[Jacob-list] follow-up on ist shearing

[B&B]

I want to thank everyone who wrote about my issues with the first shearing
of my Jacob ewe.

My shearer is someone who has shorn for a long time, and he does it to
supplement his income a bit.  He had his own sheep before and did everyone's
sheep in the area where he lives.  I think the trouble is that he is perhaps
unaware of what it takes to produce a good handspinning fleece, or doesn't
care, though several have discussed how they wanted their fleeces done  for
hand spinners.  This time he was in a hurry because he had a time crunch,
and did 10 of my sheep in an a little over an hour.  Believe, me he is not
making second cuts to improve the looks of the sheep, because they too look
chopped up. He at least is a nice guy; we have had one in the past who was
extremely angry with me when he found out how hard it is too get here, and
he took it out on the sheep.  He came only once. Where I live it is not easy
to get shearers to even come here, and it's a long way for all of them.  Not
that there are many around any more, either.  The one I used this year is
the closest.

Many years ago I went to sheep shearing school, but never was any good at
it, and it was a lot of hard work.  What I learned was the job was better
done by a professional.  However, we still have our  electric shears, but we
are too old now to handle the sheep, and never really possessed the skills.

I was unaware that Jacob had a rise.  That was interesting to learn.

I love the feel of this little fleece of Blueberry's, so I really won't mind
spinning it myself.

Thanks everyone,
Barbara