{Photographs by Calvin. Taken, apparently, in the rare moments when he wasn't ribbing his father for every little cut and nick he gave the sheep. Oh, those poor school sheep!}
While I was busy stitching and sorting buttons on Saturday, I was also doing my best to curb the little bits of jealousy of where Steve and Calvin were all day long. Shearing School - a class offered through the University of Maine's cooperative extention, and held at Wolfe's Neck Farm. (Honestly, the education we've received so readily and affordable from the cooperative extension is such a gift. Beekeeping! Sheep shearing! Fruit tree pruning! Tractor Safety! Yes, please, to all of it. What a wonderful resource.)
It may end up that we eventually turn over our shearing to the experts. For certainly there is much skill, grace, and efficiency in the way they do their work. I know this not only from watching here and there, but because Steve and I have taken to a little bit of an on line sheep shearing video habit. Really, there's no greater way to spend a late winter's Friday night than gathered around the wood stove, laptop at hand, and giggling, wowing and marveling at what there is to see in the world of shearing. From serious and informative to absurd and silly. And most definitely inspiring (I would love to move to blade shears someday, perhaps when we have a bit of experience).
With that class fresh on his mind, videos and books and phone numbers nearby, and new clippers on the way, we are ready to give it a try on our own. We know our sheep so very well, and they trust and know us well. And of course, we have the greatest charmer shepherdess on hand to sweet talk them all the while. And well, you never know until you try, right? I think we can do this. We're excited to try.
