Caprine

Nestled in a beautiful mountain valley in far north Idaho lies Red Falcon Ranch, home to Caprine. We raise angora goats for their beautiful mohair and turn the mohair into useful goods. #madeinamerica #naturalfiber

I feel like I am speaking into a void...but if anyone is out there and reads my posts, here is my most recent letter from the ranch, where we raise angora goats for their mohair and make it into useful goods. 🐐 It is a blustery spring day, the kind that carries the wind of changing seasons. This time of year brings so much life back to the land. The grass turns green, daffodils begin to bloom, and baby goats bounce and play in the pasture. It is a season of renewal and joy. But with every changing season, there is both beginning…and ending. Rose passed away Sunday morning. She fought so hard to live. I was there when she took her first breath, and I was there at the end, holding her head with love and care as she took her last. Even now, it’s hard to write those words without tears. Rose was loved. She was valued. She was part of this ranch, and now she is gone. I truly believed she would pull through. I held onto that hope, and I know so many of you were holding it with me. Your prayers meant more than I can say. We let Guinness stay with her for as long as he needed. He laid beside her quietly for a long time. I have no doubt that animals understand more than we often give them credit for. They grieve in their own way. Later that afternoon, Guinness joined the rest of the herd. He’s been playing with Vosges, Rozhay, Yvonne, and Bunny, and I’m grateful he has friends to help carry him through these first days. The nights are the hardest. He doesn’t quite know where he belongs yet. I find myself checking on him through the barn camera, watching as he finds his place to sleep alone. Every instinct in me wants to bring him inside, to comfort him in the way I understand, in a human mom way. But he is a goat. He will grow into a big, strong buck, and he needs to find his place within the herd. I have to set aside what feels comforting to me and choose what is right for him. That is part of this work, too - allowing each animal to live fully as what they are. It has been a couple of days now, and Guinness is beginning to find his footing. He is learning quickly which does are kind and which to give space. We are still working through the battle of the bottle, and I am continually looking for ways to get him to drink his milk. He eats hay and feed, drinks water, and is strong and resilient. Rose did a good job. He is going to be okay. And we will be okay, too. Rose lives on here in ways both seen and unseen. She had the most beautiful chocolate brown mohair, and that color now lives within our oatmeal throws. Each one is a blend of natural shades from the goats who grew it. Each small batch run can never be exactly recreated. And future runs won’t have Rose in them. When those throws are gone, they are gone. And in that way, each piece carries a moment in time. A season. A life. And that is what makes them so special. Now, Guinness carries that deep brown forward. He has a bright future here as a herdsire, and I am grateful for the time Rose had with him - for the care she gave, the steadiness she showed, and the quiet way she taught him how to be. As we walk through this loss, life continues around us. Jarusha is due tomorrow. Madora on Saturday. More babies will follow in the coming days. Plans for pasture restoration are moving forward. Trees will be planted - some that I may never see fully grown, but that will stand for the next generation. This week has been a reminder of the full circle of life. It is in the soil. In the growing things. In the animals we care for. It is an honor to be a shepherd. And I carry that responsibility with both pride and humility. Everything we create, every pair of socks, every throw, begins with lives like Rose’s. With seasons like this one. With care, loss, growth, and renewal all woven together. Thank you for being here with us, for journeying through the joy and the heartbreak together, and for valuing what it truly means to make something with care. #mindfulliving #ethicalbrand #naturalfibers #wellnessjourney

Beautiful sunset in far north Idaho. Blessed to live here. ❤️

Watched goats never kid. 😣

Everyday I am out doing chores and taking care of my beautiful angora goats that produce our gorgeous mohair. I also manage our American made supply chain. My daughter, Rachel, made a video that tells the process better than my words can!

We have been a bit busy here with a goat that had to go to WSU so haven't been on X, but I did get my "Letter from the Ranch" published on Tuesday. For those who enjoy the behind the scenes stories, here it is. To read my other Letters, they are under the Journal tab on the website. I often receive messages on social media from fellow fiber farmers asking, “What mill do you use to make your socks?” It is interesting how anonymous spaces can sometimes create a demand for information with no context or relationship. When those answers aren’t as simple as expected, frustration can follow. That’s just part of the landscape small business owners navigate today. But the truth is, the answer isn’t as simple as naming a mill. And I wouldn’t be doing anyone a favor by giving them the answer. Before that question can be answered, there are many other questions that come first. What kind of sock are you trying to make? What fibers will it contain? Who is it for? How many will you produce? Every one of those choices shapes what comes next. Making socks was a steep learning curve for me. I am a shepherd. I know Angora goats and I know mohair. I spin and weave. I’m a student by nature…always learning, always refining, always trying to do better. And still, I didn’t have all the answers. I think back to my first conversation with a yarn spinning mill. They asked, “What is the micron count of your mohair?” I didn’t know. I only knew that it was soft and had a beautiful handle. The conversation ended there. Mills don’t have the capacity to teach nor the patience to work with those who don’t speak the language. So I went back and did the work. I micron-tested my herd. I learned what those numbers meant. I studied my fiber more closely, and it changed how I bred and managed my goats. It helped me focus, refine, and intentionally lower micron over time. Asking “What mill do you use?” is, in many ways, putting the cart before the horse. It skips the years of learning required to understand the textile industry, to build trust with mills, and to shepherd fiber from pasture to finished sock. When that first door closed on me, I realized that I needed to put in the work. I wrote a business plan and worked through every detail right down to the smallest decisions. I researched. I learned. I became a student of an industry that values precision, patience, and process. Only then did the answers begin to come together. And that is how our socks came to be. Caprine has never been about shortcuts or easy answers. It’s about honoring the learning, the missteps, and the long road between an idea and something you can hold in your hands. Thank you for being part of this journey, for valuing craft, patience, and the quiet work behind the scenes. These letters are my way of inviting you into that process, and I’m grateful to be walking it with you.

Family business meeting in the outdoor conference room. This is how things get done!! 🐐

Beautiful day in far north Idaho! Chores are taking a lot longer today. 🌞😁

Tuesday letter from the ranch...... I grew up in a small farming community in the Midwest, back when everything was organic and pre-glyphosate. A good summer job for a teenager was “walking beans.” We’d line up at one end of a soybean field and walk the rows together, pulling and hoeing weeds by hand. When chemicals eventually made their way into our food system, I chose “organic” whenever I realistically could. Long before there were buzzwords, labels, or movements, I was living a healthy, natural lifestyle - baking my own bread and making my own soap. Fast forward to 2026, and we’re realizing it’s time to re-evaluate our lifestyles and our choices. If you’re here reading this, you know what I mean. Natural is back in fashion. People are yearning for a simpler time, before food was sprayed and clothing was made to be disposable. There’s a growing awareness that wellness matters in every part of our lives…not just what we eat, but how we live and what we wear. That gives me so much hope. I’ve watched over the decades as we’ve drifted away from these values, and it’s heartening to feel the shared slowing down again. More thoughtful choices. More care. More intention. Fast fashion has filled our closets with acrylic and polyester - plastic, really. I’ve been guilty of it too. Sometimes it's easier to grab the sweater on the rack than to pause and search for something better. Somewhere along the way, convenience nudged out care. Starting Caprine reminded me of how life was before everything became fast. Caprine isn’t just about creating mohair and merino socks and throws, it’s a reminder of what truly matters. This has become my guiding thought for the year ahead: moving from fast fashion to slow fashion begins with intention. Small, thoughtful choices can ripple outward, shaping our health, our homes, and the way we live. If you’re new here, welcome. These letters offer a glimpse into life on our ranch. Into the values, memories, and quiet choices that shape what we make and how we live. Whether you’ve been reading along for some time or are just joining us, I’m grateful you’re here. Together, we’re choosing a slower, more grounded way forward. One rooted in care, connection, and things made to last. With love, Angela

Moving from fast fashion to slow fashion starts with intention. Small, thoughtful choices can have a big impact on your health and happiness. #WellnessJourney #HealthyLiving #SlowLiving

We are impatiently waiting for the next kids to hit the ground. This is always such an exciting time of year! Since we breed for color, it is a guessing game until they are born. We selectively breed by micron, conformation, and color. Color genetics is a tricky thing in angora goats and we can do all of our planning, but God is the creator and He has the ultimate say!! Enjoy this pic of Vosges (pronounced Voj with a long o). His mom is named Alsace and Vosges is the mountain range that runs through Alsace, France. Have a great day everyone!!! 🌞 #SlowLiving #EthicalBrand #NaturalFibers

Thank you everyone for all the sock orders!! 🧦 I have been busy this morning getting them ready for our mailwoman to pick up. Chores are done. 🐐North Idaho thinks it is spring!! Little bit muddy, but not complaining!! Thinking of my angora goat friends who are getting unexpected winter in the southeast!! Stay safe, ya'll!! 💛

It is time for a COZY SALE!! 🧦 15% off socks and throws today through Monday. 😊 #MadeInUSA #ShopSmall #HomeStyle

A question I am often asked.....so I made a visual. Angora GOATS produce mohair. 🐐 Angora RABBITS produce angora wool. 🐇 #NaturalFibers #EthicalBrand #ConsciousConsumer

It starts here on the ranch with love and care. Soft, cozy mohair is sheared from our Angora goats and sent east to an historic New England mill, where it’s woven with care into a throw. Small batches and natural color give each one its unique character. The kind of throw you reach for on cold evenings...when you need the world to feel a little quieter, simple, and unhurried. #HomeComfort #MindfulLiving #HomeStyle