Shearing Day Photos

With Patrick out of town for the weekend, Erin and I were on our own for shearing day. We got up at five to start rounding up the goats and setting up the shearing pens.

We used Andy Rice this year instead of Jeff, our regular shearer. We sheared the first goat, Roquefort, at 7 a.m. over at Tisbury Meadows.

Shareholder Jenny and her cousin Leslie made the trip from Boston.

Erin couldn't resists holding Chipotle, her favorite little peanut of a goat, after his haircut.

We all took a break for lunch- Thanksgiving sandwiches with pumpkin cake and brownies for dessert.

I'm always astonished by how clean the goats are after shearing. This is Hannah after her turn in the barber's chair.

We were a little worried about the little kids being cold after the shearing and with rain in the forecast we didn't want to take any chances. We gave all the peewees their own shelter and penned them in. We also put sweaters on some of the smallest kids.

Cini doesn't like changes in routine and pouted all day after the shearing. 

It was a lovely day all around! Erin and I worked our behinds off. The shearer didn't do anything but shear, leaving all of the goat "management" to us. That meant we had to catch each animal, pass them to him, take them after he finished, worm them, delouse them and give all the kids vitamins and iron. 

By the end of the day we were beat! And we still had to do our regular farm chores. We got home around 7:30 p.m., about the time Patrick was getting home for New York. Then we collapsed.

Thanks to everyone who came for the shearing. The Spring Shearing will once again be part of the Martha's Vineyard Fiber Fest on April 18th, 2009. Mark your calendars and start looking for cheap plane tickets because this year's festival is going to be even bigger and better than last year.