Dear friends,
The quiet shift from winter to spring means one thing here on the ranch - shearing season is just around the corner.
It is an exciting time for us and the goats!
All winter long the goats have been growing their glorious fleeces, and I always look forward to seeing how they’ve turned out.
My daughter Rachel does all of the shearing, and I take over the skirting.
Skirting means going through each fleece by hand and removing anything that doesn’t belong such as bits of hay, as well as the leg and belly mohair that isn’t suitable for our yarn.
Nothing goes to waste here. The mohair we don’t use is spread into the garden beds as mulch, where it slowly returns nutrients to the soil.
I’m a day late writing this letter because we spent yesterday cleaning out the garage bay where all of our shearing takes place.
It has been several years since it received a proper deep clean and reorganization, so it was truly an all-hands-on-deck project.
As these things tend to go, it took much longer than we expected.
By the time we finished, the sun was setting and we were completely worn out.
So as I sit down to write today, two things are on my mind: National Women’s Day… and my birthday.
Yes - today is my birthday! I turned 61. :)
Some people reach this stage of life and begin thinking about slowing down or retiring.
I feel like I’m just getting started.
I spent more than twenty years as a homeschooling mom.
When my youngest graduated from high school, that’s when I started Caprine.
I don’t think of age as getting old. I think of it as levels in the game of life.
Today I’ve reached level 61, which feels like quite an accomplishment.
Cancer tried to take me off the board back at level 56, but I persevered, passed go, and kept moving forward.
With National Women’s Day just behind us, it also feels like the perfect moment to recognize the many women who quietly carry so much responsibility with strength and grace.
Women have a remarkable ability to think creatively, adapt quickly, and hold many moving parts together at once.
I see that every day in my daughters, Rachel and Sarah.
You know them from social media, but I have the privilege of working with them.
I see first hand the intelligence, confidence, and determination they bring to everything they do.
They represent a generation of women who are thoughtful, capable, and willing to chart their own paths.
To the women reading this - wherever you are in life - know that there is no single lane you must stay in.
Life has many chapters. New ideas, new work, and new adventures can begin at any age.
Thank you for being part of this community and for sharing this journey with us through the work, the stories, and the small celebrations along the way.
It means more than you know.
With love,
Angela
Angela
Click here to explore and enjoy our cozy mohair socks and throws.