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| The signs guided our path |
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| More Beautiful Land on Blind Buck Road |
Blue skies! Moderate temperatures! A light breeze! Rolling hills! Farms
and Fiber! This is the backdrop for our experience at the 2016
Washington County Farm and Fiber Tour. We had the opportunity to visit
several Fiber Farms in the area. We were able to see the animals that
provided the products we later bought. We saw some beautiful landscapes
and talked to some wonderful people.
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| Just in time for Baby Lambs! |
Our
first stop was at Fiber Kingdom and Moments-in-Time Creations.
There
we had our first exposure to animals and were able to pet sheep and
newly-born baby lambs. Lily greatly enjoyed petting the baby lambs.
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| Beautiful Farm Store |
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| Sheep on Blind Buck Farm |
We then walked to the farm store, which was very difficult to find, but
after some keen detective skills, I found the credit card symbol on a
door and we walked into this stunning fiber store. They sold yarn from
their Angora Rabbits and the sheep, but their main stay appeared to be
weaving. They had products from the weaving, it was gorgeous.
We then found another barn that held the Angora Rabbits. Sparkle was
out in a cage and Lily was able to pet her. We learned that Angora
Rabbits produce just as much product in a year as sheep. Angora Rabbits
can be shorn every three months. Also, the fur is cleaner (as the
rabbits are kept in hanging cages) so more products is usable. Although
this was an effective way to breed/keep the rabbits, it did not appear
to be the most sanitary of conditions. The same building also housed
ducks, chickens, and two cats.
At
Blind Buck Farm, we found many treasures (once we found the store).
They had an activity where "kids" (Kym and I) could dye yarn with
kool-aid. Kym and I both made projects from this yarn later. I made
two small hearts and Kym made a rectangle! Lily enjoyed getting in on
the action, but lost interest when she saw that an adorable Angora Bunny
was out to play with and pet.
She loved playing, petting, and (most notably) picking up the bunny.
She spent the whole time in the shop with the bunny. Afterwards, Kym
and I kept finding Angora bunny fibers on her sweatshirt!
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| Lily LOVED this Angora Bunny |
Our
next stop was another farm on Blind Buck Road, Birken Hill Farm &
Fiber. They had many animated creatures at this farm. We met the
famous Alpaca, Cruiser! He likes to sniff people's hair. We all
allowed him to do this. Some more willing than others. We also got to
meet another sheep that came right up to the fence. Lily was okay with
this until the sheep let out a loud, "BLEEHHHH." And Lily ran away
because the sheep was, "too loud."
Kym
was able to buy yarn made specifically from Cruiser. This was a really
neat feature of the tour is that we were able to purchase product and
see the animals that this product was made from.
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| Sarah Getting "smelled" by Cruiser |
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| Kym getting acquainted with Cruiser |
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| Lily Loved Cruiser |
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| Beautiful Scenery at St. Mary Convent |
Our last stop was on the way home at St. Mary's Convent. This farm was
located in Greenwich and was known for breeding Cashmere Goats. I
actually learned for the first time that Cashmere only came from goats
and not all Cashmere Goats produce Cashmere. There are very specific
guidelines to what constitutes Cashmere and what is just really soft
wool.
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| Facts About Cashmere |
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| The "Goat" Cart |
Lily got to play with more animals! She loved meeting the new Herd
Dog-in-training, Dixie. The dog was extremely soft and we learn at only a
few months old, that she was deep in training.
She also got to ride on a "Goat" cart with her new friend, Mica. She
was able to take a small ride down the long driveway and even "drive"
the cart.
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| Dixie at St. Mary's Convent |
