Since I injured my hand a couple years back, we have always hired shearers to come and get the job done - it is more efficient and less exhausting, but this year, some of the sheep needed to be done in advance of the shearers arrival.
It was my late day at work, so I had pretty much all morning to accomplish the task. Dad was out of town though, so I was on my own.
I put the blades on my handset and oiled my shears - and commenced attempting to catch the sheep. I caught the little ram and sheared him (and also discovered that I seriously need to head back to shearing school -- since I injured myself before I was able to put into practice what I learned from shearing school, my technique was sorely rusty). And then I caught and sheared the wether.
But then I encountered a whole new dilemma. I caught Ramses the big ram (that was NOT easy as he did not wish to be caught) and I managed to get him to my shearing station (also NOT easy as he outweighs me by at least 100lbs)... and then I was stuck. I tried reaching over his back to grab a leg - but I couldn't reach. And then I tried reaching around - and he almost took off with me. And then I was like "Dude, SIT UP ALREADY" but he disregarded my suggestion. And then I was like "Please sit up?" And he said "no." So since I didn't seem to have much recourse, I said, "fine - you just wait until Dad gets home" and let him go 😁
And then that would have been the end of my morning shearing endeavors - except that Mr. MacPherson looked (and acted) so miserable that he was being left out (he was too warm in his wool coat), I took pity on him. Catching him was the easiest task ever - attempting to shear around his horns, not so much.
But nonetheless, the morning was a HUGE success - especially in consideration of the condition my hand was in two years ago. I am so grateful for the healing God has granted.
And this meme popped up in one of my forums - I have no idea who originally designed it, but it cracks me up every time I see it 😀 so I thought I'd post it below:
In light of the fact that Ramses won his battle, this statement is not entirely true... but if I had a proper shearing chute, I can assure you that he would not have won so easily 😀
