Showing posts with label sheep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sheep. Show all posts

Monday, December 16, 2013

Winter Wool


Sheep in the Winter Night

by Tom Hennen

Inside the barn the sheep were standing, pushed close to one
another. Some were dozing, some had eyes wide open listening
in the dark. Some had no doubt heard of wolves. They looked
weary with all the burdens they had to carry, like being thought
of as stupid and cowardly, disliked by cowboys for the way they
eat grass about an inch into the dirt, the silly look they have
just after shearing, of being one of the symbols of the Christian
religion. In the darkness of the barn their woolly backs were
full of light gathered on summer pastures. Above them their
white breath was suspended, while far off in the pine woods,
night was deep in silence. The owl and rabbit were wondering,
along with the trees, if the air would soon fill with snowflakes,
but the power that moves through the world and makes our
hair stand on end was keeping the answer to itself.


Monday, August 29, 2011

Come on, Irene*! (Our day in pics)

My beardyman coming in from giving the sheep some hay to tide them over during the storm.

The Lovely Ladies of Lanolin finally venture out to graze along their new lakefront property. (They're not fans.)

We spent the afternoon eating quiche, knitting, & playing Scrabble.

My beardyman enjoying a post-Irene canoe ride in our new temporary lake.

*Reference to "Come On, Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners stolen from a friend's Facebook status. Have not been able to get it out of my head since.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Facing the Fleece

Today I took a deep breath & faced the fleece. The washing of the fleece. First up, the fleece of one of our Jacobs, Lucy Van Fleece.

Unwashed fleece (a cleaner part, to spare your tender sensibilities).

Popeye is curious at first...

...but not for long. He was no help whatsoever, I might add.

Proper footwear is important.

Beardyman scored this tub for FREE last week. Perfect for washing fleece. We ran hot water from the basement.


Tub of fleece, second soaking.
...To be continued...

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Sheared at Last!

After much ado about plenty of wool, the Lovely Ladies of Lanolin have been sheared! Enjoy a quick cellphone pic until such time that I can get some more:

There was quite a bit of wool there! Compare to this or this or even this. I better get to know my spinning wheel! And fast!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Fleece therapy in poetry


Grounded and Elevated

or The Healing Power of Fleece

On a low dank day
I urge grudging feet out to the sheep,
my gait stuttering and reluctant.

Eager muzzles seek my waiting cupped palm
for apples or grain.

Grain gone,
my hands delve deep
into their thick, shy fleece.

I come away with the must
of wool and lanolin,
walk easily back toward
my cabin,
my small family,

a little lighter.

HMMooreNiver


Posted for One Shot Wednesday. Curious? Click & see. Go on now.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Winter Woollies

Lucy von Fleece (foreground) & Frieda with the Naturally Curly Horns (background)

Hephzibah

Monday, November 29, 2010

Sweet Fleece

Please welcome The Girls!