Month: March 2016

So. Norman. Remember Norman? Sometimes known as Norman the Nefarious Ninja, this is the little, innocent-looking, animal cracker-eating Shetland sheep who took me out earlier this month (pictured with his buddy Shuggah). He has, of course, been more than a little wary of me since the whole horn-grab-hypodermic-needle incident, but I figured I could win him over again in time for our date with the shearer on April 12th. So far? Not so much. Then, inspiration! I was already planning on creating a series of moveable pens this spring and summer. Each would be about 30′ x30′. I’d move the boys from one to the next around the unfenced portion of the pasture in order to give my regular pastures a break. They’ve been a bit overgrazed in recent years and could use a good lime, seed, and leave. Since it was Spring Break week, I’d start early, give the guys some fresh new grass, and get Norman into a pen small enough for easy capture. Uh-huh.

Sheep, despite their reputation, are not stupid. Especially Norman.

Once I’d built the new pen and opened it up, I fully expected the whole gang to rush in and gorge themselves on the new grass. Again–not so much. Turns out, they didn’t really care about the new grass, and Norman knew perfectly well that this was all part of some underhanded plan to touch him and he wasn’t having any, thank you.

I put in some grain. Response? Meh.

More grain, hay, water! Meh.

Fine. I left, figuring to keep an eye out from the house, then go up and close them in once they’d started munching. Only, every time I walked into the pasture, Norman ran out of the pen, before I’d gotten within 50 yards. Then, another inspiration! I grabbed a handful of old lengths of bailing twine from the winter’s hay supply (there is a reason Yankees never throw anything away), and tied fifteen or so of them into a rope, one end tied to the gate into the new pen. In the end, I had to sit some 100 feet away for 45 minutes or so before Norman decided it was safe to enter the new pen, then YOINK! Got ‘im!

He’s a bit upset about having been bested by a mere human, and is clearly plotting his next move between mouthfuls of grass and headbutts with Shuggah. We shall see what shearing day brings–stay tuned!

Spring break, Spring weather….wheeeeeeee! Time to sew–especially since, knock wood, I seem to be fairly intact and pain free this week. This gorgeous peacock design and fabric will come together in a new simple tote. I’m playing with the idea of a zip top–what do you think? I’ll also use the fabric for a knitter’s duffle, in between liming and seeding the pastures, and trying to nice up to Norman again–shearing time is coming fast.

Be sure to get in your order for a new knitting bag in time for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Show–I’ll see you there!

I’ve been off the radar for a few weeks–sorry about that. I began a studio refit I thought would take a couple of days. As usual, I seriously underestimated both the amount of work, and my endurance. It took three weeks–but I LOVE it! I now have that ‘clean, well-lighted place’ Hemingway said we all need to ward off the existential blues (or just a cool studio with plenty of space, storage, and lighting–mostly storage!). I find myself just wandering into the room at different times of day–no real purpose, just checking that it’s still there the way I left it, since, part two of the story, I can’t actually sew right now. What had happened was…

Rather than admit to the failings of encroaching age, I’m going to blame it all on the sheep. It went something like this: Capn’ Jack Sparrow, my pale fawn alpaca, was off his feed. When he began to look a little unsteady, I called in the vet. As I had suspected, so did the vet–early stages of a meningeal worm infection. These parasites cause damage to the nervous system and can be deadly, however, it looked as though we had caught it in time (we had–he’s ok). I began the series of injections that would halt the worm’s progress. As a precaution, all of the other animals were treated with a preventative. Except Norman.

Looks like such a sweetie, doesn’t he? He loves his animal crackers–people? Not so much. It took two weeks to nice him to the point where I could try for a grab. As soon as I had hold of that horn, I found myself attached to a sixty pound jumping bean. I ended up in the dirt, mostly on my back, but still hanging on. In the end he got his shot, and I got to walk with a cane for 4 days. Walking is, I am happy to report, a thing I can again do unassisted. Sitting isn’t too bad, but getting up is still a bit of a challenge. Reaching out over a mat to cut strips of cloth? Nope. Maybe next week?

Meanwhile–more spinning! Current project? This gorgeous Merino/silk blend from Mountain View Farm.