Category Archives: Sheep

Does Madge Miss Edna?

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After a lovely morning in Sandness, Pepper had a grudging rest in the afternoon while I made another hand-felted Shetland sheep to add to my collection.

It is that time of the year, again, when there are not enough hours in the day to do everything on my list  This is all my remaining stock – the little sheep are selling very well and I can’t keep up with demand despite making a sheep every day even in the quieter winter months.

This just proves to me that Pepper is feeling better.  She is waiting to go and get her tea.

And is impatient for me to let her out.

I decided to give myself a break and went to sit in the real sheep field.  I remember worrying about Madge when her mother, Edna, died.  I didn’t think she would manage but she did and I am pleased she is not desolate without her mentor to guide her.

Madge has made her own friends now and is comfortable and settled in the flock, which is all I ever wanted for her (though if she could be a bit tamer (read grateful) that would be nice).

After wolfing down her supper, Pepper found me sitting in the field.  There is no escape.

While Pepper sat quietly looking for intruders, I chatted to Gussie.

Now Gus-Gus never has to be asked to be tamer or more helpful.  His one aim in life is to be by my side at all times and if I could just trip up over him too, then that would be perfect!

Sorting Wool

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After a morning packing vegetables at Turriefield, I went over to my friend, Monika, at Collaster Croft to “skirt” my sheep fleeces.

(sadly without the help of Pepperpot who would only get in the way).

Monika took me to her shed, where she works, and has a lovely long table just perfect for this very job.  I had stored each newly sheared fleece in a hessian bag so it could breathe.  We got them out and laid out each fleece, one at a time removing all the nasty bits and debris.

It was interesting seeing what the wool was like and Monika took three fleeces for herself (Lambie, Dahlia and Maggie). She makes and sells handmade felted fleece pads, ideal for chairs etc.

Photograph – Monika Rudin-Burgess – Collaster Croft

Monika very kindly gave me this fleece pad made from Dahlia’s wool last year.  I adore it.  I already have one made from Lambie’s wool which is on my work chair in my shed (now something in my eye, sniff – so proud he has value or worth with his “carpet quality” wool) and also Edna (again, something in my eye, sniff, as this is the last piece I have of her).

Photograph – Monika Rudin-Burgess – Collaster Croft

You can find Monika’s work on her Instagram account.  She is very clever.

Anyway, out of my fleeces, I have the following available:
‘Ster – katmoget
‘Bert – moorit
Gussie – Shetland black
Maggie – Shetland black
Madge – white

This is ‘Ster’s katmoget fleece.  It is gorgeous.

Probably Gussie’s, though it could be Barrel’s.

If anyone wants a fleece, let me know.  I am happy to post anywhere if you’re happy to pay postage and a donation.  Just think, you too could have one of my sheep (well, the wool). It would be just like they were here with you!

 

How the Tables have Turned

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Well, the tables have turned.

The only sheep who will talk to me these days, without getting up and walking away in disgust, is Lambie.  I thought he would be aloof like normal.

But, no, he was all sweetness and light complete with Winning Smile.  Dear boy.  We luffs little Lambie.

I  was actually in the sheep field with my pockets stuffed full with a bottle of painkillers, syringe and collar for ‘Bert – he is limping and very withdrawn.  I had everything well hidden but he knew and refused to have any discussion at all.  I couldn’t get near him.

I reckon I could’ve talked to ‘Ster if I had wanted to – I stroked his head and told him he looked so handsome but it was really Bert I was after and wanted to treat.

So very handsome, though.

The others were all a bit mad too so I left them alone. Barrel suffered from stranger-danger about me and I am not the one who has been sheared and looks different!  Everyone is in a very weird mood – it happens when they are sheared.  I should be used to this by now.

Anyway, as I watched Bert vanishing into the middle distance, I told myself that if he could run away and avoid capture, then he can’t be that ill, can he?  However, I will keep trying.

Shearing Today

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I received a message from my shearer saying he could shear the sheep Wednesday a.m.  The forecast was rain and then more rain the night before so, rattling a packet of Rich Tea biccies, I got the sheep inside yesterday evening so they wouldn’t be soaking wet.

This decision did not make me popular but there it was.

Morgan, my shearer, arrived nice and early and got to work. First up ‘Bert.

And then all the rest.

Maggie was particularly vile to Lambie when he came out all newly sheared and pretended she didn’t know who he was anymore.

They are always like that and Lambie got very upset at being hassled.

I had to go to town to collect  my car, amongst other things and, as the sheep all said they wanted to go into the field (still raining), I let them in.  Next thing they wanted back out again and went back to bed.  Fair enough.

When I got home from town, I found the sheep milling around. I think they are much so better for having their fleeces off.  There was lots of scratching and needing reassurance that I still love them even if they think they look different.

I did learn that no one is too fat (with the exception of Barrel and possibly Gussie) and  I was pleased to see how well the old ones look – Lambie, Bert and Ster. I had been worrying they came out of winter thin.

I think Dahlia looks glorious.

And Lambie, of course.  He’s still very handsome in an only-a-mother-could-love-him sort of way.

Best of news of all was that the world’s fattest sheep, aka Madge, is now deemed as “not as fat as she was and has been much worse”.  So that was encouraging.

So that’s that. Everyone sheared for the year and looking good.

Sheep and Horses

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A few random photos from my day.

Some of the sheep.

I title this “the only thing holding you back, Lambie, is yourself”.

The Magnificent Three.  Rule the world, this lot could – a horse, a duck and a dog (sounds like some weird logic puzzle).

There was a potential intruder situation at the front door.  I had to pay a fee – apparently an apple core is the going rate.

Then again when I went into my shed to make my daily hand-felted Shetland sheep.  I heard the door handle rattle (Haakon’s one skill). I knew it was him and opened the door.

And, yes, I gave in and Haakon got a shortbread finger or three.

Later on, I couldn’t find anyone when I went outside to poo-pick around the place, but eventually located the horses standing outside the field-gate waiting to go back in.  Usually, I have to wave my walking stick and herd them all there but today they were already around.

So I opened the gate and waited…..

And waited (I love Iacs’ expression, btw).

And lastly, as they wanted to come home early, I let the sheep in.

Note-to-self – arrange for them to be sheared.  I think they could do with it now.

And I title this “Nobody puts Lambie in a corner” because he can do it all by himself!