Steep learning curve

Today the plan was to get the rest of the sheep sheared, or technically rooed because we didn't think any shears would be involved. Well, the best laid plans and all that. We decided to start with Fred because he is the biggest and I knew he has the thickest wool, so it seemed wise to start with him. 

As of this afternoon, we now have one and a half sheep sheared. I think the wiser course of action would have been to practice some more with the smaller sheep and save Fred for last. I remember last year the shearer being really surprised at how difficult it was to shear Fred, so I knew it wouldn't be a walk in the park. But good gravy that sheep has incredible think, sproingy, and greasy wool!

By the end of both mine and Fred's patience, I was able to trim the blanket (the wool on his back and sides that I will save to process), and had started on the britch which didn't need to be quite so careful with because it was going to go to the garden for mulch. But we were both done and decided to call it quits for the day. I swear that I'm some places you could see the lanolin literally running down the locks of wool. My hands are extremely well moisturized. The other complicating factor was that he doesn't have a consistent wool break, so I had to move to using shears. I would have started in a different way had I known because I made it harder on myself due to having to cut at awkward angles. 

It was a learning experience. The other sheep should seem much easier once I finish Fred. But right now Fred is sporting a rather silly haircut. 

It's hard to see, but the black wool is what I have sheared and the browner wool is what is left. He really is a black sheep, but the sun bleached the tips over the course of the year.