Fleecing the Flock (Sheep Shearing)

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Psalm 23

This picture may remind you of Bach's pastoral melody "Sheep May Safely Graze" ~ everything calm and serene, but that's not what is running through the average sheep's mind on shearing day. This year, Ray, Sara, and Valerie helped some friends with their annual sheep shearing on May 1st. The day started at 7:30 with setting up the equipment and fences and rounding up the not-so-enthusiastic herd of little rebels. Ask any sheep farmer.....those little critters are so unpredictable! They had practiced the penning up routine for a week and the sheep were behaving beautifully.....that is, until the big day arrived. That morning only half would cooperate. The other half were left to their own devices for a while.

Ha! Ha! Caught You!

Valerie and Sara picking "tags"

Fred shearing the sheep

Chad giving the "manicures".....the hooves have to be checked for disease and trimmed so as to prevent lameness.

First, the sheep are put into the holding pen where they await their turn for a buzz cut.

They are then caught one by one and brought before the shearer to meet their fate.

This is the back-breaking job. Bent over for hours on end with very little relief until the day is over.

Then the "tags" as well as all the belly and neck wool are removed from the fleece . When it is ready, it is packed in bags to take to the sale.

There weren't as many this year as in years past. With only 85 sheared they were able to finish well before nightfall. Below are some videos that give a little more of an idea what a sheep farm is like on just one of those big days of the year.

As the sheep are being sheared, they sit there so docile without a sound ~ not even a bleat. Only if a ewe is pregnant will she even whimper. Watching the shearing process paints such a beautiful picture of what Jesus did for me....."He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)



While herding the sheep and trying to get them going in the right direction.....while trying to get them to go into the holding pen......watching them follow the sheep dog back down into the pasture where we don't want them to go.....all of this reminds me of who I really am and why Jesus went to the cross to suffer and die....."All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6)

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
John 1:29

Summer-Ease

When things get busy, one of the first things that seems to get neglected is the blog, so this one is dedicated to a quick picture summary of the past month. The Lord has given us so many "small" blessings that when you put them all together and add them to all the big things He has done for us, it is past comprehending.

Here are a few of our tiny little blessings. : ) The two Rays didn't think so at first, but it wasn't long before the kittens had won their hearts. Especially when the tiny little fur balls would run to greet us as soon as we would open the door. How adorable!

One huge blessing was when the Lord provided 81 pounds of organic carrots for only pennies a pound. Wow! There was a coupon for $1 off a certain brand and the 1-pound bags of carrots were on sale for $.99 so really we only paid tax. It was so wonderful to be able to can 42 quarts plus have some left over for meals.

Planting flowers is another attraction -- not just for us. : ) Our curious furry friends were right there to cheer us on as well as poke their noses into anything and everything....even going so far as to taste the Impatiens we were planting in the hanging baskets.

Smudge thought he had done his share of work for the day.

We never knew where little eyes would be watching from. While planting flowers under our "rose arbor" (it takes a good imagination to call it that) : ), we looked up, and, there, on top was Clarkey peering down through the lattice.

After the exertion of planting flowers in the flower beds, hanging baskets, and the pots on the front porch, we treated ourselves to a game of croquet. It took us an hour and a half to set it up and got to enjoy it for about 45 minutes. Go figure. : )

The Ladies' Banquet theme for this year was about the promises of God. What a wonderful reminder of the many promises He has given to His children!

We're not quite sure what they were thinking when they stuck these guys in the kitchen! Notice the apron? Nothing like taking advantage of the opportunity, right? After all, this was a ladies' banquet. : ) He actually got three takers.....his mom, his sister, and his aunt. : )

The beauty of spring has been overwhelming! There's nothing like taking a walk through town soaking up all the blossoms, fresh air, and sunshine.

Every now and then we find a little surprise hiding under the bushes.

The intricacy of each little part of the flower is so amazing....there is no denying a Creator when studying the detailed design. And to think that He pays attention to the lilies of the field, how they grow. How much more does our Heavenly Father care for us!

Here is one of the camping pastimes. Splitting wood with a machete is very entertaining to the one actually doing it as well as to the onlookers. We had gone out east to spray the lines on our property and inquire into the timber market. There was a lot accomplished. We also learned a bit including how to check for ticks. Sara found 3, Valerie found 2, Ray found 1, and Keisha found 1. Then came the lesson in how to get them off. Ray was pretty experienced, but the girls were somewhat skittish with the fear that they might not get the head. All went well, and we came away with a tick collection -- nicely preserved in sandwich bags and labeled with the name on whom it was found and the date (just in case any strange symptoms appeared). It has now been two weeks so everyone is more than likely out of the danger zone.

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee."

Psalm 84:11-12

Baa-Baa, Black Sheep, Know You Any Lions?

In the days leading up to Wednesday, April 29th, this is what most of our family was doing.....studying our scripts! Our family had the wonderful opportunity to put together a children's program for our church. It was a joy to minister to the young people and encourage them to always be on guard against the wiles of the devil. We built the theme on I Peter 5:8:

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

Allison, Christina, and Valerie were the "sheep", Ray was the "lion", and Sara was the narrator. Keisha had the hardest job tending to the sheep (children).

There was a skit...

and a puppet show...

Ray taught them some songs...

and Christina taught them their Bible verse.

There were two-year-olds up through fifth graders. The small ones behaved well and listened so intently.

And then there was the gymnast. : )

Ray, Sr. taught a lesson, and then, to cap off the evening, we played "Be Sober, Be Vigilant" ~ a new game designed specifically to go along with the lesson.

We had a wonderful time with the children,

but, boy! were we worn out!