Now before I get going, I have one confession to make. I made the wrong call on the torts. Again. Most of the time I just have the thought, oh let them grow, they're babies, they'll show their true color soon enough. Trying to make a call too soon just ends up being confusing.
Well.... The 3 darling girls aren't Blue torts. Nope Nope Nope. Instead, this time I'm confident, more than any other time before, they are Lilac Torts. See the chocolate tinge? It is what happens when chocolate + blue combine. The recessive dilutes double over and you get gorgeous Lilacs. In my defense, I've never had a Lilac or a Lilac tort before. But this explains the rufus orange color I noticed on the girls from a young age. I know that rufus in fawns is made bright and clean by chocolate in the genetics, so now it makes perfect sense to see bright, distinct color rings on them. It also explains why I doubted the boys were Blue torts for so long, I didn't understand the variance then, but I clearly see it now.
NOTE: It becomes MOST obvious at 7 weeks. Before, if you don't know exactly what to know what color you're seeing, it is hard. Even if you think you know what you should be seeing, colors are hard. Kind of like an oxymoron though... they're super easy... but really hard. It is best summed up as a waiting game.
Final conclusion: I have 3 Lilac Torts, and 2 Blue Torts. I'm delighted. *happy sigh*
Here is the result of the Golden Hour with the Golden Litter!
Next and coming up quickly on my schedule is a bunch of fall heritage historical demonstrations. I'm signed up for a couple really fun events!! The Fair Grove Missouri Heritage Festival Reunion is hosted at one of the 2 only steam powered grist mills in the United States. They open the museum up a few times a year to the public, and at their Fall festival they have over 30,000 foot traffic come through to see the unique and one of a kind, timeless crafts, demonstrations, and arts. With a couple hundred vendors, everything is handmade or vintage, a wonderful and amazing outdoor event with great shows. I will be demonstrating there with my Angoras, giving people a chance to see the whole process of how angora wool is grown, several different techniques of harvesting, and I will be spinning with my traditional ashford wheel right off the rabbit! If you are local I would encourage you to stop by! Located in Fair Grove MO, September 24th and 25th. Contact me if you want some more info or to find out more. http://www.fghps.org/home.html
The following weekend I will be demonstrating again at the Greasy Creek General Store Fall Festival. A smaller event than Fair Grove, located here in Buffalo, MO September 30th and October 1st. Again, everything is handmade only, and full of fascinating demonstrations. http://www.greasycreekgeneralstore.com/
While I demonstrate, I get the chance to sit and spin and answer questions... which when I come home usually means I have lots of fresh beautiful skeins of yarn completed! Win-Win for me! Getting to share what I love and getting lots of work done in the meantime!
I have a weekend or two open in October... Know of a similar event in MO you'd like to see me attend? Send me an email, I love getting to show people what I do and people love the experience of a hands on unique and historical demonstration.
Thanks for stopping by! Hopefully the next update will include some show pictures! Preparations are underway for preparing my fall demo booth, excitement is mounting. Stop by and say hi if you get a chance!
~Anna