Dear friends,
We’ve completed another shearing season! The mohair this year is exquisite.
I truly enjoyed every moment of skirting and grading each fleece, taking the time to appreciate the character and quality of what our goats have grown over the past six months.
I also set aside a small (maybe a bit bigger than small) stash of my favorite curls for my own spinning and weaving.
Spinning and weaving is something I don’t always make time for, but deeply enjoy when I do.
This time of year is perfect for washing my personal stash.
I love watching the transformation as the dirt and protective grease fall away, leaving behind clean, luminous locks drying in the warm sun.
There’s something almost meditative and zen-like about it. I may be just a bit of a mohair hoarder.
In early June, I’ll be traveling to Scotland to take a weaving class on the Isle of Lewis.
It’s at a small croft teaching a traditional technique I’ve wanted to learn for years.
Somehow, everything aligned to make this trip possible, and I’m so looking forward to returning to weaving in a deeper way.
It’s something I stepped away from during my cancer journey, and it feels meaningful to come back to it now.
Today, closer to home, we’re doing something new. We’re recording our very first podcast!!
Our “studio” is out in the pasture, sitting on a fallen tree large enough to hold the three of us.
The goal is a simple, honest conversation as if you were sitting right there with us.
You’ll hear the birds, the wind, and likely a few goats or dogs in the background. Nothing polished. Just real life.
Rachel, Sarah, and I will be sharing what we’ve learned along the way: our experiences with Angora goats, mohair, business, ranch life, and everything in between.
There will be plenty of laughter, a little back-and-forth, and hopefully something meaningful to take away.
The podcast is called Fiber In Between, and once it’s live, I’ll be sure to share where you can listen.
On the ranch, life continues to remind us that there are always both joys and challenges.
Rose remains a steady presence in the “how is she doing today” lane.
She has given us a few scares over the past couple of weeks and is now being treated for an abdominal infection.
It’s likely a complication from her c-section, but she is responding well to a strong course of antibiotics.
We are taking it one day at a time, watching her closely, and feeling grateful for the veterinarians who show up so quickly when we need them.
Her little one is doing well, though feeding has been an adventure of its own since Rose’s milk has dried up.
Guinness has firmly refused every bottle we’ve offered, so we’ve reached a bit of a compromise with a large syringe.
It’s not perfect, but it’s working…for now!
Alongside all of this, we are moving forward with plans to restore our grazing pastures with the help of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
This part of the work feels especially important to me.
This land was once a cedar forest. It was alive, layered, and balanced.
Over time, it was cleared, heavily worked, and depleted through decades of intensive use. Our goal is to restore what we can.
We’re beginning a five-year plan focused on rebuilding soil health and organic matter.
This spring, we’ll plant annual grasses and tillage radishes to create biomass and begin loosening the soil naturally.
In the fall, we’ll establish permanent forage. And beyond that, we will begin planting trees.
Trees have become a true passion of mine.
In a pasture, they do so much more than provide shade.
They create resilience. They support the soil, cycle nutrients, and bring life back to the land in ways that are both seen and unseen.
The varieties I’ve chosen are selected to root deeply and help rebuild a living system from the ground up.
It is slow work. But it is good work.
Everything we do here - shearing, caring for our animals, learning new skills, restoring the land - finds its way into what we create.
Our socks and throws are not just products; they are a reflection of seasons, stewardship, and the quiet, steady work behind the scenes.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us, for valuing where things come from, and for choosing pieces made with care, intention, and a story you can follow from pasture to home.
With love,
Angela
P.S. If you'd like to add some cozy mohair socks and throws to your life, click here.