WHEW!! HOT does not even really describe how it has been these last few weeks. I have barely been able to get it below 80 Degrees F in the Cabin even at night. Apparently our insulation is doing wonders even in the summer. hmmmmm…not what I had in mind I tell you.

Our thoughts have been turning to building our house. Designing our terraced garden, planting more fruit trees and bushes, and generally just nesting I suppose. The cabin has been great in our time of need, but I am so ready for our house. With all the wild fires in Colorado and so many of them being so close, it has given pause to the house idea as well. Part of me worries about living in the woods as there seems to be a plethora of stupid people that should have to wear signs like “I’m a Dumb Arse!” and “Not allowed in the woods without supervision”. I mean really..deliberately starting fires all over the place as well as target practice shooting at propane tanks in the woods. Exactly HOW dumb are these people?? And the destruction and mayhem that they have produced. Wow!

I am happy to say that our house will be made of concrete and stone. Built slab on grade concrete solid floor, so the only really burnable stuff I suppose is the internal things, the roof, windows and doors. I wonder if the basic structure would still be there after a fire? I hope to NEVER have to find out.

I am dreaming of my 20×3 indoor garden in the house, my little round mosaic iron table for 4 and entertaining for any friends that come by for a fly cuppa tea or my fancy Aztec Mocha. In only 6 days I get to go get my new Nigerian Dwarf Goats. I can’t wait. Fresh Milk again that is way better than any I had before with so much butter cream and fat that I won’t need to put whipping cream in my coffee and milk any longer. yeah!!!

We are starting with 2 does that will be in milk and one little doeling to grow up and breed later on. I haven’t had goats on the ranch since December and I do miss them. We have had dairy goats here on the ranch ever since we got here except these 7 months and it has been really weird. I have changed breeds entirely to go with the Nigerian Dwarf Goats and this should take care of some of the physical back and hand issues that I was having with the full size goats.

I also removed one llama from the ranch on Friday. Icy Breeze went back to Sally as she did NOT like me. After 4 months of working with her, the dislike became mutual. The energy of the group now that she is not here is different enough that it feels like I got 3 new llamas instead of just removing one llama. The remaining 3 girls are MUCH happier. I don’t know if we will find a fourth to trade and take Icy’s place or if we will try to sell her. The group is working so well now that any incomer must be JUST right or it will upset the apple cart.

I am going to do some solar dyeing today of some washed Teeswater locks. I thought Chartreuse Green again to go for the trim and cuffs on the green coat I am getting all the bits together for. I will more than likely be weaving and construction of about 3 sweater coats this winter. I have all the art batts carded for all three coats, but have only spun half of 2 of the coats. I have the yarn skein ed off for the warp and will finish dyeing that as well. Once done, I should have hand spun yarn for weft from my blended carded art batts, hand dyed warp yarn in a solid color which will match the color of the Teeswater locks for all the trims, cuffs, and collars. I had to get that all ready for all 3 coats and then will set it aside to do the weaving and construction of the coats in the winter after the fashion show, fiber festival and some spinning orders.

I will be looking forward to more photos of goats, llamas and fiber projects to come in future blogs.

NO I have NOT finished the 8 ft Triangle Loom Shawl yet. yeah yeah I know…need to get it done!!!