Tuesday 30 August 2016

More blood and a crook

I am currently suffering as I have, yet again, toothache.  On top of that I have just managed to slice the side of my finger with my new ceramic knife whilst making Carl's sandwiches!  Not  a good day, except that Mother did give me my great, great grandfather's crook which is a wonderful piece of history.  He was a shepherd who lived in Shillingstone.
And here is the crook - which is the same one as in the photo.  A lovely bit of history!

Monday 29 August 2016

Five new ladies

It hasn't been exactly a relaxing Bank Holiday weekend - but it has been fun.  Friday night we stayed up far too late as Carl went to the Steam Engine Rally with the Tractor Boys whilst I knitted for all I was worth - not the best of plans as it was an early start on Saturday to drive to Devon to look at some sheep.  I went with the idea of purchasing four but ended up with five very nice two tooth Suffolk Mules.  They were from the father of a lady I met on the internet and such a lovely man - very caring with his sheep and with a fantastic sheep dog.  Here they are, the new girls!
Sunday saw me in the Methodist Chapel whilst Carl made a concerted attempt to catch up with finishing the worktop in the kitchen, a job which took most of the day and meant fish and chips for tea.  Then today was sheep moving day along with checking feet, giving the Heptovac injections and spraying against flies.  Sheep are now ready for the ram in a few weeks - can't believe it is nearly that time again! 

Friday 26 August 2016

My crown slipped

This evening I have toothache - well more of a jaw ache.   Had a wobbly tooth, went to the dentist and he said it wasn't a real tooth but a crown that was wobbling. Went back yesterday for him to prise it out and recement it in, which he did. Now it hurts big time and I have a headache. Carl has gone off to the Steam Engine Rally with the Tractor boys and left me to suck on food with the working side of my mouth. Never mind tomorrow I am going to Devon - hopefully, to make a little purchase of four Suffolk Mules to add to the flock.  It is a long way to go but I couldn't find anything I wanted nearer.

The kitchen is very slowly making progress and I am hoping this weekend will see the rest of the worktop attached and, possibly the cooker hood erected.  Carl says it is y fault it is taking so long as I keep getting distracted by sheep - which is probably true!

Wednesday 17 August 2016

Blood and lounging

So much to do today but Carl had the day off and we decided it was about time we just forgot everything and had a day out - so we went to Gillingham and Shaftesbury show which was lovely although very hot!  We were on the look out for the Gravedigger who was stewarding cattle but couldn't see him.  Did see lots of sheep and bought ourselves a very nice tile with a drawing of a sheep on it for the kitchen.

And, talking of drawing, I have the most beautiful new logo for the sheep side of things - not ready to reveal it yet but it is stunning!

Took the electric down so the sheep in the village could roam the nice bit at the bottom but it took them a couple of days to realise they were allowed down there - very obedient sheep!

This afternoon we were supposed to be doing the sheep checks but didn't have the energy after the show - Carl spent an hour lounging!
 
Mother has been leaping through hedges again and ended up with a shoe full of blood and a trip to the Doctors yesterday to have her wounds cleared out and a tetanus - that might slow her down for a day or two!

Sunday 14 August 2016

Showing sheep

This has been a VERY busy weekend and VERY exciting!  Friday night Carl went over to Ellingham showground to set up for the alpaca show whilst Sam, Kristy and I did last minute sheep preparation and getting everything packed up.  On Saturday we had to leave by 6am so it was up to the hill for 5am to do the hill animals and then time to wake the lambs up to get them in the trailer and off to the show.  Setting up there was difficult as we were torn between lambs, setting up knitting and stewarding alpacas - but, we managed, and what a day!  They were the only Dorper lambs there and they caused a bit of a stir, being the only Dorpers they went in the shortwool class with lots of big texels and other larger breeds alongside badger face and many others.  We didn't really expect to win any rosettes as we didn't know what we were doing and thought we were a bit outclassed - - but we did!  Jeeves, the ram lamb, gained a fourth place out of 10 entries.  Shanice got 7th place out of 18 entries and, best of all, the group of three class saw us getting a third place out of 10 entries!  The photos are a bit blurred I am afraid.






Then, after clearing up (Oh! and a fantastic lot of knitting sales!) we arrived home just after 8pm to get ready for Sunday which saw us motoring down to Chedder to deliver a sold alpaca to a very nice new home.  Bit of sheep moving around in the afternoon and now it is time to sit down!
Library van tomorrow!

Friday 12 August 2016

Tomato Ketchup

A week since the last post  - and a busy one.  Two sold Dorper lambs delivered to their  new home on Okeford Hill.  A lovely spot with fantastic views - not that they seemed to notice!  The sheep side of the business is having a makeover with a new logo underway - it involves bottoms and is looking rather lovely.  Mick, a young male alpaca has a new home to go to on Sunday where he will be meeting the ladies, eventually, but before that we have Ringwood and Ellingham Show tomorrow.  We are part of the organising team for the alpaca show held there and that involves lots of running round which is going to be even harder this year as we are also taking three lambs to show.  Luckily, Sam and Kristy are going to come along and taking charge of the sheep.  They are all washed as well as I can, halter trained to a certain extent and very noisy!  It was suggested I tried using tomato ketchup to remove grass stains on the lambs but it just seemed to make their legs go pink so they still sport grass stains in places.  I just hope they don't get even dirtier overnight!

Saturday 6 August 2016

Sheep washing

I hope the fete went well.  The weather the day before looked ominous but today was lovely.  We had to go over to Ringwood to get organised in preparation for the Ellingham and Ringwood Show on Saturday.  We have more alpaca exhibitors this year and so more space is required.  Hopefully, we are now all set and rosettes have arrived.  Next Friday evening is final preparations - judges tent, food, catalogues . . . Bit of a busy day I think - and, of course, three Dorper lambs are supposed to be going as well.  Whether they actually get there is another matter because they are terrible on their halters and washing them is very difficult!  We had a trial go at washing this evening and it was not a success - sheep do not like being washed!  I then realised I could not dry them and had nowhere clean to put them and they ended up dirtier than when we started!