Some Good Things

I've caught up with a few big jobs that were hanging over my head. My sheep got sheared -

My shearer from last year, Keiran, came and did a great job. He brought a second shearer this time. It still took four hours to get the job done. And they're not slow as you can see by their t-shirts (called "singlets") which read: Felinfach Speed Shear Finalist 2018 

Felinfach is a town in Wales. I looked it up. The name is Welsh for "small mill". I looked that up too. I'm guessing it's a town with a lot of sheepy history. 

Also, I love the sales pitch by the local shearing stores selling singlets: "Suitable for farmers, farriers, stonemasons, as well as shearers." They are not suitable for women however as the long, deep armholes let everything all hang out.

I did the fleece rolling and packing - suitably covered up in just a regular t-shirt.

I photographed this one as I managed to throw it correctly (unlike the previous few). 

It's like casting a net and you want it to spread out. You skirt it - pull off the dirty, poo-y edges and discard. Then roll it from the back end, which is easy identify as it's the poopiest end. Roll tightly while tucking in the sides. Finish by pulling a bit of neck fleece out, twist and tuck to hold it together. It looks like a sleeping bag when you get it right.

I fill up the wool sheets (bags) as I go. I filled three this season and will take them to the Irish wool buyers when I get a chance. If I'm lucky, selling the wool will cover half of what it cost to cut it off the sheep.

While I roll fleece, curse, and sweat profusely, Gertie entertains the troops waiting their turn for a haircut -

She has always liked sheep. She doesn't chase them but, as it was only me gathering the flock, I knew I could send Gertie behind a straggler to hurry it up. The sheep don't know she's only following commands for hunting pheasant. I love her company, Gertie is always so happy to be a part of anything going on.  

I also picked up the pigs from the abattoir. They killed out beautifully, with an excellent meat to fat ratio -

Half a pig gave me all these chops and 45 sausages, plus the prime cuts. I made bacon with the belly pork -

bone in

bone out

Curing for seven days.

I can share the bacon and chops with neighbours, especially my favourite retired neighbours Bill and Margaret. I mow their lawn for them and she insists on paying me - far too much too! - so I can sneak some of it back to her in the form of Sunday roasting joints and chops.

The weather has been sunny and warm, so I've been having some long, leisurely dog walks. As leisurely as walking a pack of seven dogs can be anyway. With the shutdown, the deerstalkers haven't been in the woods and there are already noticeably more deer moving around. 

I took a video (with sound) as we came up on a female muntjac deer "barking" -

  

It's a strange sound if you haven't heard it before. 

I took this photo of a roe deer standing in the track. I called the dogs back so they wouldn't chase her. I had to shout at the deer to move it along. I think they are enjoying their break from the stalkers too.

Can you see the deer?

The farrier came and trimmed the horses' feet, and declared Sam's chronic thrush gone! The vets came to give the horses their annual vaccinations. I also get the vet to check their teeth and do any necessary dentistry. It was a female vet who came this time. She's cooed and scratched Sam on his withers while she listened to his heart and gave him his injection. 

Normally Sam is ill-mannered and has little patience for that kind of interference. I have to drug him every time the farrier trims his feet. But Sam never put a foot out of place. The vet put a dental mouth gag on Sam. It looks like this:

From equisearch.com

Medieval looking, no? It locks a horse's mouth open so the vet can inspect inside without losing a finger.

Sam stood quietly and let her do it. Just crank it open. No meds. No fights. I was stunned.

I think Sam likes the ladies best. 

The vet then told me that they both look "exceptional" and in great condition for their age. I felt like a proud mother.

Don't think too kindly of them just yet. I shut them into the small side of the field to limit their grazing. Within 24 hours they destroyed the gate to get to more grass. Not fixable. A total replacement gate is needed. 

This week I will change the tractor's log splitter for the mower, and start topping some grass. If the good weather holds.

It's cold today, but only "extra sweater and hot water bottle" cold. Last week we had a dank, cold day and I lit the fire in my study for the first time since I moved in. I've never had a fire in my study before. It feels very Sherlock Holmes-y.  

Molly carries her therapy pillow with her most of the day.

I miss my Rayburn but the open fireplace is a pretty good second. The dogs like it too.