August 2025 Happenings at Withers Wool and Farm
Farm and Animals
The four kid Angora goats (Squall, Windsong, Balmy and Zephyr) and the two moms (Peaches and Tulip) are all doing well. The kids are still nursing but that is definitely decreasing and they now get most of their nutrition from grazing and the hay and grain I give them. The kids are bundles of energy and love jumping and running around. They especially like interacting with visitors - and getting to eat the tortilla chips they get as a treat. Their fiber is so fine it attracts the clingy weeds - so I do spend some time every other week or so pulling off the most obnoxious vegetable matter that clings to them. (And try to pull up the most clingy weeds, at least on the small fields the babies are in.)
The rest of the Angora goats (the mature bucks and the does that were not bred) and the Merino sheep are all well, and we are all glad the hot, humid weather broke around the middle of the month and the conditions have been more reasonable.
The end of the mating season for the peafowl is approaching and the peacock is starting to drop his feathers and the peahens are almost finished laying their occasional egg. I pick up the feathers that are on on the ground every morning and the good ones go in vases in the barn. (And I use the eggs; they do not taste exactly like chicken eggs but are not bad.)
I am still mowing the occasional field as I rotate the sheep and goats to various fields. The warm moist weather and copious rain the farm has had the first part of August means that the grass/vegetation is still growing well and as I move the animals from one field to another I mow the field they left. This helps cut back on the most obnoxious weeds and restimulates leafy growth in the vegetation. (I only mow down to about 6 to 8 inches or so in order for the field to quickly rebound with new growth.)
Kid goats checking out the stairs and house
Fiber and Shop
We continued to do a lot of dying (of yarns) in August. If you follow social media, I did posts on dying yarns on 8, 16 and 20 August using three different processes: (1) using the same dye but varying the amount of dye used and technique (e.g. stirring, how immersed in the water, etc.) to achieve different affects; (2) twisting the yarn into a hank to dye (which results in a yarn with two colors) and drying the yarn, then twisting into a hank and dying again (which results in a. yarn with four colors); (3) mixing the dye with hot water and vinegar, putting this in a squirt bottle, and then drizzling this mixture over the top of the yarn for an interesting mix of color along the yarn - and you can do this with more than one dye mixture. There have also been some more yarns dyed in cooperation with Linda of Colorstorms with natural (versus) acidic dyes. All in all, lots of newly dyed yarns all finished and hung up in the shop.
There has been a high volume of people visiting the shop in August. Actually, my favorite activity is to engage with people who come to the farm/shop to give them a tour so they can interact with our friendly animals, enjoy the gorgeous scenery and then experience the shop in the renovated barn and see the products made from our farm raised wool and mohair. Of course, this takes time so hand-spinning, while still going on, of course, has taken a back-seat to other activities. Still, some more singles, two-plys and a few art yarns were finished and put into the shop.
Book signing on 6 September
Events
As part of the Fiber Art Studio Tour on Saturday 6 September at Withers Wool and Farm, Jacki Donhou will be present 11 to 2 to sign her book 'Yarn Cake Amigurumi', answer questions and mingle with visitors. Jacki Donhou is a crochet designer and author behind the brand DearJackiStitchery. She specializes in creating whimsical and unique Amigurumi crocheted creatures, offering patterns that range from beginner-friendly to more advanced designs. Come by to see Jacki, get a signed copy of her book, browse at Withers Wool, and get a tour of the farm (and feed the baby Angora goats). Kira, the Scrap Master, will also be here on 6 September and will be featuring her new toy Tiny Elephant and Hippo pattern and a few finished Tiny Elephant and Hippo toys, as well as all her other products.
On 27 and 28 September, I will be at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival (SVFF) in Berryville, VA. at the Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds And I will be setting up on the 26th, so the shop will not be open that Friday and Saturday. The Saturday hours for the show are 10-5 and the Sunday hours are 10-4. As in past years, Withers Wool and Farm will be in the Ruritan Building, space #5.