Thomas is shorn

Today the shearer came over to clip Thomas. The weather has been so bad recently that we jumped at the chance in between the rain.

I was hoping he'd use hand shears so I could learn, but he was in a rush and used the electric clippers. He was so fast! I couldn't follow at all.

So here it is....

With all the rain the wool is dirty from mud, but so nice!

And here is Thomas, very tiny looking now...

And a bit sore too...

He had 4 chunks of skin removed where his neck wrinkles. It made me feel so funny inside to see big gaping holes in him.

Apparently they heal really fast.

He also has a nick on his bottom. Ouch!

I'm going to do it myself next time. Even if I only get a few bits off at once it doesn't matter.

I think he looks a bit like a rabbit now.

I sorted out the best wool - all white, long staple, mainly from his sides, back, and neck area. The second sort of grade which has a stain on it from his grease (? is it I'm not sure), and then the rubbish that is very dirty, or short, or rough from his legs.

I weighed it, and there is 600g of brilliant stuff, and 300g of not best, and only a small amount of rubbish.

Thank you Thomas!!

I gave a wool sample a hard couple of pulls, to see if there was a defect such as a break in it, and it is just perfect. Which it should be really, as I think he's had a very happy time here with lots of food and love. But it was nice to see that his wool reflected that!

Now I need to look through some patterns so our little girl can have the Thomas jumper of her dreams!

I like the idea of aran jumpers, but I've never knitted a cable, so I might wait to get some patterns and advice from the ladies at spinning group.

Bye for now!

Garden Growth, and a nest of eggs

The garden is just starting to burst into life. We have had several days of very heavy rain, and we've not been able to go out and play, or to weed. The weeds have just loved it!!

I bought a Jasmine plant an put it under the kitchen window..mmmm

And here is a rather smashed by the rain bed of lettuce and beans, with calendula and lavender

The beans are cannellini, just right for soups, and the flowers smell a bit like roses..

I grew all my garden from seed this year. Previously I've had terrible results from seed, but this year I've bought direct from the seed people, and what a difference!

Gypsophilia..

Here are some Amish Pie pumpkins, and beetroots, and Thomas in the background!

He's doing well at mowing the lawn..

and his fleece is growing beautifully...

Carrots and onions

Sweetcorn

Monster garlic patch

silverbeet/chard

Little melons

and rhubarb

And this is quite a disaster story. Our beautiful black hen, called Lightning McQueen by our son, became broody, so I bought some fertile eggs from the internet, and thought I'd collect them so as not to damage them.

Five were very dirty shelled, so we didn't put them under her, but she has been sitting so dutifully now for 23 days.

They are supposed to hatch at 21 days

I went to check her and make sure she got off the nest to feed, and had a good look at the eggs. Not a sign. One egg smelled like a bad egg, so I took it out to prevent an explosion.

I thought I'd crack it open to see if anything had grown at all..

But no, look at that mess, and the smell!!

I'll leave them until tomorrow, then crack the rest. What a disappointment, and she has been so very good! I really did think we would get at least one.

Calf Club Group Day

Today was the group day for calf club, when the four local schools all compete to win the school trophy.

There were over 130 entries this year! A fantastic turn out!

Three well washed sheep!

Lining up for the first event, the most obvious pet.

There were three rings of lambs being judged..

Lots of fluffy lambs...

Small children came to watch...

Thomas came third in the most obvious pet...

There were fund raising stalls...

The calves being judged...

There was lots of eating...

Serious consideration by the judges...

The last event was the rearing event. We didn't do too well here. 

The kids had to do an obstacle course. It was quite hot waiting in the sun. A hat helped some though...

I haven't seen one of these seat walking sticks for years!

It was a long, fairly hot day, and the atmosphere was wonderful! 

It was a beautiful day out.

I've decided that I might train as a judge next year. Not for the lambs, as our children will want to do that, but for the calves. Apparently the organizers are always looking for people to put the time in to judge, and I think I'd really enjoy it.

Next year our youngest will be at school, so I should be able to spend the time going from school to school for the events.

We all feel rather tired, but so happy to have participated.

Calf Club Day

Today was calf club day. All the children showed off their animals, lambs, goats, or calves that they have been rearing for the past few months.

This year there were a huge number of entries, and I think it is because there is so much development in the area. It was wonderful to see so many families taking part!

The weather was atrocious. A thunder and lightning storm with torrential rain. The rain doesn't show up too well on the pictures...

This is still a great farming community, and it is a wonderful way for children to be introduced to animal husbandry, and to celebrate the farming efforts.

We took our little Thomas along.

He is four weeks old now, a Romney, and has been fully raised by our children, apart from when he was very tiny and I gave him the 10pm feed ( can you believe that stops at 2 weeks for a lamb??).

He has been under the car, and has engine oil on top of his head.

First was our youngest taking him in the preschool parade - he was given a ribbon, and a bag of crisps - a very cool prize indeed!

Every year a lamb breaks away, dragging a child behind it waterskier style - just the sort of thing to see on a cartoon. That happened once with these young children. One boy was pulled over, and went along the floor on his back giggling as loud as he could! The little ones seem so entertained by having an animal on a lead! 

Next were the juniors.

First the Most Obvious Pet category, then leading, then rearing.

Thomas came second in the most obvious pet, and leading. He was surprisingly well behaved.

The rearing question time.....I think that is an Arapawa sheep next to Thomas. A very nice sort of rare breed that sheds in the wild, and has very fine fleece that is good for felting.

You are not allowed to wash the lambs as it takes off the lanolin, but oh my! Some of those lambs could have been advertising shampoo they were so pristine!

Last time the very traditional farmer judge disqualified any animal that was a bit too clean and obviously washed - which I believe is the right thing to do, especially as no five year old would even think of it.

But this year washed and beautiful sheep won everything.

Also some families source extra special purebred show lambs. Most of the awards went to a champion breeder's lambs. They were very special!

Also the calves seem to be sourced from livestock improvement to be winners. They were massive, and not your average cow. I felt quite bad about one family, farming jersey cows who struggle a bit financially from farming, who have five children at school now, and two little ones, who entered calves from their farm. They were beautiful, and well looked after, and clearly loved animals who will have been from the herd, and will go back to it after. However they were not acknowledged, just the calves borrowed or bought specifically from breeders for the day. That's what competition does I suppose.

Anyway, it was a good day out and the rain eventually stopped, and everyone enjoyed themselves, it was lovely to see so much effort put in by so many.

Thomas was quite content and fell asleep resting next to us as the prizes were handed out....

Next is Group Day, when the four local schools all show together.

Leaves, blossoms, and lying in a field....

In amongst the thunder, rain and chill, there were a few moments of humid sunshine...

The boys wanted to ride their bikes with me, so off we went to the fields, flying down the stoney paths. Me hoping that none fell off...

Anyway, when tiny legs were tired, we all went into the fields to play ball, and also play with the beautiful cherry blossoms.

I lay down in the long, wet grass and realized it has been years since I lay in a field!!

While I was lying there I gave the camera to the children, and they took some funny shots...

Going up to the neighbors...

Flattering shot of me going over the fence!

There was lots of rolling down the hill...

And just resting..

My daughter found some beautiful things to photograph, here are some of her pictures....

I'm encouraging the children to keep Thomas in his fenced area, as he is starting to eat my garden. Why do they like lemon blossoms better than grass? Very annoying!