Deb Clemens 9/7/16 Deb Clemens 9/7/16

Frankly speaking ..... I'm getting there

So, over the past week, I encouraged wench to actually sit down and do some work with this blog. She has been chatting with the folks at the Squarespace help line and they have in fact been helpful in teaching the old dog some new tricks. Here's hoping she's got it now, and we can get down to work, now that the busy season is upon us.

We love fall around here. There are several reasons for this - first of all we get to lose our fleece. Shearing has occurred for the kids going to new homes, Lourdes and Taylor, and Neeman and Marcus - the fiber is like buttah and not all that dirty. Warbux, who we also consider this year's kid, has not found a home yet. That's ok. He's welcomed to stay here as long as necessary, but, really, he should be finding a new job with his dad, Geronimo.

Our sales policy is that no one goes it alone. It seems that my old buddy Norman never really bonded with his new flock, and he did meet a tragic ending, at the paws of some rouge dogs, so, now, we make it a policy to never sell one goat. If you want one, you'll take two. It's that simple.

But I digress (like usual). In farm news, we have a few new bunnies. The Champagne D'Argent is a beautiful breed of rabbit. You may recall Homestead's Batman came to live here a while back:

Well, now he has a couple of girlfriends: This is The's Zatana

and The's Selina. Selina is very very friendly

We'll see how they do showing this fall, and then they'll go to work in the rabbitry making babies. Champagne babies are born black and fade to white over black... very interesting - thus the mask on the face. We are excited to start off with this new breed.

As you may recall, Miss Daisy had her litter in April of this year. There are two boys, Andre and Goliath. Andre went to Murfreesboro Tennessee this past weekend and was recognized as best opposite in his class. There weren't enough giants to gain a leg for this, but that's ok. Maybe next time. Andre was the only one of Daisy's babies to manage to keep his coat nice during his adolescence. Goliath, Dione, Phoebe and Kari (see the theme here?) all had to have their coats sheared because they were laying around on top of each other, being silly. Even Gulliver, the french angora foster child of the great Miss D got into that act and had to be shorn. The giants should be ready to show by January, maybe even sooner, but Gulliver will most likely not have a great coat until Spring, when she will be a senior. That actually works out ok, too.

This leaves few bunnies going to shows this fall. It's ok. There is no need to bring a hundred rabbits to a show. Wench is getting old and should be slowing down a little, don't you think?

Well, you might think so, but she never quits. This is the new area of the barn now being constructed, because, let's face it: we never have enough space for critters:

Not sure yet what will go there, but it most likely won't be goats. We have a nice sized flerd right now and we're fine with that. Of course this year G didn't get the memo (AGAIN) and has already started breeding season, which means kids will be born around December AGAIN.

Another new member of the flerd has been added, too: Little Miss Harper the chocolate lab is working her way into all of our hearts. We don't get to see her too often down in the barn yet because she has not received all of her vaccinations, but when she does come down here, she loves to chase us. We are not quite sure how to take this and will school her if she gets out of hand.

On a sad note, we have not seen Smidge for a couple of weeks. When Harper came to live in the house, Goose (the housecat) took it upon herself to move into the barn. Smidge was not a happy camper as she was the queen there. She didn't leave a note, but we think she just got mad and went somewhere else to live. We are hoping she comes back, but aren't counting on it. She was missing Rock Star a lot and maybe she went to find him.

So, keep a lookout for us at the Floyd Art Festival October 1st. Mountain Top Fibers will be showing this fall under the banner of Blue Ridge Fiberworks. Whenever there are two of the partners in cahoots, the Blue Ridge Fiberworks banner will be on top, with the three partners underneath. This is so old ladies can combine their efforts, and no one has to strain themselves working too hard. A true cooperative. So, on October 1st, wench will be at a rabbit show up in Woodstock, VA and the other two partners will run the booth. On the 2nd, (which is the 2nd day of the festival) wench will come down to Floyd from Woodstock and work the booth for the other two, break it down and bring it home.

Then, she gets to go to her class reunion (45 years - told you she was old) the following weekend and then rest for two weeks while she gets ready for SAFF. That's another post.

So, if I haven't lost you with this epic post, which seems to be the length of a novel, I'll sign off and say - thanks for reading Frankly speaking - and remember - it's ok to speak frankly but nice matters.

Deb Clemens 3/5/15 Deb Clemens 3/5/15

Frankly speaking.......................lion or lamb... you decide

Mother nature has a warped sense of humor. We retired to North Carolina because the weather was more suitable to goats - or at least that's what they promised... and we have been cooped up in the barn for more than two days at a time this winter due to cold or snow or wet or just yuk. ENOUGH. I'm glad I don't live in Boston, but still. I suppose I shouldn't complain. We have our hay delivered and clean water and grain twice a day. Now, if we can get mother nature trained as well as we've trained that wench...

In other news, all the babies are doing well. Neptune and Hera are slow growing, but then Hope, their momma, is really working hard to raise them right.

This is the last set of babies for Hope... she is retiring this year, and will join her kids Pinky and Gary up in Pennsylvania to live her life out in luxury. Faith will be moving down the road to this really cool place that has goats on the roof of the shed. She met her new parents, Tim and Joyce, the other day and really likes them, so let's hope she likes her new brothers, too. There are two other goats there, both wethers, so she can be the queen.

We were glad to see Sarah and the kids over the weekend, it's always such a treat when they visit...

Amelia really loves us, and even loves the baby chicks - who, by the way, were living in the people barn due to the cold, but now are in the garage, getting ready to transition into the chicken coop probably the first part of May...

Wench is getting ready to go to Dalton, GA for a big rabbit show. This will be Daisy's debut show and Mutiara's last show. The weather (again) has not been too cooperative for growing angora coats, so Mutiara has the prettiest coat up there. She will be the french ambassador, with Daisy representing the giants and Sparkle the Satin angoras. Apollo is going as the only Satin satin, and then there is the trio of American Chins: Zelda, Hey Jude and Lady Madonna. Wench will get opinions on Jude and Madonna, and see if they stay in the show string or if they retire early. Funny thing with those American Chins.... they develop slowly, so a not so great junior could be a spectacular intermediate or senior. Just look at Zelda... she was about first off the table at convention and now she's doing just fine.

Looks like today's weather will keep us in the barn again today. I know that wench has some torture in store for us - I saw the hoof trimmers out the other day. always something.

Well, that's the report ! Three months in a row, and I'm in the first week of the month!! who says you can't teach an old goat new tricks? social media? piece of cake! thanks for reading Frankly speaking.... til next time

Deb Clemens 10/1/14 Deb Clemens 10/1/14

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.