The Lazy PJ Ranch is a dealer for Louet Sales Spinning Wheels, Looms and Products; and Ashford Spinning Wheels, Looms and Products; as well as Nancy's Knit Knacks, Interweave Press, Unicorn Books and Crafts, Crystal Palace Yarns, Ashland Bay, Crabtree Publishing, Simon & Schuster and others. There are links to their sites on the Links page.
Jack and Pat began raising sheep soon after they moved back to Idaho in 1978. Pat was raised on a dairy farm and knew that was too much work but wanted her kids to be raised participating in livestock 4-H.
The name Lazy PJ comes from Pat and Jack and a huge ranch sign Jack surprised Pat with on her birthday just as her barn was being completed. Our first sheep was named Cotton. Jack can tell you stories about her. Don't get him started. Both of our kids had sheep projects for years and Jack and Pat raised primarily Suffolk sheep and sold market lambs.
Jack was always
intrigued with spinning and bought 2 black sheep from a local spinner in 1988 and started a "spinning flock." After finding the Weavers and Spinners at the 4th of July Settler's Fair, Pat and Jack both became regulars at all Guild functions. We bought an Ashford Traditional wheel in Missoula as there was no local spinning wheel shop.
 |
There was a lot to learn and fortunately Mary Pahl of Idaho Falls and Shar Fairchild of Tetonia had supplies for we "fiber addicts." But they moved away. When Shar left for Oregon, Pat became a supplier of Gaywool dyes.
We bought our first registered wool sheep, three white romneys, at the Big Sky Fiber Festival in 1992. Syringa the best of those was our lead sheep until last year. She produced more than 25 lambs for us. Ralph Groefsema got us into the moorit sheep and even though we are trying to limit our numbers, Pat can't give up on these beautiful brown sheep. Jack likes big sheep, so he has some Rambouiletts.
 |
This past year we added Registered Naturally Colored Romneys to our flock. They have the cutest babies. But that isn't why we got them. They have wonderfully long colored fleece for rugs and crafts. Our 2005 flock totals 18 mature ewes, 7 senior rams, 17 strong yearlings and 31 lambs. Plus we have Chile, our llama.
We love fairs and fiber art fairs are even better than county fairs. We enjoy the people and learning from others. It is fun to see what other people are doing. These are the best places to buy gifts as you can get unique handmade items that are real treasures. We attend several of these fairs each year.You can see some of our sheep at the Western Idaho Fair in Boise in August or at the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot in September.
We are very active in our Weavers & Spinners Guild of Idaho Falls and if you are interested in the fiberarts, we urge you to join. Its only $20 a year and we meet every Tuesday night plus have oodles of classes and fun. I teach spinning and rigid heddle weaving for the Guild at various times. Check that website for upcoming activities or call me 208-522-1337.
