The Sugar Bush...

 Well the Sugar Bush is alive and awaken by the maple sugaring season. The temperatures are exactly where they need to be. Tim has tapped 25 trees and awaits the sap to flow. In this picture to the right, is just a few of our trees.

If you drive by our property you will see buckets hanging from the trees in anticipation for a good day when the sap is flowing. You need warm days and cold nights to get sap and the weather we are having is perfect for this. Sunny warm days are especially good days for sugaring.

 This year Tim has incorporated a 50 gallon sap storage container that he acquired from a food manufacturing company. This idea was inspired by our friend Greg (thanks Greg!). Here, our dog "Jesse" stands on the snow mound Tim created to keep his sap cold.

Maple Sugaring can take time and Tim is almost "Zen" while he sits and waits patiently for his sap to boil down into yummy maple syrup!

Norman says...

Norman says, "One month until Spring"! Yes that's right one month to go! I always enjoy a good long winter but it sure has been a long, cold, snowy and trying winter, but the end is in the horizon. With exactly one month to go, we have begun to tap the maple trees, began planning the extension to the small barn, ordered seeds and have begun
to dream of warmer months ahead!

Signs of Spring are upon us!

I spent some time down in the barnyard this morning and have confirmed we are having lambs! In this picture to the left is "Rose". She is filling out, and with 6+ weeks to go she has a swollen vulva as well as her milk bag is starting to swell. 

This is a top view of her from the front, man is she getting big! These will be her first lambs and I am thinking she may twin for her first time. "Rose" is big like her dad "Harley", but just the same she is getting big fast!

Belle is also showing signs of lambs. She carries her lambs well though, she barely gets big and then pops out 2 healthy twins. This is going to be "Belle's" last year of having lambs, she's getting up there in age and has been a great mom. She has done her part of restoring this heritage breed and made her mark with her beautiful lambs.
All is going along well and with 39 days until Spring it can't come fast enough!

Rose Petal Soap inspired by Valentine's Day!

Yesterday I was inspired to make a batch of Rose Petal Goat's Milk Soap. Many of you who know me, know I have been making soap now for about 18+ years. I would never use store bought soap, never!
In this picture to the left is the goats milk and lye. You have to keep the milk and lye very cold. If not it will turn orange and then it is ruined. I used snow and ice from the back porch to keep it cold!

 Good time proven equipment is everything. Here is my old enamel pan that has made hundreds of batches of soap. She never fails me. When you decide to start making soap you must only use pans and equipment for just that. Many of my things are marked as you can barely see on the spoon above, it says "Soap Making Spoon" on it.

I invested in this Oster Blender some time ago. It is a key tool for making goats milk soap. It saves time and energy on stiring. When making soap you have to use either, glass, stainless steel or plasic. Never aluminum, the lye will eat right thru it.

 Another fine tool I use is a coffee grinder (on the right) to grind down my herbs. It works fast and efficient and saves a lot of time. On the left is a mold I use to make soap discs, it is from the Crystal Light mixes. There is a use for just about anything!

Here is my honey bee mold. It molds the cutest little honey bee soaps. Great for guests or a little something to add to a gift basket. I love to keep them in the bathroom maybe because I love honeybees!

Another recycled idea is using disposable kitchen containers and also the small ones are Gerber Babyfood containers from the fruits I give the baby squirrels and raccoons. These work wonders and mold up a nice little soap. The bigger ones will be 3 oz bars and the smaller ones are 2 oz bars.

This is my wooden mold for those tried and true soap bars. I love this mold and it too has seen many bars of soap over the years.
The oil I used was called "Black Rose" and smells beautiful, and reminds me of my Grandmother. I went to use a pink mineral dye and grab a darker one instead, but it looks nice and I can't wait to see how it comes out once it cures. Curing time will take a couple of weeks to let it become beautiful soap!

Introducing my new Etsy Shop!

Well, I have finally mustered up enough confidence to start my own Etsy shop. I have listed some of my yarns and a couple pillows I made by needle felting. To the left is a sheep pillow I made with both alpaca and wool.

My spinning has gotten somewhat good enough to
offer it for sale. With the gift of a very good spinning wheel this Christmas from Tim (thanks to Pam), I am on my way to spinning to my hearts content. I sure have enogh bags of alpaca and wool to keep me busy a while!
Here is the link to my Etsy Shop, take a look!Feedback would be appreciated!http://www.etsy.com/shop/CoonHollowFarm

Snow and Bees, oh my!

I can't even begin to explain just how much snow we have had here in Connecticut! Only if you live here can you really appreciate the amount of snow and I am sure eveyone has their stories, from roof collapes to piles so high you have no idea where to  put it! This morning I spent time digging my way up to my bees...

 I literally had to take the shovel and cut out 18 x 12 inch sections to shovel it. This took about 50 times to make a path and my way up there. As you can see in this picture how deep the shovel is and I am still no where near the ground! It is probably another foot underneath.

Once I got up there, this is just how deep and buried they were from the last storm we had, this is the third time I have had to dig them out. I sure hope they are o.k. in there...

This is the hive finally dug out. We will be putting the candy boards on them later so they will have some food reserves. I am hoping they will be out today if not just for a quick pee break!

Snow Day!

 To say the least we had a major snow day today! With most of Connecticut getting about 2 feet of snow due to 2 storms that converged and greated a Nor'Easter. Just about everything was closed today and many people were asked to stay home. My job opened with only a few people working so I was able to stay home! Here is "Angus" striking his usual pose when the camera comes out.
"Autumn" took the occasion to steal some bread  from the chickens as I was feeding
them this morning. That street dog comes out in her often.
I hope one day she realizes she will always have food and won't have

swipe food from the other animals. She was formally a street dog so she has major survival
skills. Her belly will always be full as long as she lives on Coon Hollow Farm!
Just to give you a measure of just how much snow we got. If you look to the sides you can see how high the snow is! It was quite an impressive storm. There was no getting to the animals today without major diggin out. Usually we can just walk through it, no way today!

Here my poor "Babydoll" sheep who have short legs to begin with had quite a problem getting around today. We had to dig them eating paths and a path to their water. This is a picture of "Belle" with the snow up to her neck! This was quite a storm and when this stuff decides to melt we are going to have a muddy mess!

Fire Starter ideas...

  Let's get away from the newest creations or what the animals have done recently and talk a bit about sustainability and "Getting Back to Basics". As some of you may know I have been teaching a class called "Back to Basics" for the past few years at the Nature Center where I work. In these hard times and a society based on wasteful living I think it's important for us to look at ways to get back to that.
I remember going to my husband Grandmothers house for dinner and she even recycled her paper towels! Used them and hung them up to dry. Her generation was raised on frugal ways and stretching all she could out of everything.
In this picture to the left is my idea for fire starters for the fireplace or the woodburning stove. I take old candles in their jars, melt them down in a double boiler (in water, never on direct heat) and pour them into old paper egg cartons. As you can see I used it last night by ripping off one of the egg holders filled with wax and used it to light the wood burning stove last night. You can also use some lint from the dryer to help it ignite. Place some in the bottom before filling with wax. So do just one thing every day to get back to basics!
I'd love to hear your ideas for getting "Back to Basics"...

Welcome 2011 and life!

Welcome 2011 and a New Year with new goals and looking forward to good times. We woke up to a beautiful day and gorgeous weather that hit up to 50 degrees. Here in Connecticut that is rare but we will take it! Tim and I were out with the dogs, chickens and just enjoying the day. We had the opportunity to take this video of our bees out and about on this beautiful day. In the winter bees cluster in their hive surrounding the queen to keep her warm. The hive reaches temps of about 90 degrees, however bees are very hygenic about their space so "taking care of business" happens on beautiful days like today. 



Hail and Farewell 2010!

 This year was meant with much struggle and some loss. We said goodbye to "Jax" our beautiful black Alpaca. When we got him he was much older than we thought, so his brief life was spent happy here.

We also lost our old Llama, "Fergus" that we had rescued when he was very old. He also lived here for a short time...                       Our "Sweetie" retired off with her sons on a farm not far from here. We get periodic e-mails showing her happy and grazing away with her "boys"...But one of the saddest goodbyes was my Grandmother who passed away at 90 years of age, our cat "Sophia", "Scar" our whether and our old goat "Phoebe" who passed away last week at the old age of 14! She was born here 14 years ago to her mom "Daisy". She was the beginning of our farm. We have come full circle with life and death here....So as we begin another year here on the farm we move forward never forgetting our old friends and all that they brought to the farm and to our lives...

Preparing for the Storm of 2010!

   One of the biggest things when we know a big winter storm is coming is to make sure our animals are prepared and safe. We woke this morning to listen to the news and realized that the storm they were predicting is bigger than they thought. The track could have gone either way and it just happens to be the worse case senario. In the picture above a few of our Alpacas and "Freddie" the sheep (who thinks he's an Alpaca) peek out of their barn...
In this picture to the right, it is "Autumn's" first snow and she was having a blast playing in it today. I caught her just as she looked at me with a "snow mustache", she is just too cute for words. She was like a big kid for Christmas, each toy was the best one ever!

Here in the picture to the left, our Olde English "Baby doll" Southdown sheep, already snow covered. They did eventually go into their barn and get out of the storm, I was worried because the two on the right , "Rose" on top right and "Belle" in the bottom of the pic are hopefully bred so I don't want them to have any stress at all. Check out the picture though, see the snowfakes?

And last are the chickens snug as a bug in their coop with a nice heat lamp to keep them warm and cozy. Today they layed more eggs than they have been! I guess they were bored from the storm. So hopefully they will ride out the storm and we will dig them out tomorrow under 2 feet of snow!

Happy Solstice and Blessed Yule!

   Good morning everyone! To the left is my favorite ornament of all time! I have had it for years, my little Gingerbread man tree.
As I woke up this morning I went out to the yard and hung stranded cranberries, dried oranges and apples, filled the bird feeders and suets, all as a gift to our wildlife. To the right is our "Wild Tree". Ever since my kids were young we always did this as a tradition on the Winter Solstice morning to honor our wild friends. So enjoy the day, this first day of Winter, as we begin to go inside, take a moment to remember our wild ones and leave them a gift.

The 'Girls" are home from their "dates"

Well our sheep "Belle" and "Rose" are home from their dates with Liz's rams from "Short and Sweet Farm", no worse for wear. We picked them up yesterday and Tim was worried because of the almost hour long ride home that they would be cold, so the picture on the left is of them loaded in their crates with thick quilts wrapped around to protect them from the cold.

 The picture to the right here is "Charlie", an Olde English "Babydoll" Southdown ram that was bred to "Rose". He is a bit smaller than she is, she is a big solid gal that takes after her father. As you can see he is white and has a beautiful open face. So I am hoping for many of his traits to come through in the lambs.

This is "Hank" who was bred to "Belle", he is also a white ram and I am wishing for a nice healthy white ewe this year, I am so keeping my fingers crossed. Breeding both girls to white rams should give me a better chance but one never knows. Last year our ewes each had a black and white lamb each!

Here are the girls after we arrived home having a snack and happy to be out of those cages and off the back of the truck. "Rose" is on the left and "Belle" is on the right. They seemed happy to be home and "Belle's" lamb "Lily" from this year was very happy to see her mom and carried on until she could get onto the other side to be with them. Welcome home "girls" and thank you Liz for taking good care of them. They are fat and healthy for sure!

Holiday Open House has come and gone

Well Holiday Open House has come and gone and it was quite a success. We had many people stop by and enjoy some chestnuts that we were roasting atop of this old pot belly stove that Tim had and it doubled as a way to stay warm especially Saturday, boy was it cold out there! We planned a Victorian theme but my dress did not arrive on time so maybe next year.

We had everyone who attended decorate our little tree that was taken from the top of a Douglas Fir we just had to take down because it was dying. All the ornaments are edible and will be left out for the "wild ones" to enjoy! On the Winter Solstice, since my kids were little, it is tradition here to decorate the back yard for the wildlife as a gift to them.

Many of those who visited over the past couple of days helped to support us by purchasing things in our farmstand. The eggs were a big seller as well as many other items in the store. We sold many hats, gloves, vinegars, soaps, and felting kits.

As you can see we had many bare shelves because a lot of people bought many of the items we had made right here on our farm. We'd like to thank everyone who stopped by and enjoyed chestnuts, made card boxes, talked to me about bee keeping, the Alpacas and Sheep. We hope everyone enjoys the coming holidays as we look toward the year to come!

Victorian Farm Open House and Tour Thanksgiving weekend

Victorian Farm Christmas

We will be having a Holiday Open House along with some other area farms:

"Victorian Farm Christmas" will be the theme of Coon Hollow Farm for Holiday Open House. Come and join us as we celebrate the harder but easier times of the Victorian farm people. We will have chestnuts roasting, carols to sing as well as decorations such as strung fruits. Also on hand will be our Alpacas and Sheep, Chickens or just come and talk to Dawn about Beekeeping! Also on hand spinning, make a Holiday Gift Box from old Christmas cards and felting demos. Our shop will be open with many of hoilday gifts, fiber, yarn for knitters, soaps, felting kits, alpaca garments, eggs, etc. We are located at 156 Punkup Rd, Oxford. We will open Sat Nov 27 and Sunday Nov 28 from 10 to 4. Please visit our blog www.CoonHollowFarm.blogspot.com or call 203-881-1986 for more info.


"Alpaca Farm Holidays" will be the theme for Hubbell Farm at French’s Corner in Shelton (White Hills) which is an 1825 farm that retains its original barns and outbuildings, vintage tractors and farm equipment. Visitors can view alpacas, a llama and sheep and purchase herbs, herbal products, sachets, dream pillows, alpaca and sheep raw fiber, yarn, felting kits, soap and more. We will be open Nov 27th and 28th from 9 to 5. Also available is roving in natural colors from the farm’s sheep and alpacas and wool dyed on the farm. Those seeking additional information may call 203-929-2052.

"Christmas on the Farm" at Alpaca Hill Farm, 8 Willow Street in Seymour, CT. Meet our alpacas, Great Pyrenees, Kramer and muscovy ducks. You can shop at our farm store and buy warm alpaca garments, alpaca gifts and ornaments, yarn, roving, felt and other items for the holiday season. Enjoy a warm beverage and take a picture with an alpaca for your Christmas cards. Alpaca hats, socks and gloves are soft, hypoallergenic and toasty warm for the winter. Please celebrate the joy of the season with a visit to our farm. We will be open on Friday and Saturday November 26th and 27th from 10-5. Also Saturdays December 4,11 and 18 from 10-5.

 "Log Cabin Prairie Christmas" is the theme for Dream Come True Farm, 82 Freeman Rd Oxford who will celebrate the holiday season November 27th and 28th 11am-4pm. Join in the fun and stop by and help decorate our tree by bringing an ornament and for each ornament we will donate .50 towards a toy for toys for tots. Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus who will arrive 12:30 pm. on Sunday. Educational hands on displays, pictures on the tractor, demos and learn all about our sheep, goats, llamas, ponies and alpacas. Our shop is ready for holiday shopping filled with gift items including alpaca products, glass jewelry, goat soap, wooden treasures and lots of handspun yarns. Truly a knitters dream come true! Visit us at www.pamsfiber.blogspot.com or call for more info 203-736-2630.


"Alpaca Farm Christmas" will take place at Alpacaboose Farm at 12 East St., Oxford. They will be open on Sat Nov 27 from 11 to 4 and Sunday Nov 28 from 11 to 3. The farm features female alpacas and products made from their fiber. Spinning and needle felting demonstrations are planned. Those seeking additional information may call Ron or Rose East, 203-888-4695.


**In the event of bad weather please contact the farms to see if they are open.**

Victorian Farm Holiday Open House coming soon!

 We are busy at work here on the farm getting ready for Victorian Farm Holiday Open House! We will be open Saturday November 27th and Sunday November 28 from 10 to 4. If all goes well Tim and I will be decked out in the Victorian Farm era. We will have traditional Victorian Christmas music as well as a pot belly stove roasting chestnuts. There will be traditional Christmas decorations and

the store will be stocked with many holiday gifts all from our farm. So come by and join us as well as the other local farms that we will post later in the week. Most also will be having a holiday theme!

Winter is coming-the Drone's have been sacrificed

An interesting phenomenon happens this time of year in the bee hives, the workers expel the drones because they are free loaders and have no purpose in the winter hive. They are dragged out of the hive and left to die in the cold. These are the males of the hive and they only eat and breed, they do no work in the hive at all. New drones are layed by the queen in the Spring so they are expendable at this time of year. In the picture, which is the base of an outer feeder the bees put not only drones but other bees that must have lived out their life cycles. This sign always tells me that winter is here, even if the calender says other wise.

Getting my dye pots on

Check out this very cool dying rack that my friend Donna found on the side of the road that someone was throwing out. It appears to be very old and has Columbia Yarn Co printed on it. It is held together at the bottom with old fashioned cotter pins and the side are held together with a clamp like system. I looked it up on line and did some searches but nothing came up. If anyone can date it for me let me know.

So today was a beautiful fall day and I got the dye pots out and went to work dying some white Alpaca that I had spun and double plyed. I reached into the dye box and pulled out turquoise and cherry red. I also dyed some white wool for felting. The new drying rack sure did come in handy!