Short back and sides

It's that time of year again. Sheep shearing. Our two retired ewes fleeces are not the best of quality that's for sure. I have tried spinning and felting with but it is too bouncy. The only place for our two's is the bin or compost. Even then last year I tried to compost them (the fleeces not the sheep) do you think they would rot down - no. I was left with smelly sheep fleece all over the veggie patch and warm mice for the winter. Best place for them the bin. (that is the fleeces, if you talk to farmer J he will say the sheep!)

One year before we sold our small flock we called in a shearer with his electric shears, quick and efficient (and cheap, €2 a fleece) with the shearer taking the fleeces away (to sell for insulation). It was far easier for farmer J as anyone who has sheared a sheep will know it is a bit tough on the old back.

So the shearer turned up, sheep at the ready it was over in a very short period of time. Some did look as they were turning a bit punky with the blue spray that had to be used on their nicks and cuts but they didn't seem to mind. He even left a pom pom on the ram, how dashing he looked!

Embarrassingly the old bloke didn't even want to keep the fleeces. That's when I realised they were no good and it would be a waste of time washing and preparing said fleeces, so in a black bin liner they go.

This year shearing was quick and stress free (for the ewes) they kind of just laid there propped up in a state of sleepiness only being reshuffled when they slipped down too far. At around 80 kg's each they are not light weights (heavy bones apparently). They only have to take care of themselves, eating most of the time their lambing days way behind them, now into middle age (and spread it shows).

Farmer J found the shears slipped round their torsos as he snipped away, more rounded than bony the shears didn't get stuck. In record time (for an ageing farmer with a dodgy back) they were ship shape and ready for the outside to see, chickens and pigs that is.

Yes it all went very smoothly. Not sure the ewes thought as much they stayed in the barn all day looking very sheepish.

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2ENJ093 - FRANKLIN

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Parisot lake

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The English Paysanne

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