The sheep are doing exceptionally well in the orchard, and I personally enjoy tending them! I do wish I had 300 to make it worth my time, but I suppose good things come to those who wait...hmm maybe not the best phrase for me to list considering my lack of patience. They are packing on the fleece amazingly well though. In fact, so much so I am thinking of shearing everybody again before lambing.... make the girls a bit more sensitive to their lambs' naked state! It will also protect the fleece from having a break in the middle. Even more than packing the wool on, they are really starting to rock the baby paunches! I love it, my mighty merinos are less than four weeks out, and they are really showing it.
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| Second load of sheep ready to unload at the house using the new ramp my father built for me for Xmas! It is amazing, and breaks down into its separate components! It was great to get to work on a project with my father, and the ramp makes loading rams/ multiple sheep a breeze! Should make hauling jobs a lot better! |
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| My brother, and number one helper (whether he likes it or not poor thing), and the second half of the flock loaded on the truck! The ramp is already broken down, and packed up, and the sheep are comfortably waiting to go home. The sheep don't hardly stress anymore about traveling, as every time they go somewhere new there is better feed, and always grain in the truck to make loading a breeze! |
The holidays kinda messed up the grazing schedule abit, had to bring the girls home to go down south and visit my Grandparents, but it was worth the disruption! The sheep are still here at the house which has given me a chance to get quite a bit done at my parents place... like clean, or more fun- try to wash wool! Looks like I'm going to give spinning another try after all! Tomorrow looks like a morning of setting up fence, and hauling sheep, followed by picking up some supplies to try to make my own hackle, and wool comb! Oh, and I suppose packing....
The best part about being in the orchard with the sheep is the absolute peacefulness of the whole situation. Ollie O is there as my bodyguard, the sheep don't need moving too often with all the leaves, and I sleep better in my trailer than in the house anyway, even if there isn't a heater. I have taken a renewed interest in all things fibercraft to fill my days, along with of course exercising! My friends ask me, "how can you stay out there all day... with a bunch of sheep!? Don't you get bored?" The obvious answer is no! I can't even imagine being bored with the combination of FaceBook on my phone, and friends calling, Ollie always needing a run, a pair of knitting needles in my hands, and sheep outside my "porch" in constant need of attention... and now even more wool and things to tinker with!
I hope your holidays are treating you right, good luck and an early Happy New Years!
Until next time....
