So today I got things ready for shearing tomorrow.  Just to make life more interesting I decided to fall out of the feed shed striking my left forearm on the cart’s handle.  Conveniently there was a 100# goat standing in the cart so it didn’t simply tilt over and my arm took the full weight of my fall.  I do not think it is broken, but man it hurts.  It is swelling quickly and will be multicolored tomorrow I am sure.

So after this mishap, I moved all the sheep into a field and locked them in there.  I moved the old skinny sheep out of the barn (they do not need to be sheared as they are growing so little wool anymore).  I laid straw down in the barn and the pens.  Then I chased the rams into one of the pens.  So now they can get straw in their fleeces rather than chicken poop.

Then I moved the sheep into the barn.  Tom spent yesterday making a human sized door for the sheep side of the barn.  So I shut this door and locked them in.  I have my supplies organized and ready to go.  We will not only be shearing the sheep, but I will be trimming all their hooves, giving them their CDT shots, worming them and separating the pregnant and skinny sheep out of the flock to start graining them.

I also got three rooms swept out and organized.  This is where the wool will be laid out to dry. Then I can organize, weigh and skirt it.

I have four people coming to help out (bless their hearts!).  So I cleaned the house and back porch and have snacks and drinks ready (including cider!).  So I guess I am as ready as I will ever be for the most exhausting day of the shepherd’s year.  Now I will ice my arm.