Tempus Fugit

Not sure where July went. Lambs have grown and everyone's fleeces are starting to get that puffy look again after a close shearing in May. I love rubbing their backs and behind their ears when the wool is at this length, and from their curling lips (since they have no toes?) and wiggling rumps, they like it, too. When I look at this older image of Callie and Rollie in full fleece, I remember how quickly their wool grows, how quickly the seasons pass, and in general how time seems to fly.

Heading out to water the garden and to see how big the cukes and zucchini have grown overnight. One of the most lush gardens that I've ever grown - thanks to all the sun, warmth and primo baa-doo. Wish I could slow this summer down...

Playing with Wool

Enjoyed a full day of playing with wool on Monday with my dear friend Lori. She brought all kinds of supplies from Worcester and we picked a bunch of goldenrod to experiment with. The colors are incredible - with the white wool turning a beautiful mustard color and the oatmeal wool turning a khaki shade. Thoroughly enjoyed learning about the process of dying and even moreso learning from a special friend who shares the passion for fiber...and sheep...and gardening...and good beer...and yummy food. It was truly a special day and one I will remember for many many years. I'm now harvesting lichen on my morning walks and collecting japanese beetles to dry and grind up for using in future dye day play. Good to be reminded how important it is to play and to honor that artistic, creative part of me. Thank you, Lori, for everything!

Getting Air

I never get tired of watching the lambs bounce and jump. This is Maya when she was a few months old, springing off the hill and getting some good air.

Letting Go

I have discovered that one of the hardest parts of this sheep business is letting go. Someday, maybe I will see the benefit of all of the practice that I'm getting, and until then I will keep trying to let go with relative grace and ease. Some of the letting go experiences have been harder than others - stillborn lamb was one of the worst, and gifting Tulip and Hendricks to Nate was one of the easiest. Selling my whole flock of Jacobs four years ago to the Done Roving Farm was one of the most intense, probably because the entire flock left together at once. Yet, it was also positive because of the circumstances (an awful dog attack had seriously depleted the family's Jacob flock and left the humans traumatized and deeply hurt). The constant reminders and challenges of letting go make me think Buddhists are on to something. Leaving and letting go. It's easier with sheep than it is with people in my experience so far, but that's another story. Another time.

Sheep Show

This is an image of a wood engraving by Hilary Paynter that I found online and liked a lot- especially enjoy the distinctive personalities in each of the sheep.

Wool in my Genes

My great uncle Herbie Shuttleworth told me many years ago that he was happy I was going back to my family's roots, and while it took me a few minutes to understand what he meant, I have not been able to stop thinking about his comment since. His parents came to this country from England and started Mohawk Carpets back in the early 1900s, and my grandfathers, father and brother have always worked in the carpet industry - for Mohawk. Honestly, I have always felt a little 'out of the loop' (no pun intended) because I was not interested in carpets - selling them or anything else. But, now I find myself very involved in the proverbial roots of those rugs - raising a very old breed that hails from the same land as my ancestors. I have been drawn to these sheep and find an incredible peace when I am around them. It feels good and right to be raising them and learning to work with their wool, and I feel lucky to be able to live a life that includes them. There are no coincidences.

It Takes a Village...

Yesterday morning, I went out to the store early and got home to discover two of the sheep had escaped. One neighbor, a favorite and Bill-the-ram's namesake, had called to alert me, and another stopped after calling as well. In a nutshell, a man I've never met stopped to help and the two of them managed to get the ewes back into the pasture. I am so thankful to live in a community where people care and actually go out of their way to help others - even when the others are sheep. Needless to say, yesterday afternoon was dedicated to mending fences and securing weak spots. I wish I could teach the sheep that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Until then, I'll be keeping a closer eye on the fencing and appreciating all of the wonderful people around me. Thank you Monica and Best-of-Everything man for helping us!

Lambs Go to Shows

Two lambs from this spring, Tulip and Hendricks, have started to make some appearances at local agricultural fairs, with the recent Ossipee Valley Fair last weekend their first. Their new owner, a fantastic young man who's an active 4-H member, has plans to take them to the Maine State Fair in Bangor and then to several others including one in CT. I am very excited to see how they do and how they are received by other sheep people. Not many people were familiar with the breed, so it's awesome to know that some of my lambs are helping to educate others about this wonderful breed. Will post more as the fairs happen and hopefully we'll get a few more Babydolls in the circuit so they can be shown and judged as a breed.

Bella and Hendricks. March 2010.

classic lamb moment

Tonight, Dandelion and Lily were chewing away on some fresh hay and it quickly became clear that they were eating the same piece of grass. Closer and closer they came to each other's mouths, chewing away. When they got lip to lip, it was hilarious to see them wriggle their heads, mouths clamped tight on the strand, and snap it. I laughed out loud and could not help thinking about The Lady and The Tramp. Classic.

From mucking to blogging

Never thought I would be a blogger, but as I prepare to take my sheep hobby to another level, I had to admit that making my farm, my sheep, their wool and my wares more visible would be helped by blogging. So, here I go. The Salty Ewe Farm has officially opened for business.