I received the following email from the lady who is processing my wool:

I need to talk to you about the wool that needed cleaning. We wouldn’t
agree to clean it again, because those burrs were very hard and nasty, and
were very rough on our hands. We tried getting them out wearing gloves, but
that didn’t work, and we both wound up with a lot of cuts and scratches on
our hands. If there is any way to get those plants out of your grazing
areas, that would be best for animals and humans alike.

Nothing like your sheep being fired from your wool processor!

The sheep were in the front barn yard (wherein there are NO burrs or anything high) all winter. In March, I moved them to their pasture, and in early April, I had them sheared. Their wool has been growing since last spring, so I’m not sure if they got the burrs here or not as I don’t know how deep the burrs were in the wool. I will have to look into the pasture a bit closer–it’s certainly possible they got them here, but if they did, I’m not sure what I can do about it.

I’ve thought of sheep coats. Calling all sheep people! Tell me about sheep coats. Can they wear them all year? Can I get sheep coats now and put them on? I’m thinking sheep coats will help???

The other option is to give up on having wool processed–because my sheep got fired their first time out.

I keep my sheep for three reasons. The primary one is that I enjoy them. I only have three “keeper” sheep–my ewes. I have a fourth sheep, my ram, who is interchangeable because I won’t ever keep an old ram again. A second reason I keep sheep is for meat. I like lamb. The third reason is for wool. But if the wool is too expensive to have processed, perhaps I should drop that reason. I know how to process wool myself–I learned. But. I’m busy and I know how much time it takes. I don’t choose to do this myself because of other more pressing demands (to me) on my time. If having the wool processed is going to be too expensive–or not even possible because my sheep are too messy, that facet may have to be dropped. I’d love to hear some advice on this, though, before I decide to do that.

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I have an extra level of craziness going on here as I’m already getting ready for the party on the 16th. (I’m expecting over 100 people! Are you coming? Sign up here.) Here is Morgan making fun of me as I try to (finally) start getting stuff up on the walls. She’s playing “lion” with my homemade corn husk wreath.

Also going on here today:

Load of lumber delivered for the deck work, which is an extension on the studio project I was able to do. I’m adding a handicap-access ramp and a roof over the top part of the deck. The sun beats in all those double glass doors and it will save me in a/c costs in the long run to cover that area so the studio is shaded. It will also make a more comfortable place for people to sit and/or eat outside and enjoy the view.

And I decided I was in the mood to paint the downstairs bathroom today, as if I didn’t have enough else going on! But, painting is best done when you’re in the mood. Otherwise, it’s just a chore. When you’re in the mood, it’s fun. So today, I’m painting.

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