I'm sure you are on tenterhooks, wondering what happened with the five bags of raw cashmere I sent to be assessed at the Cashmere Goat Association show in Maine.
Unlike you and I, the goats couldn't care less.
Fiber? In Summer? Not of interest.
They are busy with other things.
Hay. Oats. Browse.
The loose mineral feeders.
Unlike you and I, the goats couldn't care less.
Fiber? In Summer? Not of interest.
They are busy with other things.
Hay. Oats. Browse.
The loose mineral feeders.
 |
| Azalea after a visit to the mineral feeder |
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| Dara, ditto |
What?
You aren't on tenterhooks about the fiber assessment either?
You weren't even wondering?
Well that's good, because it will be quite a while before I can share the results.
Shortly after mailing the package, I got an email from Maine asking if, after the CGA judging, I would like to send my fiber on to the Canadian Cashmere Producers show at the end of August. One of the Canadian cashmere breeders attending the US show kindly offered to transport any US entries across the border for the Canadian judging.
A rare post-publication editorial note, after reading several comments and thinking I may have misled you:
I love it that YOU love my goats so much, this sounded like an achievement on their part! :) But no, the offer came before the judging in Maine. A Canadian cashmere person made a very generous gesture to all the US cashmere breeders, eliminating both the risk and the expense of shipping their fiber to the Canadian show.
But thank you for thinking such nice thoughts about my gang o'goats :)
This unexpected opportunity seemed too good to pass up, so I paid another five entry fees and on they went. The only "down" side: the judge's comment cards from the US show are travelling with the fiber. I will not see any of the assessment comments from either judge until the fiber is mailed back to me in September! So, I just have to be patient.
Fortunately, cashmere goats are excellent teachers of patience. They teach it very, very well.
Just not by example.
~~~~~
Who can be patient? Good luck..
ReplyDeleteAnyone who raises fiber animals that produce mere ounces of fiber in a year really has to be patient. :)
DeleteHow is your alpaca processing going, Dani? Got that drum carder working overtime?
I, for one, was waiting to hear, so I will have to practice patience too. Congratulations are in order though - not just one show, but two!!
ReplyDeleteThe sense of security in having my fiber hand-delivered to the Canadian show made entering irresistible, as well as getting two assessments of the exact same bags. What I'm hoping to learn is whether my own fiber judgement needs complete recalibration or just some fine-tuning. Fingers crossed!
DeleteThose funny pink tongues made me smile!
ReplyDeleteI always laugh when I see them coming out of the barn with their tongues sticking out. They do love their minerals, but the last "lick" must stick to their tongues :)
DeleteCongratulations on the invite to Canada!
ReplyDeletePatience, smashtience! When are the results released? I bet if the goats really knew what's going on, their attitudes might be different. haha
The cashmere judging is held during the Twist Fibre Festival in Ottawa, the weekend of the 22nd. It looks like a fun festival - would love to attend sometime.
DeleteI'm hoping to see my fiber (and the judges' notes from both shows) in early September.
I don't think you would have been offered the opportunity if you had not done well. I'm waiting patiently. This spelling does not look correct to me, but google says yes.
ReplyDeleteOh, I should clarify: the invitation was to ALL the people who entered the US show...no reflection on my fiber. But I like the way you think! :)
DeleteI was anxiously waiting but not wanting to nag about it. So I'll continue to wait. But I doubt if a nonstarter would have got the chance to go international! Hey, this could lead to an additional word in your biz name!
ReplyDeleteI'm really tickled that readers are interested in the assessments. I almost didn't blog about it in the first place, because I though it might be boring! :)
DeleteI'd love to know so keep us informed. I had my wool graded and was very pleased, very pleased indeed.
ReplyDeleteWhat's with the screen door? That's interesting...
It's just a fragment (literally) of last year's set-up to help keep the bugs down in the barns: http://comptonia.blogspot.com/2014/06/experiments.html
DeleteNext year when there are no new kids to chew on them and tear them down, I'll do the whole barn again. It really made a big difference!