Photo could be topic of the "Priceless" commercials.

I have a soft spot in my heart for cute little boys, probably because we have one - although he is all grown up now.

When a customer emailed this picture to show what she knit with our Blue Heather sport yarn, I immediately asked if I could post it here. The sweater design is very pretty with cable patterns on the front and running up the center of the sleeves, truly an heirloom piece. The wooded outdoor setting is a perfect background for the picnic table bench the child is playing on. But the precious flaxen-haired boy with those big blue eyes is priceless.

Fruit trees in full bloom at Marr Haven

This is a view taken from north of the shop door. The cloud like white showing through the new green leaves of the trees beyond the driveway is a very old "winter keeper" apple tree that has many more blooms than usual.

In the fall the apples are as hard as rocks, we pick a couple of bushels to store in the tack room for the horses. The apples ripen after the first frost. The sheep will race to get the drops on the ground if they are let into this area then what is left falls during the winter for the deer and squirrels.

Merino Rambouillet Roving from 2011 Shearing is here.

One big lapful of fresh roving.

This is just one bag of wool roving that was processed for us at Pufpaff's Fiber Processing in Nashville, Michigan. After our wool is shorn and skirted, I deliver it to Suzanne Pufpaff''s mill where she washes it using organic soap. The water is heated using an outside, wood fired hot water boiler system fueled from trees on the family farm. The wool is then air dried on racks in a dedicated drying room making the entire cleaning process extremely eco-friendly and better for the wool.

When dry, the wool goes through a machine called a "picker" to open the fibers. Next the wool is carded ( a combing like step) by a machine called a "carder" which organizes the fiber into roving or batting form. The final step is my next few days work, weighing the roving into smaller amounts for you to enjoy as you spin or felt with it.

May Day Special of Green Heather

We won't have a Maypole but we are celebrating Spring and the green that is now in our lawns, pasture and trees.

The shop will be open Monday the 2nd from 10 am to 4 pm and of course the website will be open 24 hours both days for the sale price.

Order online Sunday or Monday or visit the shop on Monday to get 4 oz. 210 yards worsted skeins for $7.65 each or a full pound of sport weight, 1,750 yards for $30.60. Multiple skeins or cones are okay, only in Green Heather, shipping is not included.

Wool Trivia - we Need to know this.

Lots of interesting information this week from our American Sheep Industry Association.

How about a bright red Ferrari - made of wool. After traveling the world for the past five years, British artist Lauren Porter is seeking a permanent home for her knitted red Ferrari sports car.

The Royal Wedding Merino Suit Finished

A suit made from wool donated by over 200 Australian woolgrowers to celebrate the union of Prince William and Kate Middleton has been finished in anticipation of Britain's royal wedding on April 29. The cloth is made of fibers sent from wool growing properties representing every Australian state.

From Sydney, the donated wool was scoured and combed in Biella, Italy, by Pettinatura di Verrone, before being dyed and spun at Bulmer and Lumb in Bradford. The cloth was then woven by Taylor and Lodge in Huddersfield, United Kingdom, before being tailored into a suit by Anderson and Sheppard in Saville Row. A small sample of the final cloth will be sent to every Australian woolgrower who contributed to the bale.

Lastly, a practical note: The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) will be holding a wool handling school at the John Oswalt farm in Vicksburg, Michigan on May 1-2. To register, contact Zahrah at ASI by calling 303-771-3500, ext. 54 or by email at zahrah@sheepusa.org. Additional information is available from Ron Cole, ASI Wool Education Consultant, at ihrcole@comcast.net or by calling 970-302-4117.

April White Showers Confuse Flowers

Hanging their bright little heads, looks like the daffodils are not enjoying their blanket of snow.

The violets are in full bloom but the snow is deep enough they can't show their pretty faces. Wonder what the snow peas think that were planted last week ?

Spring Colors in Hand dyed Yarn

Like everyone else, I am impatiently waiting for Spring. In the meantime, I tried to create my own with colors that matched my thoughts - or senses.

I want to smell masses of fragrant violets and lilacs.

Little grape hyacinths and regular hyacinths, all of these reminded me of Shades or Purple and/or Blue.


Imperial Crown is one of the early bulbs in our yard, usually before daffodils, this year a little late but it's orange red blossoms last a long while.

The final color in this group is denim, what I will be wearing as I enjoy working outside.