Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Light Sprinkling of Snow
For those who may want to know, yes we did get snow, but only a light sprinkling. It was bitterly cold though. But nothing three or four layers of clothes, a beanie, scarf, gloves and a hooded Driza-Bone can't fix while feeding the animals in the morning. (Although, I did have breakfast first, as it is too dark at 6.30am these days.) And cold as it was the sheep still didn't spend the night in the shed, even though they had access to it. The wind was blowing a gale for what seemed all night and I was lying there thinking that anything in the shed not tied down would be all over the paddocks by the morning. But miraculously that didn't happen - all that worry for nothing. I have included a photo of our wood chopping block with a light covering of snow.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

First Tea Towels Finished
I have finally finished my waffle weave tea towels (plus one plain weave). I eventually wove three tea towels in waffle and one in plain weave. Actually, my favourite is the plain one. I'm pretty proud of them and I feel it is just the beginning of many more tea towels and assorted linen. Although, every time I see Margaret or Judy wearing something made from material they have woven I think that one day I'd like to do that too.

Sheep and Wool
On farm matters, last weekend I asked the vet out to look at 'Cross', as she hadn't been able to put weight on one of her front legs for a day or so. The vet couldn't find anything obviously wrong and said she could have pulled a muscle higher up. She gave her a dose of anti-inflammatory and pain killer and I kept her in the small area behind the shearing stand and fed her and kept an eye on her. In two days she was standing again, thank goodness, and I let her go out with the rest of them.
Last week I also sold the rest of the wool we had in plastic bags in the shed from 2005 and 2006, just to clear the area before we shear again. Most of it was cross breed wool and not worth very much but we received about $54. So I guess that will go towards the vet bill.
This weekend I let the sheep into the area around the new little fruit trees (no leaves at the moment, so hopefully safe from destruction) and behind the shed, just to eat the grass down to save me mowing. Of course they made short work of the grass, even in two days. Then this afternoon I opened the gate to the dam paddock and cleaned and filled the water trough. They hadn't discovered the open gate while I was there but they will have by tomorrow I'm sure. They can stay in the dam paddock for a month before I get them shorn.