Merry Christmas!! Happy 2011!!

Hope all of our family and friends have a beautiful Christmas. We are grateful to all of you year round but as winter settles in, we think of you often with great joy! Thanks for being in our lives!! The sheep, alpaca, llama, pony and Scooter thank you too!

Sometime it is not what you are doing.....

But, it is when you are doing it and where you are doing it!! Peace and contentment!!! And yes, we painted our trim purple!!!!

Halloween 2010-10/31/2010 Come to Simple Gifts Farm

We will be open on Sunday, October 31st from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm. Come on by to see our handspun yarns, yarn kits, knitted gifts etc. Pick up some yarn to make a gift or maybe you'll find a knitted gift for that someone special!!! Join us at our favorite time of the year on the farm. We love welcoming our old and new friends! The animals will welcome you too! Let's make an apple cider toast to this wonderous time!

Here are the farms open to you this Alpaca Weekend!

ALPACAboose Farm, 12 East St, Oxford, CT; Alpaca Hill Farm, 8 Willow St, Seymour, CT; Coon Hollow Frm, 156 Punkup Road, Oxford, CT; Dream Come True Farm, 82 Freeman Rd, Oxford, CT; and lastly us at Simple Gifts Farm,1135 James Farm Rd, Stratford, CT. Come out and support your small farms September 25th & 26th from 10am until 5:00pm! We all look forward to sharing our farms with you!!!

September 25th & 26th Alpaca Weekend!!

The animals are ready, the kits for knitting, the alpaca yarn & small knitted gifts are ready! We just need you! From 10 to 5pm. Stop by and visit. Sit and knit if you wish while watching the alpacas grazing in the field. See yarn being spun. Learn about the animals. Enjoy a beautiful day at our farm!!

Celebrate! Natural Hand Spun Alpaca Yarn 9/25 & 9/26

Spun for you from the sweetest most curious animals you will ever meet!!

Knitted gifts for you or someone special..

Personalize your own handknit Christmas Stocking. Mine has an embroidered fish from my China trip this summer! Try on an alpaca handsewn hat. Check out millspun gloves and socks made from alpaca my friend, Pam and I banked last fall. The entire process from alpaca to product was made in the USA!

For Your Browsing Pleasure...

We set up some new shelving for you in Ray's Barn & Garage to make your browsing easier! Take a look at our hand spun natural alpaca, try out some hand dyed yarn, make up a kit and check out our knitted items for sale...

Look who is wispering about Alpaca weekend at Simple Gifts Farm!

They are getting ready for visitors and can hardly wait until Saturday, 9/25 and Sunday 9/26 from 10-5!

Alpaca Farm Weekend 9/25 & 9/26!! We are ready!

So they tell me that people are going to celebrate alpacas this weekend. What do you think of that! We like watching people, it should be fun!!

Come for a visit National Alpaca Weekend 9/25 & 9/26

We will be open from 10am to 5pm. So come on over and see what we are up to! The animals always love company and we enjoy these fall days being outdoors with you! Check out my new projects from hand dyed yarn which are kitted up for you knitters. See our alpaca gloves that my friend Pam and I ordered from the alpaca we banked in the fiber pool. This is fiber grown and product manufactured here in the USA! Raspberries both red and black found their way to the cookpot and are set up in jams for you to purchase. I will do some spinning and Ray and I are always glad to tell you about our alpacas, llama, sheep, pony and dog!!!

Ray baling our hay field...

Twice a year our hay field puts forth for our animals. Here is the field and here is Ray working on his baler. It is always a BIG job. The twine doesn't always tie. The weather doesn't always cooperate but this hay came in just fine with no major difficulty! Yeah!!

Celebrate being home in the USA!!!

Ray always makes mealtime special! Having friends over and a good meal too, priceless!!!

Marti goes to China!!

Yes, believe it! My granddaughter, Emma and The Red Star Twirlers went on tour in China and I got to go with them to Shanghia, Wuxi, Suzhou and Beijing!!! They performed four times and my favorite was at The Great Wall of China! We did so much in 9 days and The Red Star Twirlers (check out on Facebook) did an amazing job in 90-100 degree temps!!! Very appropriately the music,"We are the world, we are the children"....as many young Chinese children joined The Red Stars on stage at every event! Great cultural and good will exchange!!

Tulips In Custody and CT Sheep & Wool Festival

These beautiful red tulips are in protective custody!! That is right. This is the first time Ray was able to plant a tulip garden that wouldn't be gobbled up by the deer!!! Brilliant!! Spring is here and so is the CT Sheep and Wool Festival to be held on Saturday, April 24th at the Tolland Agricultural Center, 24 Hyde Avenue-Rte. 30 Vernon, CT (Just off I-84 exit 67). Hope to see you all there!!!

Some folk dye Easter Eggs; We dye yarn!!

Spring is a wonderful time to light up your life with color! We saved the egg dyeing days for our grandchildren but I couldn't help but dye up some Spring colored yarns!!

Sugar on Snow-Maple Syrup Time!

We have had a wonderful time this year making maple syrup. Friends and family came by to watch the sap evaporate into the liquid gold we call Maple Syrup! We will have some maple syrup available at CT Sheep and Wool Festival end of April! Great effort is made to boil 40 gallons of sap over several days to net one gallon of syrup! Nathan and Colby, our grandsons savored the Sugar on Snow that we made. A nice reward for them for helping carry sap and wood for the stove!!!

Valentine Wishes!!

Yesterday was so beautiful! Hiked with good friends to Southford Falls! The sound of the brook and falls soothes the soul!!! Yummy pizza after didn't hurt either!! Thanks for a beautiful day!!!

Alpaca Cable Pillow Kit!

What could be sweeter than fudge and Valentine's? A soft Alpaca Cable Pillow!! This is a great way to utilize a simple cable design with our hand spun alpaca. The pillow is 16X16 and is included in the kit with the hand spun yarn from Simple Gifts Farm and instructions. Treat yourself or gift this cozy pillow to someone special!! (You can double click on any of the photos to enlarge the view!)

It Really Is Simple Gifts Farm!!

A snowy day is quiet on our farm! There is a fire in the hearth and beautiful views surrounding us! We are busy within our home but stop often to soak in the beauty of the snow! Enjoy your day!!!! Remember to make us a favorite....

Happily Spinning Through Winter!!!

A little sleigh full of hand spun alpaca to fill kits or offer as skeins!! Lovely to work with alpaca from our flock of five!!! Heavenly!!!

Two Tone Alpaca Shawlette

This shawlette spices up any outfit. Notice the button on the shoulder and the drop stitch design! Made this design for the holidays. You, too, can make your own hand knit accessory! This is so likable and looks good over most clothing! It is so versatile you can wear it anytime and probably can use through three seasons!!

Oatmeal Alpaca Tunic with Cowl Collar!

Have received so many compliments on this comfy tunic. Designed for Medium or Large. Notice how softly the alpaca falls in folds from the bodice. You like? Kits for sale!!

Alpaca Tunic in Two Versions-Big Hit!!!

My friend and I sent some beautiful alpaca to a fiber pool and had them spin up this DK weight alpaca which we have been playing with ever since! This is the brown jewel neck version that has been designed and made kit ready. The style compliments all shapes!!!

Solution to a bad hair day!!

This alpaca hat is handmade from felted alpaca. Will be making just a few more for Sheep and Wool Festival in April. As you can see it not only keeps you warm but hides what may be a not so good a hair day underneath it!!

Happy Valentine's Day from Simple Gifts Farm

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! Winter is upon us. Our farm animals actually enjoy the snow and cold temps. Here is a close-up of The Man! My wheel has been spinning lots of alpaca and by the looks of Man there will be more fiber to come this Spring!! Have been designing and knitting too! We will feature the following new designs at CT Sheep and Wool Festival. Of course, you can contact me if you want to start on one of these kits....