Author Archives: Robin

Unknown's avatar

About Robin

Owner of Meridian Jacobs, farm and fiber shop. I raise Jacob sheep, teach fiber arts classes, weave handwovens for sale, and manage the store.

American Sheep Industry Convention

Posted on by
Reply

I spent the last two days at the ASI Convention in Reno. I caught a ride with a couple of friends who also raise sheep. (See Flying Mule Blog in my links). I didn’t take too many photos and I can’t believe that I didn’t take a photo of the best part of the trip. That was the Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning sessions presented by Ranch Management Consultants. Dave Pratt is a gifted speaker (who happens to be my brother) and teaches a business school for ranchers. His classes and 6-day school are very intense, but so valuable. Every time I hear him speak I “get it” a little better.

I had my new video camera with me and found my self wandering in the nearly empty casino filming, but I didn’t take anything worth showing to anyone else. I did take a few still photos.

These are some magnificent Merino and Merino x Rambouillet rams, the only sheep in sight at the convention. The ranch also displayed some fine Merino fleeces. I wish that I could harvest a 20 lb fleece!

Yeah! New Toys!

Posted on by
3

I met up with my friend, Irene from Cotton Clouds, to take in TNNA. This is the trade show for yarn shops, designers, etc. WOW!

This is my first trip to TNNA so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I didn’t plan on buying anything, but I found a few goodies for the shop. Here is a preview of some of them.

Whimsical artwork by Thomas Joseph.

The very cool SideKick, the newest wheel from Schacht Spindle Co. (will be shipped in May).

Ashford’s newest loom, the Katie. This is a great 8-harness loom that comes with a carry-bag. Everything in front is removed or lifts up so you can get right up to the heddles to thread it.

The Unpattern–creating your own pattern based on your favorite sweater.

Unicorn Fibre Scour and Fibre Wash. wpnderful products for getting fleeces and garments clean.

These products and more will  be on the website soon and in the shop within the next couple of weeks.

 

Warm-up for Lambing

Posted on by
6

I got back from 3 days at TNNA (trade-show which needs a blog post by itself) and an hour later there were lambs! This wasn’t a complete surprise because, although lambing isn’t due to start for another 6 weeks, one ewe definitely stood out from the flock as “more pregnant”. Phyllis is a lilac ewe that had been sold a few years ago. She returned to me this fall, but no one said anything about being bred. I guess that was due to a mishap at her previous home. Even though I knew that these lambs would not be 100% Jacob, I’m so used to seeing spots, these were an initial surprise.

The lambs’ fleeces are quite different. The one in the foreground has that wavy, coarser look and the other is curly. Notice too that the one in the back is lighter. I don’t know how much of that is due to the camera (I think it flashed when I took this photo) and how much is real. I thought that he didn’t look true black, but in this photo he is definitely lighter. He might make a great fleece wether. (I think the sire may have  been a Merino–have to ask about that again.)

 

View from my desk on New Year’s Day

Posted on by
1

I should modify the title of this post. This is the view to my left and behind me. The view to the right is SOMEBODY sitting in the recliner with a cat on his lap waiting for football.

This morning our non-landscaped front yard seems like a wildlife sanctuary. I’m taking photos from the comfort of my house through the windows. Those are female pheasants.

We support the fattest quail!

And behind me:

I didn’t see the whole Rose Bowl Parade, but these were my favorite entries of what I did see. That’s a Brahma-cross steer he’s riding. The rider looks like a kid on that big guy.

This was such a beautiful float honoring wild horses.

Amazing.

My new toys

Posted on by
5

Look at what I got for Christmas!

I don’t have a movie collection like my kids all do, but this is one that I wanted. Its a documentary of the sheepherding in the Montana mountains.

Wow! My son gave me the docking station for my ipod (which he gave me earlier in the year). He had let me use his in the shop when I wanted Christmas music for my Holiday Open House. I thought it was a long-term loan, but then he wanted it back. I guess he felt guilty so he bought me my own.

I asked Santa for this one and my husband followed through. Now I’ll be able to include videos as well as still photos…after I figure out editing.  I spent all day working with the new software that I uploaded for this. I actually really like it because there are features that Picassa doesn’t have, or at least I hadn’t figured out.

My daughter-in-law made this calendar with lots of family photos, including photos of people (and our dogs) on their birthday squares. It is really great!

I gave this to my husband, but I think it was for me. We finally finished our back-porch/mudroom/entryway remodel. It started when we talked to Mike Carson, the blacksmith who demonstrates at the CA State Fair as well as others. In fact, last summer his blacksmith shop was right near the Nursery at the fair and I talked with him when I went to check on my sheep and goat. I have always admired his work but don’t need fireplace tools, not having a fireplace, and can use only so many key-chains, etc.  I have bought some of his gadgets with horse heads, but this year he had a ram head on something. We got talking about doing some custom work and I said that I’d get back to him. Some time after the fair my husband started the remodel project. I have had all my food in laundry baskets all over the kitchen floor ever since because the new entry way was the old pantry. The end was in sight (with Christmas as the deadline) and I called Mike to see about getting this coat rack made in time for Christmas. I sent him photos of sheep and Mike delivered it to me at the Artery when I worked on Christmas Eve Day. Isn’t it fabulous?

These are all sheep from photos that I sent.

Here is the rack in use with hooks to spare, although since then I’ve added my headlamp, gloves, and hat to this. But there is still room!

 

Christmas photos

Posted on by
1

I had this idea to take photos of a sheep and my dog with a Santa hat. The sheep were in the pasture yesterday, but I thought we’d try the dog since Jackie was willing to help. It’s not that easy to get a good photo.

Rusty is  not looking very enthusiastic.

Ok. Now he’s obsessed with shadows on the ground. Let’s try again.

In the meantime, Jacki’s dog, Mobi,  cooperated a little better.

Rusty, Take 3. At least he doesn’t look too unhappy when he’s watching shadows.

This is the best we could do for that day. Maybe I’ll try a sheep.

 

Holiday Open House

Posted on by
1

Does it bother you when people call an event the  “First Annual…”? Well, we had such a good time today, that I can say that we had our First Annual Holiday Open House. We WILL do it again. Two friends joined me with their wares. Jackie’s business is Jack’s Wool/Isabelle’s Items.

This is one of Jackie’s signature paw-print felted bowls and a felted sheep.

How about a felted hot-pad?

or felted ornaments?

Diane’s family are commercial bee-keepers. She has recently explored local marketing of their honey and beeswax products.

Diane had sage, wild-flower, and clover honey. We sampled them and there are definite differences in the flavors.

Jackie and Shelby taught visitors needle-felting throughout the day and everyone took home a needle-felted ornament.

One of the best things about the day is that my shop is clean and orderly.

Thanks to Jackie and Diane for helping me with that. It is such a relief to have that done. What a pleasant place with Christmas lights sparkling and Christmas music playing.  This was our big advertised day, but I plan to be open again next weekend even though Diane and Jackie won’t be here. I really love my shop and it’s a great place to spend the day!