Saturday, February 02, 2013

Fire above and fog below

Sabbath sunrise
Fog in the valley, which burned off before long
The view from our deck this morning was arresting. I'm sitting here tonight gazing at the photos I took then, and the scenes calm my soul once again. Today didn't go as I had planned, but I'm okay with that now. We were gone most of the day but I did get a little knitting in, and once home I spent some time loving on the dogs, loving on my horse, and changing coats on some of the sheep. I can't imagine a life without animals; I think it would be easier to live without people!

Changing sheep suits isn't my favorite job, but I sure do like the chance to look at the clean fleeces growing underneath! It was a family affair of sheep tonight; I looked at Annabelle, her wethered sons Bart and Bittersweet, her grandson Bing (sired by Bunker), and Bing's dam Marta. No doubt about it; Annabelle and Bunker put their stamp on fleeces and it is an exquisite stamp of crimp, softness and length. Behold, in order mentioned:
I hope you can see just how yummy these are (you can click to biggify)!

Oh, how I would love to be greedy and keep them all to play with myself. But given my limited time and the need for the sheep to provide some "farm" income, they will all be winging their way to other spinners once sheared. Yes, all my fleeces are spoken for; what a blessing to have an appreciative market.

That's it for today from . . .

14 comments:

Rose Fern said...

I don't know anything about sheep, and I must say I find your postings strange- in a good way!They amaze and interest me at the same time! Wow!And that view...breathtaking!

Nutztierarche-Stocksee said...

The fleeces are so beautiful, they look great. I think it´s really a good thing with those coats. My sheep don´t have them and every evening I sit there picking hay out of their wool... And there is still a lot in it.

Laurie said...

What does it mean to change sheep suits? Your blog is so interesting to me. And your photos are gorgeous.

Laura said...

I think you should breed Annabelle one more time. You might get a Bunker replacement. Fleeces like that don't grow on trees!!

Dianne MacDonald said...

Wow! Those fleeces are gorgeous! It must be hard to let those go, but I know the spinner who are receiving them are grateful and thrilled to get such beauties.

Shane Pollard said...

They are definitely delicious Michelle!
I could easily work with animals all the time too - so trusting and knowing!

A magical sunrise where you are - it looks like everythings right with the world when we see that.
Shane ♥

Christine said...

Is it weird that I feel compelled to save that second one as a screensaver? LOL

Unknown said...

Gorgeous fleece. i'm sure the yarns will be fantastic. I think i may start using the sheep coats too as it will save a lot of time cleaning out veg. Totally agree with you animals are a wonderful part of life !

Kelly said...

Bravo!!!! Send your excess customer's my way. I have been switching coats on 22 Shetlands this year and it's a lot of work, but I can't wait to do stuff with my fleece without all the VM.

Michelle said...

Well, you'll learn some things about sheep if you stick around here, Rose, whether you want to or not! ;-)

That's why I think the coats are worth their cost and time, Astrid.

LaLa, my sheep wear covers to keep their wool clean, as as the fleece grows, I have to take the tight ones off and put on bigger ones.

I hope to, Laura; I hope to.

It is, Dianne, but I've got to be realistic about what I can do....

Yes, a beautiful sunrise starts the day out right, doesn't it, Shane?

Not to me, Christine! ;-)

Thank-you, Qiviut Queen.

I'll do that, Kelly.

thecrazysheeplady said...

I can see why. They are beyond gorgeous!!!

Deb W said...

Wow, wow, WOW! What gorgeous fleeces.

Theresa said...

Lovely, lovely, lovely Michelle!! If I had as few of sheep as you there would be NO way I'd sell any! I've got enough trouble trying to part with the more than 100 fleeces a year that we get and it is WAY too much for me to process.

Kris said...

Absolutely gorgeous wool! SO clean.