Monday, April 20, 2015

The Shearing

Well, you were all RIGHT! We went to a sheep shearing! The day started out beautiful, and quite a few people were there.


The couple went into the pen and grabbed a sheep. You can see one has already been shorn, the other not.

The sheep was big and strong, and it fought like mad. The poor couple had a time of it. You can see that the man's hat even fell off.


While the woman held the sheep, the man sharpened the scissors. Yes, SCISSORS! They had to do it the old fashioned way. 





It takes about an hour to shear a sheep this way. I wanted to ask the man what kind of pain killer he takes when he gets home. He did most of it bending over. The sheep feel much better in warm weather with all the pounds of wool off their body. The pots over the fire were to boil the wool. They passed the wool around and it was sticky because it had lanolin in it. And no, nobody pulled the wool over my eyes.

“As a sheep led to slaughter, and quiet as a lamb being sheared, He was silent, saying nothing. He was mocked and put down, never got a fair trial. But who now can count his kin since he’s been taken from the earth?”

Acts 8





25 comments:

Small Kucing said...

i saw in TV documentary show before. They really have to have stamina for it

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Yes sheep are very strong but it was lovely seeing this couple 'trying' toshear this sheep.great fun shots.

Nancy Chan said...

This couple must be a very strong couple to struggle with the sheep! That scissors looks big and sharp, the man needs to be very experienced not to hurt the sheep. Ginny, I enjoyed this post very much, very educational for me too! Thanks.

From the Kitchen said...

My great grandmother always called scissors shears. Maybe that's why.

Best,
Bonnie

Hootin Anni said...

...back breaking work indeed.

I'd like to invite you to Hootin' Anni's to view a special post of nature's thrilling day for me.

Rose said...

I do not envy the man...and wonder how many times the sheep gets nipped while being sheered.

Patsy said...

That will make lots of nice yarn.

Marie said...

scissors?! I'd be fighting too! LOL

Joy said...

So nice to witness such an event personally. All the pictures are clear and beautiful:)

DawnTreader said...

A reminder how much work is done between the wool and the clothes we wear...

Ceil said...

Hi Ginny! What a fun outing! I've never been to a sheep shearing before...and by hand too! That man's hands must be so strong. I know I'd never make it ten minutes much less an hour of cutting a squirmy sheep.

I have seen 'boiled wool' jackets at the store, so now I know why they're named that.
Blessings,
Ceil

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I always worry that they will cut the poor sheep! But I'm sure they have a lot of experience, and strength, too. You got some great shots of this event, Ginny!

DeniseinVA said...

Fascinating Ginny. I can't imagine having to sheer sheep the old fashioned way, especially if you have a large flock. I wonder what they used to alleviate back-breaking pain back in those days. Thanks for sharing this fun post, I enjoyed it immensely.

Linda said...

So cool, Ginny! Your photos are gorgeous. :)

Anonymous said...

This would be awesome to see in person. Blog friend KathyB @ Spot On Cedar Pond blog has her own sheep and makes rugs, etc. from their wool. Thanks for sharing pics of your trip. Have a great day.

MadSnapper said...

thank you for my first ever viewing of sheering the sheep, i have never even seen it in photos or on TV... these are amazing and i had no idea it comes off in sheets like that.. the first photo I LOVE IT.. the traffic signals at the bottom, the stunning sky at the top and all that is in between.. these are all super shots...

Reanaclaire said...

hahahaa.. Ginny, I was right too! Yes, I saw shearing before in Melbourne last year.. :)

Tanya Breese said...

oh i know where you were! i love that place...if we lived closer i think i'd love to volunteer there! wow, that must be hard shearing with scissors....kind of nervous for the sheep but he looks like he really knows what he's doing!

Tanya Breese said...

oh i know where you were! i love that place...if we lived closer i think i'd love to volunteer there! wow, that must be hard shearing with scissors....kind of nervous for the sheep but he looks like he really knows what he's doing!

Karen said...

Fascinating! This makes me appreciate all the work that goes into a wool sweater!!

Karen said...

Fascinating! This makes me appreciate all the work that goes into a wool sweater!!

EG CameraGirl said...

What a job to do it with scissors!!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I have never been to a sheep shearing before. That looks so neat.

Shug said...

lots of excitement....seeing how they shear the sheep. don't you know that they are exhausted at the end of a day...

Ann Thompson said...

oh wow, I can't imagine doing that all with scissors. The bending over would kill me too

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