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This weekend the boys were due for hoof trimming.
And usually I depend on being able to entice them into the shed with some of their favorite branches (apple, rose, salmonberry) and shut the door on them while they are happily munching away.

But some of the guys are getting wise.
Especially Frank and Griff.
They are very reluctant to go into the shed for snacks as long as I remain anywhere near the gate.

So this time, I decided I needed to try a new strategy.

Misdirection.

Here’s the setup:

Gate open and unstopped (usually a rock is holding it open), rope fastened around latch post and back across shed to where I am lying in wait.

Sheep go in to get goodies in the feeder, and I slowly

close the door

behind them.

Tricky, eh?

Yeah, I was pretty darn proud of myself. Outsmarting the smartysheeps 🙂

Note: there are no sheep in the shed in these photos because I reenacted the scheme for the blog- I figured they’d be really suspicious if The Man was there documenting during the real round-up.

Anyhoo, if was good to spend a little quality time with the sheep today. Got me thinking that I should finish combing up the Frank and Felix wool I have from last year’s shearing- so I did some of that this afternoon.

And we also made a little headway on the spinning wheel project.
Maple cut to size for the base.

Next up is figuring out the right shape and placement for the treadle.

I’m probably going to shear all my guys this Fall.
Perhaps starting as soon as September.

And it just dawned on me that it is going to be September in a few short weeks.

So I thought it might be a good time to clear out those last couple batches of raw fleece.

Thankfully the only things lingering in the laundry room were a bit of CVM-Suffolk cross, and about a third of a Border Leicester.

The CVM cross (above) is really nice stuff, but I’d almost forgotten what a bugger it is to wash. Lots of grease, dirt and an occasional burr in there (ouch!). Glad I got that one out of the way first.

The border leicester was a breeze in comparison. (Yea!)

One wash. two rinses. Voilla!

Also been working on moving older fleeces along on the carding side.
My “carded and ready to go” fleece bin is just about full again!

My cool new spinning wheel is going to have its work cut out for it!

🙂

Flowers seem to like it

As do the berries

And the Sweet Walla

The sheep aren’t thrilled, but they are doing ok, keeping mostly to shady spots.

And Edgar is already trying to talk me into shearing him again!

Classic Oak Cardigan is still on schedule.
I made considerable progress while down on the island, cranking out two skeins of yarn,

but still probably have another three to go.

And the knitting is coming along, too.

(I’d be so close if it was a vest!)

And here is what The Man doesn’t want me to show you 🙂
a sneak preview of the latest project

Can you guess what it is?

Here’s a hint-

Whidbey Island, that is.

I’ve got my projects in my chicken bags and I’m (almost) ready to go!

Knitting bag-

and Spinning bag-

StashMo is begging to come along, so I might have to pull out another bag just for him.

Sophie’s all oiled up and ready to hit the road.

She’s a pretty good traveller, as she can sit upright in the backseat. Just belt her in and go-

Coupeville, here I come! 🙂