Sheepish Makeovers

Yesterday was sheep shearing day...
and not a minute too early for these gals.

The pictures start here...


with two calm sheep just waiting in the barn for the shearer...
actually... one calm sheep and one hiding sheep.


The story, however, starts a half hour earlier.
And no... there was no way I could take photos of the process of getting these two sheep
moved from their yard to the barn.
To say it was difficult is an understatement.
It was almost impossible.
It took me pulling with all my might and Hubbs pushing with all of his to get
these gals to move.
We had to do it one-at-a-time...and the process moved along an inch at a time.
When these gals decide they don't want to do something...
well... it pretty much takes a village to change their minds.
Next time we hope to have a village.

Once they were in the barn, though, they settled down and were compliant.
Meanwhile, Hubbs and I and the dogs waited out on the lawn for the shearer.


It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, so we enjoyed just sitting there


soaking in the sun.


The shearer arrived and got right to work.
Hope went first.


In less than a half hour, her fleece was removed...
about ten pounds of wool.


What remains is the softest (and much cleaner) wool that is just drenched in lanolin.
I rubbed my hands all over her to get some of that lanolin on my skin.


It's got to feel so much better to have that wool gone and to be able to see again!

Next was Faith's turn...and it progressed exactly as Hope's did.


In a matter of moments, our chubby brown sheep
became a mottled, grey sheep.


As soon as they were finished, I opened the front door of the barn
and they ran the whole way home...


with no need for encouragement.


Boy were they happy to be back in familiar territory...
and were no longer panting from the heat.


It's tough to wear a wool coat, that is more than two inches thick, in this warmer weather.


I've donated this year's fleeces to the 4H.
They will use them to learn to card and spin and weave.
(I still have wool left from last year's shearing that I can use.)

Comments

Colleen said…
Who would ever think by the looks of those sweet faces that they could give you such a hard time. I think Moonbeam sensed they were stressed.
Shorts,green grass...there IS hope for northern ME!
Louise Stopford said…
I bet those little ladies feel much better now - they look lovely!! They must have been so glad to be home (aren't we all). They must have thought it was a very scary process.
Ahhhh.. I feel so much better now!! LOL... it was getting tough to "see" them in their thick wool coats. :-) I'm giggling at the thought of that struggle to get them to the stall in the barn

jaz@octoberfarm said…
what a relief! now they are ready for the change of season. it must feel so liberating to lose all that wool.
daisy g said…
Even the Ritz didn't work? Wow! It looks like sweet Moonbeam is trying to comfort them.

Shorts! Enjoy the sunshine, y'all!
Dee J. Hartman said…
What a neat tale, Bev!...Sharing Shearing!
Dee J. Hartman said…
I had a gentle smile and chuckle, too, envisioning the thought of getting the gals into the barn!
Yes, I saw that the handsome young shearer was wearing a 4-H t-shirt!
It was so nice of you to donate the wool to 4-H kids--hope they appreciate it and learn all kinds of things from it!! You will have to work on getting them to come in more often with nothing happening to them--except treats--so that next year it won't be such a big job!!! Love the after photos--they look soooo different!!
enjoy, di
This N That said…
Isn't it funny how animals think that if they can't see you, you can't see them..One of my cats used to bury it's head under my upper arm when I took it to the Vets..Hope and Faith should be happy without their winter coats..I know, I am..
Country Gal said…
Lovely photos and post .I bet those sheep feel very light now with all that wool off . Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !
Bee Haven Bev said…
Next year you can come and help, Dee! Did a little birds tell me right.... today is your birthday? Happy Birthday!
diane in northern wis said…
Awww, I love your sheep Bev...and now they can SEE again!!!! Poor things in that first pic...especially Faith hiding in the corner! So glad they survived it once again! What a great idea to donate the wool this year! Thanks for a great blog story!
Marilyn F. said…
I used to get my sheep to go anywhere following a pan of grain. Sort of like the Pied Piper. Nice of you to donate the wool - sound like it will go to good use.