Thursday, May 8, 2008

Baa Baa Black Sheep, have you any wool?

Yes, sir, yes, sir, MANY bags full!!! :> Shearing day arrived on Monday when Anthony came and sheared 17 of the 26 that needed their yearly haircuts. He returned on Tuesday to finish the other 9. We usually shear over the course of 2 days because we all work full time, and there are not enough hours in a day to get the job done.
Anthony is shearing Rare Find Farm Cory, our 3 year old fawn katmoget ram. He has been a wonderful addition for our flock. Cory's father is Underhill Gordon, and his mother is Windswept Rosemerta. He has a wonderful, gentle demeanor that he passes on to his lambs. He is friendly yet very respectful. When he was waiting his turn to be shorn, he just stood there while Katie held his halter, no butting or fuss.
Anthony loves Cory's fleece. It is very crimpy and lustrous and extremely soft. He is passing this softness to his lambs. We love to use him on our longest fleeced ewes which is how we are getting nice, soft, wavy, long fleeces on our lambs. Two of his sons were Champion and Reserve Champion rams at the North Carolina Mountain State Fair last September.
Wow, look at that fleece. (Yes, a bit of VM-vegetable matter.)
25 bags full to be exact!! (Our other fleece was from Peep, Lauren's first market lamb, who is 12 years old. Her fleece went with the shearer to a wool pool.) Time to start skirting fleeces. Most will go to Frankenmuth's Woolen Mill, and we will hold 6 or 7 to show in the fall. Oh, the lovely smell of raw sheep's wool as you walk into our house! I guess it's a smell only a shepherd could love!

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