Feb 26
Isn’t it always the way….
This Wednesday…inside.
And outside!
The first of two shearing days. Â We thought that spring was coming this week….the blackbirds had returned, there was some open ground, and the chickadees were singing their spring song.
Happily we were able to keep all the sheep in their respective barns and do our skirting under cover. The cloudy skies kept the temperatures relatively warm for this time of year, and the sheep seemed unscatherd (granted they were bedded heavily and fed up well, but this year, they were almost relaxed).
In two of the barns, the shorn sheep were put back into the pens instead of being turned outside  as usual. They were cozier that way, and out of the wintery weather.
The Border Collies had two great days of sheep-watching…notice those bright eyes:
Angus thought that a dog could fit under this gate, and proved it…..but was busted immediately!
Everything had to be done under cover; we set up our skirting table inside the barns:
We were cozy if not all that warm…..
Again the star of the show was Clint Godwin, who comes all the way down from Northern WA to shear our flock.
The best shearer that we have ever had…thank you Clint!
And thanks to all our dear friends who help us at shearing….we love sharing this time with you!
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Wow, look at that sling he uses! A great idea, but I’ve never heard of such a thing!
Glad everything went so well. I have yet to skirt a fleece; I have been SO busy – and don’t have skirting help on shearing day.
We’ll have to take fleeces earlier this year – March instead of April if we can get our shearer lined up. Our hopes of having an “open house” at shearing has gone by the wayside as we just don’t want to stress the sheep again.
I love the pictures! Did Brook do more camera work this year? I think he needs to do more YouTube essays on life at Stonehaven Farm.
I’ll bet you’re feeling better now that shearing is over.
* GREAT photos, as usual
* Your girls look beautiful
* You are SO organized
* Beautiful BARN
* Boy, he shears them CLOSE
* Nice looking HAY
* You’re so lucky to be half done…
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Brook and I used to be the shearing crew back in NH when we sheared 35 to 40, but we sheared 91 sheep this year (pretty close to the usual number). We are ultra-organized beforehand and maybe we could do it without the help, but don’t want to! This is a gathering of friends and such a joy to us.
And of course, this is not the final skirting…just getting chaff and tags out. Lots more work to do on most of them.
I’m finally catching up, but oh! How gorgeous everyone looks! Er, you guys look great too.
I’m listening to the snow plow come through our yard even as I write this, and much as I love the fleece, I have to admit I’m grateful to not need to be out in that weather doing the shearing or skirting. But give me ten minutes and I’ll send you a mail asking for a couple of yours.