chapter 314

Sheep

5/15/2013

to shear

So I was sitting in the whirlpool hot tub (YMCA) with DR RUTH (Olmsted) when she mentioned getting her Shepherds Hey Farm sheep sheared in a few days. Asked if I could come photograph and she said, "Yeah, but it's not a pretty sight." That was a challenge to see if I could acquire tasteful angles. Farmer and Master Shearer Fred De Paul of Plymouth, VT arrived from his full Spring booking to artfully accomplish the job. Toulouse Geese on their nest of eggs not wanting to really move.

Oh, Ruth was correct. There was a lot of sheep crap around but with some creative editing I could achieve some almost bucolic results. Here sheepherder farmer Larry administers some de-worming meds which the Ewe seems to enjoy drinking. As Vice President of the Friends of Historic Grooms Tavern, he invited me to tour their open house up the road a piece, which I did.

Ruth tenderly holds a little lamb recently born before going back to help wrestle the big ewes into position for their hair cut, a nice change of pace from preparing college exams and performing dance routines at the Tulip Festival.

The cute wooly sheep kept a steady curious eye on me as I moved stealthfully around the barn.

 surplus

 They anxiously await their turn for the tickling buzz cut. It is said Clifton Park is suburbopia but we are in southern Clifton Park, y'all.

 Fred gets Ewey in relaxed position to start the job.

 Cutting of a nice fleece blanket.

 A moment of exhaustion before a half-time break from wrestling these critters.

 Ruth makes a separate bag for each numbered sheep to keep an ongoing record of specific wool quality characteristics.

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