Frankly speaking.....thank you for being a friend
Being a friend is a very important part of life. There are good friends, best friends, not so good friends, friends with whom you have to watch your back or your language, and those friends that you can be yourself with totally. Goats have friends, but mostly goats have family. You always have to watch your back with a goat friend, if you are a person or a goat..... it doesn't matter, goats are goats and grain is king, so, stay out of our way if there is food involved, no matter how good a friend you are. (Ask wench sometime, she's ended up on the ground a few times - pretty funny if you ask me)
Anyway, what is all this friend talk leading up to? Well, a few things....... first and foremost, it's about ME. Frankie. I'm saying so long to a couple of friends this week. Geronimo and Warbux are traveling up to Ohio to start a new herd for some nice folks. They will be having an adventure, and we will be having just one buck in our herd. That's PLENTY. The two little boys, Lazarus and Silas (although they should be called Spin and Marty because Laz spins around when he is getting his grain.. funny) will get neutered in August and then go to Pennsylvania to live with our friend Charlotte. Willis will have some big hoofs to fill, but I'm sure he's up for the task. It's sad to see him hang around waiting for the seconds all the time. Now he'll be the main man - er - goat, as the case may be.
Wench has been busy as this is the fiber show season. First it was Powhatan, then a couple weeks later Toano, and this week Dickson, Tn. Look for her in the Pavilion at the Middle Tennessee Fiber Festival - Memorial Day weekend on Friday and Saturday. I am happy to report that our work has been warmly received. Although she sells the shirt off my back, she is also getting the word out about local fiber and how GOATS are the most important fiber animal. She brags about me and how awesome I am, and shows my picture to everyone she meets. At least that's what she tells me..... see how happy these ladies are after hearing all about Frankie and his flerd?
These ladies, a mother and daughter (hard to believe, they look more like sisters!) just purchased some of our African Market Baskets. This photo is SUPPOSED to show the baskets, but, AS USUAL, my marketing department did not do it right, so, I am pretending that they are just happy to have heard all about me. Better luck next time wench. holy mackeral, she can't take a picture. Anyway, enjoy your baskets girls!
So, speaking of friends, wench was really lucky to have her life long friend, Aunt Patty, join her and Aunt June at Toano, and not only that, Aunt Patty and Uncle Gary opened their home and heart (and kitchen, YUM, uncle Gary is a gourmet) to wench and Aunt June for the weekend. Girls just wanna have fun, as they say, and a good time was had by all, and may or may not have included some adult beverages... in any event here's Aunt June at our booth at Toano:
Aunt June is a really good friend. She wrote up a sock pattern that we are supplying with the purchase of any of our sock yarn! We love Aunt June. Here's her sock: (Frankie's Favorite Foot Covering)
Get your free sock pattern! Take a look at our store and then wait for wench to update it (sheesh!) after the Dickson Fiber Festival this weekend. After Dickson, the next event will be the High Point Quilt Show in August, so, let's hope that slacker wench gets a chance to dye more yarn, wash more fiber, update the website, and all the stuff she is supposed to do between now and then. If she gets the alpaca washed, and the merino dyed, then be looking for new yarns this fall... she'll drop it all off at Blue Mountain on the way to pick up my girlfriend Hailey! It's hard to get good help ya know.
Anyway, we have big big big news coming your way - a new fiber festival is being put together by friends, so more on that as plans firm up.... a new yarn is being previewed at festivals this season and will be debuted (softly) at the quilt show and hit hard at SAFF, a 'menage a quat' four local fibers (featuring me, of course) and a pattern designed JUST for us! how exciting! keep watching for more news on that front... and, in the meantime, remember - to have a friend you must be a friend.
I consider you all my friends, because, who doesn't want a goat for a friend? Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking!
Frankly speaking..... to dye or not to dye
As my many fans know, I am many goats for many persons.... I am the pivotal goat around this place, and nothing happens without my say so. I am, after all, Frankie the goat, and I am your fiber authority.
Official portrait of our fearless leader
In any event, even I must admit that sometimes, the public demands additional things which I, the original yarn on the hoof, can not provide.
SO, we take the time to seek out and provide for you some items in our store not grown by a goat (or a rabbit). An example of this is Eucalan, a wash for your fine washables. Eucalan conditions yarn, and does not require a rinse, so you can wash your skein and squeeze or blot it dry, and the light scent will remain - either Eucalyptus, Lavender, Grapefruit, Jasmine or no scent at all - your choice.
We also stock african market baskets in various sizes and shapes, to store your stash, as well as Woolskins, a stretchy mesh bag for those of you who have serious stash or fleece to store.
Now, we introduce our dyed yarns. Wench has been dyeing some of our angora and kid mohair yarns into very nice variegated and tonal yarns, and posting the results on facebook. These yarns don't usually make it into the store here because they go quick. We are stocking up for the fiber festivals, so one of a kind yarns will be available this summer. Be sure to check us out at Powhatan's Festival of Fiber and the High Fiber Festival in Toano, VA.
Recently, wench began dyeing sock yarn. This is not grown here, but is imported from our british cousins, of the finest superwash merino, with either added nylon, or bamboo, or cotton! These are sock weight, and great for socks or shawls or things of that nature. Here are some of the colors she has been working on:
Just a small sample of what's in the dyepot.
and coming soon....... dyed roving! So, if you have a color in mind and would like some custom work done, shoot us an email (deb@mountaintopfibers.com), message us on facebook, or look us up at one of the Virginia/North Carolina fiber festivals..... and, as always, thanks for reading Frankly Speaking!
Frankly speaking....let's talk about the wether
Not the weather (which has been whacky) but the goat kind (the most important kind). Many people call us looking for does because they think that does are calmer and kinder than billy goats. No one really ever considers the wether. A wether is a neutered billy goat. I am a wether. No interest in breeding, just eating, hanging out, growing fleece, being awesome. Wethers are very nice goats. There seem to be a lot of boys born, so if you are a fiber artist, or someone who just wants a great pet who will eat your poison ivy and kudzu, then you should consider a wether. No stress on the fleece, either, (as in breeding season) so it stays nice. My personal fleece is adult quality now, but I'm 9 years old, so that's like almost old age in goat years. I had kid quality fleece for many years. Of course if my cuisine was a little more gourmet around here (hint, hint) my fleece would probably STILL be kid quality. (Can't blame a goat for trying). Anyway, this has been on my mind of late, so thought I'd share. I'll try to share more often. I just found the previous post about the trailer, which never got posted (good help is hard to find).
I will post a photo of the trailer once it is decal-ed, which I expect will happen next week. Wench has been dyeing yarn, so be looking for new items in the web store. Angora roving, too, is new in the store - don't miss out. This is a great deal. We are gearing up for Powhatan and High Fiber, Carolina Fiber Fest, all the spring shows, so be looking for us wherever fine fiber is sold! And ... as always, Thanks for reading Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking ..... a time for resting
Well, it's December and so it is time to rest before the big deal starts around here - kidding season. Builder is convinced that Gracie is imminent because wench is gone frequently these days - shows, you know.
When last I reported, that wench was considering a vehicle change. Well, I may have dodged the bullet (so to speak) because what she decided to do was buy a new and bigger enclosed trailer. NOT a trailer to haul livestock, just a trailer to haul her crap around, you know, like yarn and rabbit equipment for shows, etc.
Today she goes to get it. It's raining out, so we will stay in today anyway, but she'll come down as soon as it's light and feed us and all the bunnies, then be on her way to Georgia to pick up the new conveyance.
Frankly speaking..... On being too busy and writers block
SO, you might have noticed that I've been pretty quiet around here lately. There's a good reason for that. Once I figure out what it is, I'll write about it, but in the meantime, I'm having a few observations...
Wench works better under pressure. If she has three days to get something done, she'll obsess about it for two and do it all on the third day. She makes lists and all that good stuff but still, when she is under "the gun" so to speak, she acts. One thing that this does not apply to is hotel reservations. She does make those in advance - sometimes so far in advance she can't remember where she is supposed to be, but, that's another blog post for another day..
When wench gets an idea in her head, watch out. The mission this week has been to change vehicles around (AGAIN) in an effort to get me to go to SAFF next year. She is always trying to get me to go to this show. I don't get it. I am almost nine years old and I've never gone anywhere (well, once I went to the vet for a little problem) so why start now? Apparently there is a goat show there and wench thinks we might be 'competitive' HELLO? of course we're competitive, but really - must I go there? I mean, I am perfectly happy here on my mountain, growing my fleece for your enjoyment. I have majesty after all, and don't DO shows:
How much more majestic can a goat be?
So, anyway, back when wench bought the first Honda Pilot, she talked to builder about getting a van instead of a car, in order to haul us around (and the rabbits) places. Builder did not want a van. He had a van before and didn't want it for the "family car". So, she got the Pilot and the poor thing has been used as a luxury pickup truck since. It is certainly a luxury vehicle. Did you know that you can fit 86 rabbits in a Honda Pilot?
Well, the time has come to do some more thinking on the whole van idea. Builder has pretty much seen the light (it helps that HIS personal vehicle is now a pickup truck in addition to the del Sol). He thinks that wench needs a cargo van for every day. Not exactly what she had in mind. She's thinking (and I agree, because, well, we just get along this way) that the Pilot should be traded back to a CR-v and then an older model van could be purchased as the goat/rabbit conveyance. Something that has a few years left, and then could become the redneck storage pod like the van that brought us here. So, that's the quest this week. We'll see if anything really happens. Wench is going to see the folks over at Flow Honda, who have been pretty good to us over the years, and see what can be done.
In other news, shearing is done, everyone except Nigel is nekkid, this years crop of kids went off to their new homes, except Warbux, who, if he doesn't get a home soon will be wethered, and another rabbit show season is under way.
We kicked the season off at Woodstock, VA and then rolled right into SAFF. Wench and Aunt June spent 5 days showcasing four breeds of angoras for the folks and the reception was warm and inviting. They are making plans for next year already. I'm hoping they don't include me in these plans, but, depending on the vehicle situation, it doesn't look promising - I might actually have to go. sigh.
Next up: Perry Georgia on November 19th - wench will visit with her sister, Pat and nephew Jim while there, After that, December 3rd at Richmond, VA where wench will visit with her other sister Pat and niece Laurie, and visit Yankee Candle (an annual tradition). Then there may be a local show in January, but, like I said, wench works better under pressure so those plans are not made yet.
I'm hoping my writers block will burst and I'll be back to updating you regularly. So much goes on here that it's hard to remember everything since the last time I posted. Maybe I need to start making lists about that, too. Honestly, though, since the technology changed up again (new i phone version, square space host instead of wordpress) it is a challenge to get photos up on this, and I know that's what you all live for, to see my pretty face. So, I'll be working on the IT department to get a little better at it and keep you updated, hopefully. Until then, thanks for reading Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking .... there's one season here - the busy season!
Those of you who follow this blog regularly know one thing is for certain - there is no real slow season here. Well, maybe December 26 through 29 is pretty slow, but, other than that, we are usually pretty busy.
Yesterday, a few of the bunnies went to Greensboro with wench to a show. Our haul was pretty good. Three Satin Angoras got one leg each (Shane, Coco Chanel and Olivia, all declared best of breed, each by a different Judge) and Clems Bruno, the American Chin, got two legs for best of breed. Congrats to Mandy Leisch for her best of breed intermediate doe in Show C! Homestead's Batman went too, but he was the only Champagne at the show. He was best of breed all day (lol).
A curious thing occurred, though. We will all agree that Coco Chanel has a beautiful color. But what color is it? Wench thought lynx. One judge agreed with her, although saying the color is closest to lynx. Not exactly, but still pretty. One judge said Chocolate Chin, and one judge said Opal. hmmm. I suppose we will have to make a real decision before she can be registered, but for now, we are calling her a colored satin angora. Perhaps when her adult coat comes in we will know more.
this is a close up of Coco Chanel's coat.
The next show is October 1st at Woodstock, VA. Not sure yet who will be going, but we are pretty sure Giants and Satins will be the angoras shown, so that means Daisy will need to go, and maybe Olivia (she got a best of breed and a best opposite of breed at Greensboro). There will need to be a spot for Bruno, the American Chin, because, well, he's already pretty special. His dad (Gabriel) is a grand champion, and his grand dad (Rockstar) is too; so a long line of special bunnies.
Before that rabbit show, though, there are a couple of things going on: buns will be going to the processor on September 28th. Processing week is always pretty busy around here. The next day, though, is the big launch party in Asheville for the Local Hero yarns being created by Purl's Yarn Emporium.
The folks over at Purls dreamed up their blend, and Blue Ridge Fiberworks sourced the materials. Morningstar Fibers (also in North Carolina) spun the yarn, and then it went back to Purls for dyeing. Four colorways were created, and four special local heroes will promote it. A percentage of the sales will be donated to the charity championed by that local hero. It's a full circle of help. Helping the sheep keep their jobs, (and the alpacas and the goats, too) helping the knitters get a beautiful new project; helping the cause of whatever charity is chosen. A win--win. If you get to Asheville, be sure to stop in at Purls and ask about their local hero line.
After the launch party, the next day is the trek to Floyd Arts Festival. The three fiberistas of Blue Ridge Fiberworks are doing this show together, so they will set up Friday night; then wench will drive up to Woodstock VA for the rabbit show; the art show goes on Saturday and Sunday, so after the rabbit show wench will drive back to Floyd Sunday morning and man the booth at Floyd. Are you confused yet? I am. Oh, and in the meantime, Indigo will be going to her new home. oi.
Speaking of new homes, Lourdes and Taylor are leaving us tomorrow, going to live at the Whipple Family Farm in Ohio. We will miss them, but know they will be getting a great home.
I'm glad to be a goat. All I have to do is run things around here. We won't even talk about October after Floyd, the schedule is insane. Somewhere in between all this craziness we need to get our coats off. Shearing is always a fun time. Everyone is nekkid and has to butt heads and play.
So, now that we are getting the hang of squarespace, maybe I'll be keeping you up-to-date on farm happenings a little more often, try to make up for all that time I was goofing off and lamenting the inability of wench to post things the way I wanted them. I think she may be getting better... but, don't tell her, she'll get a big head. MY head is big enough.
but isn't it the prettiest head EVER?
HAY, (or hey) do me a favor, please? vote for us for a Brassy award! Some folks tried to vote before we were approved, but now we are, so give us a click and maybe we'll get to be a finalist, maybe even a brassy award winner! because, let's face it, I'm pretty brassy! Here's the link: https://thebrassys.com/#mountain-top-farms and, as ever, thanks for reading Frankly Speaking!
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:
Homestead's Batman
Well, now he has a couple of girlfriends: This is The's Zatana
The's Zatana
and The's Selina. Selina is very very friendly
The's Selina
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.
Harper!
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.
Happy trails, Smidge!
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.
and I'm as nice as you get!
Frankly speaking... this is a test
If I knew what I was doing, I'd be in good shape. I am learning about squarespace and how to add blocks, make the blog 'look' like it used to, albeit more sleek and modern. This is a photo of Taylor, with her friends, which I added to this post.
This is a test
This is Harper when she was two weeks old.
Frankly speaking.....can you hear me now?
Well, it's up and it's down. The new web page is under construction, but, we don't have a competent builder. Wench is trying to flob her way through, but will need professional help. I know you've all been patent as this transformation takes place, and I can promise it will be worth it, if wench ever learns what to do and when to do it. Criminey. What will we see? Pages where you can purchase yarns, rovings, and the other things that we carry (African market baskets, Eucalon, etc) not to mention frozen rabbit meat, liver, including recipes, etc. A lot of stuff and a lot of work, but, a web presence is a necessity in this day and age.In addition to not finishing the web site, wench is also working on getting ready for the Floyd art Festival and SAFF in October. So, we are keeping her busy. This weekend coming (Labor day) she'll be traveling to Murfreesboro Tennesee for a rabbit show, and to deliver Neeman and Marcus to their new owner
Don't want to write much in case you can't see this, so will sign off until we get our act together. (Right...). Thanks for reading frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking... I hardly have time to - oi vey!
Sorry, no photos in this post. I'm too busy pa-nick-ing. So, this morning, this blog went LIVE on square space. Of course wench has no idea what she is doing, but hey, what's new? We've had a lot of company this summer, a lot of rain, and a lot of confusion... so, hoping that this post actually shows up on somewhere in cyber space, and that "square space for dummies" shows up at the house SOON. What's a spokes goat to do? Actually, this will be good, if I can ever get her to sit down and figure it out - there will be more information available, and maybe even you'll be able to buy things from here. So, sorry there's no photos, no content to this missive, and maybe this isn't even visable to people, but we are trying..... be back soon!
Frankly speaking.....every day is independence day for a goat
Good morning fans. Today is July 4th. Independence day to those of you who live in the U.S.A. (my international fans will just have to zone out here) the day that the US constitution was adopted by the 13 colonies, and independence from England was declared. Well, if fences are a goats england, then every day is the 4th of July for goats. You see goats pretty much make the rules. We go where we want, when we want, and fences are merely suggestions.
I do have to respect that builder, though.... he spent a lot of time and energy, and some significant dollars, putting a fence from the opposite side of the access road, all the way to almost the river, so that we could have some fresh browse. He calls us with his goat song almost every day, so we can cross over to the riverside and have some fresh grass. Sometimes we even respond to his song, but, not wanting him to think he is in control, sometimes we don't bother. Depends on the goat mood of the moment.
SO, in other news, we have new family members..... Sarah Jean got married over the last weekend, to Giles, and so now Giles and his two kids, Dylan and Olivia, are official people in our family. They also have a new puppy, Sonny, who is a great pyranese, a breed known to be a livestock guardian dog. He's only a baby now, though, so he's not guarding too much, but, he's pretty cute and a good boy. He visited this past week with Christian and Amelia while Sarah and Giles were on their honeymoon. Hunter was just getting used to his annoying play behavior when they went home. There are photos of all this, but, as USUAL, wench is having a hard time with the upload. sigh
While they were gone at the wedding, we had a new farm sitter. Pam, our neighbor, was taking care of us, making sure we had food and clean water and plenty of animal crackers and peanuts. She's being promoted to AUNT PAM in my book. The great thing about Aunt Pam is that, while she is all gooey about the babies in the barn (she was a pediatric nurse in a former life), she understands my place, and gives me the respect I have so richly earned as the Chief Executive Goat around here. So thank you, Aunt Pam, for taking such good care of us. I know the rabbits appreciate you, too.
In other news, wench went to see the puppies that were born over in Piney Creek, and picked out a little sister/seeing eye dog for Hunter. I think he'll like her. Thinking about Harper for a name, but will need to see how her personality fits. She may be something other than a Harper. She's a chocolate lab, and her daddy is HUE-MUNG-O and mommy is protective. Her daddy weighs 110 lbs. Scooter, our first lab, weighed 135, but of course he was mixed with a little St. Bernard, so what do you expect? anyway, we are hoping this little girl will fit right in around here.
All of Daisy's babies are growing up nicely. Of the five giant angoras born, one will go live in Alabama and then two does and two bucks will stay here and grow for a while and maybe hit the show circuit in the fall.
I need to get wench lessons on photo uploading. There are photos, but - nevermind - I won't even go there.
Looking forward to Hailey coming to visit at the end of July - wench is going up to retrieve her right after the West Virginia rabbit seminar she's doing on July 23, about heritage breeds, etc. Hailey is my girlfriend after all.
Well, without the photos, I can't really continue. I mean, it's ok just to read my prose, but pictures make it so much more interesting. It's a burden I must bear, this wench and her handicaps, but, maybe one day she'll learn something. sigh.
In the meantime, thanks for reading Frankly speaking....
Frankly speaking...one thing or another
Good morning everyone... Frankie here, reporting in from the mountain. Wench got home last night around 7:30 PM from the last rabbit show of the season. Glad that's over. Now maybe she'll be around once in a while (doubt that). Not too many angoras shown, and so the fun was not as great, and it was hot and late, and all that jazz... so, now we go into our slow season. r i g h t Wench brought home six more fleeces from the nice folks over at Red Ridge in Tennessee, so that will be part of the summer fleece washing project. Some of it will most likely go to the Blue Ridge Fiberworks blended yarns, some of it may be added to our fleece.
The end of the rabbit show season is always bitter sweet; won't see friends for a while, won't be traveling too much for a while, and all the rabbits will have NO COATS for a while. That's a good thing. Come September, they'll begin to gear up again. By that time, we will almost be ready for our next shearing. A circle of fiber life. I must say, summer is my favorite time of year... just look at the lushness of our browse!
So, now that wench will be 'resting' what will she be doing? Well, this week she will be going to guild for dyeing lessons on Tuesday, and then Thursday, she is taking Neptune to be neutered
Sorry, little buddy, neutered is NOT fun, even though you do get to ride in the car, and, it seems like every ride in the car usually ends in a 'not fun' time for a goat.
Then on Friday, she will be at the Independence Farmers Market selling the shirt off my back, and will bring Schroder if the weather is cooperative. Here's Schroeder, while at Ohio, getting ready to launch himself off the grooming table. He's a card, and, once this market event is over with, he'll be losing his coat and meeting his second wife, or is it his third, I can't keep track, over at Aunt June's place later on this month.
Then after Friday, she's participating in the Farm to Table dinner at the Alleghany Farmers Market on Saturday. Another busy week the next week culminates with the wedding of our very own Sarah Jean with Giles Hoback III. We will be supervised by Pam, who lives across the road and has been taking care to learn our routine. We've almost got her trained, but I'm sure we'll have a few shenanigans up our sleeve when she is here on her own. (insert evil goat laugh here)
So how's that for taking it easy. It might be the end of the rabbit show season, but not the end of the craziness around this joint. I will report in again in a few weeks. Thanks... for reading frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking... talking the talk
So, I guess I've been known to coin a phrase or two..... many folks look at our banner at various fiber shows, etc., and comment that the word "flerd" isn't really a word. Well it is, although I can't take credit for inventing it. I can't recall where I first heard the phrase, but I must have heard it somewhere. In any event, the time has come for a new word - so here it is: Fiberista.
What, you may ask, is a fiberista? Well, you've heard of a barista, right? (barista: noun: a person specially trained in the art of making special coffee drinks). We needed a word for this, apparently because it is in the internet dictionary. The word "fiberista" is not in that dictionary, so I just made it up. hahah
A fiberista is a person trained, sometimes at the school of hard knocks, sometimes with formal training, in the art of working with fiber - wool, mohair, angora, alpaca, quivet, silk, whatever type of fiber you can think of! A fiberista will create art from fiber, either spun, felted, sewn, woven, knitted, crocheted, or tatted.
A fiberista is usually pretty creative, and not willing to go to Target or Wal Mart and buy a scarf for $5.99 when she can spent $75 on materials and three months of her time, to make one herself. These fiberistas are mostly women. Once in a while you will find a man at such gatherings, and I suppose they should be called fiberistos.
Fiberistas tend to gather together in herds (or flerds) at places such as guild meetings and fiber festivals, little yarn shops, educational workshops, and even sometimes at farms where special events take place such as shearings. I understand that when they gather at guild meetings, or in each others houses or studios, many times there are chocolate treats available, as this seems to be a food that they all are drawn to. This could be a clue as to who might make a good fiberista, but that's way over my head right now.
Right now, I'd like to tell you about a little group of fiberistas that I know. Thrown together by their diversity and also by what they have in common, my very own wench, and two of her fiber buddies, Vivian Thompson and Nancy Liebrecht, have formed this co-operative of fiberistas, and they call themselves BLUE RIDGE FIBERWORKS.
Blue Ridge Fiberworks starts at the beginning.
First to the farmer: Blue Ridge Fiberworks can provide a market for your fine wool. If you have fiber animals, and would like to learn more, get in touch with one of our fiberistas and she will explain how they can help.
Second to the mill: As you know, wool can be spun into yarn by hand, but, let's face it, none of these fiberistas is a spring chicken, and, even if they were all named Rapunzel and lived in a tower, they couldn't spin it all in their lifetime. Blue Ridge Fiberworks is using local, boutique mills, (dependent on your area) to mill fine yarns from local sources.
Next to the consumer: yarns in every shape and size. Custom yarns for your yarn shop! A website should be up and running within the next few months, and local yarn shops are getting in line to have their own exclusive blend made.
Lastly, a legacy: The Blue Ridge Mountains are rich in history, and textiles are a big part of that. Today you will find a few mills still in this area, spinning cotton or polyester or blends, making fabric for t-shirts, to be shipped overseas and made into garments. It seems that over the past ten years or so, a lot of the mills have left town. We'd like to change that. We'd like to build a mill to support the farmers, create some jobs, and make some pretty yarns for the future fiberistas out there.
So, that's what's happening around the farm. No grass growing under their feet, those fiberistas... always busy busy busy. Last week, wench and Nancy went to a local farm and attended a shearing - selecting the finest fleeces for the season:
Nancy talks with the farmers and looks over the fleeces.
Into the car they go. (this is one bag of three)
If you are out and about this coming weekend, and live in the Raleigh, NC area, stop by the Got to Be NC Food and Wine festival. Wench and Vivian will be stationed outside the rabbit barn, spinning and weaving, and selling the shirt off my back, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They can tell you all about Blue Ridge Fiberworks. The following weekend (June 4th) be looking for them again, at the Local Cloth fiber extravaganza at the Western NC Farmers Market in Asheville - yarns, fleeces, raw fiber, etc., will be for sale there, and all of them (the three fiberistas) will be in attendance. These chicks get around.
Thanks for reading Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking .... an ode to the moms
As a goat, I can attest to the wonder of moms -"nanny" goats make great moms - most of the time. My own sainted mother, April, was an exceptional goat. Taller than most angoras, she was able to leap tall fences with a single bound. She had a taste for rabbit chow, or any other food not meant for goats, or that she had to break into somewhere to get. which she did frequently. She was affectionately known as a 'rascal'. I miss her. BUT, I have my sister, Annie who looks a lot like her and has inherited her curiosity - so, I am reminded frequently of my sainted momma April, and her momma, my nanny nanny, Naomi. I am grateful that, after I came to live with wench and builder, they both came to stay with us, and moved to North Carolina with the crew. If your mom is still with you, make her feel special on her day today. If she is already in heaven, remember the good times, shed a tear and know she is by your side, in spirit at least.
Wench is excited for mother's day this year. Dan, (the staff photog) Amber and Hailey (my girlfriend) are here for the day. They drove all the way from New York to see her for Mother's Day (and to attend a DMB concert, but, we're telling wench it's a mother's day thing) and bring her a bottle of Love My Goat (her favorite, of course).
In farm news, so much is going on! Builder bought a pick up truck, so we are excited to know he can go get feed when wench is on one of her many trips, and that if we need to go somewhere we have a truck to ride in. The first thing he did with his truck, is go get sheetrock. Pretty hard to get that into the del Sol. hahah. The project du jor is the building of a summer kitchen, sort of, a fiber washing room and produce washing sink which will be a big benefit to the farm. This is being constructed at the back of the garage.
Builder and wench bought the lot next door, so now the farm encompasses almost 8 acres. Good thing - we have more work to do, clearing the land of underbrush. This will be done in short increments on a daily basis (so as not to upset our tummies) and pretty soon, we'll have trees and a safe place to walk, no underbrush ! Of course, we have volunteered to do this, without benefit of the fence, and every day we break out and give the people a sample of what magic we can accomplish. anyway. This lot goes right to the river, so pretty soon we'll have goats in boats. right. picture that. Here we are, hard at work:
This is the show season for wench, so this past weekend was Powhatan Festival of Fiber. What a great time! Our fiber is out there, and the folks LIKE it.
There is an additional enterprise going on regarding our fleeces, but that's for another post. I need more photos of some of our collaborators, and will do a post about it - teaser.... it's called Blue Ridge Fiberworks and it's pretty exciting.
So, anyway, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! My momma is no longer with us, but... Hailey is here, and she feeds us cookies, so I'm ok with that! Thanks for reading Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking ....sprinter or wring?
I know I've been lax - no posting in March, but I do have an excuse. It's not a good excuse but it's the best I've got.... the weather has been crazy! El Nino or whatever it is, one day it's freezing and the next day it's balmy. What's a goat to do? Complain - it's what I do best. So, since my last post, there have been some changes - wench bought a big horse trailer, a Brenderup (that is the brand) which is a danish designed cadillac of trailers. I suppose if we go to SAFF this year, (the goats, that is) this will be the conveyance. It was purchased for the main reason of transporting rabbits to the processing plant. We try not to talk about that side of the business... but it is booming and wench has been pretty busy with it all. So, here's the new ride:
Pretty cool, eh?
There's a new logo for the meat side of the business, too... and thanks to a grant from the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program, this logo will be affixed to all our printed media for Mountain Top Farms (not to be confused with Mountain Top Fibers, of which I AM the CHIEF, make no mistake) anyway - here's the logo:
of course it's sideways because the wench can't figure out how to turn it around on the computer. oi vey, what am I going to do with her?
Anyway, moving on..... as you all know, Daisy is our giant angora ambassador around here. Yes, we have Glitter and Schroeder too, but sometimes one bunny just emerges as the personality. Anyway, Miss Daisy 
does have some exciting news..... a litter of her very own!
five little giants born on April 11th. Daisy is good enough to take on one french angora kit that was born to Delanna - her litter didn't make it, so one little lilac kit will be raised in the land of giants.... I suppose it's name will need to be Gulliver because he/she has traveled to the land of giants. (yeah, I know, I'm weird)
Anyway, in GOAT news (the important stuff) we are patiently waiting for shearing day. Neptune is looking a little fuzzy he just looks like a Neptune, doesn't he? Well, after shearing he'll be Neptune the Neutered. poor guy. Our two bucklings from last year, Jupiter and Moondancer, went to live in Tennesee with a nice couple with some kids, so lots of treats in their future; so now we have two little bucklings - Warbucks and little Blue (as of yet, no permanent name... got any ideas?) and two little doelings - Laud and Taylor. All of this year's babies will be available to new homes after their first shearing in the fall. Warbucks loves his momma Annie... and cries if she is out of sight for a minute. silly boy. Annie does not seem as attached as him. 
New yarns from our fibers have been received from Blue Mountain Farm and Fiber Mill, and as usual, they are beautifully spun. Now being washed, they will soon be available. The natural gray is 41% kid, 22% bunny, 27% merino and 10% silk. The natural white is similar. I'll get some good photos and put up another post just about the yarn. Nigel's fleeces were sent off to the mill this weekend, and he will be a light worsted yarn, suitable for hats or sweaters. Along with Nigel's fleece 12 lbs. of english angora were sent to be made into a high percentage angora yarn, so that will be available this fall.
Be looking for wench and Aunt June at these upcoming events: Powhatan's Festival of Fiber (our 3rd year in a row!) on April 30th; Got to be NC Food and Wine festival on May 20 through 22nd and in between, lots of rabbit shows until June 11th when the last show of this season takes place in Shelby, NC. On May 27, wench and Aunt June are going to Wooster, Ohio, to the fiber festival up there - to check it out and see if next year they want to be a vendor. Big quad rabbit show there... Wool -a- Rama is always fun.
Well, in the meantime, we are hanging out on the mountain... growing our fleece and waiting for the shearing team (as usual)
and as usual, thanks for reading, Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking...and so it begins
Good morning. Our lovely Greta has brought forth a new baby. This should be the height of our kidding season, but things appear to be a little off kilter this year. Gracie surprised us very early (like in September) with a little girl, but Gracie had no milk and her little one didn't make it. Then in October, Annie brought us Warbucks. Now, in a normal time frame, Greta gives us Taylor.
We have Carmella still to go. Last year, Greta and Carm gave birth within hours of each other, and way late, too, like in May! So now, because "breeding season" is supposedly October through January (apparently no one got the memo) Annie could be pregnant again, and I'm pretty sure Gracie is, too. The little girls, Bluebelle, Ruby and Hera, are too young for that stuff. (we hope) We really need to separate the boys from the girls, and control when breeding occurs, but, with so many projects on our plate around here, we really have no room to do that - and so, nature takes its course.
We have a few more fiber rabbits now, too. Windchaser's Glitter - a black giant came home with wench after PaSRBA. She had a date with Schroeder this past weekend, so we'll hope for some babies there. Bella Luna, a white giant doe, will also be getting together with Schroeder in the next month or so, as will miss Daisy. One more giant, born here, Clems Jubilee will need to grow up a little before she thinks about babies. She's only a baby herself, but she sure is cute!
Until it is time for her to be a momma herself, she will go to shows whenever there is an exhibition class.
Also joining us from PaSRBA is Windchaser's Shauna (daughter of buttons) and HH Orion, Satin angoras of the agouti variety. Razzle Dazzle and Sophia are looking good, and will be traveling to Georgia to the show next weekend to see if they can finish up their Grand Champion certificates. Sisters. Always the competition. Each has two legs, and needs one more,... we'll see who comes out the winner. With five shows, maybe they will each finish! Wouldn't that be great!
I know I promised a report after PaSRBA, and here it is: we did nothing. No one was more surprised than Mikimoto
Yeah, she's a bit of a diva. We're seeing if she'll hold her coat until April for the North Carolina convention, but it's not very likely. She will be getting together with D'Artagnan this spring, to make babies. Also on the drawing board, breeding wise - Bronwen plus Tortellini (this happened over the weekend) and Sheena plus Orion (also this past weekend). We'll wait 30 days and see if litters emerge, and then up next will be Daisy x Schroeder, (Giant) Davina x Buttons, (Satin) and then either Deandra or Colleen x Angus (French) We will hopefully have lots of babies this spring and summer, ready for fall shows and fiber festivals. Wench has a lot of work to do to get ready for SAFF. I still haven't decided if we'll take/send goats.
In the meantime, we are growing our fleece and waiting for spring. It's been dripping and snowing and all kinds of weather here recently, but that's ok. We have a nice warm barn and lots of hay and grain.
Our fleece from the fall is off at Blue Mountain being made into fingering weight yarn, so be looking for that the Powhatan Festival of Fiber. One variety will be white, the other black. Once Carmella is sheared in March, we can send off the oatmeal. This year the blend is 20% wool, 35% kidmohair 35% angora and 10% silk. FABULOUS drape. I think that Nigel's fleece this year will be added to last years, adding a little mohair (like maybe 20%) and made into a worsted weight yarn for making of hats, etc.
Well, I seem to be rambling, so I'll say so long for now. I've been asked to write an article for the local fiber newsletter, so I best be thinking about that. Thanks for reading Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking.....no one is perfect not even me!
So, It's been a while since I've published a blog post. In case you forgot about me, here is my pretty face 
This photo was taken during my favorite activity - getting scratched.
So, about the not being perfect part..... I planned to post once a month in 2015 in order to keep y'all updated about the farm, but I got distracted this fall - my wench went through some medical challenges and we were rather pre-occupied. However, all is well now, so it's back to business as usual.
Our flerd continues to grow and evolve, and we have recently begun experimenting with new yarns. The new blend for 2015 was..... 35% kid mohair, 35% angora rabbit, 20% merino and 10% silk. This was a limited run, (which we plan to recreate) and is available on line at our partners over in Yarnthology dot com. They are also carrying the 2014 blend we did of angora/mohair/merino. That blend is almost gone, but there are a few skeins left here which wench will use to make things for the 2016 fall craft shows, and a few are over at Purl's Yarn Emporium in Asheville for you locals.
We are still hoping for more fiber opportunities - maybe a mill, maybe some cooperative yarns with other farmers, etc., and of course baby goats will be coming in the spring (watch our facebook page for updates there). Speaking of baby goats, today is the birthday for Neptune and Hera. They were born a year ago.
That was then: 
and this is now:
They are spoiled, I'll tell ya. (like the rest of us).
In other news, we have begun to build our rabbit (meat) business, so that's another reason why I've been scarce. They are serving our rabbit in some of the nicest restaurants in North Carolina and Virginia, and this keeps wench on the road quite a bit. It's ok. Sometimes she still finds time to participate in my favorite activity...
scratching me.
Smidge is beginning to fill out a little (no, she is not getting pudgy) and is becoming a beautiful cat. She surveys her kingdom and keeps the mice at bay, all while consuming a can or two of fancy feast daily and all the dry kibble she can eat. Who has it better than her? She also has us and rockstar to play with all day long.
Speaking of rockstar, he has become quite the fixture around here. He knows his way around pretty good, and goes out any door that's open, hanging out with us in the pasture, out by the sawmill, up on the 2nd floor where all the does live, etc. We are careful to make sure he is in the barn every night and secured behind closed doors, due to the owl population around here, but he has food and water and his hay cup stationed in various places around the barn. (he's not spoiled either)
So in a couple of weeks, wench will travel to PaSRBA for a rabbit show and I will post any good results after that. I have to get more photos of the bunnies, as we now have our first Giant Angora baby, Clems Jubilee. She is still in with her momma, and hopefully will become a brood doe (she's not showable now because she is black, and only whites are showable in Giants that sounds rather racist, doesn't it?) and also travel some for exhibition. The spring breedings are being planned .
Oh, and wench is going to be the "rabbit superintendent" at SAFF this year, so be on the lookout for more information about that. Like she doesn't have enough to do, but the angora rabbit breeds will be displayed in force at SAFF in 2016. yay! I'll probably send a few of our goats, too, for the show. How FUN!
Well, that's about it for now. Thanks for reading Frankly speaking!
Frankly speaking.................hemp, hemp, horray!
Ok, so, as you know, I'm a goat. A special goat to be sure, but still, as a goat, I'm limited as to my options with regard to world politics and economic impact studies, etc. My world pretty much revolves around a couple of people, a bunch of goats and rabbits, and food. I appreciate that I live in a beautiful world in a nice safe barn with lots of good food and people that love me. I understand that there are starving goats in Biafra (or that's what they tell me when I don't want to eat my dinner, which hardly ever happens) but good news is good news, and I just heard some. I heard that North Carolina, where we live, has just legalized industrial hemp. Now, I'm not too sure what that is, but I'm pretty sure this is good for North Carolina and for small farmers. Big hemp farms are not expected to spring up every place, but the hemp folks are interested in small farms and farmers. We like small farms and farmers. I wonder if the hemp plant is good for goats to eat? Do you think it would make our fleece even lovelier? (hard to imagine) I know that hemp is used to make cloth, which means some of the industrial mills might be coming back. HOW EXCITING. We really want a fiber mill in the neighborhood, so we can promote locale yarns and fibers, and this might just be a stepping stone.
So that's just a little snippet of my opinion for this post. In the news department, little Warbucks is doing great, bouncing all over being a cutie patootie, but it's been raining so we don't let him outside to play. We heard of the passing of our old friend Faith, and we are sad about that. She was a great goat and we've missed her since she went to live at the Mansfields house. Now Faith and Hope are together again, in goat heaven. They gave us our start and we are grateful.
This is not the best photo of faith that we have, but as USUAL, my technically-challenged wench can't find the right photo. I don't know what to do about her.... she needs help.
Lots of new stuff on the horizon... be looking for an announcement soon regarding retailing of our yarns - which is pretty exciting stuff. Also, wench is looking into a trailer for us so maybe we could go to shows.... I hear SAFF is quite improved and expanding, so we might have to send representatives in future years. Of course the most use of the trailer will be for the meat rabbit side of the business, which also is exploding and growing by leaps and bounds. That's one reason I've been rather quiet on this blog of late - it's hard to pin down that wench and get her to do any typing. My hooves do not do well on a keyboard, and I am reduced to dictation. She doesn't do that well. It's a throwback to her former career. Speaking of which, that OTHER Frank had a birthday the other day, and wench was happy to catch up on the phone with the Judge. Makes her thankful for her former career and her new career. She tries not to compare the Frankies in her life, but sometimes, especially around November 1st, it just can't be helped.
Thanks for reading, Frankly speaking.... I'll try to keep you updated if I can catch that wench and make her do my work!
kiss kiss!
Frankly speaking..... wha keen? I'm not amused
Hey everyone, Frankie here, reporting from INSIDE the barn where I've been for the past week, with just one day outside and maybe a few hours here and there, seeing some daylight. The rains we have been experiencing I guess are miniscule in comparison to what might be coming, compliments of Hurricane Joaquin. Wench was supposed to be selling the shirt off my back at the Floyd Art Festival this weekend, but it has been cancelled due to the threat of flood. So, here we are, being amused by the antics of Smidge and Rockstar. I must say these two really play nice together.
In any event... once we are treated to the Rockstar/Smidge show, we settle down to munch on hay and grow our fleece. Which, I hear tell will be coming off soon. Wench has a new hot water tank, so she plans to wash the fleeces herself before they go off to the mill.
Neptune and Hera are missing their mom (Hope) but their level of cute just doesn't quit, and wench has been sneaking them extra cookies every morning.
So, not a lot going on right now, except....... if you write a draft of your blog post, and then leave it for 19 days, a lot happens in that time frame. My secretary (wench) does not take direction very well (as the previous frank will tell you, but he's retired now, so we don't hear from him much... ah-hem) and so, trying to get her to publish a blog posting is like pulling teeth. but I digress
In the past 19 days, the weather has straightened up, with the rain anyway, but it got COLD brrr.rrr.rr! So, of course, what happens when it gets really really cold around here? Of course the shearing team kicks it into high gear and off comes our coats!
I did ok, actually it was relief to get all that hair off of me, but the smaller does, like Carmella and Gracie were shivering! It's nice out now, even reaching up to 65 or 70 during the day, so no worries, we will be fine.
Also, Annie had a little one. A baby boy (her third boy in three years) and we are trying to figure out a name. Spot and star have been thrown out there, but we are looking for something a little more original. Like how much more original can FRANK get? hello? Pictures will be forthcoming on the facebook page of the new little guy.
Didn't want to keep you hanging out there... it's been about 7 weeks since my last post and I hate falling behind. When wench was more active as a Mary Kay consultant, she would make this list daily called "the six most important things to do today" which kept her on track. We need to reinstitute this list making idea. The first thing on the list every single day will be.........................feed your goat!
till next time!
Frankly speaking...................is autumn in the air?
Autumn always signals change. Back to school for the kids, a fresh start. Two of our kids got a change this fall, too. Neptune and Hera lost their momma, Hope. Hope was at least 14 years old, which is like 115 for a person, and she was having trouble getting around lately. The summer wasn't easy on her. Saturday night, she needed help getting into the barn. By Sunday morning she was down and unable to get up. Wench did everything she could, but by Wednesday it was evident there was no help for her. After consulting with the folks at Twin Oaks Veterinary Hospital, the decision was made and Hope crossed over that rainbow bridge. Now she is no longer in pain.
this is one of my favorite photos of Hope. She came to us back in the day when we lived in New York, and we later found out she was born here, in North Carolina, so she returned to her homeland. She gave us Pinky and Gary and a few other wonderful kids, and Neptune and Hera will of course stay on here. Neptune will be wethered (like me!) to maintain his wonderfully sweet personality, just like his momma. They are still on the small side, side effects of being born to an elderly mom.
In other news, the first floor of the barn has a new resident. Stevens' Rockstar, the American Chinchilla buck, has been liberated from his cage and now has the run of the barn. He has been hanging out with Smidge and with us, and having a really good time. There is a photo, but of course my techno-phobe wench is unable to access it (I don't know what I'm going to do with her, really)
Builder, doing what he does best, is installing a hot water tank (albeit a small one) in the barn. That'll be nice for winter... and a bigger hotter water tank in the garage, so wench can wash our fleeces before sending them off for making into yarn. My fleece was first (of course) and it came out really nice.
This is just a snipet of what's been going on around here. I'll post more later, but want to keep the "Hope Post" short for today. I promise - maybe wench will figure out that camera after all. Thanks for reading, Frankly speaking!