Happy Christmas to everyone

Hard to believe that another year has almost past here on the farm.

We moved here January 6,2005 but yet it seems like we have always lived here the farm has a pace and time of its own.

The Gibson family from Scotland built this house and farm coming here in 1853. The house was built later and is all dressed up this year to celebrate its 141st Christmas!

This year we even have a Christmas tree in the living room. The angel on top this tree was bought by my Grandparents in 1949. She is not the prettiest of angels but she sure has some history. I have photographs taken of this Christmas angel on top of trees from the 50's, and so until now this one. We truly are living with all the ghosts of Christmas's past here!

Both Al and I and of course all the wee beasties here at the farm would like to wish everyone Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Quailty time with the sheep

This is Mr. Biddlebump our June lamb, and his mom Gwinnie. They both love hugs. Mr BB also is very happy to curl up on your lap and snooze as he is doing here. They are wonderful therapy after a stressful day!

Pachio's Fleece

Here is a picture of Pachio's fleece,

Colour is actually white,

Check out the Curls, and crimp, he is also soft, and silky...

We will be breeding him to some of our Cherrington girls, and will post their names when we have decided which ones.

This will be the last time these ewes will be bred as they are getting on in years.

I can't think of a better combination of genetics and fleece quality than breeding them back into the Dailley line!

Stay Tuned!!!!

Presenting Dailley "Pachino"

Earendel Shetlands and Kalwa Taure Shetlands, are pleased to introduce our new ram from the Dailley flock.

Pachino is just over a year old. He has the classic Shetland conformation and fleece quality so consistent with his heritage.

He will be a beautiful additional to our selective breeding program.

Heartfelt thanks to Carol Precious for all her advice in helping us select him"!

'When one door closes another has opened.'

Cherrington Merlin May 21-2001 to Nov.16-2009

We count ourselves very fortunate to have been Merlin's caregivers for his last few months.

He was a grand gentleman who quickly learned that ours is a treat driven farm. Apples, cookies, warm mash twice a day , oh yes and a lovely girl to keep him company.

Merlin had a spinal cord injury that had left him partially disabled and though he was coping he was still living daily by grace.

A fortnight ago that all changed and Merlin was no longer able to get up at all. A decision was made to euthanize and despite knowing it was for the best I was still left in tears.

Merlin left us a lovely legacy. We are lucky to have 4 of his offspring and also his full sister Cherrington Sarah.

Never the less I still miss his deep bass Ba every time I open the treat box in the barn.

Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III, with the permission of Richard II in order to defend the surrounding area from French invasion.
Vanessa, Phillip, Vasanti and I spent a lovely time exploring what truthfully has been called one of England's most beautiful castles..... Of course this summers foray back to England had to include some sheep.
These are black welsh mountain sheep, very handsome and looking a wee bit like our Foote and Grainney.
More pictures when I get a chance.......

After the Rain

There should be a rainbow... but if you look closely to the right of the first one is a second one ( almost hidden by the trees) here.

This is one of our back fields and part of the hay field as well. The hay is ready to be cut but the weather continues to be showery and well just plain English, while I hear from friends in England that the weather there is our normal hot and sultry June...
We need a week of dry warm weather to get the hay in so keep you fingers cross it will happen soon.

In the meantime, we are all adjusting to having Cherrington Merlin stay with us. He is a really good ram ( which is good since we have never had one here before) and has already picked up on when the treats are handed out. He is managing well and I am monitoring his condition carefully.

At long last!!!! The Cookie Monster!

After a really tough delivery and the sad loss of his twin sister.....

Welcome to the world, Mr.Biddlebump born Friday June 19 at 7:00pm

Biddlebump is the son of Cherrington Harry and Hopeful Gwendolyn.

He is precocious and already wandering off leaving poor Gwen. frantically looking for him.

He jumps into her hay, steals grass straight from her mouth and is into everything.

Poor MOM!

ANY DAY NOW !!!

Our little Gwinnie should be due this week. She has become totally obsessed with food and can't get enough, we think she is hatching a "Cookie Monster"!!!!!

Everything is ready and waiting and waiting and waiting.........

Spring

Welcome to the farm in Spring

This is my favorite time of the year, everything is green and smells so wonderful, its a good time of the year to be born and for that we are waiting on our Gwinnie.

Gwinnie is currently eating like a barracuda.....everything in sight. Two other of our girls may also be pregnant or then again just fat, we will have to see.

Some of our whethers even look a wee bit in the family way... umm Jolly, with a bit of winter insulation?

Here are just some of our girls spa-ing in the sun.... are we happy?!

Everyone loves to go out and cut loose especially after the rough winter we have had....

well maybe not everyone!

'Driving Miss Lady'

I think that my dear husband has found his equine niche in life and may never 'ride ' a horse again.
Thanks to some friends of ours who are members of the Percheron Horse Society, we were able to finally hitch and drive our Lady last Saturday. Lady hasn't been driven for the two years we have had her and who knows when before that, although I have been riding her.

She was extremely patient with us and our total inexperience in all this

Al started by ground driving her first, then the wagon was dragged out ( by us) to the field and she was hitched. We only drove her for about 15 minutes since she is rather out of condition.

I think even Lady had fun.

seven things you may not now about me

A while ago I was asked by a dear friend to list seven things that most people would not know about me. It took a while to get on with it but here is the list:

1: I am a classically trained mezzo soprano with a long performance history mostly solo baroque aria work.
2: I love Gregorian chant and the mediaeval catholic church liturgy , you know bells, incense the whole works
3: Life gaol is to finish visiting the high spots along the pilgrims route across Europe, so far I have done Canterbury, Rome and twice to Jerusalem
4: I ride side saddle, its the equitation style I learned on.
5: PURPLE, love it especially purple silk velvet
6 I have made virtually all my major adult "life decisions" here at this place.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Orme
7: one of my favorite authors is Khalil Gibran
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalil_Gibran

There hows that!

costume design

As many of you may know I have an deep interest in historical costuming. I have participated in a number of living history events ranging along the time line from Anglo-Saxon to English Civil war and 19th military, not to forget the SCA.

I thought it was be fun to share some of my favorite costumes here.

For years I have studied the fashions of the Court of Henry VIII. I have taught workshops, seminars, proofed patterns for companies and been the featured attire on this site along with some of my students at the time.

http://www.festiveattyre.com/feature/yr4/week150.html

One of my other favorite periods inspired by that wonderful film Henry V with Kenneth Branagh is the 15th century. This is a picture of Al and I taken at a local production of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. This is 15th century Burgundian style and we were the dancers at the wedding in the show. Both outfits are velvet and Al's boots are copies of 15th century riding boots and were made by a friend of ours who is a professional shoemaker.

Completely jumping era's brings us to the 1860's and a ball gown, using 27 yards of paper thin silk.

Of course all the costumes pictured here are complete down to the corsets and underpinning where required and yes I ride in a corset when in kit
Thats just a wee peek into my costume closet, maybe more later when I get some more pictures!

Something different

This past Christmas Al and I bought a loom. It is a 4 harness jack loom which while not exactly a style current in the middle ages none the less will reproduce the textiles commonly found in the period.

My good friend Nina has been patiently giving us both lessons and to date we have made three scarves.

The future plan is to start to weave projects using wool from our own sheep and homegrown dyes.

I had been learning the weave on a rigid heddle loom, perhaps a slightly more period contraption and certainly far more portable, so the jack loom seemed the next step up for us. This picture was taken last summer at our first Regia event at the long hall.

Cherrington Esther

Cherrington Esther and her family.

This is Esther ( Reg#.S8786) Though registered as a black she is presently all of the soft greys you get on tarnished silver, though she still has a black ruff.

Esther came to Earendel last September. At 9 years old she is another one of our seniors enjoying our full service retirement package

( home grown hay,special dinners, hugs, and of course treats) .

Although Esther is somewhat skittish she is making progress and is taking treats now from our hands.

This is Esther's daughter Kalwa Taure Esme (Reg# S15398) and her twin boys Cindread and Cinwulf whom are both weathers they were sired by Cherrington Merlin June 2007

The boys don't look at all like that anymore, here are the boys now:

They are both silver greys and have lovely crimp and whew, all those spots have gone!

Esme's boys have an awesome temperament and run to us when they see us for hugs and scratches. My husband Al confesses that Cindread and Rose are his favorites while I just love our little Grainney who will curl up with me when I sit in their pen.

More girls this time Cherrington Alice's kin

This was Cherrington Alice ( 1997-2008), a classy grand dam, well beloved and now sadly missed by our good friend Tammy of Kalwa Taure shetlands.

Alice's legacy here is very strong as she is the mother and grandmother of three of our most personable girls and a major influence for our white fleece line


This is our Kalwa Taure Minnie ( Reg#S16839) Alice's most mischievous daughter.


Minnie has it all great personality, a sense of humor, awesome fleece and a lovely daughter our Earendel Rose ( S # 26107) out of Cherrington Merlin

Rose is a treasure, friendly, hugable and true to her heritage with a good strong crimpy fleece.

The last one of Alice's family to reside here is her daughter Cherrington Jessie (S#10028).Jessie is a cream with beautiful crimp and handle to her fleece. I will have a picture of her up soon

Currently Minnie and Jessie are visiting Cherrington Merlin (Rose's dad) for a romantic winter break.

Introducing some of our girls starting with Brandy

This is one our grand old lady Cherrington Brandy ( Reg#S6030) she will be 12 years old this March and shows no signs of slowing down. She is a beautiful dark moorit with a fine fleece very suitable for drop spindle work.





This is one of Brandy's Morrit baby's (Reg# S16844). Kalwa Taure Elly.
Like her mom she has a fine fleece though is a lighter Morrit




This is Brandy's last baby Earendel Grainney ( S26108), as black as the darkest night.
Grainney has no white hairs through her fleece and has inherited her moms softness and good crimp. Her first adult fleece is long and luxurious and holding great promise.
She is a little camera shy so we must try again for a more current picture. Grainney is a darling and would rather be hugged that eat. We also have Grainney's identical twin brother Foote.