March 26th, 2010 Spring has Sprung
Well, spring has sprung around here, although the weather’s been very strange. Last Sunday it snowed all day, although after mid-morning it didn’t accumulate. The week before, it hailed. I estimate that that severe hailstorm cost about $1,000 a minute.
Other than that, we’re busy doing the normal farm chores. I sheared all but two of the sheep, and I’ve sheared one of the Angoras. I can’t shear the way they do in New Zealand, picking the sheep up and turning it every which way.
Instead, I snub the sheep up to the fence and tie it tightly. The rams are easiest because I can rope their horns to the fence and keep them still. Then I usually start by cutting a swath down the backbone (often not good wool anyway). Then I shear down the body, getting the best wool off the sides and shoulders. I put this away. Then I shear the less valuable wool off the haunches, chest, belly, etc. Some of this gets turned into mulch for the garden. Some of it can be used for rough yarn.
The goats have all kidded and the sheep have lambed. We have 3 bottle baby goats in the house right down, but they’re growing well and the little boy should soon be off the bottle.
Our neighbor saw the first cottonmouth snake of the season a few days ago and he shot it. We’ve warned Sarah not to play near the pond.
Yesterday we took Puck, the paint mini-pony, out for a drive in the cart. He’s a natural trotter, but he hasn’t been used for a while and he’s a little head-strong. We’re going to have to get him used to pulling, and minding, again. He’s small, but very strong, and if Sarah is ever going to be able to drive him, he’s going to need some firm handling.
All of this keeps us busy and out of trouble.
