…but I guess I lied. meet dune and dotsy:

they are cashmere goats and word got around that we had some room in our barn, i guess. the spinning and farming community is a small one, and i’m so very appreciative of that. we heard of their need to be adopted a few weeks ago and yesterday, we met them.

these ladies are coming from a local alpaca farm. wini, the farmer, has discovered that she is allergic to cashmere, so she’s been looking for a home for these two little ladies. we’re happy to oblige.

i have never been a fan of goats. i think sheep are so much more interesting. however, these are CASHMERE goats. we comb their coat out when they start to shed (around february -when the daylight begins to return earlier), spin the cashmere fiber and voila! i have my own skein of 100% cashmere yarn. and look at those natural colors. apparently, it will take a few seasons to get enough fiber to actually make something – but that will give me enough time to polish my spinning skills (or practice at least!).

the bulk of cashmere today is produced in china, and apparently the larger cashmere producers shear their goats and spin it without removing the hair from the cashmere fiber. by combing the goat, there isn’t much hair that gets mixed in with the good, soft fiber. so combing and spinning produces  a softer garment. when shorn, the hair pieces (which are rough) aren’t removed and the end product isn’t nearly as soft.

our sheep, and geneva the donkey are waiting anxiously their arrival to the barn later today.