happens. I have already tasted the milk at a friend's house last week and I had no problems with it. I got a tour of the lady's farm and she also has goats she milks for cheese and soap. Fresh eggs and veggies. She sells everything from the farm. It was great. She thought it was cool that I handspun. I get 1 gallon of milk a week but that will be with about a quart of cream so all in all it is 3 quarts of milk. But I have been drinking a glass of milk a day because I do not drink coffee, tea, or soda. Just milk, water and juice. I have not had a headache in almost a month since I cut way back on my sugar intake. I eat no refined sugar unless it's in food. I feel lots better and the only headaches I seem to get now are feminine related. I love milk!!!

Lots to Do

I finally finished spinning my angora yarn this weekend. It is a three ply skein and about 148 yds. Haven't weighed it yet. I want to start crocheting those wrist warmers, maybe this weekend. I also want to go riding, the farrier will be out tomorrow for the pedicures. Sadarian get his shoes reset. The vet was out last week for coggins and shots. Angel went to the vet yesterday since her allergies are acting up. She has to be on prednezone or she gets infections from scratching herself silly. I also finished plying two other skeins of yarn and started spinning some more. I am crocheting another shrug out of black alpaca. It will be big enough to fit me this time. I hope to be able to offer it for sale soon. I will hopefully be attending the Orchardside Berry Festival on July 30th this year and have some different things to sell. I guess I need to buy another camera or get some software for my phone's camera. Not having photos stinks! Amanda is coming up on the end of her senior year. Prom is this weekend and her dress should be ready before the end of the week. Alterations... Amanda's last day of school is May 31st and graduation is June 11th. Birthday party weekend after graduation. College starts in August. Way too much to do!!

Rainy day

Well it's Good Friday. Nice day to be raining but still a good day nonetheless. I am headed out this afternoon for an alpaca shearing. It's at a farm in Raphine, VA which I am very fond of. One of my handspun skeins that took first place in the Handmades Derby was from this farm. This weekend is to celebrate the King of Kings. How he gave his life for all so we have the opportunity to be reconciled to the Father.
I am picking up another rabbit this weekend. Autumn is coming back to live with us. I hope to have quite a bit of agouti fiber to play with. As soon as I can get her sheared I will be putting some of the fiber in my etsy store. I am still spinning the white that I need to get finished so I can start on my next crochet project. Wrist warmers!! I wish my white angora would sell, so far nobody has wanted to buy it. I can sell the yarn faster than the fiber it seems! I am just so slow at making the yarn. Next weekend is the date of my spinning class. I have a new class of drop spindle spinners to teach. I will try to post photos if I can get some taken!!
Have a Great Easter everyone!!!

Bloggin'

Well here I am again. No photos this time but I have been diggin' information on the web. Last weekend I attended a seminar with a nutritionist. Found out lots of good stuff. I have since enbarked on a "new diet journey" and hope to live to tell about it. Now anybody that has seen me will wonder why I'm on a diet since I'm so small. I have revamped my eating habits so to speak and am trying to eat more healthy. The other thing people who know me will say is "how do you eat all that "junk" and stay so small??" I suppose I can give that to a high metabolism. But I have learned that you can look thin and still be unhealthy. Hence my journey begins with the nutritionist. I have very frequent headaches, like two a week, and when letting this out the nutritionist says "you need a liver detox". So in researching about the liver I found out quite a few amazing things... Excess amounts of sugar turns to alcohol in your liver. With me being a sugar junkie well that got me motivated. No more refined sugar! That means no more coffee. This is day three and I have no headache today. I still will be on a roller coaster with withdrawl symptoms but they will go away soon. Then I hope to have no more headaches ever!! I also found out that the liver is an amazing organ. It pretty much detoxifies lots of thing from your body. Stuff you put in it and stuff you breathe in.
I am very bad about not drinking water and I probably stay dehydrated alot of the time. Caffeine is a diuretic and will cause you to "pee" more than you should. That means no more coffee, soda, energy drinks, etc. and I need to drink more water! I have amazed myself with actually sticking to this plan. I am drinking some fruit juice also. No tea unless it has no sugar in it because I tend to overdo it. I can have honey but in moderation as well, it is a sugar just not a refined sugar. I also am taking a herbal tonic to help clean out my liver and gall bladder.You have to use a milk thistle combo or a liver tonic that has some beneficial herbs in it. Can't hurt. I'll let you know how I'm doing in a couple of weeks.

New things

OK, so here I am to post after so long without. Amanda lost my camera somewhere so no photos unless she takes them with her phone. I have not yet made a flyer to attempt to sell Simi but will do that this week. It looks like my husband does not want to take him to the sale this weekend either. Last month I spun up a skein of black alpaca to enter in a fiber arts show. I also crocheted a shrug out of suri and huacaya alpaca to enter as well. Out of the three articles I entered I ended up with two first places and a third place. The shrug also got Best in Show. I was quite satisfied with myself. I have given away my French angora rabbit to Elizabeth because she decided not to grow her coat back. I really wanted that coat! I will be getting another rabbit to replace her. Mirage passed away the other day but I expected it with her problems. She had a good life and was in good spirits that evening. So I am down to one rabbit but hopefully will be getting another. I would like to get another rabbit but my husband can't wait for the one I got left to leave. I'm still thinking about it and it might be better to just buy the wool but why????
I am spinning some white angora with plans to crochet wrist warmers. I wish to write an article for the UARC newsletter on the healing properties of angora wool for arthritis, tendonitis, and carpel tunnel. Should be interesting. The horses got out the other day and I had fun trying to get them back in the field. Trying to move them where they don't want to go is a challenge. Couldn't catch them either! Brushed all the horses for it is sheading season! Simi seems to leave puffs of white hair everywhere but since the rain he is now brown! I really want to get him in a new home because Daisy is pig and won't let him get enough to eat. So basically that's about it. Oh I also have been working on trying to plant a garden. Lots of fun!

Been a while....

Well It sure has been a bit since I posted. I actually updated Parelli Connect before this blog. We got around to playing with the ponies and I got quite a bit done with Simi. I still haven't checked off the whole list but got a good bit of it. We also saddled and rode him again. (4th time) Wish it wasn't so muddy, the horses slip too much to even walk around. Simi did real good, hasn't bucked once. He is a bit pushy with his shoulders when playing some ground games. Need to work on that. It has been quite nice weather wise, we just got rain. I got started clipping bunnies and Carmela and Soncee are done. Carmela's coat was shot and I maybe got an ounce off her, the rest was matted. (soft coats are awful) Soncee yielded about 9 ozs total. 7 ozs of that was prime. Next it's Mirage, don't know what she will give this go round. Found a ride to NC for her this month. Been Knitting dishcloths and dong some spinning. Need to upload some more photos to my etsy store. That's about it this time.