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Walking the Sheep out to Pasture

8/27/2015

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With our new fencing done, and Holden (our Pyr) there for protection, I started letting the sheep out into the big pasture again about a month ago.  However, it's a bit more involved than just "letting them out."  Our big pasture with all that good grass is across the creek that runs through the middle of our farm.  The sheep don't like to go out there too early in the morning or by themselves; after all, coyotes may be out there.  (And we've been hearing them again the past few nights.)  So letting them out means calling and calling the sheep until one of them takes the lead and starts heading out from their small, safe paddock next to the barn.  They all then follow the leader.

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The bravest among them goes through the next gate, and they all start crowding behind to follow down the hill.





Usually, at the bottom of the hill, the lambs start running and soon cross the creek.  The lambs haven't developed the caution of the ewes; the pull of all that grass is just too much for them to resist.


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The ewes come more slowly, often in single file.  All the sheep immediately start grazing, spreading out across the pasture.  See short video clips of my morning walk with the sheep on Hidden Spring Farm's facebook page (click on the icon at the upper right of this page.)

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Dyeing Wool - Gorgeous Colors!

8/13/2015

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I've recently been able to spend five days dyeing wool, seeing how the lustrous locks of my sheep take up the gorgeous colors.  The weather has been mostly cooperative - not too hot for spending time over gas cookers but with plenty of sun for drying the wool afterwards.

It was nice sitting out under the big pin oak and maple trees in the front yard, getting up periodically to tend the dye pots.  The bees, butterflies and hummingbirds kept me company as they flew among the flowers.
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I started out dyeing with the few natural dyes I had on hand.  I like natural dyes since they are, of course, natural.  However, they require a bit more work as the wool first has to be mordanted before dyeing.  The natural red dye was bright but in general I find natural dyes give more muted colors.







I used Greener Shades acid dyes for the first time, happy to have non-toxic dyes (without the heavy metals) that still give the brilliant colors of other acid dyes.  My last batch of wool is done and will be dried in the sun tomorrow.


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    Mary Longhill

    Shepherd, Handspinner

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