Tag Archives: handmade sheep

Resentment and Winning Smiles

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Today I went to town to do everything as quickly as possibly so I could get home again and not have to go back for a while.  Well, that’s how I feel about going to town.  I also had a hospital appointment.

I popped into Jamieson’s Knitwear to re-stock my field. When I had phoned them earlier, they had requsted just white sheep so that’s what I took in.  Apparently white sheep are the most popular.

I also stopped to admire their nautical themed window display.  Very clever, I thought.

At home, I was met by resentment.  I would’ve taken her (she was asked about at the Bank when I went in) but I didn’t like the idea of her sitting in the car for all that time while I went to hospital, etc.  So resentment it was.

But also waiting for me were some lovely Winning Smiles from the sheep.  Mostly Gussie. He is such a dude.

A little one from Lambie. It feels a bit grudging by his usual standards.

And Tiddles was happy to see me.

Daisy and I spent some time with the sheep because it is always a good way to lose the I-have-been-to-town feeling.  It is a different world out there.

  

And back to my shed to make only white sheep for a while.

A Failed Minimalist

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Temperatures are dropping and it has been a freezing cold and windy day with intermittent showers of hail so I stayed indoors. Even the dogs turned back on their dog-walk and went home.

After an early lunch (and I have no idea why I decided it was lunchtime when it was actually 11.30 – odd!), I went to my shed and made the little chap on the far right.

And then I decided to try an experiment.  I have been looking at all the family things that I brought home with me when my mother died and am trying to decide what to sell – I just have so much stuff.

Transcribing Great-Great Aunt Kate’s diaries has made me realise that Kate sold things she didn’t want and maybe I should too.  She was always going to shops and flogging jewellery and books, etc. while I seem to hang on to everything regardless.

While I was considering what to do with all this “stuff”, I found an old “Polyfoto” booklet of Aunt Kate, so I took it to pieces carefully and made a rough film of the photos – I think I will make a better one using the scanner.  This first one was just an experiment to see if it would be worth it. I think it would.

So here is an example of something I could sell ….. I have no idea how to describe it.  A vintage toy – the head is made of bisque with hand-painted face and a silk material stuffed “body”.  The tongue protrudes and wobbles – ugh!  That can go.

And I love these but I don’t really need them….. They live in their little box in a drawer. I find them occasionally and think how cleverly made they are but possibly sell?

I also have a plethora of old jewellery.  Mostly Edwardian, like these antique 1900s diamanté filigree dress adornments.

I was thinking I could buy a large oval gilt frame and display all the pretty sparkly jewellery in it on a blue velvet background.  Well, that’s the plan.

I am rambling because I just can’t make up my mind and I hate selling family things but then my house is full, full of stuff that lives in boxes that I rarely look at.  I am a failed minimalist.

A Weird Day

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Today started strangely with a duck first thing on my porch roof.  I’ve never seen one there before.  Pretty but not the usual occurrence.

I don’t know if he flew there by accident or on purpose, though he is definitely one of mine.

Then a potential album cover.  My band will obviously be called “The Black Sheep”.

Flossie and I had set this morning aside for the farrier and I managed to get all the sheep into their day-time field, all except Lambie who was busy finding himself somewhere else (he went out later to join the others or wander about unloved by himself).

Stephen got to work trimming those that needed it, along with his BFF, Pepper who of course “helped”.

She even did a spot of “riding” too, although she is not nearly as proficient as my previous Patterdale terrier, BeAnne, who could actually sit to walk, trot and even a little canter.

Kolka had her feet done….

As did Iacs and I was just beginning to think this was going to be an expensive morning if everyone needed a trim….

But luck would have it, it was just Albie in the other field, out of five, and we were finished.  Everyone was looked at and deemed to be fine.  No laminitis or anything, so I am hugely relieved as this time of year is when things start going wrong.

Lunch and into my shed to make a sheep.

I heard yowling.

I let in the yowling, gave him a bed, told him to shut up and to stop prodding me with his claws.  I had work to do.

(the black marks on Monster’s head and tips of ears are car/van oil.  I think he has been busy cutting brakes – I told you this was a weird sort of day)

Anyway, today’s creation.

 

My Winter Horse Keeping Method

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The old folk – that is Haakon, Kolka, Iacs, Vitamin and Fivla – are doing well.  They live at the bottom of a rather steep and slippery hill in the field that is inside the track.

This field hasn’t been grazed for two years and is a naturally sheltered valley too, so they can get out of the wind if they want.

Everyone is wearing a rug and the difference has been huge in so many ways.

No one is miserable, shivering or cold.  They just eat, most of the time or rest.

So far, they have kept their weight on and I am very pleased about that – weight maintenance in winter is a constant worry.  The field is holding up well too and hopefully we will get a few more weeks out of it before I move them again.  I don’t want to over-graze as I think it will be useful again next winter.

Keeping everyone outside as much as possible has meant the old horses and ponies are much healthier and “normal”, if you know what I mean. Yes, there is the routine of breakfast but no one is hanging around after looking miserable and wanting to come inside (unless it is beyond vile and then obviously they’re in).  When it rains, I don’t worry.  Their state-of-the-art high neck rugs (and am buying for the old ladies and Tiddles too) are doing the job perfectly and mentally, I think I can see a huge positive change because no one is struggling.

I have decided that this is the best way to keep them in the winter.  Loads of food and good rugs, preferably with high necks (that makes such a difference). The minute anyone can’t cope with this regimen and just wants to be inside all the time, then I will just have to think again.  But, for the time being, it is working.

Anywho, today’s ouvrage!

To join les autres.