Frankly speaking... just call me a one armed paper hanger
Seems to me that the word "busy" is a relative term. Some folks are busy when they have to go to the dentist and the grocery store all in the same day. Some just take on too much. A lot of this can be blamed on always trying to please everyone. I'm glad that I have the job I do and just get to tell people what to do to best serve me. Don't get me wrong, I'm busy, for sure, but nothing compared to my human caretakers. holy mackeral.
As previously reported, builder has taken a part time job at Lowes. This cuts into his building time. A LOT. So the progress on my suite of stalls has been slow. Good thing we live in the south, because it's not an urgent issue to get in before the big snows, because, well... we don't have many of those. In any event, it's coming along and will be lovely I'm sure and I'll post a picture when it is done.
Wench on the other hand, has been working toward building the business, selling breeding stock, contacting the yarn shops, doing farmers markets and craft fairs, and getting ready to go to Texas for the ARBA convention at the end of October. I see her breeze through the barn a couple of times a day, bringing hay, feed and water, (thus the name Wench) but she doesn't spend the time sitting and stroking my cheek and giving me the admiration I so deserve because she is just too busy. She is not complaining, I am.
I'm hoping we can get a little more on line presence so maybe she can stay home and take care of me better. Oh, the basics are met - and exceeded - food, clothing, shelter, but the admiration is lacking a little. ok, enough complaining
In other news, Smidge continues to grow, always getting in the way - she got stepped on yesterday and has a swollen foot. We're keeping an eye on it, though to make sure it isn't broken. She should stay up on her perch and not get in the way, ya know?
The babies continue to grow, now weaned fully from their mommas, our does are enjoying the peace and quiet, and the babes are bonding. Here is a butt shot for your entertainment:
in case you aren't sure, that's Carm on the left, then Willis, Brooks and Valentine. That Brooks is getting to be a big boy. He may be going to live in Grassy Creek, but if not, then he will be up for sale.
Speaking of sales, look for our products for the last time at Fiber Day in October (17th) at the Independence Farmers Market. After that we will be participating in the on line market. Our yarns are available locally at Unwound in Blowing Rock, NC, Purl's Emporium in Asheville, NC, the Wooly Jumper in Floyd, VA as well as here at the farm. You can always shoot an email to wench (deb@mountaintopfibers.com) to see what's available. Our lovely fingering weight yarn made from mohair and angora with added merino, is a big hit with weavers and knitters alike.
This weekend coming up, wench will be at the Floyd Art show with some of our stuff. Stop on by and say hey.
So friends, the people in my life can continue to be so busy busy busy... me too. I'll be busy doing what I do best:
laying in the sunshine on our little mountain, growing my fleece for your enjoyment. Till next time! kiss kiss.
Frankly speaking....... updates abound
Well, where has the summer gone? Seems like yesterday we were welcoming the new kids on the block - Valentine, Jett, Garbo, Willis, Brooks and Dunn..... and now, we are saying goodbye.
This week, Dunn went to live over at Critter Capers by Raleigh, to be a herd sire. We are sad to see him go, but the cruel facts are that we can't keep everyone.... also, Jett and June are going to live in Pipers Gap near Galax, tomorrow. I can't imagine my poor sister Annie when she has to say goodbye. On Wednesday, Garbo is going to Tennessee, and then Caramella will be coming home to the mountain. I promise pictures of her when she arrives. Brooks will be going to live in Grassy Creek soon, and Valentine and Willis are staying here. So, with the addition of Caramella, we'll be up two goats. I'm afraid next year it will be time for Geronimo to find a new job, and for Willis to become our daddy.
Speaking of pictures, you may have noticed that my posts of late (which, I admit have been few) are lacking in the photo department. Well, wench got a new phone (an iphone) and she is having a bit of trouble transferring the pictures to the computer. I swear.... nevermind. So last week, Dan from Forty6 Photography came to stay a while and he tried to help out the old feeble techno-phobe, but I'm not sure it worked too well. We did get a few older pics off the phone, so I can introduce you, at least, to our new member of the farm:
We actually got a mountain lion: heeeeeerrreee's SMIDGE
It's Hunter s fault... he found her in the woods and she followed him home. She was covered in fleas and her eyes were all goop-y and infected, etc. so wench took her to the vet and got her fixed right up, and now she is queen of the barn. Only about 1-1/2 lbs., she is gonna be a smidgen of a cat, (thus the name) and she tears up and down the three flights of stairs all day long. She even tries to play with us, and seeing as we are afraid of mountain lions, it is rather un-nerving.
Anyway, wench is going to New York next week and hopefully we will have a new bunch of photos to share courtesy of our staff photographer, Dan, once his editing magic is done. He took my portrait, which shows the beautiful carolina blue sky, and the angle is so perfect, my fleece doesn't even make me look fat!
Til next time... thanks for reading Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking....... a new goat ambulance and other news
Well fans, it's been a busy summer around the mountain. If you follow the wench on facebook, then you know that she recently traded in the CR-v for a new Honda Pilot. The reason for this is two fold. First, that wench is a spoiled brat and needs a new vehicle every few years (but i love her just the same) and second, the a/c on the CR-v was shot which would require a hefty repair bill, and the folks at Flow Honda in Winston Salem were so nice, they decided to give her a new car for less money, so it was kind of a no brainer. Besides, you can fit more rabbits in a Pilot than you can a CR-v, so it was practical for the farm. What I didn't count on, though, was that this would also be used as a GOAT AMBULANCE and so soon! The Hondas in this family are accustomed to transporting goats, especially when new (remember when wench got the blue CR-v and the very next day drove Abe (our rent a billy) back to Rome in the back seat? the lady at the McDonald's drive through wanted to give the doggie a bone, until she found out it was a goat!) hahah anywho, I digress.
This time, it was me. I suppose it was time for my visit to the Twin Oaks Veterinary Hospital anyway, but, this is slightly embarassing........ I was uncomfortable in my private area, and I told wench about it on Wednesday (two weeks ago). The situation did not improve overnight, so, I hung around the barn, asking her to DO SOMETHING to help me out, and so I finally got on the shearing stand and she took a closer look. My sheath was swollen and it HURT. Off I go in the goat ambulance
At Twin Oaks, they took my temperature, shaved me (down there) and then I got weighed (152.3 lbs... my svelte self) I got a shot of antibiotic and one to take home and a dose of antibiotic (down there) and one to take home. I'm glad to report I am now good as new and it seems the protein in my grain was a bit much, so now I'm on a lower protein grain. It's ok, I don't want to go through THAT again. If we hadn't taken care of it so quickly, it could lead to PIZZLE ROT and we don't want that!!!!!! Makes me shudder just thinking about it.
In other news, be looking for my article in American Livestock Magazine in October (their fiber issue) where I explain the differences between mohair and angora, and give a little education to those who may not know. The best part of the article, of course, if the "about the author" at the end, which features this photo of ME
many thanks to Dan of Forty6 Photography for this publicity shot. I really am quite handsome, don't you think?
Now that I'll be "published" it will give me the confidence to continue my writing plan... more on that to come.
I am thinking of sending wench to the Rural Retreat farmers market. This is held on Wednesday afternoons, so it will depend on builder's work schedule (which he now has reduced to 3 days a week). Exposure is good. You can find our eggs (well, not the goat eggs, the chicken eggs) at Becca's Backwoods Bean in Sparta, NC and of course you can see us each month at the Independence Farmers Market and as an on line presence in the off season.
Well, time to get to work. Thanks for reading Frankly speaking! stay tuned for updated baby pictures!
Frankly speaking.......I have no excuses
I suppose I could make up an excuse for my elusive-ness lately, but I won't... you know me, tell it like it is. The fact is, I've been busy! Directing the goings-on of this place is a full time job for a goat. So, since it has been like five whole weeks since my last post, here's what happening:
Builder took an off-the-farm job at Lowes. It's a good fit for him (IMO) because of the whole builder thing, but apparently they don't hire part time help right away. First you have to do your time as a temporary seasonal worker (which is 39 hours a week) until they see if you are worth putting on their part time staff (which is what he wanted, just a little something to keep busier). So, anyway, he's away from the farm now for 39 or more hours a week, at least for now until he finds out if they'll keep him on for the job he wanted which should be by the end of summer.
Wench's activities off the farm have been restricted due to builder's new schedule. This is not a bad thing. She can be a bit of a gadabout, you know. There were several things already planned before this all took place, so yes, she did the Powhatan Festival of Fiber (two days gone) and the Middle Tennessee Fiber Fair (three days gone) to sell the shirt off my back, and guess what? She did GREAT. Our yarns and fibers were warmly received and I'm becoming a celebrity, which is only right. Here's the set up:
Of course the set up changes with each show because wench gets another bright idea and changes things around. But, as you can see, it is colorful and showcases ME, FRANKIE because I am important. Oh, and I started making hand creme too. That's fun.
Around the farm, it's been pretty quiet. The babies are growing up, eating like piglets... see?
They are learning to be goats. Wench brings our grain each morning and each evening, to our separate stalls, (I get fed first, of course) and then each baby goat knows to leave their momma's stall and come out to the middle common area, where they all chow down together because, well, if they go live somewhere else, they will have to know how to fight for their food. Not every place is like here where each goat is given their own space like we were horses or something (can you tell that wench grew up with horses? at least she doesn't try to ride us) In the morning, if it's nice out - and it always is here in North Carolina - we take our hay outside. In the evening, when we come into the barn, our hay is waiting for us in our stalls. We have it pretty good here on the mountain top.
In bunny news, Kastanje and Ted had a litter of 9 and they are now weaned and ready for new homes. Kastanje might be going to Texas for convention in October... Ruby and Ted had a litter of 6; Bellatrix and Ted had a litter of 6. (Ted was a busy boy before he went to live in Virginia). The planned breedings for this summer/fall include Julianna to Geordie (a buck from our barn now living with Aunt June) Bronwen to JT's Data (Aunt June's buck, home grown grand champion tort) Kerry Megan to Dexter - who, was suffering a bout with sterility, but we're gonna try him again now that we are on the third floor of the barn. And of course the chins are popping out all over, having big litters, taking on foster kids, etc. it's a busy place around here.
That's about all the news. We have the Independence Farmers Market each month - the next one is June 20th. We'll be there probably with bunnies for showing and fibers and yarns for sale. In the meantime, we'll continue to grow our fleeces for your enjoyment, and, if I can work that wench any harder, I'll try to get her to put the yarns on line, but she's kinda slow, in more ways than one if you know what I mean. From all the clowns up here on the mountain, thanks for reading Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking......................POW a tan!!!
Hey fans and friends................... if you are in the Williamsburg VA area, take a lookie! the Powhatan Festival of Fiber will commence on April 26th and Mountain Top Fibers will be there in Booth 67!
This is our first MAJOR fiber fest and wench has been busy all week getting ready - my job was done when my coat came off, so I've been chill-a-xin and tellin wench what to do (she rarely takes good direction, much like when she worked for that other Frank) in any event... we are excited to see how our products are received. Aunt June is helping out wench to try to keep her straight (good luck with that) and so look for them in Powhatan!
In other news, builder took Hunter for a hike yesterday and stumbled upon a den of coyotes! Hunter was ready to say hello to the nice doggies, but builder was able to get him to follow him while he ran away. A well trained dog is a wonderful thing. Later, builder and one of the neighbors went back to the area on 4 wheelers looking to see if they could see anything, and perhaps remove the predators, but they were not showing themselves. Of course Hunter was safely locked in the people barn (also known as the house). Goats are safely in their stalls every evening about 6 PM, when coyotes are more likely to hunt, and that's a good thing... we've heard them at night, but never seen them before, so a watchful eye will be kept.
All of the angoras are now residing on the 3rd floor of the barn, also known as the Angora Penthouse. Queen Julianna has the prime spot, as befits her station in life, and can view the sunrise over the mountain each morning. We have four litters in the nestbox, three satin angora and one french, and three does bred (hopefully). If you are looking for a french or satin of particular color or parentage, be sure to get in touch.
When wench goes to Powhatan, she is hoping to obtain a red satin buck for pairing with our girl Glimmer. Glimmer is coming of age now, so she is looking forward to meeting Mr. Red. I'll post pictures when he arrives.
Sorry this post is sans photos, I'll be sure to get some shots of the booth at Powhatan and give a full report upon wench's return.
That's all for now - thanks for reading Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking....... I'm ready for my close-up Mr. deMille!
In those famous words of the great Marilyn Monroe (I think), I posed for a picture with a gentleman who came to the Mountain Top to film a portion of a Heifer International documentary about local food. He was very nice, and fed me cookies, which always makes me love someone:
His name is Steven Bailey and he came to interview my wench and builder about their role in supplying food to the local area. I know it's not something we talk about openly in the barn, but, the American Chinchillas are primarily a meat breed of rabbit. I suppose you have to be good at something, and they don't have fiber, so meat it is. I will be addressing this phenomenon in my first book to be released later this year aimed at children, and telling it like it is: your corn doesn't grow in a can. We are in the research stage right now, so be looking for that probably around Christmastime.
When the film is ready, I'll let you know and you can look for me and my new buddy Steven
We've been busy here - having babies and watching them grow. The last of this year's babies was born just this morning to Hope. As of yet, he doesn't have a name, and either does Faith's baby. Wench has been wracking her brain to come up with some suitable names, but we've had SO MANY BOYS born this year, her brain stopped coming up with cute names. (doesn't take much for her brain to stop in any event...)(did I say that out loud?)
I'm sure if you follow us on facebook you've seen the pictures, but I'll recap: Jett and Valentine:
Willis:
Hope's boy:
and finally, the one kidd who stands out from the crowd this year: (although each kidd has its strong points and is very handsome and/or beautiful just because they are from this flerd and they are baby goats) Garbo:
I am really hoping someone wants Garbo for a herdsire, because he is just built beautifully.
In other news: The rabbits are movin on up to the porch, and seem to be pretty happy up there!
they get the view of the mountains and the cool mountain breeze blowing their way. When it's cold (like it has been these past few days) and windy, wench covers the ends of the cages so there is no draft. Once the windows are in, this won't be necessary, but for now...
and so with those pesky rabbits leaving the downstairs, builder is making our stalls over on the other side:
each stall will be 4 x 8 which is considerably bigger than our current accommodations.
More and more happens around here every day, it's getting hard to keep up. Wench is taking a few of the girls and going to the North Carolina Rabbit Breeders convention this weekend. Eva the Diva, Julianna, Bellatrix, Janis Joplin, Manoah and Glimmer will be going to the shows, and Atticus will be moving on to a new home as will Leviticus, and the pair of sport rabbits sired by Brandon, the Californian who lives in West Virginia. He's going back to his house after having spent six months with us in our meat program. Thanks Brandon!
Well, that's it for this edition of Frankly speaking. I'll keep in touch, and hopefully next time I'll be posting some of the exciting yarns that just came back from Gurdy Run Woolen Mill. They are pretty nice! but then, they came from my fleece. so, what. did. you. expect?
Frankly speaking.....a picture is worth a thousand words
So I promised some pictures of the progress on the barn, etc., and as promised... here ya go First, a bonus profile of me, in all of my glory
So today is pretty nice out and the gang got out to enjoy the snow (NOT)
So the builder was working inside, stringing lights in the second floor rabbit barn
and this is the view that I always show you - this time it has snow
Here is the front of the barn, the tractor will drive into the barn and be parked there instead of under the studio in the tarp garage:
Do you see that little shiny piece hanging off the left hand side? That is the manure shoot for the 2nd floor. There is one for the 3rd floor too; and big black pipe to be attached. This will allow the manure to slide down beside the barn where builder can scoop it up with the tractor and then distribute it where it needs to go. My suite will be on the other side of that wall. Nigel, Geronimo, Daisy and myself will share an area, and the does and babies will all go inside where it's warmer.
Speaking of babies, my lovely sister, Mae:
and my niece, Valentine
I think she's got the nursing thang down pat, now:
So who will be next, could it be Annie:
we'll have to see about that... I'll keep you posted, I promise! Thanks for reading Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking....................I've been quiet until now
Where, you ask, has Frankie been? My last post was around Christmastime, and it is SO unlike me to be un-opinionated or quiet or not OUT there spewing my goatiness to all my fans. Well, I'll tell you: 1) It is winter. A time for reflection and rest, to gather steam for spring and plan the garden, etc. This year, we have had winter. Call it global warming, climate change, what-ever............ it is usually 60 and sunny here by February but this year we actually have been locked up in the barn a few days due to inclement weather. I go a little stir crazy, so, I was just hanging out banging my head on the stall door (it's a goat thing) and builder got annoyed. He threw me outside in the snow so I could cool off. NOT FUNNY BUILDER. It was cold, and so deep, it came right up to my belleh. ugh.
2) It is winter. Builder has been unable to build in the cold, so our barn is a little behind schedule. Oh, he's closing in on it, but the fun stuff, the moving of the goats, rabbits and reconfiguring of space has been delayed. When there is a nice day, he is hard at work, putting up siding, etc., but most of the time these days I hear he has been in the garage building rabbit cages. Some of our cages have been in use since before I was born, so new ones are necessary.
3) It is winter. Wench has been scheming. Moving cages and stalls in her brain, coming up with new marketing strategies, trying to do things she has not been trained for... like for example - we have a need to expand this blog and add more pages, one for each breed of rabbit, etc., and an e-commerce store for our products, and wench is not an internet sensation by any means. So, she flounders around trying this and that, when what she should do is... oh, never mind. I always complain about her but really, she's trying so you can't fault her for that. She'll get it right one day.
In the meantime, there is news to report, although not many pictures. I really need to get the photo department on the ball, and I promise, there will be a photo array of all the progress SOON. Yesterday, we met Glimmer. She is a 4 month old copper (standard) Satin doe (rabbit). She traveled from Ohio to be here with us, and she will go to the North Carolina state rabbit convention next month to get some experience in the show ring. Once she is old enough to have babies, she will join the satin angora program or the meat program, or both, OR, if we can find her a suitable mate, perhaps she'll start her own program.
The day before yesterday, we met Valentine! 
isn't she sweet? She is the daughter of Miss Mae and Geronimo. She reminds me of Annie when she was a baby, but now, Annie is ready to bring forth her own baby. In any event, Valentine spent her first night in the house with wench and builder because she didn't quite get the whole nursing thing, but now she's fine and her and her momma are bonding.
There needs to be photos to go with the changes that have been made, so I'll get the publicity department on that right away and get a new post put together today or tomorrow, I promise.
Thanks for waiting for this issue of Frankly speaking.............................. I'll be back
Frankly speaking.......I've got some frankiesense and mhyrr
Not really, but 'tis the season to be thinking about frankinsence and all that jazz, so I thought it would be good to have FRANKIE SENSE which is just good old fashioned common sense, because as we all know, I tell it like it is, right?
It's been a while since my last post and I can't believe where the time flies off to! Now it is four days before Christmas and am I ready? Well, yes, I am ready because I'm a goat, and we are always ready for anything. Christmas around here usually means a box of frosted mini wheats to share. yummy!
I hear tell that wench got a microscope for the big holiday and so now we will be subjected to examinations all the time. I just hope that she will allow us to volunteer the samples instead of trying to remove them with a scope or something. ick. It's not a bad thing, though..... it'll be good to know we are healthy and only get de-wormer when we need it.
There's really not too much going on around here. We are waiting for the blessed events to occur, which should be happening around February or March, so, as the old saying goes, Christmas is coming and the goat is getting fat. or the goose, I can't remember. In any event Miss Mae, Hope, Faith, Annie and Greta are expecting for sure. We are not so sure about Gracie, but she could surprise us. We could double the size of the herd by the end of March. YOWZA.
Builder continues to build, and this week the siding is going on the front and sides of the barn. He's looking for flourescent light fixtures for the bunny barn and there are cages everywhere! Once those wabbits are out of our space, we can move in and I'm looking forward to the new address. Him and the wench went to the metal fabricator last week and invented a poop shoot so the rabbits will have a way to dispose of their droppings without flinging it out the side of the barn. which would be. gross. anyway, I digress.
Wench has been cooking a lot, I guess they have a lot of parties to go to this time of the year. Just so long as they don't forget to take care of US. which they won't. Actually she's not in the barn all day which is OK by me. I like her and everything, but sometimes she is just in the way of what a goat wants to do, ya know?
Frankly speaking....... photos and shameless self-promotion
Hey there frankie fans..... (maybe we should start a fan club, eh?) my last post was rather plain, and I promised new photos of the progress on the new house, er... barn, so here it is. First, however, I have to share some news! As you know, the wench likes the sell the shirt off my back, and she does this at various places like farmers markets and craft shows, etc. Well, starting right now, you can get the products offered from the Mountain Top at the Independence Farmers Market ON LINE! How cool is that???!!?? Here's the link: http://independencefarmersmarket.locallygrown.net/market check it out!
Today, November 9th, wench and Aunt June are over at the Fancy Gap Elementary School hawking their wares at the Christmas Bazaar. At the end of November, right after Thanksgiving, there is a special farmers market in Independence, so they will be set up there as well, AND you can find my yarns at Wooly Jumper in Floyd, VA and at the Fiber Artisans Studio in West Jefferson, NC. We do get around. One of these days she will bring me, frankie, the star of this show, to visit the folks who actually buy my shirts. but in the meantime, I'm taking care of the flerd here.
Speaking of taking care of the flerd, Geronimo (the horndog) had a little difficulty this week. I TOLD him not to be eating those oak leaves like a piglet because they are toxic to goats. However did he listen??? no. he never does. I also told him it was not a good idea to breed daisy the sheep, but he had to try it. Anyway, he pigged out and got a giant case of the soupy poopies. Man, it wasn't fun being around him. Wench gave him 2 oz of mineral oil and a shot of dura-pen and he seems to be coming out of it, but he was a stinky mess for a couple of days - even more so than the natural odor emanated by a billy goat this time of year. The oak trees are in the pasture, and the leaves blow down when they die and a couple are ok, but not a lot. Maybe builder will cut down all the oaks when he makes more huts.
So now, without further adieu, here is the regular progress shot of the barn:
pretty impressive, eh?
and here is the a shot of the upstairs:
and the third floor:
and so, you see, we really will have a tree house of epic proportions! a skyscraper barn.
In other news, the guineas have been re-located in Phase I of the big move. They are adjacent now to the greenhouse, and they don't quite get it. Oh, they know where their food is, but are not quite sure they want to actually move in. Tell ya what, I don't miss their squawking in the barn. We have a new resident french angora buck, his name is Mick Jagger. So I think I'll name his babies after Rolling Stones' songs - Clems Satisfaction; Clems Hot Licks, you get the idea... Moonshadow's babies are getting irish names - (he's a Celtic Hare buck) Kerry Megan, Malachi, Fiona, Bronwen, etc. Oh, and Moonshadow got his own wine this week. Here's the photo we used for the label:
It's called Moonshadow's Shine Wine. It has moonshine in it and is a dessert wine. It must be the year of the rabbit around here - last years wines were named for us goats. the year before it was the dogs. this year it's the rabbits. Buttons got his own wine, too. owell, it doesn't take too much to amuse those two, wench and builder.
Ok, gotta get ready to start the day, it's almost 6 AM and wench will be down soon to feed us so she can go hawk her wares. or my wares that she stole from me.
Thanks for reading frankly speaking - let me know what you think about the fan club idea (I think it's brilliant)
Frankly speaking....................settle down, settle in, settled. period
Well, it's been a while since my last update. It's been biz-zee around here. The wench went to Harrisburg, PA, in mid-October for the 90th annual ARBA convention, and she took Julianna, Lillianna and Bronwen for frenchies, and Momma Cass for the American Chinchilla side of the equation. Samson went too, but not to show, just to be a part of the Youth Contest and then he went home with our friend Melissa to have a hot date with her American Chin doe Dela.
Speaking of hot dates, Geronimo is being an obnoxious teenage boy. You'd think he had a death wish the way he has been behaving. I've heard of going both ways, but this guy goes ALL ways. First he bred all the angora goat does. twice. then he started chasing ME around. I kept hiding in the barn to get away from him (this is the both ways part). Then, the other day, I caught him trying to breed DAISY, the sheep! Nigel was not impressed. Either was Wench. Either was daisy. hahahah
But hopefully things will settle down here now as winter approaches. It's 45 degrees today, which is perfect weather. If you are a goat.
Sorry, no pictures this time. I just wanted to bring you all up to date so you didn't think I'd fallen off the earth. We are fine, just trying to keep away from the adolescent billy goat in his quest to breed everything in sight. What's next, the trees?
I promise to get some pictures of the progress on the barn. It's pretty impressive. Thanks for stopping by!
Frankly speaking.................kids say the darndest things
Conversation overheard in the barn last night: Moose: it feels GOOD to be nekkid
July: I got a little cut, now my face is all purple where I rubbed it on my cut (sniff, sniff)
Hans: Well, among the three of us, I've got a set - you other two look like GIRLS so you better watch out, because I'm the toughest!
June: hey, cut it out. I want to know what they DO with all that fiber after they put it in the bag
Ahh yes, it's shearing time, and these little virgins had their first clip. They jumped around and carried on and were quite surprised to see themselves all shaved, so, Uncle Frankie had to tell them the facts of life. Yes, virginia, that wench sells the shirt right off your back. They use that fur to make YARN so people can knit it all together and make sweaters. really. seriously. why don't they just grow their own fiber like us?
Of course Geronimo, the horndog, had to make sure the girls were all the same girls, because, gee, he mighta missed somebody (NOT).
Nigel was not amused when Daisy came home naked. He kept beating on her to the point where wench had to referee the grain time. That'll teach her. Nigel is a once a year sheep, Daisy gets sheared twice because she is awesome and grows so much fleece.
Soon, all of our coats will go to Echoview Fiber Mill down in Weaverville, NC to be made into products like rovings and yarns and then those will get sold and the money will buy our hay for next year and the cycle continues. Ahh, the circle of life.
As always, thanks for reading Frankly speaking. Wench and builders kids are all coming today, so we'll have some great new pics!
Frankly speaking.......love is in the air
and so, your spokesgoat is looking for other things to do. As you all know, I have no role in the breeding around here, and that is why I am such a good Chief Executive Goat. No hormones to cloud my decision making. SO, I thought I'd share a post with y'all to bring you up to date.
Geronimo is getting a little stinky; he takes his job seriously and the girls seem to like him, too. I don't concern myself with such things until the babies start coming, then I have just so much to do around here. Job security I suppose. In any event...
Recently, we have had some changes. Pinky and Gary went to live with our friend Charlotte; and the three boys born this year have now found a home. Moose, July and Hans will be moving to Pilot Mountain NC to live with a very nice fiber artist who I interviewed yesterday. They will be going to the doctor for their snip snips, and the shearing team will do their thing, and then in November we'll be saying adieu. I'll be sure to get some pictures. Here are two of those boys hanging out by the barn.
Builder is building, the roof is on now and I'll get some pictures later on this week; yesterday momma bear came to see us with her cub; but she didn't come in the barn, was just passing through. No pictures of that.
Wench has been readying the rabbits for the big convention in October. Hopefully we'll get some nice comments. Probably two or three french angoras, one or two satin angoras and one American Chin will go represent the Mountain Top in Harrisburg. Wench has also been attending some fiber fairs, selling the shirt off my back because she does that sort of thing. We were lucky to receive a photo this week of the artwork made with our products. Just look at this basket made with our rug yarn by talented artist Karen Carney
Here's the litter of Satin Angoras, first ones born here..... that chin buck is a keeper. Builder named him Skeeter, but we need to come up with something a little more regal for this guy:
ok, that's the quick news. I know no post would be complete without a picture of my lovely face, and so, I say... thanks for reading Frankly speaking:
Frankly speaking......... where did July go?
Ok, so here it is AUGUST the 16th. I can't believe it. Where did the summer go? oh, wait. we didn't really HAVE summer here, just Monsoon Season! Good thing we live on a mountain top. We have had ten times the normal amount of rain so far this summer. Builder, of course has been building, but not an ark (although that might be a good thing actually).
We have had a lot happening here. We have experienced some real heartache here - first we lost our 22 year old cat Eve. If I may indulge myself a tad, no one ever eulogizes an animal, so let me start:
Eve Maguire Johnson Clemens, arrived to live with wench as a kitten, after being rescued by that Maguire guy I never met. By the time wench went to live with her dad (the first Clem), Eve was expecting. She had two kittens who did not live, but adopted two abandoned kittens thereafter. Eve loved to hunt. and sleep. and eat, especially 9 lives cat food and Hollywood Stars liver treats for dogs (and special cats). Eve lived first in Verona, then Rome, then Lowville and then Ennice, NC. She loved her family and was a good kitty. She was predeceased by Tigger, her friend and companion, and many other kitties and dogs. She left to cross the rainbow bridge at the age of 22, a good life for a cat.
Then we lost our girlfriend Rapunzel.
Rapunzel Johnson Clemens was rescued by wench as a pup in 1999. It was love at first sight all the way around, with Dan and wench and punzie. Punzie was a party girl and loved when Dan had a party at the house, especially when Rome PD showed up. Punzie also loved Emily White who lived next door, and she and Emily would have conversations through the hedges when Em was just a little girl. Punzie loved to hunt, too and would put a muskrat UP A TREE and then wait there all day for it to come down. Once she killed a guinea when she channeled her inner wolf, and got hollered at. She never did that again. Punzie loved to eat Mary Kay hand creme when she was a puppy, only trying to help wench's business so she'd have to place another order. She was predeceased by Lizzie, who I vaguely remember, and Eve, her favorite cat. I think Eve was waiting for Punzie to cross over that rainbow bridge together. There is so much more to say about Rapunzel, she was such a great dog, but, I just can't talk about it that much. We miss her a lot. She was 15 when she passed away, a shadow of her former self, but loved so much.
In between, our own Glory went to the rainbow bridge as well. She was fine one day, sic the next. Doctor said it was listeriosis which is a bacterial thing (like tetanus) in the ground. Some goats are fine with it, some aren't. We didn't want her to suffer, so made the hard decision. Her brother Gary was broken hearted.
To cheer Gary up, we sent him on a mission. He and his full sister Pinky went to Pennsylvania to live with our friend Charlotte. Gary is very protective of Pinks, so that's a good job for him. We wish them godspeed, and good fiberations for Charlotte!
so, enough sad. Now on to the building part. Here is the progress of the building - in between raindrops that builder gets a lot done in a day!
as you can see it's coming right along...
so, enough about that. We have baby bunnies! A litter of Satin angoras, a litter of French angoras and three bunnies from Layla x Moonshadow. These guys are keepers - and so I present:
and
of course anyone who grew up with wench knows WHY she would name a blue point Kerry Megan - it's Irish, first of all, and Kerry Turner and Megan Miller were like the coolest people in Blue Point who were Irish and not Italian... ok, so it gets complicated. hahahah
In any event, rabbits come and rabbits go, but goats go on forever. and we have the cutest goats.
how can you ask for cuter than that?
and then, we also have TALENTED goats. How many goats can do the goat dance?
and then of course there is me. Frankie. I am the CEG and spokes goat of Mountain Top Fibers. I am thinking of writing a series of children's books, explaining life as I see it. The working title of the first book is Frankly speaking... corn doesn't grow in a can! what do you think,.... good idea?
and thanks for reading Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking..................what a difference a week makes!
As I previously reported, we are currently under expansion here on the Mountain Top. Builder has been busy doing what he loves to do - build. I posted this picture last week:
and so, about a week later and viola!:
this will be the area for the rabbit does. Underneath this area is the man cave:
I hope to post progress once a week here so you can follow what is going on. In the meantime, builder continues to drop trees so that he doesn't run out of lumber. Some of these guys are pretty big, so he calls his friend Junior Bear (who is beginning to be my favorite visitor... every time he visits we get tree tops) and they dump a few over so builder has wood, we have food and the pasture has sunshine in order to grow grass
Wench, in the meantime, is busy making rabbit cages to hold fryers... 11' long, with five cages in each section. The area where we are now will be taken over by these cages and we'll move into the cool basement where the does are now. Confused? join the club. I can't keep up with these two - always changing things, building stuff, moving it around, yada yada -- owell, I'm glad I'm a goat and all I have to do is be awesome.
ok, gotta jet - there are trees down! Thanks for reading Frankly speaking - see you next week!
Frankly spehttp://wordpress.com/#!/my-stats/aking..... seems summer is finally here - or is this the rainforest?
Well, after about a month of rain, it seems we are down to about every other day showers. I was about to ask builder to make an ARK for us, but now it doesn't look as though we'll need it - not yet anyway. I have posted here before about food, and how important it is to a goat. This --
makes a goat unhappy.
This - (look closely, you can see the wagon right between the studio and the hot tub) makes a goat VERY happy.
Many thanks to Robbie Killion and his awesome crew who made hay for us again this year and delivered it so we wouldn't starve to death. I am sure you were all concerned that I was getting enough to eat. Anyway, we appreciate his efforts in getting us hay in between the rain. I hear the rest of the stash will arrive tonight if the weather is nice.
In the meantime, there has been a lot going on here lately. Wench finally got off her butt and did a couple of craft shows and farmers markets. The reception has been warm and the products well received, so it's onward and upward in the fiber business.
In keeping with the no-nonsense journalistic reporting you've come to expect from me, I must tell you that we had a natural disaster occur in the rabbitry. None of the Angoras were affected, just the chins, but we ended up losing three very valuable brood does, one adolescent buck and several baby rabbits. Study, vet consultation and necropsy revealed we had a cocci problem, so that has now been corrected and we are back in action. Everyone is feeling just fine, and all of the rabbits have received a new vaccination called BunnyVac which will protect them from pasturella. They also are getting Ivomectin every three months as a preventative treatment and Corrid in their water twice a year. We never had a protocol for the rabbits insofar as deworming goes because we never had a problem. This has been a wake-up call and we are grateful to be on track, and will remember the sacrifice made by Harmony, Pepper, Anne Hibbins and RocketMan on the next bunny memorial day. Wench is hoping to get a microscope soon so she can get up close and personal with all of our poop and know how to deal with whatever might ail us.
Speaking of aliments, little Gracie developed pneumonia last week. She had a high temperature and we were all very worried, but thanks once again to the folks at Twin Oaks Vet Hospital, she's right as rain and feeling frisky again. They are so wonderful there. And they all think we are cute. Which we are. But I'm the cutest, right?
Anyway, back to the news. So, you know how the builder loves to build, right? and You know how much fun he's been having making lumber with his new toy the sawmill, right? Well, this is a recipe for fun, and so..... it's a lumber yard around here:
These are the piles of lumber he's been making all spring, and he plans to put them all together to make a two story addition to the barn, right here:
This will be a two story "porch" which will be open-air and will house brood does for our rabbit operation. We should be able to add another 50 to 75 does. YOWZA. Wench will have a full time job just shoveling the poop.
anyway, builder hopes to be "in" by winter. He's an ambitious guy. but we knew that. I hear that when the rabbits move upstairs, new goat quarters will be made in the main area of the barn, downstairs where the does are now. Never a dull moment around here. It is closer to the hay chute, so it's ok with me.
Now that I've brought you up-to-date on the do-ins around here, I suppose you want some pictures of the babies, huh?
here you go -
Welcome to our newest French Angora buck -
He has already made a litter with CT Layla (one blue, one tort and one white); and has moved Nimbus to his harem this week, so we'll see what happens there..
Speaking of baby rabbits, may I introduce
ok, so that's about all the news. We are looking forward to seeing Deb Willis this week, she'll be coming for a visit on Wednesday. We saw Aunt Pat and Cousin Andrea for about a minute a couple of weeks ago, and Cousin Andrea made the observation that wench was certainly her father's daughter. Truer words were never spoken. She misses her dad. Goats don't miss their dads. We sometimes don't even know our dads - but that makes it easy on father's day - don't have to get a card. hahahahah
Anywho - thanks for reading Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking.....farm fest and farm test!
Well, last week was farm fest in Mt. Airy, NC, better known as Mayberry USA. It began on Friday night with the tractor parade. I sent the wench and the builder to scope it out, because they needed to set up our display for Saturday's doins. However, they got there a little late and only saw the kids riding their tractors. Pretty cute from all accounts, but, it's hard to get good help around here, ya know?
So, in concert with wench, I selected two goats to represent the farm, and two rabbits. We sent Greta and Gracie for the goat reps and Dexter and Atticus for the rabbit reps. Ember had originally been the choice, but, he matted up his butt and had to be cut back, so Atticus stood in for him, and no one knew the difference because they are both black french angoras and represented the breed rather well.
Greta and Gracie were awoken at 7:00 a.m., a full hour prior to their regular breakfast call. They got new pink and purple collars and leashes (we don't need no stinkin' leashes) and were promised a big adventure!
They weren't afraid to tell me that they breathed a big sigh of relief when they drove PAST the Mt. Airy Stockyards and onto Aunt June and Uncle Todd's house, to pick up Mishi, Data and Sky - oh, and Aunt June, too! (they have been promoted to Aunt and Uncle status because I have selected them, and I make all the big decisions around here)
So, they got there around 8:30 and spent the day being gawked, poked, prodded and stared at, everyone calling them SHEEP, which isn't as bad as being an alpaca and being called a llama, which I understand happened a lot that day...
So Wench and Aunt June had fun, met a ton of people and sold some stuff, farm products and quilt raffle tickets, and made plans to do a few more shows.
The farm "test" noted above is some gastric troubles moving through the bunny barn. All shows have been put on hold until we get a handle on it (the handle is really on it, we just want to make sure) and so you won't be seeing us at rabbit shows for a while. Just as well, wench needs to get to work doing fairs and craft shows and quit trying to ride the coat tails of the rabbits around here. After all, she drives the limo to get them, but after that, they do all the work, right?
So, although I love to show my picture on this blog because I'm just so awesome, it IS spring and I think some spring stuff is in order. Here are some blooming onion flowers that came from the bulbs our friend Joyce Seaman sent to us... aren't they pretty? I bet they are also tasty, but wench won't let me try them. boo hoo.
So, my next post will be all about the big expansion that is going on around here. Builder has been busy! (what's new?) Gotta get some pictures, you'll be amazed! Thanks for reading Frankly speaking...................
Frankly speaking....................the biggest loser is the biggest winner...
Yes, once again, Mountain Top Fibers has produced a Best in Show winner. This is pretty exciting stuff for us because it ain't easy getting there - just ask our reigning queens, Julianna and now EVA! We all can sympathize with our Eva the Diva because way back last year she was disqualified from competition due to her girth. She was seriously over weight and as such was not taken too seriously around here. WELL, about six months ago, she went on a very strict diet and was subjected to weekly weigh ins, lectures, counting points and all that other good stuff and, all that hard work paid off. The day before the wench left for the Ohio Mini Convention, Eva stepped on the scale before she stepped in her carrier, and viola! she was 10.7 (a whole ounce to spare from max allowed)
A six hour ride in the back of a pickup truck with Abbotts Rabbitts and Heartfelt Hares landed the diva in Columbus, Ohio. Three shows. Three best of breed awards and one best in show. Her head is a little swollen and she is acting like the diva she is. We are proud of all her hard work. Here she is................................
and now, back to your regularly scheduled Frankly speaking. BIG NEWS. Craft Fair season is upon us, only slightly overlapping with rabbit show season, and so look for Mountain Top Fibers in the following venues:
May 18th at Mt. Airy Farm Days. No, we are not participating in the antique tractor parade even though our tractor is an antique and so are the people running it (our tractor, not the parade)
May 24th at the Independence Farmers Market, Fiber day
June 1st at the Hale Wilkinson Carter Home in Hillsville, VA
Bunny ambassadors will be on hand to entertain the children. I'll be holding down the fort here, keeping everyone in line, so may send Greta and Gracie to Mt. Airy to take care of the cute factor. Wench will of course be spinning yarn on her wheel at each event and helping folks get to know us better. Builder will probably be here, too, because we he-man types shy away from these girly events. fiber fairs and all that. We'd rather cut down trees, which, we've been doing in anticipation of the big barn expansion
More later. Thanks for reading Frankly speaking... until next time!
Frankly speaking............................I AM large and in charge!
at least until the wench gets home..... gotta tell my fans about my week!!!! You see, the wench and the builder will be married ten years on the beltaine, (May 1st for you non-heathens) so, to celebrate, they went to the coast for a getaway. I can't imagine wanting to get away from your goats, but, WHAT-EVER, away they went.
Remember when we were watching Abbotts Rabbitts and that silly Mary Kay thought the service was sub-par? well. payback, being what it is, June (of abbotts rabbitts) was kind enough to stay here for four whole days and take care of everyone!
June's rabbitts are just a tad bit spoiled, so we figured it would be easy to get away with stuff. We all talked it over and, although the rabbits didn't want to go along with my plan, I just had to challenge her on her first day and did we ever have some fun! Eventually all of the goats and the two goat wannabes went to the right places, because let's face it, we come in to the barn for two reasons: either it's raining, or it's dinnertime. or someone is in there - and we have to see what's going on - because they may have a treat or a snack, or nevermind, I digress.
On the second day I think June found it a little easier because her confidence was up. To prove a point I think, she had the shepherd's crook in her hand when I came in. I knew she wouldn't use it, so I came in the wrong door, went into every stall, wagged my tail and gave her a bit of a tude, and THEN, when it was looking like I had her right where I wanted her....., she walked away and pulled out the grain. It was over. I couldn't play anymore, I had to eat. Don't want to be wasting away you know.
I must say, we enjoyed having June here. Rapunzel and Hunter love June, and you know what they say about dogs..... they are a good judge of character. Except Hunter. He loves anyone who will throw the ball or go for a walk or feed him or lay down on the couch for a nap and accept a big black dog as a covering; or drive by in a golf cart and give him a ride on his personal trolley; but Rapunzel is a hard sell, and she took to June like the wench wasn't even gone. Says something important. Of course Rapunzel is getting up there in years and she could have just thought June was the wench, so, it could have been dog-heimers or something, but still, they both love June and we value their opinions.
In any event..... THANKS JUNE for being such a good babysitter. Please feel free to put "Farmhand Extraordinaire" on your resume, and use me, Frank the Goat, CEG Mountain Top Fibers, as a personal reference.
There is other news in the making, our first craft show, who will attend, our shearing has been completed, babies are growing, bunnies expanding, never a dull moment. But for now, thanks for reading Frankly speaking. See ya next time!
Frankly speaking....... if spring has sprung, then why is it still snowing? --or-- who is the leader of the Breakout Kings of White Pine Drive?
Is this weather crazy or what? Snowflakes in the air at the end of March? WTF... this is the south y'all. We do have a lot of sunshine, and as I've said before, we used to spend months cooped up in the barn when we lived in New York, and here, a couple of days in a row are unusual. This time our sequestration was not about the weather, though, I must admit. It was more about the wether. As in neutered sheep. NIGEL. Here's the story:
Remember a while ago I posted about the builder's plans to put more sun in the pasture and take down some trees? Remember this guy?
Well, now you see him, now you don't. A few weeks ago, in preparation for the toppling of this tree, the builder took down the fence on that side of the pasture. We didn't notice as we're pretty happy just laying out in the sun and working on our tans. Nigel, however, DID notice, and a few times, he would wander out into the road and then wind up in the mushroom garden and the wench would have to direct him back to the barn.
this is the mushroom garden. About the fall it should yield some tasty mushrooms. Anyway... Nigel kept up these shenanigans and would tell us about his adventures. On Monday, we all decided to have a looksee for ourselves..... and off and down the path we went....
of course the builder knew what was up right away and called the wench who came down to collect us from the studio. We were having fun...
here is where we got out:
SO, because we now had the run of the mountain, we got locked up in goat jail. for two.whole.days. while the builder cut down the tree.
Well, we are now back to normal, the fence is up and we are free!!! We've had some babies around here, too.... pigeons and chickens. Here they are!
So anyway, I'm hoping for spring some day. I've talked the shearers into waiting until the weather warms a bit before we get shaved.....
As always - thanks for reading Frankly speaking.....