Shearing Sheep

Yarn starts here!

Our shearer, Andy Rice, arrived yesterday for the first rite of new year: the de-fleecing of the pregnant ewes, rams and wethers. I'm behind in all areas but wanted to share a few moments from the day.

Crackerjack and ewes in the holding pen. He is now stationed with the mothers where he will serve as lamb nanny when lambs begin arriving in three weeks. The ewes find his presence calming, reassuring.

Cognac, a moorit ewe, waits her turn in the holding pen. (BTW), The girls were all very well behaved. The boys were a mighty hand full!)

A shearer's pack of wool combs.The more teeth, the finer the fiber. Andy used 9 tooth combs on the Cormos yesterday. They're scary looking but are designed to ride parallel to the sheep's body. A separate piece (called the cutter) rests on top of the comb and does the actual clipping.

Shearing Cognac.

Perfectly relaxed.

She was one of the last sheep of the day, so Andy gave a a special hair cut.

I'm still exhausted from yesterday and all I did was sweep the boards, skirt fleece and prepare lunch for 8.

I'm grateful for so many things that went right:

Andy's careful handling of my critters and for recruiting his sons Jacob and Gibby to wrangle sheep, Holly's expertise in taking sheep coats off (you should see my laundry pile) and matching the shorn sheep up with the correct size frock size. Mike did just about everything else that needed to be done - from tending to the sheep afterwards, caring for the rest of the flock and chipping ice and slush from the door yard. Caleb was our bagger and scribbler of notes from the day.

It was the most active I've been in the barn since last June. Feeling tired after a long day's work is a good tired. Easing back into the rhythm of normal farm routines as the year kicks in is deeply gratifying. The sheep look great this morning, basking like lizards in the morning sun streaming through the barn windows.

And those fleeces  . . . . I promise more photos once I catch up on everything else.

 

Comments

[Cindy in Happy Valley]

Can't wait for my Sheep Shares yarn! I am sooo excited!!!

[Connie]

Ooh! Great photos! Thanks for sharing and take care of yourself. Busy times ahead.

[Johanna]

I love Cognac's haircut!

[Manise]

Love the photos of the cutters and shearing wool combs. Cognacs top knot is adorable. Can't wait to see the fleeces- always drool worthy. Glad you had all of that help and that you are pacing yourself with the chores and shearing.

[Meredith]

Cognac looks fantastic, so glad you are feeling weel enough to participate as much as you did. I think the girls and guys find you to be calming, not just Crackerjack.
Have a beautiful day,
Meredith

[Konna]

Crackerjack looks very calm indeed with the ewes. Glad you were able to participate with this! Enjoy the calm before the 'storm'!

[Peggy]

Wonderful post! Do you have to take any special precautions after shearing so the sheep don't get chilled? Or do the sheep do that on their own (stay inside, eat more)? And does one person really shear all day?
Please try to take it easy and get as much rest as you can!

[Lori]

Cognac looks very spiffy. I wish I lived closer to help out. I could be "sheep hugger" :) Take it easy and don't over do it. It'll be exciting to see the fleeces.

[Valerie]

It's great to hear that you are able to get back in the thick of things to some degree. What a haircut on Cognac! I don't think I'll be going to Andy to have my hair styled any time soon....

[Torre in MD]

wow - shearing time already - time sure flies!! what a cute little cute for Cognac! Sounds like you had a full crew helping with all that - what work that must be. Hard to believe you'll have lambs running around in no time! I'm sure it was nice for you to get back into that swing of all that again. I hope the lambing season goes smoothly!

[Allison Kelsey]

Yay for the girls! Kisses to sweet Cognac!

[Lynn]

Can't wait to see the ?fleece, ?fleeces,
?floose. Most of all I am happy that you are feeling well and up to the task of being the sheep mama!