Our sheep got their annual haircut today. The wool is so much thicker and a much higher quality than last year. It's to be expected - they are very well fed.
3 Years of Growth
I received a phone call today ... about an emergency shearing. Well, maybe not an 'emergency' in the strictest sense of the word. The pair of sheep in question had dredlocked wool that would rival any hippie. It was tough but I'm sure they're feeling much lighter tonight.
Processing the Fleece
We've been processing the fleece from our sheep. Although I initially used Viking wool combs to comb the clean fleece, I ended up purchasing a drum carder, which made it so much easier and less time consuming to process it. I also started spinning the wool into yarn. Again, I started with a spindle and… Continue reading Processing the Fleece
Shearing
The sheep needed a haircut so we set about shearing them. We got beautiful wool in all shades from white to tan, brown to black and some gray.
Time to Shear the Sheep
Neil spent last week honing his sheep shearing skills. This week, we will be putting those skills to the test on our own flock.
Lawnmowers
Sheep back on the job mowing the courtyard. Iris, in the back, is having a snooze. #foodcoma
#SheepLife
Who needs a lawnmower when you have sheep? We've been moving the sheep from their grazing area to our inner courtyard so they can keep the grass down. It's a win-win--they get an all-you-can-eat salad bar and we don't have to mow. The big plan is to get some portable electric fencing and move them… Continue reading #SheepLife
You Spin Me Right Round…
The main point of getting sheep was to be able to spin and use the wool. I decided to learn to spin now on store-bought roving so that it's one less thing I need to learn to do later on. The grey yarn is made from fine Shetland wool roving and the colorful yarn is… Continue reading You Spin Me Right Round…
Sheep Pun
We decided to get wethers instead of rams because we have two young kids and didn't want to deal with aggressive animals. Granted, I'm sure the kids will make it to the ER or urgent care for a variety of other injuries and broken appendages just from playing without the help of a cranky, testosterone-filled… Continue reading Sheep Pun
The Adventure Begins…
Let's get some sheep. What started as a funny comment become a viable suggestion and then we purchased four sheep--two at a time. Two ewes, named Iris, the HBIC, and Rose, the scrappy little sister, and two wethers, who I had intended to name Theon Greyjoy and Lord Varys. My 5-year-old got them first though and… Continue reading The Adventure Begins…
What the Flock 