Happy New Year from Michigan

At midnight, big fluffy snowflakes were softly falling from the sky, a perfect paperweight snowfall. By morning there was more than a foot of new snow, this is what Michigan is supposed to look like on January One.

I love this weather, no wind and at 2:00 pm the temp is at 27 F, even the sun has shown its face a few times. I hope wherever you are the day is bright and gives hope for the new year with more peace and prosperity.

Michigan Fiber Festival

Wow, only two more weekends before the Michigan Fiber Festival. Last year at this time I was having real withdrawal pains since that was the first year I didn't have a booth at the festival. I am so proud of what the Michigan fiber enthusiasts have created with this event and to think I was one of the original 9. It is almost like watching a child grow up.

Again this year, the farm shop will be open each day the week before festival weekend - open August 10 through the 14th. The shop will be closed for the weekend - 15th and 16th so I can attend. If you haven't been to the farm shop before, we are 7 miles southwest of Allegan. Here are maps and written directions if you need them. Hope to see many of you at the festival and/or here at the farm.

Nature's Lace Shawl

The news across the country is the 'deep freeze'. We are not the coldest by far, it did get to -2 before we went to bed last night. We don't have the most snow, another 4 inches yesterday and last night, about a foot where it isn't drifted or plowed. But here is our little corner of the world. The tree branches look so much like the most intricate lace shawl to me. The little pine tree just in front of our north pasture is wearing such a lonely one that God put a sunbeam on it..

Paperweight Snowfall

Since Friday, we have had snow falling like it does in those old fashioned glass paperweights, gently falling straight down. Even though most of the snow was in small size flakes, it does pile up as shown in the picture.
Today was so tempting we had to get out in it. We got our cross country skis out for the first time in a few years, I made it around the curve in our driveway before I lost my balance and went down. There was so much fluffy stuff (snow, not me?) that it didn't hurt but I sure had forgotten the technique of getting up with those long things attached to my feet. After I finally got back in an upright position, I was rather pleased with what I could still do. Course we probably only went 1/2 mle.

The forecast for the coming week is windy and very cold so I have started Jill Turner's Button Wrap I am doing this one in our Burgundy Heather, hope I remember to post it when finished.

Winter Wonderland 2008

Our first accumulation of snow for this winter season. There is about 5 inches on the ground now, you can see how it has piled up on the old iron wheel at the shop door. This is what is known in Michigan as "lake effect", the water of Lake Michigan is picked up by the cold air crossing the lake from the west and all along the state shoreline - about 15 to 20 miles inland can get quite abit of snow. At mile 21 or so the sun can be shining.

We had a couple of "dustings" of snow last week, where it stays on the grass for a short while but melts immediately on walks and roads, those don't count as snow to me. The hunters will be happy as deer season opened last Sat. and the deer who hide behind our old barn will be happy because the heavy snow will bring down some more of the winter keeper apples that are still hanging on the tree.

I am happy because I love to look at it and snuggle more deeply into my wool sweater.

Michigan "Saying"

A saying common in Michigan is: "if you don't like the weather, stick around, it will change soon." Very true this past year. Last week the ground was brown in most spots, except for the big piles of left over snow from plowing; then Friday 21st we got 10 inches of snow.

Well, this am it was mostly brown again till about 4pm and then huge flakes of snow began falling. It looked like one of those paperweights that you can shake to make it snow. The flakes were floating straight downward, now nearly an hour later, the flakes are smaller - but still big and they are coming at a slant, bit of a north breeze. Hope this isn't another Friday Norwest'r.

The sheep have open range right now between and around the barns because the pasture grasses haven't woke up yet. There is some left over grass (meaning not mowed late) from late fall around the buildings so they can pick their own hay, they think it is better than the stuff in the hay feeders. It has shocked a few people when they come in the drive and see them out in the open. Only one of the nice traits of merino & rambouillet sheep breeds, they don't wander far and never alone.

BTW, for those who don't know... we are in the SW part of Michigan about 1/2 way between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.