Too bad for you all----I'M the one that lives in WA state, not too far, I believe, from Sheepish and the sheep! That DOES sound like an interesting field trip! Do you do those kinds of things Sheepish (show people around and about spinning, milking, etc.)?
Oh, and yes, Deena, I can show the kids how to spin with a drop spindle, how to do some needle felting, and in the spring when there's milk...well...fresh cheese is wonderful!
Sheepish, I think the site where I saw the knock-your-eyes-out gorgeous sheep was buckinglamb@hwclife.com. You said you shipped some sheep in from another state. How do they come? Do you hire a truck? We located a sheep dairy as near to us as Nebraska. Do you sheep dairy farmers belong to an organization through which you know most of the others in the U.S? Have you ever made kefir with your milk? It's supposedly 300 times more powerful than yogurt. I make it, but a lot of people wouldn't like it, because it's pretty strong. Anyway, 'glad you're here! This is a lot of fun!
PH, I purchased my dairy sheep from on online friend that I met at another forum. I'd been telling her for the past couple years that I'd buy from her someday, and earlier this year she emailed to let me know someone was taking passengers in their trailer this summer. The gal was going to the big national Romney show with her animals and to pay the way was hauling other people's sheep from here to there and everywhere, basically. Normally it's quite expensive; well, this was expensive as well, lol, but not so much as a commercial hauler would have been. The Nebraska dairy, I believe, is Shepherds Way, is it not? No, we don't all know each other, but many do. I'm too new to know anyone yet. There's a dairy sheep cooperative which is located in Wisconsin that many sheep dairy farmers belong to, even those on the west coast. I'm hoping with the new outcrop of dairies here that we may be able to get our own going. I don't like yogurt, so no doubt wouldn't like kefir. The only thing I've done with my milk so far is make soap, although I did add a little to some goat milk for cheese this spring. I'm hoping that my milk yield will increase enough to cover both my soapmaking and cheese in the future
Tracey, Welcome to the forums. I'm Vikki and live in CO with my dh of 14 years and our 4 dc. We've hsed since my oldest was in pre-k and have used Sonlight mostly.