Miscellaneous Views at BSG

The last three blog posts have been about Black Sheep Gathering but, wait! There is more!

My tent.I have had this tent for 35 years and wasn't sure that the rainfly was waterproof. I don't think I'd want to be in a major storm, but it was adequate for the light rain the first night of camping.

I spent some time on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning watching the wool show.

Martin Dally  is entertaining as well as knowledgable. He explained what he was doing throughout the show and even let the audience come up to see and feel the fleeces after he finished with a class.

Colored Merino fleece.

White Merino fleece.

Corriedale fleece that won the overall best white fleece.

Then to the vendor hall where I took shots of color, texture, and other things that caught my eye.

These are reindeer hides.

There is also a Fiber Arts contest.

This one is called Moo-Shoe Pork. Look closely at the feet.

Back in the barn, this felted banner was made by Jackie, Farm Club member and friend who's business is Sheep to Shop.

I got a late start home on Sunday (the next post) but made my ritual stop at the Mt. Shasta overlook just before dark. I love that mountain...and I love California.

Many Hands

More About Shearing Day

I've written a couple of posts about shearing day already, but I have so many photos to share. As John worked through the main flock I brought in the sheep from other areas. The two ewes with two-week old lambs were shorn (last post) and then the three Jacob rams.This is the yearling ram, Rotor.A good comparison of a lilac Jacob (Nash) and black & white (Rotor).This is Rotor's fleece.They aren't all spotted. This is one of the BFL-Jacob cross ewes.Lots of people help to make Shearing Day fun and easy for me. Kathleen weighed fleeces.Stephany and Gynna wrangled sheep all morning.Alison and many others helped at the skirting table.People are welcome to skirt their fleeces before buying or ask for advice about fleeces. It was a great day to stand in the sun with your hands in freshly shorn wool.One more ewe to be shorn and then it was Faulkner's turn.His buddy, Jerry looked on. Faulkner weighed in at 235 lbs (down about 30 pounds from what he sometimes weighs in the summer).Fresh Jacob fleece.Faulkner's fleece.While the shearing and wool sorting was going on, friends were helping buyers in the shop.Later we got everyone (almost) to the barn for a group photo. That's a lot of enthusiastic friends!