Before I even started looking for Mama the sheep I began asking around about a local shearer. Sheep need to be shorn every year, they are mountain animals, they thrive in the winter but to leave all that wool on a sheep in the summers here would be awful. So a local shearer was critical to my plan. And I found one. For fifty dollars and a jar of honey he drives all the way out here and shears the sheep.
Yesterday The Shearer called me in the morning and told me that he was coming in the afternoon. This was kind of short notice as the sheep had been out in the rain. Usually I would put them in the night before. But this man is a gift. So I brought all the sheep into the barn and penned them to await the arrival of their hairdresser.
We began with Hairy MacLairy who was pronounced a big sheep.
You are not wrong there, mate.
The Shearer is a man of few words. 
And the job is done in quick smart time. He has been out to NZ to the shearing competitions but never took to the NZ shearers garb of black singlet and seldom washed woolen pants tied up with baling twine. So he and I were twinnies in our clown suits.
Shearers have very strong backs.
Luckily I was just the sheep sorter and rousie. As he took one out, I brought another one into the holding pen and swept the worst of the wool away, so the fleece was partly sorted. We swiftly worked our way down to Mama.
And with a big grin at the sight of his honey, The Shearer packed up his gear and rode off into the sunset in his broken down old red truck. No flies on him, he is in and out at speed.
Leaving behind a delighted flock of naked sheep.
Even Hairy is a new man.
Daisy managed to get out into the grass as well though it is way too soft for her big self.
And I was left with a huge pile of beautiful if slightly damp fleeces. These will all be spread out in the sun today, (luckily I think I might get some sun today). I shall pick out all the nasty bits then they will be rolled and packed into a cardboard box for their trip to the mill.
Good morning. I have found a mill up Chicago way who will turn this raw wool into skeins of soft white yarn. So if you are a knitter with some spare time let me know as I am looking for someone (to pay) to knit me a couple of big jerseys (jumpers) for the winter. The rest I will make into woolly hats and scarves as rather wonky christmas presents for the children of the families, which is about my limit.
So my work is cut out for me today. You all have a lovely day too.
Oh and the bees: So far each day I have seen bees moving in and out of each hive. After the first day when there was a lot of manic activity it seems that they have settled somewhat.
The chicks: Have adjusted well to their new surroundings and are even up sitting on their mini perches which is a relief.
Daisy: Her milk is clean once more and she is in a much better frame of mind.
Blue: Still goes to sleep in his little box at the door in the evening, and is right there still asleep in the morning. I have not put up the verandah gates since that first night. So far the only time he is in a crate is at milking time, and yesterday I did not even shut the door. I just say ‘in your corner’, and he goes and sits there with the kittens (who are no longer kittens) and waits for his fresh warm milk.
Back: No pain this morning! YAY. “Yes Mothers, I shall be extra careful today.”
Have a lovely day.
your friend celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
62 responses to “There’s a sheep in that sheep! Shearing Day.”
This post brings back memories of the farm where I worked in Upstate New York — just a little hobby farm, but we had Dorsets and Oxfords. I was just a kid then, but they expected from me the work of an adult, something that was so difficult and made me really proud.
One of my favorite things was going into the barn in the winter, and all the sheep would move to the back and away from me, but two brothers — Frick and Frack — who had been bottle-fed as babies would always come forward. Loved this post today, Cecilia!
i am so glad that it brought back memories for you, i also love the barn in the winter, in fact i can get quite caught in there just watching.. c
Hi, Are you interested in Sheep Shearing Singlets, Jumpers, Hoodies, Pants??
That’s a lovely pile of fleece! My friend Karla, who raises her flock for meat, sends her fleece to an organization that weaves blankets to be given away at shelters…such a neat idea.
Wishing you sun and warmth from here on out…or Hairy’s new name will be Chilly Willie! 😀
I will tell him, one more day and then i think we are going to warm up! Fingers crossed.. AGAIN!.. c
This is like The Thorn Birds or something 😀
I loved that book, now, send in the priest!!
It was a great read.
I love the look of newly shorn sheep. They look like spring.
It really is a very springy look, and you know there is two weeks between a bad hair cut and a good one, so soon they will look less.. um.. shorn!! morning.. c
Yay! Shearing day :-D.
I got the idea of finding a mill from you and they are really lovely people, we will drive the fleeces up and they are going to show us through! c
Hairy looks happier. Great post — it’s easy to forget how much there is to do and think about when caring for animals. How do you have time to blog?
I have my blog written and posted by 6am. Then I start work, in the afternoon I load the pics. I am not very good at visiting to tell the truth.. c
Good morning Celi; fantastic entry covered all the bases enjoy the sunshine and be a blessing to one today mike
Morning Mike, some days you feel like you are getting somewhere and yesterday was one of those! c
the sheep and Mama looked really cute in their new bare coats..you are so well organised!
Bees.is good…milk is good…chicks is good. and Blue is learning well…and the sun is shining..all is right with the world AND best of all your back is getting better,,but take care with it
Amen. You’ve said it all, Whiplash.
Sun beats all too!! everyone is out of the barn today! c
And my sewing ladies came and ate coffee/walnut cake on the verandah and purred.
I had forgotten how cute they are when they’re naked! Hopefully you’ll be getting warm weather soon or you may have to make them coats out of their own wool.
Yay for being pain free! 🙂
That is an hilarious image, i would do that just for a laugh you know.. hairy would even let me put it on! c
Wow! Those sheep certainly look smart! They must feel so much lighter. Shearing in the glen doesn’t happen until June.
Christine
June, I can see why, I think we timed it just right with this shear as it is due to warm up next week.. hopefully.. c
We have a woolen mill in my community which has been around for, I don’t know, a hundred years. They produce blankets. You are certainly blessed to have that sheep shearer who sweeps in and out for $50 and a jar of honey.
Blankets, would they turn my wool into blankets? Wouldn’t that be fantastic.. c
Your “nekked” sheep are adorable!!! And what a nice pile of fleece to have!!!
Isn’t it fantastic, I wish I had paid attention when Mum was teaching me to knit! c
Quick send me your address I want to post Hairy a hat, poor bald boy 🙂 Laura
Laugh!! he took his top knot off too! I should have told the shearer to leave it on and he could have looked like a poodle!! c
As I’m reading this I’m thinking, how nice to have everything right with the world this morning Celi. 🙂 I always check in with you in my morning and it’s lovely to have good news from you. Makes my morning a little more optimistic…if you know what I mean…that my friend is doing well. So big hugs to you…but not too tight so your back doesn’t start to hurt. 🙂
veronica you are such a darling, what a wonderful thing to say! your gentle hugs are gratefully received.. c
Wish I could knit you a jumper Celi. I know the thick wooly kind you are talking about from my own wonderful New Zealand adventures. So happy it is finally warming up and the animals are eating grass! xo
I feel so much better when they are out, really Daisy should not be, as the ground is too soft, so she only gets a few hours, but the sheep can stay out now..(though they have the option to come into the barn to shelter until they acclimate to their wool-less ness).. c