The Fat Ewe Farm and Bed and Breakfast
The Fat Ewe Farm and Moose Hills Inn
Organic Permaculture Farmin' for
the Lazy Ewes
  • The Fat Ewe Farm
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • The Fat Ewe Farm Store
  • Livestock Breeds (click here to see all the breeds)
    • Angora goats
    • Icelandic Sheep
    • Jacob sheep
    • Old English Southdown Babydoll Sheep >
      • Babydoll Sheep on the Fat Ewe Farm
  • Contact Us
    • Photo Gallery (click here for some awesome photos or watch the slideshow) >
      • Video Slide Show
    • Phone Number
    • Map
  • Sale Barn
  • Recipes From the Fat Ewe
    • Old Stuff
  • How Much Meat Do You Get?
  • Ukrainian Easter Eggs
  • Moose Hills Inn

Shearing Day

4/26/2016

1 Comment

 
Today was shearing day. It has been raining and snowing for a week with well over 2 inches of rain and the sheep were quite wet through to the skin the day before yesterday. Wool, even when wet, provides warmth, so they didn't mind, but it is not really easy to shear a wet sheep. Fortunately the weather cooperated and the sun came out yesterday so it was dry enough to get the shearing done. 

I ran to the grocery store this morning since the crew was going to be here for supper and the shearers were also staying overnight. I keep a slim pantry usually, but needed some things I do not normally buy, like bread and milk. As it turns out, the shearers do not eat white bread or drink store bought milk and my guests preferred coffee. I will freeze the bread and buns. The shearers are leaving at 6 am and I am not getting up to cook them breakfast. They will pop in to pick up some items stashed in my tiny fridge prior to leaving. Robbie will bard so I will get up to say good bye and go back to sleep. 

The shearing took most of the day. There was only one shearer this year, but I was graced by the presence of 5 adult helpers, one grandbaby and two Mormon elders, who came by to continue assisting with the yard clean up. To top that off, the plumber, drywall team and electrician were working in the bed and breakfast house too. We had gone over their work the previous day, so my presence was not required there thank goodness. 

The skirting tables were grid systems from a store closeout and they panels were set on what we had, feeders and barrels to elevate them enough to work on. My new friend and business partner, Vicki, was in charge of skirting the fleece along with her friend Janet. They took off the manure tags and any very dirty wool. The wool is loosely packed in grain totes and is in the barn for now until I can unwrap the bundles and ensure they are 100% dry prior to packing away. The two men in kilts were a father and son and Janet was the mom/wife and Vicki and her partner Gord were there helping too. I feel very honoured they would take a midweek day off, drive 2.5 hours each way from Edmonton and come out to help. I am grateful to say the least. 

The shearing went fine, the skirting went well, the sheep were not happy though because they had to be off feed and water for 18 hours. The girls were given some alfalfa and lots of hay and fresh water and after finishing the rest of the necessary chores, I called it a night. I am tired, but content and it was indeed a very good day thanks to these wonderful people. Thank you to all who were present, for your presence was my present. (corny?) I really and truly appreciated each one of you. The job is done for this year and summer is on its way. 
Picture
John, one of the men in kilts who came to help.
Picture
Patrick, the shearer.
Picture
Gord, Dan, John and Haley with Patrick busy working. Isn't it always that way where one person is slaving away and the others are watching hard.
1 Comment
Vicki
4/28/2016 09:47:33 am

It was a glorious day! Warm and sunny enough to dry some of the damp fleeces. 3 skirting tables allowed us to do so!

Thank you so much for supper! You are truly a marvellous cook!!

We will see you soon.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Airstream Land Yacht 1964
    Alpacas
    Alpine Goats
    Ameraucana Chickens
    American Buff Geese
    Ancona Ducks
    Angora Goats
    Angora Goats
    Angora Rabbits.
    Babydoll Southdown Sheep
    Babydoll Southdown Sheep
    Bed And Breakfast
    Berkshire Pigs
    Blue Faced Leicester Sheep
    Blue Swedish Ducks
    Boer Goats
    Border Collie
    Border Collie
    Bronze Turkey Standard
    Bronze Turkey (Standard)
    Canadian Horses
    Canadian Horses
    Cats
    Chickens
    Cotswold Sheep
    Crafts And Hobbies
    Cream Legbar Chickens
    Dorset Sheep
    Ducks
    Embden Geese
    E'st A Laine Merino Sheep
    Farm Life
    Farm Life
    Farm Store
    Finnsheep
    Flemish Giant Rabbit
    Flowers
    French Lop Rabbit
    Galloway Cattles
    Gardening
    Gotland Sheep
    Guinea Fowl
    Herbs
    Holstein Steer
    Icelandic Sheep
    Jacob Sheep
    Japanese Bantam Chickens
    Jersey Cow
    Kahaki Campbell Ducks
    Karakul Sheep
    Kiko Goats
    Kilo Highland Cows
    Light Sussex Chicken
    Livestock Guardian Dogs
    Livestock Guardian Dogs
    Maremma Sheepdogs
    Maremma Sheepdogs
    Meishan Pigs
    Miniature Nigerian Dwarf Goats
    Moose Hills Inn
    Muscovy Ducks
    Norwegian Red Dairy Cow
    Nubian Goats
    Nygora Goat
    Ossabaw Hogs
    Partidge Chantecler Chickens
    Pekin Ducks
    Permaculture
    Pied Guinea Fowl
    Polish/Ameraucana Bantam Cross Chickens
    Polled Dorset Sheep
    Potbelly Pigs
    Pygmy Goats
    Recipes
    Rigit Galloway Cows.
    Romanov Sheep
    Romney Sheep
    Rouen Ducks
    Saddleback Pomeranican Geese
    Saxony Ducks
    Sebastopol Geese
    Sheep And Goats
    Shetland Sheep
    Silver Spangled Hamburg Chicken
    Soap And Hand Made Cosmetics
    Standard Jack Donkey
    Sustainability
    Swiss Blackneck Goats
    The Llamas
    The Llamas
    Toulouse Geese
    Tunis Sheep
    White Chantecler Chickens
    White Danish Geese
    Wool

    Author

    Fluffy writes daily about the experiences on the farm and with the bed and breakfast patrons. 

    Archives

    October 2020
    September 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    view old blog site

    RSS Feed

Contact Us
Home

The Fat Ewe Farm 

All text and photos are the sole property of The Fat Ewe Farm  and may not be used without written permission.