Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
 4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Subject Topic: Sheep shearing today--photos!! Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
lilac hill
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 15 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 643
Posted: May 09 2005 at 3:51pm | IP Logged Quote lilac hill
Our flock of 4 was sheared today.
Pounds and pounds of wool came off in a sheet. The outside of the wool is dirty, faded, and dull; the underside is soft and shiny and "greasy" with lanolin.
What a great way to enjoy a beautiful spring day with friends.
After shearing , the sheep do not recognize each other and push eachother around.They cry alot but they have to feel better with all that wool off them.
Two of my boys are big old fashioned sheep with wool on their faces and legs. It is so nice to see their eyes again after a long winter.
I am going to try to start trimming their facial hair. Of course that will entail flipping them on their backs and cutting near their eyes. They are such big boys, but I can do it--I think.
I love spring, the sun, and knowing that the sheep are sheared. Getting a shearer to come is not an easy feat, especailly with only 4 sheep. I have nightmares of having to shear them by hand again with the clippers--not electric. It took Laurea and I 3 hours a sheep the first year we sheared first 2 we owned. I think I was never so filthy after that event. Although with getting the barn ready and helping a little bit,. I am pretty smelly now.
So off to the showers.
Can we post pictures to this site?
I have a few of the shearing to share if possible.
Viv

__________________
Viv
Wife to Rick (7/83), Mom to dd#1(6/87), dd#2(1/90), and dd#3(6/94) in central PA.
Back to Top View lilac hill's Profile Search for other posts by lilac hill
 
JSchaaf
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 22 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 753
Posted: May 09 2005 at 4:10pm | IP Logged Quote JSchaaf
I would love to see the pictures!
Jennifer
Back to Top View JSchaaf's Profile Search for other posts by JSchaaf
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: May 09 2005 at 4:25pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
Send me the pictures and I'll post them! I can just imagine your sheep (since we have met ) so neatly shorn!

Have you ever seen Wallace and Gromit's A Close Shave? It features a sheep named Sean (it's a pun if you have a Brit accent).

__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
Taffy
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: April 05 2005
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1567
Posted: May 09 2005 at 5:31pm | IP Logged Quote Taffy
Just to satisfy my curiosity...

I was wondering how much wool you'd get from your four sheep? I enjoy knitting/crochet work and have been fantasizing about spinning my own yarn someday...

Thanks!

__________________
Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
Back to Top View Taffy's Profile Search for other posts by Taffy
 
lilac hill
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 15 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 643
Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:36pm | IP Logged Quote lilac hill
Liz- I get more wool than I need. I would have to check in the attic for the poundage.
It is expensive to get the wool processed because it is such a labor intensive process. Some places are cheaper than my place but you cannot be guarnateed your own wool. Yes, I can do it myself but I do not think it would work with the front loading washer and I do not want to do it by hand.
Try out plenty of wheels before you buy.
I love me wheel, just need more time to spin.
Of course isn't that always the case when you begin a new hobby. And you do not need to own your own sheep. At the wool shops there are so many kinds of wool available, and I am sure you could fin sheep owners who would love to get rid of their fleeces.
Viv

__________________
Viv
Wife to Rick (7/83), Mom to dd#1(6/87), dd#2(1/90), and dd#3(6/94) in central PA.
Back to Top View lilac hill's Profile Search for other posts by lilac hill
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:43pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
The white sheep is Fiona-a lovely cross between a Cotswald and a Blue Faced Leicester. She has a long body and no hair on her face or legs; she has a fine wool. The dark Moira is a Karakul, fat tailed sheep. Think of her tail like a camel's hump. Her breed originates in the Middle East. We thank her for sharing her manger with Jesus on Christmas Eve with two scoops of grain. She has coarse carpet wool.


__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:47pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
This is Andrew, the leader of the flock. He is a very large Lincoln, and quite old fashioned with hair on his legs and face. Iian is in the background. After only a few years his brown wool has become more grey. Before he was sheared his wool was bleachy/brown.



__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:48pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
Iian.

__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:50pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
The shearer puts the sheep on their hind quarters to keep them under control.
At this point Andrew has had his belly and face sheared.


__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:51pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth


__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:54pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
Shearing is a dirty job.
The shearer starts with the belly region. The wool comes off in a large sheet. For cleaning/spinning the wool is skirted, the filthy parts are cut off and the cleaner upper parts are processed.



__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:58pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
The above sheep photos are from Viv. I own no sheep (this message posted just in case the village inspectors come over to see what's going on in my back yard) .

Great photos, Viv!!!

__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
teachingmom
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Virginia Bluebells

Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2120
Posted: May 09 2005 at 10:51pm | IP Logged Quote teachingmom
MacBeth wrote:
The above sheep photos are from Viv. I own no sheep (this message posted just in case the village inspectors come over to see what's going on in my back yard) .


Smart thinking, MacBeth!



__________________
~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
Back to Top View teachingmom's Profile Search for other posts by teachingmom
 
momwise
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: March 28 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1914
Posted: May 10 2005 at 8:29am | IP Logged Quote momwise
Love the pictures Viv. We've had the opportunity to be around sheep at the Urban Farm near our home for the last 4 years. The 4H kids have learned to card and spin and the Cloverbuds (5-7yrs.) were able to make felt at their last meeting. I think the shearing is coming up.

Farmer Brown Shears his Sheep is a very funny shearing story!



__________________
Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
Back to Top View momwise's Profile Search for other posts by momwise
 
Taffy
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: April 05 2005
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1567
Posted: May 10 2005 at 10:08am | IP Logged Quote Taffy
Thnkas for the phots and the info Viv! I'm clipping it and adding it to my scrapbook of things to think about regarding wool and raising it!

And I LOVED the pictures! Thnkas for sharing!

__________________
Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
Back to Top View Taffy's Profile Search for other posts by Taffy
 
Mary Chris
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2175
Posted: May 11 2005 at 8:30am | IP Logged Quote Mary Chris
Viv, what great photos!    It took me back to the year I raised a lamb in 4H. I have such fond memories of walking my lamb around the neighborhood. I only did it once though as the lambs were raised for market and I cried and cried when I had to give her away

__________________
Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
Back to Top View Mary Chris's Profile Search for other posts by Mary Chris
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com