Thursday, August 28, 2014

An unusual opportunity (or two)

Remember Blake's beautiful fleece? How about his son Bart's, which is even more gorgeous?

Both Blake's and Bart's 2014 fleeces were reserved last year, but health problems have curtailed the buyer's ability to spin. So these two fine fleeces are unexpectedly up for grabs, long after I'm usually sold out. I'm posting them here for my readers before advertising them on Ravelry, where they never last longer than a few hours.

Getting those sold will help buy hay for the sheep. I just got a call from our hay guy who didn't think he'd have 2nd or 3rd cutting this year but ended up with a little – for $8 a bale. OUCH!

Speaking of fleeces, I still need to monkey-pick Benny's and get it covered. (News flash: This morning Benny asked for and immensely enjoyed some attention for the first time since he was a wee thing!) I'm on the fence about coating Barbados; he's for sale, but if he ends up staying here through next spring's shearing, his fleece would be more valuable if covered.

If Barbados is here through the fall, it would be mighty tempting to breed him to a ewe to see if he'd pass on his amazing fleece and stellar conformation and type. Which ewe? Well, I only have one who isn't related to him, and I may be trading her for a moorit ewe lamb who is Annabelle's granddaughter. (I really want to trade for Annabelle's daughter Bloom, but Franna isn't willing to part with her; the aforementioned ewe lamb is by Bloom's son.) Although I am thinking of breeding my big Bali girl this fall, I don't plan to make a regular practice of breeding ewe lambs, so that leaves no options for Barbados.

Or does it?

Somewhere in a flock far away

That's all the teasing for now from . . .

6 comments:

Mary Ann said...

Okay, I got totally confused!!! :-)

Tombstone Livestock said...

Eight dollars a bale ....stop whining ..... I just bought 84 bales at $17 a bale for alfalfa.

Laura said...

I would be interested in Blake's fleece...

Michelle said...

It will probably all become clear in time, Mary Ann, but you're welcome to email me if you need help translating. ;-)

Audrey, with your drought I don't know how you can afford to have animals at all!

Laura, are you sure? (You know I won't be an "enabler.")

Paradise Found Farmgirl said...

I need to county my hay price blessings here in South Central PA. Hay is the same price it has been for years... 3.50 a bale for horse quality timothy mix.

Michelle said...

You ARE blessed, PFF!

FYI; I posted Bart's fleece on Ravelry and it got snapped up. Laura has spoken for Blake's, so those opportunities are gone.