Washing Wool

I have been trying to de-clutter my workshop
lately and decided to start washing wool
again. Its no small job once I get started on
a roll. Its like I get obsessed with it and have
to do it every day. I came across a couple of
sheep fleeces I forgot I had. I also had
forgotten how different they are to wash than
alpaca fleeces.

The pictures to the right are of the water after the
first wash and the wool is taken out. It has an almost
caramel color to it from the lanolin. It has a distinct
smell, too. After having sheep for so many years, I
realized I missed the smell! But my son didn't. lol

Then after a couple of sheep fleeces, I decided to go
back to washing some alpaca. The picture to the left
is the water after the first wash of an alpaca fleece. It
is definitely a different color!

 So I took another, closer view of the wash water. Yes, as clean as an alpaca
fleece may 'appear' to be, it has alot of dirt in it.

 One of my favorite sayings to people when they comment on some dirt in a fleece or a hay seed or two, I say, "well, they do live outside you know!"

 

 

 I even took a picture of the bottom of the sink after
the water drained out. Doesn't the silt look digusting?!
And there is alot of sand in there, too. But you ask yourself, 'they look so cute, how do they get that dirty?'

Well, let me show you!

 After they get hosed off, or immerse themselves in the water trough,


 they roll in the dust pile and get mudded up! But that is what a happy, healthy animal does. I can't imagine what I would look like if I lived outside. I know what I look like after one day out there with them. Can you imagine

 the dirt ring these feet leave in the bathtub?! LOL
 
Yes, its quite a silt ring. I've got a fleece to go rinse in the workshop.

Talk to you soon,  Tammy

The Heat Is On!

Man, its hot! The heat index is
supposed to reach about 115 degrees
today. Actual temp: 102. I have spent
the majority of the day outside attached
to a hose. So far the animals are doing
ok. But they are drinking alot of water.
And that's ok, too. The younger
animals are starting to have fun with
the water. Yachtzee, as you can see
from the photos, likes to put his whole
head in the sprayer! It is a nice bonding
time with the alpacas, spraying them
with the hose. They depend on me to
take care of them and I do. Gaining the
trust of the animals in your care is a
wonderful thing and beneficial later if
a health condition comes up. They know
you aren't going to hurt them. They may
not like what you are doing to them but
they deal with it better! Stay cool, my friends,
in this horrible heat. I didn't get enough of
it today and tonight I'm off to the Muny in
Forest Park to see the musical 'The Little
Mermaid'. At least I won't be sitting in the
sun. 

Talk to you soon,  Tammy

The Chronicles of Little John, part 3

Lately I've been feeling like I'm getting
nowhere. I work and work, never seeming
to have enough hours in the day and at the
end of it I feel as if I have accomplished
nothing. Yeah, sometimes I get in this funk.
And then I'm outside doing some of the
regular daily chores and a little thing happens
that puts a smile on my face. Little things. Simple
things. I have bug zappers around the house and
the barn. I was banging on one of them, like I do
every day to clean out the 'zapped' bugs and
Little John and his/her (?) family came running
and peeping at me. It was like Pavlov's Dog or
something. I then realized what they were so
excited about: the bugs falling out of the zapper!

So I guess at least they pay attention to what I'm doing every day. And they look forward to my
doing it. Appreciation!

Here is a better pic of Little John. They really aren't
chicks anymore. They are little chickens. I'm a proud
mamma!

Talk to you soon,  Tammy