The sheared fleeces have been taking up useful space in the conservatory for far too long. Although the cats have made lofty perches up on the tops of the sacks, and will miss their high seats.
The fleeces were well skirted at shearing-time, with all daggings and 'clarty bits' removed.
The task for today was to unroll each fleece in turn and give it a good shake, removing any double-cuts and vegetation. Then the fleece is laid (skin side down) on the table and checked over very carefully. Any remaining bits of vegetable matter are removed, then the fleece is rolled back up again and packed - as tightly as possible - into a sack. The colours are each kept separate, so that they can be processed separately at the Mill.
It's tiring work, and a bit greasy as the fleeces are still rich in lanolin. The trick is to remember how soon it will come back, cleaned, spun and ready to use.

The weather her has been fantastic and Hamish and I spent the afternoon wandering around Lammermoch, taking new photographs for the website - especially the shopfront section.  We are lucky to live close to the hills and the reservoirs, and so there is plenty of opportunity to take great photos while enjoying some peace.
I met a lovely lady last year who got me thinking about photos, and branding and the like, and so I'm happier now that I have product photos which are as much part of the landscape as my wool is!  Check this out - sunbathing wool.

I love going to the Great Yorkshire Show (or GYS) each year.  I usually divide my time between the sheep lines and the Yorkshire Dry-Stone Walling Guild project, and rarely get to see much else on the showground.
This year the Guild was working on a permanent bench which (when the fields are not full of cars) will have a great view down over the Crimple Valley.  Here are some of the team hard at work:

I was also asked to show my friend's sheep in the ring on Tuesday afternoon.  Never was a third prize more happily received!