Daydream thread continues.....

Itismehonest

Sounds like you had a good day, CTC. You seem to have bought wisely.

I can remember going to one of our local "fairs" which includes a field auction with all manner of stuff laid out in lots. The highlight of the day was watching 2 couples (both obviously recently moved to the moor - new green wellies were a bit of a giveaway) bid against each other for a couple of new dustbins.
At the time the dustbins cost a fiver from the local farming supplies. They got to £20 before one pulled out. One old farmer looked at me, winked & said "Takes 2 silly b*ggers to do that" :rotfl:

lostinrates

Itismehonest wrote: »

Oh heck I hope it's not then if the bush is that bad already. How many bushes have the spots?

I didn't count but made cursory head note today. They ar whips rather than bushes, so not too many leaves on them.

I am really cross about it now.:o. No othe hollies in immeaiate area....but have noticed them in wider area and the villages increasingly, part of the reaon i decided on holly.

ukmaggie45

alfie_1 wrote: »

RUMMER....i have brought the best of the fleeces home and i will sift through it BUT can anyone tell me at/in what state rummer will be able to work with them ie...do they go as is or do i have to clip off the tatty tips/tops . underneath is a golden yellow almost...like pale butter.

I only have rudimentary knowledge of spinning, as unfortunately became ill just as was beginning to learn (and just after getting my own wheel). But best to not chop off anything - better to leave for the spinner to do that. Basically as a spinner you want the staple to be as long as possible. You clean out the mucky bits by pulling them out rather than clipping.

Best fleece is from first shearing, which is over a year long. I'm sorry, can't remember the term for it.

Probably best to wait and see what Rummer says about all of this!

From your photos your sheep have very high crimp? Am drooling at the thought, just wish was able to do this kind of stuff still. Spinning is good fun once you've carded and maybe washed the fleece ... (Fleece can be spun without washing). Carding is very hard on the hands work, but there are domestic small electric carders available, best bought as a share with someone or with Guild I guess - hardly worth for just one person maybe only dealing with one or two fleeces in a year.

Itismehonest

lostinrates wrote: »

I didn't count but made cursory head note today. They ar whips rather than bushes, so not too many leaves on them.

I am really cross about it now.:o. No othe hollies in immeaiate area....but have noticed them in wider area and the villages increasingly, part of the reaon i decided on holly.

Fingers crossed it may just be something to do with the shock of planting - roots suddenly having to establish themselves, that sort of thing. Does that happen with holly, Dave....... or any other holly-literate person?

lostinrates

Itismehonest wrote: »

Fingers crossed it may just be something to do with the shock of planting - roots suddenly having to establish themselves, that sort of thing. Does that happen with holly, Dave....... or any other holly-literate person?

Hope so.

Its on the top leaves...but they are only about 80 cms tall!

alfie_1

lostinrates wrote: »

Hope so.

Its on the top leaves...but they are only about 80 cms tall!

it sounds like wind damage/planting shock/dry soil ???? give them the benefit of the doubt...:( pleeease....

those sprig hollies ive got growing seem ok. so will nip em out so they start to branch..hopefully !!

LIR...WAS IT YOU THAT LOVES SWEET PEAS ? AND IF IT WAS AND YOU WERE PUTTING THEM AGAINST YOUR FAB COLORED FENCE WITH BIRD BOXES ? ? then i have 4 or 5 packets given to me from someone who "shows" them.....wannum ??:D

alfie_1

types....

lipstick magenta
miss truelove pale lavender
joyce stanton dark blue
charley paige blue striped white

choille

Alfie - skirt the fleeces - just go around cutting off the soiled edge. The yellow underneath is the lanolin.
That's really early to clip - but we don't until July.
Realy clear sky after a beautiful day, getting incredibly cold now - going out to look for Northern lights as it's that sort of sky tonight.

Haven't read much backwards posts so sorry for missing everyone's news.

alfie_1

choille wrote: »

Alfie - skirt the fleeces - just go around cutting off the soiled edge. The yellow underneath is the lanolin.
That's really early to clip - but we don't until July.
Realy clear sky after a beautiful day, getting incredibly cold now - going out to look for Northern lights as it's that sort of sky tonight.

Haven't read much backwards posts so sorry for missing everyone's news.

last year they were done in april and late august as they just get so weighted down with thier fleece.there is no visible signs of strikebut thier last sheer showed the start of FS. :eek: we lost 2 to flystrike and it hits so suddenly here that i take no chances...:o

p.s. when you say cut off the soiled edge....not the tips of the coat but the bits from the tummy and legs and nether regions ???? i seperated that stuff as he was doing it !! much to his humour !!

choille

I went in to the wool board sorters a couple of years back - amazing. It's in an old aircraft hanger on the east coast. Masses of people sorting the clips. The guy sits at a lectern who books them in. You get a sheet - bag, & label for the next year's load when you deliver them.
You're paid for quality & cleanliness - old bits of gorse, heather etc sort of knock a bit off the price as does dangles - that's why you should clip all the crap off.