I don’t know why my last post didn’t come out like I thought. Because I was falling asleep sitting at the computer? Here is the photo of the Watusi steer.
Watusi steer--and you thought Jacobs had big horns!
Milking Shorthorn Best 3
Last Thursday I loaded 9 sheep in the trailer and 5 of us crammed into my pickup with all of our stuff in the back, including my tack box and display racks and boxes of yarn and fiber for the vendor building, and we started for Eugene, Oregon. We met a friend along I-5 and transferred her ewe and ram (Meridian Rocky, originally from me) to my trailer. We made it to Eugene about 6:30 and settled the sheep into the barn.
This was a first visit for my friends to Black Sheep Gathering. I think this is one of my favorite events. Where else can you find sheep (wool sheep at that!) and shopping all under one roof? The atmosphere is laid back and the weather is mild. And I get to visit with friends that I probably won’t see otherwise. In fact one friend was gracious enough to house all 5 of us at her place!
One of the highlights of the weekend is the Spinners Lead contest. In this contest participants show off their handspun or otherwise handmade pieces and bring the sheep or goat with them in the ring. Click to enlarge this thumbnail. This is me modeling my woven sweater and my sheep modeling her braided Jacob wool halter. I must tell the story about this sweater. I wove 2 blankets of handspun yarn and had a little warp left over. I wove that and thought it would make a great sweater. Not enough! I made another warp and wove enough for sleeves. I cut and sewed the pieces of the sweater together but figured that I could finish the knitted ribbing in Oregon. After all, what else was i going to do? And I didn’t have time before I left. When I sat down to work on the sweater I realized that I hadn’t serged the neck edge and lower edge. At the suggestion of a friend, I found a sewing machine store (Eugene Sewing and Vacuum) and asked if I could use a serger. They let me use it and I ended up finishing the sweater with time to spare! I also made a halter for my lamb out of Jacob sliver that I had braided.
I was surprised to be awarded third place in the “Animal Owner” category. My friend, Shannon, won first for her felted vest with Jacob sheep and an apple tree needle-felted on the back. This photo shows all of the Jacob entrants. There is a bagpipe cover, 2 shawls, my sweater, Shannon’s vest, and a felted ring-bearer’s pillow carried by Shannon’s 4-year old son wearing his wedding finery.
The trip was great fun, but the drive home seemed LONG. We got back at 3:30 a.m. I think I’m still catching up on sleep. We came home to smoky conditions. There are fires burning all over California and we can’t even see the hills near Vacaville, let alone the sky.
I am planning on this trip again next year. Anyone up for an adventure?
It’s sunny out. What a treat! The sky is blue and the rye grass field across the street is a brilliant green. It’s breezy, but that’s good. Hopefully some wind will start to dry things out. We’ve had enough rain now that our cellar (about 10 x 10) is flooded and we’ve had to start the pump–otherwise our water heater is under water. I found water damage in my shop–but relatively minor–a few books. I need to put plastic over the outside of the A/C unit because the rain leaks in there.
I’m on lamb watch today. Lucy is due on Wednesday by the calendar, but she looks ready now. Or maybe it’s just that I’m ready. The first two lambs were born a week ago and that seems ages ago now. Speaking of Lucy, her fleece was beautiful when we sheared–long and soft. I kept her twin ewe lambs, Laura and Linda, from 2007 and their fleeces are spectacular. The wool is at least 5″ long with nice crimp and very soft. Laura is mostly black and what a deep rich black she is. Her fleece was snatched up right away. To think that I considered culling Laura because her hind legs aren’t very good and I can’t keep everyone. I guess she never needs to go to a sheep show–she can just stay here and grow wool and lambs.
I haven’t figured out how to add photos to this blog yet. I’ll work on that today.
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