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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Getting Nekkid

I didn't get great shearing pics this time. The sun was so bright shining in the back of the barn that it complicated things for me and the camera. It was perfect weather for shearing though and the sheep are glad to be rid of their hot, itchy fleeces.



This is Peabody. The whack. He's been written up before for his, um, interesting personality. He's also been written up for his big fleece. Even the shearers were impressed with the amount of wool that came off him and spread it out for everyone to see. Saint Tim and I are pretty sure that when you turn him upside down and sideways, most of that wool flows out of his ears ;-).



I'm always amazed at how clean they are underneath all that dirty looking wool.

For the last couple of years I've sent Peabody and Popcorn PeePee Pants off to OVNF be processed into fluffy quilt batting. I still have several batts left from last year though so I think Peabody will be a spinning fleece this year. He has a very easy to spin, sproingy fleece - not super soft though, typical of a down breed. He's a Border Cheviot. You could probably get three sweaters from him (if he knew how to knit) so he'll keep someone busy for awhile ;-).



The other sheep we love to see sitting on his butt, calm and submissive, is Graham Lamb. He's actually an easy sheep to shear, well behaved, unlike Petunia who again was very, very naughty. Graham was an early shear, but stuck around for most of the rest of the haircuts. The shearers thought that was interesting until I explained his fascination with power tools, electricity and anything pointy.



Speaking of big sheep, there is a lot of Boudreaux to love.



His roll of fleece is almost as big as his rolls of fat.



We wrap every fleece in a separate bed sheet. Sheets are handy for quickly picking up the fleeces and are breathable so any dampness doesn't cause trouble like it would if they were stored in plastic bags. You can use plastic, but should poke a bunch of holes around the bag to let the fleece breathe.

This particular sheet is special and was saved for a very special girl. This was the sheet the animal shelter used to drag Renny from their truck into my car the day I picked her up. It smelled so bad that my first thought was to toss it. I washed it though and kept it knowing it would mean a lot to me in case she made it.






Even being shorn halfway through winter, she still yielded quite a bit of wool. I can't wait to see what she grows for next year. For now I can't get over how pretty she looks.

A huge thanks to everyone who came over and helped with everything yesterday. What goes around, comes around, especially in farming communities.

Everybody take care of each other.

30 comments:

Pam said...

The highlight was the round of applause Renny got when the shearer finished her and she trotted off to look for her friends. It was a good day!

thecrazysheeplady said...

Yeah, that was the highlight.

flowerweaver said...

She does look good. Brought a tear to my eye as she reminded me of old Phoebe. Soon I will be meeting her in person!

Anonymous said...

Way to go Renny! Now she's stylin', really looking good. :)

melanie said...

Yay Renny!

Sarah said...

Your shearing day looks much better than when we did it. Usually when we sheared it was cold and windy and dirty. 200 head stir up lots of dirt in the corral. Dirt that crunches between your teeth and takes days to dig our of your ears. But it's fascinating that they are so clean under all that dirty wool, and they always seem a lot more comfortable.

Nancy K. said...

What a GOOD GIRL Renny was! She seemed just as calm as could be. I SO hate shearing day. I hate seeing my girls helpless and being rolled around like a sack of potatoes. But, I agree, they are so much more comfortable after it's done. Renny will no longer stand out in the flock! She looks just like any of your other sheep now. What a miracle!

;-)

Jody said...

I have to admit I had a big smile on my face aand a little tear in my eye while watching Renny get sheared :-) She is a beauty!

Bee Lady said...

Love the video. I'm rather new to your blog so I don't know your sheep yet, but Renny seems to be well loved.

Cindy Bee

DayPhoto said...

YAY! For Renny! She acted just like she knew what what going on and that she was the star of the the show. Then she stood there just like she was the star and took her applause! Just like she knows.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Lori Skoog said...

I loved the pictures Sara. Especially watching Renny. She was a very good girl and looked terrific when she was finished. Such an amazing recovery. Keep the sheet! Are you still coming up this way?

thecrazysheeplady said...

Luckily the camera has good vibration reduction because by the end of the Renny video I was crying myself and my hands were shaking so bad I was afraid the video would be ruined. Loved all the cheers at the end - definitely the highlight.

Leah said...

Renny looks very pretty! I didn't know sheep had stripes like that.
That is great that she is one of the flock going through what very one else does.

Bee Lady, I do hope you click on Renny in the list and follow her story. Renny is my heroine, for when I feel sorry for myself.

Linda said...

Makes me shiver just looking at what's coming off.

Christine said...

I love that Renny looks fantastic, but I hate that he made it look so easy. I ordered electric shears. This spring's haircuts will be interesting.

Deb W said...

I wonder.....this is just a germ of an idea, so I don't know how it would work.....

Would it be possible to take some of Renny's wool and felt it into badges of some sort - that could be sewn on a tote or with a pin back added, worn as a brooch - sort of a "medal of honor" others could carry or wear to signify her overcoming spirit!

Maybe it could also be used as a fundraiser for a good cause. Renny's got a ton of fans - it might be able to do some good.

'Just a thought

Dreaming said...

I loved, loved, loved the video. I've never seen a sheep shorn, except maybe in a movie. Renny was so calm! Wow! Am I correct in thinking that the stack of white 'bags' in the back left of the video are all from different fleeces?
I love Deb W's idea!

Alice said...

I've watched the video several times now because it evokes such spirited emotions. I especially noticed the shearer's left hand as how gently he handles the sheep. He has a very tender touch. Kudos to the shearer!

thecrazysheeplady said...

Yes, there are 31 "bags" of wool stacked up there. Time to get washing :-).

I too like Deb's idea. Let's put our heads together and come up with a good idea.

Janice Grinyer said...

I love this post and I love this blog - honest to gosh you are going to make me into a sheep woman yet...(thats kind of like a cat lady,but with purpose lol)

Peacecat said...

Hooray for Renny!
31 bags of fleece??
Wow, that is A LOT of wool!!!

Anonymous said...

Lots of wool to wash -- Renny's video is precious -- how far she has come -- I agree with previous posts that something special should be done with her wool - Thanks for sharing your life wiith us

Jean-MN

Claire MW said...

Renny is such an inspiration. It was lovely to see her shearing and watch her stand proudly afterwards. Her story has been riveting and this is like the icing on the cake. I was quite surprised at how calm she appeared to be during the shearing. I attribute that to you, and the wonderful new life she has. All that fear and pain has been replaced by love and care and attention. I am anxious to hear about whatever you decide to do with the fleece!

Gayle said...

Renny is just beautiful!! So quick and amazing, too. I am dreading shearing my Daisy since I do it with a pair of scissors and it takes 5-6 hours to cut and bathe her. The shears here are $300 and with only one sheep it doesn't make sense. (I wouldn't know what I was doing with them anyhow!!). I just love the guys with the curly hair, and I can't believe how big they all are, but still so gentle. You have a great flock.

Anonymous said...

Yeah Renny! That video got me crtying again too. I love the Renny wool badge idea! I am not noticing any mention of alcohol though.

thecrazysheeplady said...

I think it was in the comments of the previous post maybe... I'm pretty sure alcohol was involved ;-).

Denise said...

what a model of tolerance that Renny is while being sheared....she is one lucky ewe to have found you!

Ed said...

Ya know, just seeing Renny in that vid brings tears to my eyes knowing what she has become and will be.:-) The line about Grahm being interested in power tools cracked me up...:-))

Far Side of Fifty said...

Oh Renny is beautiful..and I loved that you saved her sheet..and now it is half full of wool. The video is wonderful..very interesting. Yes do something extra special with Rennys Fleece..:)

Susan said...

Lovely, just lovely. Had to look up Renny and OMG, thank the Goddess for YOU and YOURS! How big a fleece is it? Enough for another sweater for YOU? We can never have enough you know :)

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