On to brighter subjects

Thanks to those who commented on yesterday's post about Inky (Kaleidoscope Holly Orchid). She's 11 years old, not ancient for a Shetland, but she wears her years hard. She was thin when she arrived 3 1/2 years ago, and I haven't been able to improve her condition no matter what I tried. She has the knobby, swollen joints of arthritis, which may well be her neck problem. When it is time, I will not shear her; I won't leave her cold at the end and couldn't bear to shear her lifeless body. She has given me four healthy, beautiful lambs and jet black fleece; there is nothing more to ask of her. She will ever dwell in my heart, my photo files, and in Sara's wonderful "cartoon" of Boulderneigh.

So. Brighter subjects. How about these?
Those are the students' spindles from my Textiles class. The class is going great; the last three Wednesdays the kids have been enthusiastically spinning singles (first white, then yesterday using dyed wool). I have some cute photos of the kids using their spindles, but am reluctant to put photos of other people's children on the internet without permission.

Since class yesterday I've been spinning more of the dyed wool on each child's spindle so there will be enough for plying a barberpole yarn. When the spinning is done, I'll wind each spindle's singles into a centerpull ball so the kids can start plying next Wednesday (I have a feeling I might be finishing that up for them after class as well). That leaves two weeks; I'd originally thought we would card-weave (with their homespun) during one and finger-knit (with commercial yarn) during the other, but if necessary, we'll use both classes to finish weaving. The rectangles they end up with will make dandy hot pads/trivets, and I think they will be thrilled with the work of their hands. I know I am so far!

That's it for today from . . .

Parallels

This evening as I snapped a couple photos of the sunset, it reminded me of a parallel I am facing. When someone gets old, they are said to be in their "sunset years." Dear old Inky is definitely in hers. Truth be told, I thought we'd need to put her down before this winter got underway, but for the most part she has remained mobile, eating, and interested in flock life.

Yesterday morning I found her flat out on her side in her protected corner of the fold. I tried to help her get up, but she couldn't even maintain a sternal position on her own. I propped her up against my leg and administered sheep drench and Banamine, then busied myself with other tasks to give the stuff time to work. When I came back, she was on her other side. Assuming she had tried to get up on her own, I went it and helped her again, this time successfully. Although none too steady on her feet, she tottered right over to her hay feeder and started to eat.

This morning I turned the sheep out to graze. Inky didn't look very comfortable from the start; she often appears to have a neck problem or neurological issue, standing with her head held oddly. So I gave her another dose of Banamine this evening, which always seems to help. But Rick thinks the time is approaching to put her down, maybe before lambs arrive and the need for jugs would necessitate her being jostled in the shared fold space at night. Perhaps this is why lambing isn't generating the usual anticipation in me. It's hard to get excited about new additions when you are facing farewells.

That's it for now from . . .

Happy Valentine's Day to me!

(click to biggify)

How cool is this??? Sara did such a great job on capturing the characters of the critters here, you'd think she jetted out here to meet them herself! I just love what she created for me, and am busy thinking up all kinds of ways to utilize it.

That's it for now from . . .