Harding's Fibers

Nancy keeps angora goats and alpacas as fiber animals and pets. She shears them, spins and knits with the fibers to create wonderfully warm sweaters, hats, mittens and socks. During the Indian Lake Country Christmas Tour over Thanksgiving Weekend, Nancy sets up a few tables at the restaurant to sell some of her hand spun yarn and hand knitted items. (see pictures below)
Nancy is spinning mohair on her Majacraft Rose wheel while Cleo the cat keeps her company.




		Lucy the cat assists with skirting the mohair after the fall shearing.


	Our goats - White Angora Goats and smaller Pygora goats (pygmy/angora cross).


	Taz and Sky check out the new “jungle gym” while Xian (Shane) stands on a log and Xahra in front and Snowman (alpaca) watches.


	The group playing on the logs. Xian and Sky head butt.




	Angora goats - 8 year old Taz, 10 year old Buck and 10 year old Sky.




		Angora Goats sharing a tender moment.





						Xian and Sky playing at some head butting.

	Pygora goat, Xian stealing some mineral in the alpaca barn.




	Our newest member to our goat family is Zeb, a pygmy goat. He is 3 1/2 months old.


	5 month old, Pygoras, Xahra and Xian out in the yard. (May 2008)


	Xahra in May 2008. Xahra died suddenly on May 21, 2008. We miss her dearly as does her brother, Xian. 12/4/07 - 5/21/08

Zeb and Xian playing on the jungle gym in July.

You weren’t with me long,
But you stole my heart.
The way your black lipstick gave your face a smile,
And your white mascara dressed you up for a party.
Your dainty river of soft grey fleece
Cascading down your silky body,
Topped off by the white “do” on the top of your soft grey head.

You were very nimble
And leaped to high places,
Places where your brother could not go.
You danced on your stage like a ballerina,
Ignoring the crowd, just enjoying the dance.
You were adventurous like Indiana Jones,
Being first to discover the jungle gym made from an old tree trunk,your trapeze was each level of trunk
And you flew through the air landing your mark.

I would forget how you loved to jump,
And would find you on my bent over back
Or suddenly landing in my lap!
You would tug on my shirt,
Never making any holes,
And you would find my zipper, tugging it up and down.
You plopped on me as though I were a cozy bed.
I would listen to your soft breathing and sighs,
As you drifted off to sleep.
Your rumen would gurgle from time to time.
I watched you finally sleep and thought
How precious your life is to me.

You were amazed by the wheel barrow,
Discovering it was fun for a ride.
You helped me rake leaves, scattering my piles,
And leaving hoof holes in my over stuffed bags.
As I took the leaves to the truck, you ran after me,
Jumping sideways like a crab down the hill,
Ready for a return ride in that wheel barrow.

Xian and Zeb love playing on the jungle gym and get to running and jumping all over the yard! Quite fun to watch the boys at play!


		7 year old Alpacas, Icy and Snowman after their spring haircut. We aren’t professionals, so hence the disheveled look, but at least they are cooler!


	My boys, Zeb (above) and Xian (below). Xian loves to be picked up and just loves Nancy’s attention! Zeb is shy but getting more adventurous and confident.


	Silver is our 7 year old Great Pyrenees, who keeps all the critters safe from coyotes, bears, fishers and stray dogs. She likes to take naps during the day and is eye level with my office window after all our snow this winter.


	Dax, our Australian Cattle dog/Shepherd and Irish Setter mix is now 18 months old and enjoys the getting out in the snow!


	Thanksgiving Weekend - Country Christmas Tour Activities Look for our next one on November 28 & 29, 2008!


	Nancy sets up hand spun yarn and hand knitted items in the restaurant on Friday and Saturday at the restaurant. Shown are wool, mohair and wool/mohair blended and alpaca yarns in natural colors with some colored yarns dyed using Wilton Cake dyes.


	Nancy and her friend, Eve hand knit many hats, scarves, socks and mittens from many different fibers, some bought and some from Harding’s Fibers.


	A Children’s Workshop for children ages 5 to 12 was held on Friday, Nov. 23, 2007. The children made buddy baskets out of #10 cans, material, buttons, felt, pipe cleaners and pom poms. A surprise visit from Father Christmas concluded the activities.