Shearing With a Twist

2017 shearing is now in the books...... what a shearing it was!  Last fall, my new found friend, Marie from Olive Knits asked if she could do a little field trip during shearing.  Sure...why not?  Sounded like a great idea and something that was in line with what I want this ranch to become.....going back to roots.  In mid January, when my shearing friend called to book a date....the second weekend in April sounded perfect!  It was a little later than last year but I figured the date would make for better field trip weather!

Marie contacted me again to finalize the plans for the field trip and a couple of weeks ago I went into overdrive.  The overdrive of....must beautify the place....people are coming!  My nephew came out and we applied the next layer of beautifying the barn so field trip attendees could walk  through and watch.  Old barn wood was moved, walk ways swept of decades of crud, ancient milk stations torn down and the treasures of the deep things found in the feed that had fallen between the cracks hauled out.  I wonder without answers when the milking portion of the barn was added?  It can't be original 1856 because of the concrete that was used, or so I think.

But back to beautifying....I hauled in a dumpster and got rid of most of the garbage that was left behind post estate sale.  Last on my list of things to do was: put up more lighting and buy new plywood.....which I put off to the last minute.  Friday dawned and the wind storm that was predicted hit with full force and I found myself in 40 mph wind gust trying to finish up!

Not thinking to ask until the last minute how many people were coming....Marie told me...15!  GAH! I began to plan how to park that many cars, plus all the help that was needed for the main event.  My friend was also planning on brining her sheep over the night before.....another 20 or so headed through the barn with her trailer housing her rams overnight.  Mother Nature took care of some of the parking....my friend could not get the sheep here early enough to have them be dry for shearing.  She stayed home and will shear in May.  Details were falling into place.

Saturday dawned bringing with it a little sun peaking through the dark clouds.  I got up early and had the lighting and pens set so when the shearer arrived, he just needed to set his equipment.....and sounds system.  I had been running the sheep through the barn all week to get them used to going in.  Last year was crazy...this year, the sheep were perfect.  We loaded the staging area and then waited.

The field trip attendees arrived and fun began.  Jake, my shearer, is a professional shearer.  He travels around shearing big mobs...I think he said he is a 5th generation shearer.  He took a few breaks to talk to the ladies about the details of shearing.  My sheep producing friend, Emily talked about sheep production in the valley.  My friend, Adele, taught them about all things wool. The whole day had a festive feel to it........while the sheep were shorn and tended to....feet trimmed, sheep wormed and vaccinated.  I ended the day with a little demo...ala Bella...down in the big field.  She LOVED showing off and of course, did not want to come back up once we were done.

I'm hoping Maria does a little write up on the day for her blog.  I have no photos of the day to share myself.....I stole this off my friend's Facebook page......

Now, Instagram is filled with pictures and stories of the field trip from new friends.  @rockingdog tags are allowing me to see the day through other's eyes.  I wish I could steal some of those photos....but alas, I can't figure out how to do that on Instagram.

I soldier on, my list of "what is important" hangs on the wall behind my computer.  Relationships are top of that list.....through all the interactions, work, help, and fun..... the day of shearing was THAT.

Seize the day.