Monday, March 19, 2012

Ready to Go

Sweet had a buck last Tuesday. He is plump! This photo was taken when he was two days old.

Due to the crummy weather, Marc and I reorganized the animals, so the pregnant colored angora goats are now in the large shed. The yearling does were moved to another pen. This will make it easier when Tor comes to pick them up next week. No herding animals! Barbara is the huge one in the foreground. She and her 4 year old daughter might deliver tomorrow morning.


I was sure that a few of these does would have delivered by now. I am envisioning triplets for two of them based on size.

I took Susan Corl's box making class last Saturday. I found the small boxes on the top to be fascinating in the way that they open and close. I plan to use some of my handspun as a closure. If you get a chance to take any of her classes, do it. She is a font of information and energy!


I packed half of the shop in bags, so the commercial fiber will end up in the same box, yarns in other boxes and finished goods in still another. I don't plan to unpack all of it, since I will probably not open shop till Mayland it will only be by appointment then. I want time to check out the local knit/spin groups, the shops, etc. before I tie myself down again. I want to enjoy the rest of the baby season without having to worry about commitments.


The animals passed the vet check, so they are ready to go.


The movers arrive in the morning to pack. They will start loading the trucks on Thursday. You notice I said trucks? They are figuring that they will need a trailer to get it all in. How did we accumulate so much stuff? We have been here twelve years. The longest that I have lived anywhere in my entire life! Guess that is why wanderlust hit!

Oh, and you know that crummy weather I mentioned above? We had enough hail to come down to look like it had snowed! Maryland was much warmer than here!









Sunday, March 11, 2012

Thank You!

I want to thank all of you who came out for the festival yesterday. I did not advertise as in the past, so it was nice to still have a good turn out. I managed to shear a buck without nicking him anywhere. I am not as fast as a professional shearer, but I can get the job done!

Above is a picture of Socks, the mom, whose kid bucks were petted yesterday. Both of them are curled up in front of her even though it looks like just one. A lot of kids sleep separately after they are born. I think it is because they want their space. These two were not crowded in the womb, so they huddle together to stay warm and for company.

Pearl had her babies the next morning. They got ear tags and shots yesterday morning, so they could get out and run. Pearl has bonded to her white baby more than the black one - or maybe I should say that the white one hangs on mom more. They ran her ragged for a while yesterday while she tried to keep track of them. They are settled back in with her this morning.


In preparation for my Abstract Lace class on Friday, I photographed several different projects that are in various stages. I have not worked on this one for a while. One row takes over an hour and I can't focus when customers might come in. I will work on it while my stuff is in transition. I discovered that I had quite a few lace projects in progress. I don't think anyone can beat my pile of unfinished projects!





Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Tucson Spring Shearing Festival 2012

I sent this out as a en email. If you did not get it and want to be on my list, please email me at jmarckathy@aol.com.

Tucson Spring Wool Festival 2012
This will be the last newsletter that I send from the Withers’ Ranch here in Tucson. Parting will be sad, but I am excited about new opportunities.

Winding down ranch and shop:

1. March 9 from 10-noon - Crazy Lace (class space available 1 or 2)
2. March 10 from 9-2 - Wool Festival (details http://www.uniquedesignsbykathy.com/) Update: I am giving an animal tour at 10 and will follow it with the shearing of one goat. Attending vendors are listed on my website. This is baby season, so always a lot of fun.
3. March 14 at 4 p.m. Shop Closes
4. March 15 – available for one class
5. March 15 - Expanded online selections at Etsy
6. March 29 –Animals transport


Our new address will be 6401 Woodbine Rd, Woodbine, MD 21797. My cell phone 520-401-6117, websites, and eshops will remain the same.

My yarns, batts, rovings, finished goods and patterns will be available on Etsy until we are settled in Maryland.

Pasadena Bead and Design Show - the last weekend of July 2012. Nuno felting class and shop.

If you do not wish to receive the newsletters, please let me know at jmarckathy@aol.com. Thanks! Kathy Withers

http://www.uniquedesignsbykathy.com/, http://www.uniquedesignsbykathy.blogspot.com/, http://www.uniquedesignsykathy.etsy.com/, http://www.uniquedesignsbykathyshop.com/