Update from the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

Posted on May 18, 2012 by admin

I can’t believe another  Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is over. It was great seeing old friends and to meeting new friends. The pictures say it all. Can’t wait until next year.

Hope to see you there next year.

 

 

 

 

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Who are your teachers? Mine is a horse called Buddy

Posted on April 21, 2012 by admin
I have been reflecting on how and what I have learned in my lifetime. There are teachers and there are students. I have been both but for the last year I have been the student. Since I retired I have had the opportunity to follow my passion of riding. My teachers have been my horse Buddy and my trainer Lara Delorenzo at 7 Springs Farm in Pittstown, NJ.
I have learned to wait and to be better prepared for what is being asked. This was hard at first since the past 30 years was all about meeting deadlines and getting things done quickly. A horse won’t allow to happen if you want to develop a true partnership.

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Conversations From the Skirting Table

Posted on April 21, 2012 by admin

The spring in New Jersey has been unseasonably warm and dry making the job of skirting fleeces and enjoyable experience. I was very fortunate to get a head start on skirting process when the sheep were shorn in March. With the help of my friends from the North County Spinners Guild, they were able to get the first round of skirting done.  Careful handling during the shearing process is critical in keeping the fleeces clean.  There is nothing worse than  finding a clump of manure tags or hay in the middle of a fleece. I was lucky to have experienced friends helping out.

One of the reasons why I had so much help with skirting the fleeces was I had donated two of my Jacob fleeces  for two sheep to shawl demonstrations.

The first one was held at the Leigh Valley Zoo on  April 7, 2012. Jenny Jump Isabella’s fleece was so soft and spun up easily. The shawls will be auction off as a fund-raiser for the zoo later this fall. The second sheep to shawl demonstration will be held at the Easton Farmers Market on May 19. Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

 

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2012 Shearing Day a Huge Success at Jenny Jump Farm

Posted on March 13, 2012 by admin

Fleeces just off the sheep

After

We had the best shearing day since I can remember. The weather was warm, sunny and I had so many good friends to help manage the many activities that happen in a two-hour time frame.

The first task is to catch the sheep and keep them contained in the barn. This is no easy feat if you raise Jacob sheep you will understand. I have had many jump over a 4 foot wall like it was stepping over a log on the ground. Second is they do not like strangers nor do they like to be shorn.
I am very lucky to have friends who love to help and have become invaluable in during shearing day. Paul Corrigan, Liz Lennon and Suzanne Forbes have been coming to help for several years. Unfortunately Liz was not able to join us. However, I had friends from the North Country Spinners Guild come to help for the first time. Jean Sattler, Jill Lang and Eleanor came to help skirt the fleeces. This is the first time my fleeces were skirted during the shearing. I donated two fleeces to Jean for two sheep to shawl contests being held in later April and May.
I did not have much time to take pictures but my wonderful husband did. Check out the pictures on his  blog at ThompsonPhotoArts
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Shear Delight – Shearing Day is Almost Here! March 10, 2012

Posted on March 2, 2012 by admin

Liz Lennon gathering a freshly shorn fleece

Hi folks,

Shearing day is only a week away. We are scheduled to start on March 10 around 9 AM. Our shearer Tom Horton is fast so get here early or you will miss it. Space is limited so please call me if you plan to come.
Freshly shorn fleeces will be available for purchase.
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Losing Old Friends – A Tribute to Ginger and Haycock Aubrey

Posted on February 12, 2012 by admin

January has been a hard month on the farm. I lost two of my oldest friends, Haycock Aubrey and Ginger. It was not unexpected but still it is hard to accept.

The first was  Aubrey, my Jacob ram. He was just shy of his 12th birthday. Rams don’t usually live this long. Life for them is hard especially when living among other rams. He was one of the most gracious and respectful rams I have known. Never aggressive but still very proud. His fleece was so soft and I am currently spinning it into yarn. I still have several of his offspring in my flock so his legacy lives on.

Next was Ginger my thoroughbred mare I owned since she was 9 years old. Ginger was 31 years old when she died. Before she came to live with me, Ginger had  belonged to my friend Gayle Stinson who raised her from a foal. She was to be her riding horse but unfortunately she was unable to ride her due to health reasons. Her registered name was Native Charm but we always called her Ginger. She was the greatest trail horse and was a pleasure to be around. Her pasture friends Arbee and Max miss her and so do I. It is a  privileged to know and care for these magnificent animals. They have so much to teach us about life.

RIP Aubrey and Ginger.

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Young Farm Visitors Learn About Wool and Sheep

Posted on February 10, 2012 by admin

One cool thing about having a blog is I get requests for a farm visits. Recently I had a family from Morris County visit to learn about sheep and wool for a school project. The little girl Ali is in kindergarten and has to write a two page report and a poster. I never remember having to write anything in kindergarten let alone putting together a report and poster. Ali actually had a list of questions to ask me about sheep. What do they eat, how long do they live, when do they get their hair (wool) cut and the list goes on.

Both Ali and Dylan were very shy and timid around the animals until they met Josie. Josie is my favorite ewe and is very gentle. Both learned how to spin and each made a little bracelet from the yarn they spun. It was a fun day and I can’t wait to see Ali’s report.

Life on the farm is good.

 

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Ides of March (Almost) – Shearing Day March 10, 2012

Posted on December 29, 2011 by admin

Jenny Jump Farm is planning our sheep shearing day for March 10, 2012 starting at 9 AM. Our shearer Tom Horton will be back again for another year. He is amazing to watch.

If you would like to watch or help please contact me at jennyjumpfarm@gmail.com

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Looking back on 2011

Posted on December 26, 2011 by admin

Christmas day is winding down giving us time to reflect on the past year. It was a good year for us and we have a lot to be thankful for. My sister and I have decided to forgo exchanging gifts for the past several years. In its place we donate to our favor charities. This year we chose Common Sense for Animals and K.I.N.D. (Kids In Need of Desks) .

On my way home tonight, I passed the gas station near my house. It was open and I stopped not to get gas but to give the attendant a small gift of fresh-baked cookies. He was so surprised and it made us both smile.

“Merry Christmas to all “.

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The Good, Bad and Ugly in Today’s World – Update

Posted on November 20, 2011 by admin

Update: December 25th. No one has seen Nadia since deer season opened on December 2. There is always hope. If she is still alive it looks like she may always be the wild sheep of Kutztown, PA. She is a tough one to catch.

This is a sad tale. I received am email from a friend who had gotten a call from a woman, Sue,  about a sheep that had been shot with an arrow near Kutztown, Pennsylvania. It appeared in her backyard a few days ago. She called animal control and numerous other agencies but no one would help. We posted a plea on the Garden State Sheep Breeders group for help. Reni Melvin and her vet, Dr Bergman came to the rescue. Dr Bergman and his father drove 3 hours only to find the sheep has been chased into the woods even after Sue pleaded them not to chase it.

The ewe is still on the run. It was very frustrating and the sheep’s time is running out.

I am grateful for people like Reni Melvin, Samantha Friedenberg, Sue Foster and Dr Bergman. Many thanks to all those who have offered advice and words of encouragement.

The story continues to evolve as I write this post.  Let’s hope for a happy ending.

 

 

 

 

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