So far, Summer has been hopeless. It is a complete washout and far too cold to shear anyone. I hate being this late and I am trying hard not to worry. I mean it is only July but usually everyone is sheared by June and there seems to be no let up in the weather forecast.
Harrel-the-Barrel
Harrel-the-Barrel
Edna
Madge
Maggie
Lambie
Lambie, again
Ster
Bert
Bert
No one is complaining that they haven’t been sheared, except on the odd day when it gets slightly warmer and then they all lie around like beached whales. But that is brief and one year, when we sheared them in June and it got cold, I ended up having to put coats on Lambie (who forgot how to think) and Edna (who left for warmer climes and got lost in the hill. I had to bring her home). So we don’t want to go there again.
And so I am trying my best not to overthink this. It is only the beginning of July. Summer might appear, mightn’t it? The Shetland ponies are still wearing their rugs. I told you Summer hasn’t turned up yet. I am fed up.
I hear you Frances. Our summer has been cold and wet so far too. Hope we all get some nice summer weather soon. and so you can get your sheep friends sheared. They surely do have big wooly coats! Especially Harrel!
Wish I could send some of our (NJ) heat your way. We have plenty to share.
I wish I could share some heat too. The sheep are looking magnificent.
Hi Frances. We’ve been the same. We’re on the Northumberland border. It’s been so wet all the time I haven’t been able to shear as their fleeces have been too wet but also no ‘rise’ and last year was almost as bad so we were later last year as well. Only started getting mine done mid to end of July and I’ve still got 2 to do as we only had a short spell (few days!) of dry weather. It is a massive worry because they need to not be sheared too late before the weather gets even colder and wetter and we’re into Autumn! Hope you’ve managed to get yours done now.