Breeze Hill Farm

Haven't been around much lately. I really do have to get better about my bloging. It's just been so crazy busy here that by the time I think about the blog, it's after midnight and I'm off to bed.

The soap and lotion business is doing it's impersonation of the "Christmas Rush" here in July. Which is a good thing! I've been very happy with the sales for June and this month is looking like it might just be better. We've introduced two new items to our line, Jewelweed Balm and Soap, and we can't keep it in stock. For those of you who don't know this Jewelweed is a wonderful, natural treatment for posion ivy and oak. To add even more benefit, we use just a bit of goat's milk in the soap which helps with the drying effect of posion ivy. We haven't gotten these two items on our website yet, so if you happen to be interested in either of them, just email us at breezehillfarm@verizon.net.

The fiber side of the farm has slowed down for now. All of this years clip is off at the processor and I haven't had time to work on the alpaca and cashmere that I held back. I miss having the time to spin my own yarn. It serves two very important purposes for me. It's relaxing and I get to "show off" my stuff! Last week, I visited our local yarn shop and they said that business is way off from last year at this time. It's a shame, all of us in this industry were hoping that more people would flock to knitting with natual fibers, that will last for years and after vacations sales may pick back up.

For everyone who has been coming to the St. Stephen's Farmer's Market to visit us, we have taken the month of July off and possibly August too. Our reasons are very simple..I am just too busy to leave the farm during the week. My thought is, if I can't keep up with sales, why make it harder on me? This way my husband and I both get a little break. Last Saturday, as part of our anniversary celebration, we did a day trip to Gryffon's Aerie www.gryffonsaerie.com in Whitehall, Virginia. What a beautiful trip this is! It was so clear, not horribly hot, and most of all relaxed. We hadn't seen Ramona for several years and it was just great visiting with her and taking the "ride" around the farm to see all of the cattle and pigs..oh yes, and sheep. She and Collins' farm is featured in Virginia Living Magazine this month, so hopefully many more folks will make the trek out to their place.  

This past Saturday we took the day and visited Grayhaven Winery www.grayhavenwinery.com, for their South African Food and Wine Festival. Grayhaven is one of our wholesale accounts and Max and Dion are also very good friends of ours. We had a wonderful time and I have to say, the food was excellent. Oh yes, so were the South African wines! We picked up the coolest print of an African child carrying a lamb over his shoulder. Every opportunity we get, we try to pick up anything that is tasteful portraying sheep. So basically, what we did is take a full week of doing and going and called it our anniversary week. Not very traditional but definitely relaxing and fun. I think that it is important for any of us who run our own farms and farm businesses to take some time for ourselves. It's good for the soul.

On a happy but equally sad note. We had a barn kitten born in May that did not have eyes. We've taken him into the house and raised him with his litter mates and Mom (that's been a real experience) and today, "Baby" is going to live with his new family. The family who is taking him, just lost their blind cat that had been with them for years, so he's going to a home that knows how to take care of his special needs. As I sit here and type this, I am crying like a baby. I'm going to miss that little face held high, inquiring as to what I'm doing when I come into a room. I know he is only a kitten but he has become very important to me and I knew his life would be better if he lived in a home with a little less confusion than ours. Everyone, say prayers for "Baby" and wish him well in this new journey.