What Ewe'll be Wearing this Spring
Printer-friendly versionSo yesterday, it was 50 degrees, the sun was shining, birds were singing and I really felt as though spring had finally arrived.
Today we had this
A completely unseasonal six inches of snow and temperatures in the 30-40s.
Which normally wouldn't be a problem, but the shearer had come by a few days ago and sheared my three sheep. (You can hear him talk about shearing BTW, in WeaveCast 37.)
They'd gone from weather-impervious wool balls to little naked sheepies.
When I checked on them in the morning to see how they were doing, they were huddled in the barn, staring out the door and looking at me like: "How could you let this happen?!?" After a moment, I realized they were shivering.
Shivering! And the snow was still coming down hard. I could only imagine how much colder it would get at night. My active imagination supplied images of coming into the barn next morning to find sheep-cicles.
I considered bringing them into the garage, and what kind of conversation that might spark around the dinner table.
Then I recalled something I'd seen shepherds do with lambs born during a hard winter. My sheep are Shetlands, a miniature breed, so I thought it just might work.
I ran back to the house and rummaged around in my closet...and came back with three sweaters.
Now here's what they don't tell you in the funny-ha-ha-isn't-that-cute-the-lamb-is-wearing-a-sweater pictures.
- Any sheep approached by a human carrying a pile of flapping fabric things will assume said human is there to kill them.
- Catching said sheep and forcing a sweater over its head will only confirm this suspicion. (Note: Experience dressing toddlers does transfer to dressing sheep)
- Sheep's legs are much shorter than your arms
- You cannot roll a cuff on the sleeve of a sweater worn by a thrashing sheep
- A sheep wearing a sweater with uncuffed sleeves that are much longer than its legs is a hazard to self and others
- Cutting the sleeves off a perfectly good sweater can suddenly seem like the most brilliant thing in the world
- Do not try to cut the sleeves off the sweater while the sheep is wearing it. This does not give the sheep a good impression of your intentions
- If you dress a sheep three times in ten minutes, they will eventually accept that the sweater might not be lethal
- Getting chased around a barn and repeatedly dressed by a woman carrying scissors who is probably trying to kill you will warm a sheep right up
- The shepherd gets warm, too
At last: success!
They were quite interested in each other's new duds.
This, I might have to do some explaining about...
That sweater is (was?) Eric's.
Comments
Sheep in Sweaters
OMG - how funny is this!!!! Now if you reaaaaaally want to live dangerously - try putting a sweater on a Siamese CAT - now that's a walk on the wild side for sure...plus the cat will be so pissedola, it will piss in your shoes when you're not looking...
Thank you for the robust laughter - was busy taking finals, took a break cause my brain was hurting, came across your blog - nice blog. Uh, btw, I am a weaver but have no "hands on" sheep experience...
anna in tampa
I have to ask...
Are you speaking from experience on the Siamese cat issue? ;>
Syne Mitchell
WeaveZine Editor
More on coats and cold sheep
We don't coat ours to keep them warm but you can make coats. I have my instructions here:
http://www.desertweyr.com/sheep/sheepcoats.php
Ours also got shorn, only one sheep, Agent 90, needed a coat afterwards. But he is short a few teeth and has a hard time eating enough hay to warm up. Within 3 days the thickness of the skinof a shorn sheep actually triples or even more. They will eat a lot more, our boys are eating abut 75% more hay right now while the girls are eating about 50% more hay.
Hay keeps them warmer than grain because of the heat from fermentation. Leafy grass hay is better than alfalfa for getting them warm.
A deep thick winter bedding pack will also help a lot. Ours dig sheep nests into the warm composting bedding and stay very warm as long as there isn't too much wind.
We've been down to about 15 degrees since shearing and several major storms. The sheep are all fine.
Now I need a new Keyboard!!
A "friend" just sent me this link, and even tho he warned me, I laffed while I had teas in my mouth!!
Thanks, tho, it was a great way to start the day :)
Ninure da Hippie
http://ninure.tk
Thank you!
I really did laugh out loud!! Thank you for a good laugh!
Sort of like Wallace and Grommit!
If you've never seen the claymation short film called A Close Shave (one of the series of Wallace and Grommit videos), try to see it. This is so much like it! A similar thing happens in the story - a sheep gets unexpectedly shorn (and they end up naming him "Shawn") and they put a tiny little knit sweater on him that he ends up wearing in the whole story.
next year you might try cria coats
When we had baby llamas, called crias, in cold weather, we put insulated, gore-tex covered 'coats' on them that had a wide band that went under the belly that was adjustable and held with velcro. Llamas and More? was a catalog we used to use, or nowadays, google. There was no need for leg coverings, but these were great and covered them from rib to rib and from neck to tail. A plus, they are very easy and quick to put on. Someone as crafty as ewe (sorry) could easily make one, too. Laid flat they were roughly a square shape w/ curves at neck, & velcro band attached in middle. Pile side was on the band, a big strip of hooks was on other side on top of coat.
Madeleine
Sheep in sweaters
Hi Syne - The Shepherd did the same thing with our crew last week - check out my blog - http://ablipontheradar.blogspot.com/2009/03/baby-its-cold-outside.html
And the blue one on the ram - the lable on the neck says it is from "MacBaaa" - we laughed and laughed... Take care - Tina
Cute!
Cute sheepies! I think we're starting a fashion trend. ;>
Syne Mitchell
WeaveZine Editor
Ewe in Classic Sweaters
Syne you definitely made my night. After imagining you trying to navigate your living room through the spider web structures I then was able to visualize you chasing the Ewes to dress them. Your description was as clear as a video. I will go to sleep smiling.
Thank you,
Harriett
Sheep in sweaters — hilarious!
We also have done this with alpaca and llama babies who were unlucky enough to be born at this time of year. We found that a Toddler Size 2 hoodie works wonders on a shivering baby alpaca. And since they are such leggy little creatures, we generally don't have to roll up the sleeves!
Deb
imagine
a fiberly life without syne mitchell...nope, cannot; won't!
THANK YOU AGAIN!!!
nothing new always did this
nothing new always did this when i use to show lambs n goats, blah boring post!
boo
We that don't raise sheep found this interesting and hilarious. The nay-sayer is rude.
sheep sweaters
Any chance this could be in a printable format? I'd hate to lose it - it is a classic!
Kathie
Sheep in people's clothing
I almost fell off my chair laughing! I put sweaters on my Angora rabbits after winter and cold weather shearings. Maybe you should send me those sleeves, as that is what I used at first: cut two holes for front feet, and wrestle over the head of the surprisingly strong rabbit and voila, instant sweater. When I ran out of old sweatshirt sleeves, I started making sleeves out of polar fleece. We coulde probably enlarge the pattern to sheep size.....:)
New sweaters for Woolies!
Well I already knew you were a really smart cookie, but this idea was brillant!! I am sure you took plenty of photos. Keep up the good work informing the weaving world of whats is going on. See you in May at the Folk School.
Pam
Brasstown, NC
Living literature
Get hold of the childresn's book "Farmer Brown Sheers His Sheep." Or is that where you got the idea?
Jan
Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep
I am rolling on the floor laughing. I, too, instantly thought of Farmer Brown and his fashinable sheep.
It's nice to know I am in good company in fiber and books!
heheh
that is really just too funny! I was wondering if they were wool as well!
Were they warm?
So, did the sweaters take the shivers away? They still look like they want a jacket, hat and booties. Our weather has been crazzzy too...up and down. Stay warm, Salutations, from Ontario, Canada
Ilene
1969??
Are we in a time warp?
Yep, it's a Bug
Known issue. Correct date is being stored, but not printed out. I'm working on it. In the meantime, enjoy the trip to the past. ;>
Syne Mitchell
WeaveZine Editor
very "flashdance" she's a
very "flashdance"
she's a maniac, maaaaaaaniac......on the dance floor
Were they WOOL sweaters?
Were they WOOL sweaters? Because THAT would crack me up even more... there's something so ironic about that... Shear the sheep... and then put a wool sweater on them... TOO FUNNY!!
LMAO
Thanks for the giggle.
Sheila
quite possibly the best post
quite possibly the best post I've ever Stumbled Upon!
it really warms the heart (pardon the pun) knowing there are people like yourself around.
thanks for keeping the sheepies warm, and thanks for a wonderful post that put a huge smile on my face.
Vee from Australia
sheepie sweaters
my stomach hurts i am laughing so hard
Pamela
Re: sheep sweaters
LOL!! That is hilarious! I know how you feel! I've got 12! I'd have to go to Goodwill for enough sweaters! I'll just feed them more hay! Beautiful pics! I'd have loved seeing you chasing them trying to put the sweaters on! I'm so glad spring is coming--someday soon! Pattilam
Poo Poo on snow!
We too just got a big snowstorm (11 inches overnight). i am done with it! I have 4 little ewe crossbreeds and I don't think we will try and shear them until the snow is GONE! (hopefully before the 4th of July lol)
I love these photos of "dressed up" sheep.
Lorie
Snowville, MT
Hilarious!
Thank you for a good laugh at work! People are coming into my cube wondering what I'm laughing at. So I showed them the hilarious pictures of sheep in sweaters! My only question is: did Eric ever get his sweater back? This is the supreme husband sacrifice.....
Um no...
With the sleeves cut off, and the sweater smelling of, say...sheep, he doesn't actually want it back at this point. ;>
Syne Mitchell
WeaveZine Editor
Thank you!
After reading that I have a BIG THANK you to all you sheep farmers out there. I'm used to chasing cats and don't know how I'd handle a sheep. They look so darling in their sweaters!
Mariellen, in Palm Springs
Your story confirms
Your story confirms my conviction that I am doing the right thing by shearing my sheep in May.
Even then some of them think I am trying to kill them.
As a teenager I dressed my German Shorthair in a sailor top. Now I have spent enough years dressing toddlers to get it out of my system. They are teenagers now but haven't tried to dress the dog yet.......
Thanks for the genuine laugh.
Carla
Dressing sheep?
I have thought about it! But I don't have 3 sheep, I have 300! Last year my daughter and I went out and chased the sheep around the barn every 3 hours until the weather warmed back up.
Absolutely rolling on the floor at the visuals of you chasing the sheepies around the barn trying to put sweaters on them
Been there - done that . . .
Been there - done that . . . sold the sheep! Thanks for the memories and a good laugh.
Christie
SpecTACular
My only sadness is that Candid Camera wasn't there to film YOU filming them in their new duds. This is AWESOME!
Heather
people sweaters for sheep
This is hilarious! And vividly described. I can just see you chasing after the little sheepies. Great job!
kathleen from California
LOL
I almost never have time to read blogs. I'm so glad I took a minute today. This is funny! I'm sure much more so in the telling than in the experience. Good job on making your sheep happier (warmer) and telling us a great story.
Heavens!
Good thing they are small sheep - my mind boggles at trying this with some of the bigger breeds... Too bad you didn't video the experience :-D
S.
WOW!
I'm impressed!!! (But I'm just an ignorant city girl.) Wow. How do you know when it's time to take the sweaters OFF again? Good luck!
Laugh out loud funny!
Laugh out loud funny!
Thanks for...
...putting a huge smile on my face!
What expression is Eric wearing I wonder?
Cally
t'katch
Hillarious! Hope everyone
Hillarious! Hope everyone stays warm - especially the now topless Eric. What on earth is up with snow there at this time of year, anyway!? It's pretty rare that Mom (on Vashon) gets more snow than I do (in Eastern Canada).
- Janet Dawson
scarfaday.blogspot.com
highfibrediet.blogspot.com
Oh my!
I can't believe they let you do it!
Laritza
www.yorksett.blogspot.com
Too Funny
I hope you don't have to wear those sweatersm again ever. Now you will have to save them for the sheepies. Those were some of the funnier pictures I have seen lately. To bad, indeed that you didn't have a video camera running. Imagine the U-Tube video.. LOL
Nancy
You're a HERO!
The thought of a person that comes up with and executes this entire thing only tells me that you really care very much about them. It is funny, but the part that got to me was that you loved them enough to go through this. Hope you all thaw very soon.
coat
Hi We use dog coats. knitted ones for lambs and up to the size of your shetlands. sometimes you can find cheap knitted ones at the discount stores . covers the rear better than human sweaters