I spent Memorial Day weekend at the Massachusetts Sheep & Woolcraft Festival which is one of my favorite gigs. Located in Cummington, just 45 minutes from the farm, it's like playing for the home crowd. Many of my neighbors are exhibitors, visitors or volunteers. The weekend has the feel of a visit with good friends. Fantastic weather, despite the thunderstorms that blew through the region on both Friday and Saturday night. Got lucky there.
I got lucky in the fleece show too. Stella McCartney's (a black ewe lamb from 08) pretty fleece scored a blue ribbon in the Colored Fine Wool class. It was her first year's fleece, called a hoggett fleece. Very sweet and pretty. I'm so proud of her. Here she is modeling her blue ribbon fleece (this shot was taken last fall).
We took a red ribbon in the White Longwool class as well for Fern's fleece. Fern is a 5 year old Leicester ewe with an impressive record. Her fleece won Reserve Champion at the Eastern States Exposition in "06 and many of her daughters have produced award-winning locks. I'll be sure to post some shots of the fleeces once I've found my camera, which has gone missing since the weekend.
In the meantime, I offer some shots of the lambs doing what they love best - running and leaping around the yard and pasture. They are getting huge, especially the singles who don't have to share their mother's milk with anyone. The leaping lamb in the foreground below is a single; you can see how the added girth somewhat limits her ability to "get air", compared to the sprightly lamb behind her. Little tubbo.
I promise to share some lambcam action later this week. Right now I'm off to the Ocean State this afternoon to join the Slater Mill Knitters Guild. This evening I'm giving my slide show talk Adventures In Yarn Farmingtm.
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I really enjoy your blog and your pictures are wonderful.
Posted by: Sunny | May 27, 2009 at 08:08 AM
Congrats on the ribbons, Barb! We went to the lecture before the sale and I was thrilled to see your name on the winner boards! Got any fleecies for sale? (I do not need another fleece, I do not need another fleece, I do not need.....)
Posted by: Marcia | May 27, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Congratulations to you, Stella and Fern! I love the colour of Stella McCartney's fleece--so rich looking.
Have a fun day out and about on your yarny adventures!
Posted by: Valerie | May 27, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Wow, congratulations on your fleece prizes! Stella is just gorgeous; love her "colorway."
Posted by: Jody Hamilton | May 27, 2009 at 08:45 PM
Love the action photos of the lambs in mid air--just makes me feel happy looking at them.
Diane L./Bloomington,IN.
Posted by: Diane | May 27, 2009 at 09:39 PM
Stella won!! My favorite sheep ever!! YAY!!!
Posted by: melissaknits | May 28, 2009 at 08:01 AM