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.”
A midnight message of all things! But just had to comment on this very Australian/Kiwi spring scene on any sheep station! Great photos and do wish I was closer to knit you to a couple of big comfy ones 🙂 ! And would love to see the waiting line of Blue and the kitties at the milk bar!! Big yawn: ni-night 🙂 !
ni ni darling.. c
Poor Hairy – he looks like a white calf!
Glad to hear your back’s better 😉
Thank you Mad, Hairy is a trifle comical at the moment! c
That sure is a lot of beautiful wool; wishing I was a good knitter!
Now the poor babies look naked, do they mind being sheared?
Wow, that must be fun: a lot of product in very little time. This doesn’t seem like very much payment for a big job, but maybe it looks bigger than it is? And how do the sheep react? Are they fretting to lose their coats, or are they relieved? Hope you get some sun–we do seem to be turning the corner here in New England. Donna
The shearer seems to have done a beautiful job on the ladies, but on poor H.Mc.— not so much. He needs to borrow Big Dog’s zebra coat!
Do they mind being man-handled and “bent out of shape”? Roughed up? I sure hope there were no cuts!
It is all over so fast they only have time to wriggle a bit and he is firm and no cuts.. in fact they have been running about the field today excited at the lightness i guess! c
Hairy?! What a great new look! I wish I had time to knit for you- but the last socks I cast on three years ago are still on their needles! One of these days …
For a second there C. I thought you meant there was a baby sheep in one of the sheep that you didn’t know about till they were shorn, when I read the post title. Wouldn’t that have been something! 🙂
Amazing shearing shots and yes, I too thought of the Thornbirds looking at them! Shall we call you Meggy from now on?? 🙂
So glad your back is on the mend…it probably hurt watching the shearer though a?
I’m so glad your back is ever so much better…sunshine probably helps in that department too. We are warming up…70* today and by Tuesday of next week 80*!!! Which means the snow will melt and we will see if there is any more water for the farm. Warmth always helps my approach to living and sunshine makes everything worthwhile!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
lovely shorn sheep! i do think i saw that you are getting warm! good bee news!
Your blog makes me happy every day. Thank you for sharing your farm world with us.
Reading your blog always puts me in a good mood. Mwah!
Hopefully the sheep won’t get too cold! Seems like it is still chilly there.
The look on hairy’s face is priceless…The girls look clean and new
Hairy looks..well…umm….awkward ? I love that Ram !!!!!!
SPRING is threatening here in Colorado as the the yellow ball is
supposed to warm us for a few days without an appearance from
that white stuff that falls to help May flowers !
Have a great day Celi…love reading your blog !!
N
How fancy they look in their new outfits! Spring is the perfect time for a new do. 😉
The sheep look so fresh and beautiful after their haircuts,
Blue sky,sunshine and warmer air for all of you to enjoy. Have a great day.
Hairy is hardly recognizable!! I hope it gets abit warmer so they don’t get too chilled.
Take care of your back!