Time Flies....

It's been a busy few weeks, but hopefully things will settle down a bit now. Here is a sort of update....

Two views of my booth...

Marshfield Fiber Fair
As you know Jeff got suddenly sick and died, despite all treatments. This was the week before the fiber fair, and as usual I was running 'last minute' on everything. The extra time I spent trying to nurse Jeff through left me a bit behind, but in spite of myself, I did manage to pull enough together to have a good showing for the fair. None of the roving I had sent to be processed made it back in time, but so it goes. At the last minute I pulled four fleeces from the skirted and bagged ones that were going to the fair. A repeat customer had requested them via the website. I believe I ended up taking six fleeces plus two 'back ups' that had only been skirted once. I sold four of them plus two pounds out of one of the skirted-only-once sacks. It was a merino/dorset cross and the lady wanted it for the heavy lanolin to make pin cushions! I also had some roving in various shades of fawn, plus a little black, and some grey. There were also batting of white merino/dorset--some I had cut into squares and sold according to the ounces. These went pretty well. I sold 64 ounces of roving plus the fleeces and the two silk/wool scarves I had made, making this my best year yet. Had some great neighbors, and lots of good help and company with my family and visiting with sheep and fiber friends.

Tempe was very happy I brought her box back from the fiber fair (I had to use it on the scale to weigh roving...)

Vacation:

At home, the following week I boxed up and sold six fleeces (counting the four I pulled). I think I still have about six or seven more to skirt and get listed. Monday the first day of vacation, I mostly just worried the day away. The little black ram lamb had only one descended testicle and I had scheduled for him to go to the vet's to be operated on. (I hope to post that story later too!) Sheep sometimes do not handle anesthesia very well, and can sometimes just not come out of it. At this point, almost a week later, the little guy seems no worse for wear, and is as friendly as ever. He had a very long day at the vet's but didn't really miss his stride once he got home! Also the week before his surgery I had him and his twin at the vet's ---the vet went ahead and castrated the little grey ram lamb at that time. The next evening I went ahead and banded the other three ram lambs. Jasper (the oldest lamb) and his mom went to their new home the day before. Now we are a ram free zone. Except for rotten Blue.

Two pictures of my 'view' for a day and half. See all that 'treasure'? And note two important items for manning a yard sale--cheez it snacks and a good book to read!

I also was preparing for a yard sale off and on all week. Digging out those treasures (aka junk) I've been hanging on to. It's just ridiculous how much stuff I can accumulate. The yard sale was all day Friday and half day Saturday. Since we live out in the country, there were four different outfits that scheduled the sale for those days, in hopes of drawing a bigger crowd. It seemed to work. I did 'okay' and sold allot of stuff, but seemed like I still had too much left. I've boxed up the books for the library store, and two sacks for goodwill to be dropped off Monday. Not sure what to do with all those VHS tapes! There are a couple things I'll list on Freecycle (recliner, etc). It got terribly hot and humid yesterday and it seems we are in for a stretch of that type weather. In the last few weeks I bet we've had 6 to 7 inches of rain or more. The ground is so saturated that it makes walking around hard! (esp. if you are a sheep in a mucky paddock....) Of course all that rain can really crank out the humidity once it warms up.

High cotton, er, grass for the sheepies

Finally got the ewes turned out on the lower pasture. They are less amused than you might think, since the grass is well over their heads and very wet. They lose each other often (all those bitty lambs) and there is quite a bit of squalling throughout the day. With the intense sudden heat and humidity they are really not happy campers. I sure can understand that....

Just a picture of the light on the leaves of a catalpa tree...

I transplanted some tomatoes outside but they aren't doing well at all. They got quite a beating with rain, and now the sun is intense. I stretched a light weight sheet over them to shelter them a little. I didn't get any of my garden out like I thought I would either....

Jeff's fleece getting stuffed into the tub of rainwater...

I am trying the 'Fermented Suint Method' on Jeff's fleece this year. Usually I just mulch the beautiful thing because of the rammy smell, but this year I thought I'd give this a shot. We shall see. I'll try and remember to give an update. (The FSM is basically filling a container (outside) with soft water--rain water being ideal--putting the fleece in and making sure it's all covered with water, letting it soak for seven days. From what I hear the smell is horrible, but in most cases washes out. This method uses the natural suint in the fleece to clean it and breakdown the vegetable matter. I've also heard it can go horribly wrong...)

The clematis are in full bloom. Very pretty this year. The peonies got beat down by the rain and never got to display their full glory.

It's hard to believe my vacation week is over. I hardly got started.

Fairlight Jeffrey

Fairlight Jeffrey April 21, 2003 -- May 14, 2010

Jeff came up sick over the weekend a few weeks ago. His primary symptoms were shuffling walk, head held down and no ability to eat. After five days of supportive care, vet and fellow shepherd's advice and using the 'shotgun' approach to try and address as many potential issues as possible, Jeff died.

Jeff and his twin brother Callum were the picture of health--fat and sassy and seemingly doing fine, so it was a shock to have this happen. While they are seven this year, I didn't consider that very old for the little tough Shetlands. I'm mystified about what happened.

Jeff and Cal came here 'in utero' after I bought their mom, Willow and another ewe lamb, Rain, to begin my Shetland flock. Working with their breeder, she let me board the girls through the summer and fall so that I wouldn't need to keep a ram the first year. Jeffrey and Callum were the first Shetland's born here. Over the years Jeff gave me four daughters, and many, many sons. Unfortunately I never kept one of his ewe lambs. This past year I was hoping he would give me a pretty little grey ewe lamb, but alas, he produced only rams for his last lamb crop.

Jeff and Cal were both rams until they were about three, then Callum became a monster and had an important appointment with the vet. Not long thereafter he and Jeff got into a battle (the little snots fought all the time) and Jeff got Cal down. Someday I'll post Callum's story --of his probable fractured spine and the recovery that followed. Eventually the brothers were reunited and have been pasture buds most of their lives.

As you can imagine, this has left Callum bewildered and very upset. He was near during the time that Jeff was ill, with only a cattle panel to separate them. He dutifully stayed close, coming back from the grass when Jeff would baa at him. The last evening though, Cal wandered off and I knew by the way he was acting and the way that Jeff was responding to things that his time was near.

After Jeff passed, the problem of Cal became my main focus. Callum knew that Jeff died, and was at quite a loss. Letting the girls down to graze near him in the evening helped a little. Finally I decided that I would give Cal three or four days to adjust to not having Jeff around and then I would attempt to move him in with the ewes. Cal was a ram for three years and has a full headrack so I have some concerns with how he will interact with the flock.

Cal is now in with the ewes, and like any new kid, he tries hard to keep up and figure out what is going on. Because of his horns, I had no fear anyone would pick on him. So far, other than a few words with Blue across the fence and half heartedly chasing a few ewes around he has done well. The ewes were mortified and didn't want a thing to do with him at first. After a few days though they have mellowed. Strangely enough Cal has attached himself mostly to his mom, Willow and stays pretty near to her, despite her initial dismay.

So for now he is with the ewes, and seems to be doing okay. I catch him once in a while standing in the corner of the paddock by himself staring down at his and Jeff's old home. If he gets too dorky in the fall, by then I'll have some wethers old enough to make up a wether flock for him.

So it goes. We miss you Jeff.

What's Going On?

Lots of this.....

....Skirting fleeces (removing unpleasant bits)

...measuring staple length.....

...bagging and weighing and writing descriptions..

Marshfield Fiber Fair is day after tomorrow! Am I ready? No way, no how...

There's also allot of this going on.... (grass growing)

...and ALLOT of these looks! (Boone's comments? "stupid sheep, stupid fleeces"...bored sigh")

And while some sulk, others (Ashley) make the best of it---do you think she is a little toy greedy?

Hopefully next week I'll get back into the swing of things. I'll be on vacation and am so looking towards that.

On a sadder note, Jeffery, my Shetland ram is down. All very mysterious. He can't eat, but has the strength to stand up and shuffle around, but not enough to stay standing. He can't seem to lift his head (not floppy, more stiff), but is alert. My hopes aren't high at this point. He has been on supportive therapy since Sunday, in addition to a welter of things to try and get something to work. Thanks to all the advice from a few good and kind shepherds out there. It is much appreciated.

Have a good week!

Oh Yeah, Lambs!

I finally got some updated photos of the lambs--seems like they are grown already. Here is the 2010 Crew---all eight of them!

Beautiful Fairlight Stella
(Jackdaw x Willow)--musket flecket
She is staying

Rosemary's boys (by Jackdaw)--the glue brothers (as in stick like...)
They will be staying (as wethers)

Here is the bigger boy--he is a black and white yuglet

Here is the littler turkey--he is a moorit and white yuglet flecket

Jasper--grey/white flecket
(Jeffery x Lark)
He and his mom will be going to their new home next Friday

Black and White smirslet/flecket/sokket

(Jackdaw x Luna)
Big solid boy will be going with his sister (as a wether) to his new home in June

Moorit Ewe Lamb
(Jackdaw x Luna)
Nice little ewe, will be going with her brother above to new home in June

Ultra cute Grey soon to be wether
(Jeffery x Chickie)

(Enlarged to reveal the big B. (as in Brat) keeping a close eye on things)



Solid Black twin to above ram--he is usually so close I can't take a picture. He and his brother will be listed for-sale soon.

Colors of spring....