Shearing Day

Finally the day I dread and look forward to all year has come and gone...shearing day. This year I was very pleased, as the fleeces were superb, especially the fleeces from my lambs out of Baxter. I always worry that the fleeces may not live up to my expectations (the dread part) and that a whole year's work will be lost, but as usual my fear was all for nothing. Karen and her dad, John, again did an excellent job shearing and the fact that they are great to work with as well makes the day go smoothly. My husband does a fantastic job getting the barn set up and catches the sheep, leaving me to skirt and pack the fleeces as they come off the sheep, making it easier for me to get the fleeces ready for the mill. This year my friend and fellow spinner and knitter, Sherrie, came and helped with the skirting which made things easier on my end. I can't wait for the rovings. I am having some of them blended with silk and this should make an interesting yarn. Enjoy some of the pictures from last Friday.

Spring has Sprung... A leak!

After a few beautiful and warm days most of the snow and ice had slowly started to melt. However, the day before shearing, the skies opened up and emptied themselves onto my rams and my pastures. What a soggy mess. The girls are all safe and dry in the barn and hopefully the boys will dry out over night. Feykir doesn't seem to mind being wet, but Charley and Trix are not enjoying the wet weather as much. Goz has been swimming in the back pasture and the ducks have finally ventured out of their barn to splash in puddles and eat worms. I saw my first robin on the weekend, so warmer, and drier, weather can not be far away.