String? OOoohhhhhh Stri-i-i-i-i-i-nnnnggggg

[Alan H]

Gather around, Rabble, it's a free show. Let's all watch String go into fits, and see her eyes roll back in her head.

At Nor Cal Burns Night, I sat with good friend of Piper George and the Gwenlass....a lady I"ve met before named Sharon. Now, it so happens that Sharon, as a hobby, keeps sheep.

Sheep, you know....as in wool. Quite a few sheep, I would guess....

And you see, String noting the onset of twitching AND..

now she says she has black sheep and regular sheep. See? And that some of these sheep are of a variety called "Babydolls" and another is called "cheviot". And it so happens that, keeping sheep, that she SHEARS these sheep.

.............and then offtimes throws away the wool.

HORRORS! ... says I. Would Sharon be so inclined to share this mass of wool with a young lady I am acquainted with, who spins and knits?

Yes, Sharon would be delighted to do that....in pretty much any quantity. Steady, now String...steady, there..

So, dear, dear String.....would you like, say fifty or so pounds of raw wool after shearing time, oh, probably late March or April sometime?

I'm sorry, Yeti...truly I am. Did the paramedics get there in time?

[string]

Yes yes I would (dear Lord what am I saying, where will i put it? when will I WASH it?) I am so glad my parents are accepting of my hobbies.

*string is perfectly calm, but unaccepting of waste*

[Pleater]

It's a good thing there is so much space, and water between us or I'd be turning up with a pair of carders, spinning devices and hopeful smile -

The trick is to wash little but often, and sort the fleece into the different qualities and into labled bags - even if it means that you have dozens of little bags it is far less intimidating than fewer large ones.

[thescot]

I almost wish I could spin and knit.

Go for it, String, dear, and let us see your products when they are finished. Maybe even do a couple of custom kilt hose for someone? (hint, hint)

[Bugbear]

Um, String... I have fifty pounds of cat hair. Do you think that would work for yarn?

I'm just joking. I remember watching the sheep shearing when I was a kid... I hope this all works out for you. Good luck.

[Nighthawk]

Um, String... I have fifty pounds of cat hair. Do you think that would work for yarn?

I'm just joking. I remember watching the sheep shearing when I was a kid... I hope this all works out for you. Good luck.

First of all, between you and I, I would bet we have enough cat hair to make an entire tabby kilt. I have four of the little blighters!!

Second... who the heck keeps sheep as a hobby?!?! "'Baaaa' means 'NO!!'"

[Bugbear]

First of all, between you and I, I would bet we have enough cat hair to make an entire tabby kilt. I have four of the little blighters!!

Second... who the heck keeps sheep as a hobby?!?! "'Baaaa' means 'NO!!'"

Well then... It's decided. String we're sending you our giant trash bag fulls of cat hair to knit into kilt hose. And I thought "Baaaa" ment "why me, why me?" Nighthawk.... Or was it "Please, no mint jelly!"

How does the Blake poem go... "Tiger tiger burning bright..."

[Nighthawk]

Well then... It's decided. String we're sending you our giant trash bag fulls of cat hair to knit into kilt hose. And I thought "Baaaa" ment "why me, why me?" Nighthawk.... Or was it "Please, no mint jelly!"

How does the Blake poem go... "Tiger tiger burning bright..."

In the forests of the night.

[Bugbear]

In the forests of the night.

Ah, very good, Grasshopper... and what is burned into your wrists?

[BoldHighlander]

Second... who the heck keeps sheep as a hobby?!?! "'Baaaa' means 'NO!!'"

Actually there is such a thing as Hobby or "Gentleman" farmers who might keep a handful of sheep or (in a few cases I've seen) 2 or 3 Highland cows for nothing more than the pleasure of raising them & connecting to their rural past without the fulltime farm commitment.

However the ones I know that keep sheep use them as training aids for their herding dogs (these are the very serious trail dog competitors). As matter of fact the lady I got our Smooth Collie from was just such a competitor. Had I the room to keep a few sheep I would, as "Sassy" showed some ability at her old home in herding.