Pre-Shearing Photos

 Enjoy some photos of the sheep just prior to shearing!

 

 

Dawn, Desibelle, and Darla

 Christina

 

 Caramel

  

 Lisa gives Jack a hug while Edison waits his turn.

 

 Clarabelle and Christina

 Dale

 

Bernie, Belvedere, and Murphy the llama

 Cocoa

 Dusty Anne

 

Cecelia

 Doris

 DonnaLisa

 Carrie, Dove, Sheila, and Cordelia

 

Darcy, Cinnamon, Curlianne, and Hazel

 Pat gives Enoch some lovin'!

Edison waits to be sheared.

More Visitors!

Our friends, Pat & Lisa, arrived at the farm for another visit! They are from Arkansas and they came to assist us with shearing. 

Love and hugs for the sheep!

Pat & Lisa are special friends and hard workers. With their help, the preparations for shearing went well.

Special Visitors

A few days ago we had visitors from a local private school. The children and teacher came out to our farm on a field trip in order to learn about sheep and fiber processing. Our friend Lisa helped with the spinning demonstrations.

 

Ellie cranks the drum carder while Lisa feeds a batt of wool. The batt is wool from DonnaLisa's fleece blended with purple fiber.

Emily shows the carded batt of wool to the children.

Emily teaches Mandy how to spin while Lisa instructs Ellie.

Emily helps Mrs.Widdis draft wool before spinning into yarn.

Abby tries on a stocking hat made from Berkman's fleece.

Emily helped J.J. spin on her Ashford Traveler spinning wheel.

Christian and J.J.

Lisa let J.J. practice his treadling, fast and slow.

Abby is learning to spin on Lisa's Louet Victoria portable spinning wheel.

Lisa teaching Melody to spin.

Emily and Ellie spinning Romney roving from the Grace Valley Farm's flock.

We enjoyed hosting the school's field trip and we are looking forward their next visit! 

Shearing is Coming Soon!

Shearing day at Grace Valley Farms is fast approaching. The ewes, rams, and wethers at our farm are busily growing wool. Shearing is scheduled for January 28th and we plan to have 66 coated Romney and Romney-cross fleeces available! Here are some of the colors of wool we will have available: white;  cream;  silver;  light, medium and dark gray;  variegated grays;  charcoal;   charcoal-brown;  dark charcoal;  and nearly black.

Below are pictures of fleeces that are still growing.

 

Elizabeth's white lamb fleece

 

Ernest T. Bass

 

Easton's lamb fleece

Christina with her coat pulled back. She has a gray variegated fleece.

 

Christina's parted fleece

 

 Clarabelle with her coat pulled back. It's hard to believe that she was black when she was born!

Clarabelle's fleece is a beautiful light silver color.

Evelyn's white lamb fleece

If you would like to be added to our mailing list for this year's shearing, please contact us.

Winter Pastures

So far this year we have had very little snow. As a result, the sheep have been able to graze on our pastures well into winter.

 Heather

 

 Cordelia

 Delores

 Dusty Anne

 Diana

Harriet

Dorcas

 

Darby

 Deborah

 Carmen

Carolyn

Camoflaged Sheep!

We recently purchased some new coats for the sheep. A few of the coats came in a camouflage pattern!

Celeste models her new coat.

 Dove likes her special coat.

 

Danielle has a camo coat too.

Happy New Year !

Happy New Year from Grace Valley Farms!

 

Thank you for your business and continued support in 2011. We look forward to what 2012 holds for our farm!

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. – Proverbs 27: 23, 25-26

Twilight in Montana

The sunsets in our part of the country are stunning! Almost every night we get to see very colorful skies. The sun sinks behind the mountains, painting the clouds many beautiful colors. If you look closely, you will notice our sheep in the foreground. We are blessed to live in such a peaceful place!