Scratch that spot for me

The warm weather is making the goats itch, but it is way too early to shear them. They are enjoying the pretty days as goats dislike cold, rainy weather. It makes them cranky. I am carding the last run of roving and packing up for the Peachtree handspinners meeting. This month I have dyed and carded mostly shades of blues. The hens have been laying eggs like it is Easter, so I have plenty to sell. I am ready to plant the early garden, but am sure we will have another cold snap. Only two bred ewes left to shear, but I would like for their wool to be a little longer. Moved the bred does with the ewes in the front pastures where I can watch them closely. Moved three mature bucks to share a pen in a pole shed, they are getting along with each other and the rut seems to be over. Moved last years kids and some older does to the original small lambing barn. Goats prefer to stay in the same pasture year in and year out, and it is not easy to make them move. Sheep love to move to fresh pasture as often as possible.

Spring is coming

My garlic bed made it fine through the very cold winter we have had. So, yesterday I took the time to divide all the little bulbs that have multiplied. The ground is very dry, as there has been very little rain this winter. This time last year, the pond was overflowing so fast I had to dig a trench at the upper end to let some water off to keep it from backing up to the barns. It looked so promising I bought catfish fingerlings to stock the pond. But their life was short lived when the rain stopped completely the end of May. Maybe this year we will get the rains in July and August, when we need them most.

Naked ladies

I hope we have a few weeks of moderate weather, until these sheep can get a little fuzz back on them. It won't take long, they will grow almost an inch of wool a month. Kept two old but very thin Cotswold ewes up at the old lambing barn, just in case it turns off cold, and so they can get extra feed. It probably won't do any good to feed them extra, as old sheep are like old people, if they are lucky enough to make it to that age, they just waste away. Cotswolds are not a long lived sheep, anywhere between 10-14 years, compared to a Corriedale that can live into their late teens.

A weeks' work

Now that the sun has returned it is time. Started with shearing and hoof trimming a few does that I missed last fall due to the early cold weather. Then everyone was rounded up to be wormed and deloused. Later in the week the remaining sheep were rounded up and after two days all were shorn, wormed, and deloused. Only two bred ewes left to shear, just waiting on a little more length to their locks. Next is the Teaberry shuffle, move the sheep to the horse pasture, bring the horses home to the sheep pastures to vaccum the sheep parasites that will be hatching soon, move all the does out to pasture and leave the bred does and ewes in the front lambing barn and pasture. It will take many days of planning and moving. It is time.

Happy cat

Everyone enjoyed the sun today. We are all sun worshipers here. It makes us happy. Several does got much needed shearing today, this is the warmest trend we have had since before Thanksgiving, so it was time to get the mohair off. My shearing leaves about an inch of fuzz, so they should be okay. With the fall shearing finished, it is time to start the spring shearing. The sheep have been ready to shear, as I like a long staple for spinning.  Some were panting yesterday with the sudden warm up. Alex stayed the afternoon to help with the shearing, after we enjoyed lunch and a piece of red velvet cake from Paula Deen's recipe. It was as good as it sounds.

Snow Goaties

I really didn't think it would snow again, but we got a dusting, it was sunny, but cold. Guess the goats finally realize its a part of winter and it won't hurt them to walk in it. It was so nice Wednesday, it just didn't look like snow was on its way. I welcomed three new spinners into the world on Wednesday afternoon, Alex, Missy (who already knew how to drop spindle), and Sandra. We sat around the wood stove in the wool room, among dye pots of mohair, and shelves of raw wool ready to be skirted and washed, and shelves of wool ready to be carded. All three took right to it. Missy was amazed at how much faster she could make yarn. Wound the skeins off for them, as all had plans for that first precious handspun. They are hooked.

Waiting at the gate

Not one single sheep or goat enjoyed the hard cold rain we had yesterday, and not one shepherd or goatherd, so everyone was waiting at the gate this morning and enjoying the sunshine. One thing winter has taught us, enjoy the pretty days, they are few and far between. I am ready to shear the sheep but can't get a enough warm dry days. Friend Linda had a lamb born in yesterdays storm, out in the storm, both are doing well.  I used to lamb and kid in January and February, staying up and checking every 2-3 hours for a lamb that might be born in freezing weather. I'm glad we are waiting until April, usually, a very pleasant time of year.

Goodbye sunshine

I enjoyed every minute of the sunshine and I tried to hold onto it, but it has gone away again. Got three loads of hay in the barn before the rain, and filled up all the hay racks for the sheep and goats, at least it is not freezing. Built a fire in the mill room stove and cleaned and organized, found more surprise bags of wool. The wool on my sheep is getting very long and is ready to be shorn. The first month of 2011 has come and gone, most of the days were too rough to work outside. The cold, long dark nights are perfect for spinning and other projects. I love the Cormo wool from Dan, the ram, so soft and long, and a wonderful felting wool for making next to the skin clothing, but it is a challenge to process without making nepps. The first step is to get all the grease completely out in the wash, so I simmer it on the wood stove. Completely different from washing and processing longwools and mohair. You can teach an old dog new tricks.