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Texas is not an easy climate for a wool sheep. This year’s cooler and wetter weather are a relief for our Cheviot herd. There is nothing easy about shearing a sheep.
The equipment is expensive. The sheep are uncomfortable. The people are uncomfortable. Someday we will be able to invest in better equipment.
We do not put coats on our sheep and the wool is full of dried dirt, sweat, and dust. Burrs and grass are tangled in the locks.
Wool has many uses and it was fun to learn how to felt and spin on a hand spindle last year. I am sad that the U.S. does not export as much wool but Cotton is king in our continent. It is still fun to play with and we will be selling the wool to spinners, felters, and crafters.
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We had given up hoping that our cheviot ewes were pregnant since all the Dorper ewes had already long since finished their birthing. But McKayla’s call from the barn this morning sounded different.
She didn’t come out from the barn or overnight pen with the others. She called calmly from the barn – almost announcing really, “I’m here, and I’m good!”
So she was. Below her was a tiny baby. We forget how tiny cheviot babies can be until you see them on their birthday.
The most amazing thing is that baby cheviots look like they have a constant grin on their face. Automatic love.
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Spring and Fall are short lived in Texas. Before you know it, the chiggers will emerge, the flycatchers will lose their tail feathers and then the chicharras will buzz the evenings away.
Right now we are dodging June bugs and chasing rabbits. The lush pastures have been wonderful but some of the sheep have begun to eat young tree leaves.