1 June 2011

Ben Helping Out

Last year, a young Ben helped us shear the sheep (I usually call it “clipping”, so I’ll call it that). This year I decided he could help out again.
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So, on Monday and Tuesday, Ben and myself were responsable for keeping our father and son pair of clippers well stocked with sheep to clip. Ben and myself had a helper on Monday too – a man called James. He switched to pulling sheep out for one of the clippers the next day. When the sheep would start to run out, Ben and myself would herd a few sheep into the clipping trailer, where they waited to be clipped.

Most of the time however, Ben just stood on the ramp into the trailer.
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Ben also spent his time bothering entertaining the sheep.
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Bubbles was not impressed.
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The clipped ewes and their lambs waiting outside to be taken back to the fields.
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Clipping is one of the most physically demanding times of the year, so of course there are regular breaks. At 3pm the clippers are turned off and everyone goes off for some tea and chocolate!
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The canine helpers Fly and Ben (and myself to keep them company) have to wait in the tractor.
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When I get in, there isn’t much room for Ben… who sticks his head through the steering wheel.
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Fly waits patiently for dad to come back.
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I think we’re going to need a bigger tractor…
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14 comments:

  1. Oh wow, what a great post, that's so interesting. We love reading about your adventures on the farm, and the photo's are fantastic as usual. I hope you got your fair share of tea and biscuits seeing as you were kept so busy as the warm up act for the sheep ;-) Look forward to more farm tales, Dex & Lou x

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  2. Ben is such a great helper. :)

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  3. It looks like a great day overall!

    Nubbin wiggles,
    Oskar

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  4. awww love the shots of ben with his head through the steering wheel :)

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  5. Ahh!! My Ben fix! :) I bet Ben had lots of fun helping out and getting to spend extra time with you.

    Hopefully all the hard work is over for a while and you all can rest and relax!

    Elyse and Riley

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  6. OH, waht fun! What do you do with all those clippings? The sheep look so nice all sheared there. And Ben, such a sweet face.

    Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

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  7. OMD, that first shot of Ben belongs in Nat. Geo.
    I also love the one of him with his head in the wheel! That does sound like a lot of hard work. I buy raw wool for needle felting.
    ~S

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  8. That picture of Ben with the sheep is hysterical! It does really look like he is telling them a story!

    Your pal, Pip

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  9. Great photos today, and very interesting to us city dogs!!

    -Gizmo, Bart and Ruby

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  10. I saw a competition once on TV about the fastest, most accurate clipper - it takes quite a bit of skill, strength and speed to sheer efficiently.
    But tea AND chocolate? Sign me up!

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  11. I think Ben was channeling Babe in the picture with him facing the sheep. "Baaa Raaam Ewwe"! :)

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  12. I love love love love!!! the first picture of Ben on the bale. LOVE IT!

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