It is so much easier

When the sun shines :)

It’s been a busy week here on the farm. Nothing particular, just getting on with spring time jobs in wonderful sunshine!

This last week both no.1 and no.3 Junior Goat Slaves have been home so we have taken advantage and set them to work! Our whole flock of sheep have been through the pens to be vaccinated, doused to help prevent fly strike and ‘crutched’. Crutching is shearing the sheep’s back end to keep them clean and so reduce their attraction for insects - not to be confused with mulesing when skin is removed. Mulesing is illegal in the UK.

Handling each sheep individually, while doing regular mundane jobs, gives us the chance to really check them over. On this occasion we discovered that this little sheep’s horn had become so thick it was starting to press into his face. Unfortunately the only treatment for this is to remove the horn. Don’t worry, our super vet Claire had both sedated and anaesthetised him before setting to with the cheese wire. The sheep looks a bit lopsided now but he is much more comfortable and suffering no ill effects.

Meanwhile it was selfies all round in the goat shed. Many many thanks to all of you who came to our ‘Kid Party’ at the weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed showing off our beautiful babies and their mums and hope that you all had fun too.

As well as farm work the dye pots have been rattling fiercely. Generally, we don’t supply our yarns on a wholesale basis but when we were approached by a lovely shop in America we made an exception. The picture above is part of their order for skeins to include in a special, secret project. I can’t tell you about it yet but if you are reading this in the US do keep checking in as we are sure you are going to love it!

Studio at Whistlebare is open on Wednesdays and Fridays, 10.30am until 3pm or any other day/time if I’m about. Drop me a text on 07775 501068 to confirm, you are always welcome and there is no obligation to buy.

Very best wishes,

Alice

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