Sheeples

Dear Knittah,

The day after we went to the Ex, we went to Sheeples, a sheep farm near Inwood, Manitoba. Did we tell you about the last visit a couple of years ago? I can't remember if that's one of the things we kept meaning to blog, but never got around to. (Sorry, we've been slackers!)

Sheeples plans their lambing season to happen when it's warm: it's easier on the lambs, and since they don't have to worry about having the most weight come slaughter time (these are fleece sheep, not meat sheep), that's what they go with. Noricum *loves* spending a day at Sheeples during lambing season. (Frankly, I think she'd love to spend more than a day there!)

We took a bunch of photos so that you'd be there in spirit too.



We even got a demonstration of sheep shearing this year!

Did you know that when sheep are upside down, they can't burp/fart? The gas can build up, and essentially suffocate them! They try to do the shearing as fast as possible, and also check the sheep several times a day to make sure they haven't tipped over. (They're like turtles, and can't right themselves... especially when they have their full fleeces.)

Now, you might be wondering where I am, since I'm not in any of the photos? Well, I was there, but hung out incognito all day... Noricum says it's too hard to hold a baby sheep, take photos, *and* hold me up too.

I was kind of jealous... but how can you compete with a face like this?


One of the boys:




If you ever manage to visit us in Manitoba, make sure you come during lambing season... Noricum says she'll catch you a bottle baby lamb to hold in your lap. :)

Love,
Swatchy

Red River Ex

Hello Knittah! Swatchy here. Noricum took me to the Red River Ex last week, so we thought we'd invite you along too!

We went on Friday, so we could help Noricum's mom carry stuff in for her demo. Here she is, demoing:

The other person is Noricum's step-dad. He's cool!

Both Noricum and her mom got art in the art show at the Ex. The theme was "Manitoba Homecoming", so everything had to have something to do with Manitoba. (Although some artists seemed to ignore that rule.) Noricum entered her Great Blue Heron:

and Forest Chickadees:

since both are present in Manitoba. Both paintings got accepted. (As you can probably see.)

Noricum's mom entered four paintings (the maximum). Only three got in, but one won a prize! Here's her prize winning painting... it's the one with the brooms:

Isn't that buffalo awesome? It was done by a *teen*! (There were three categories: teen, amateur, and professional. Noricum entered as an amateur, and her mom entered as a professional.)

Noricum really liked this painting of mushrooms, but it wasn't for sale:


Another cool painting:


Okay, enough art... let's show you the fairground! (Note: if you're wondering why there aren't many people in these photos, it's because we went during the workday.)

Look, a pig on a spit!


This guy was carving logs with a chainsaw:


Yep, it's a fair:


Whoa... *fresh* fruit? Not candy coated?!? Must be because it's operated by the Kinsmen Club of Winnipeg, an organization which raises funds for charities:


Noricum remembers this fun-house from when she was a kid:


This is new, though:

(Or maybe she just wasn't tall enough?)

Hee! A little train!

I wanted to ride, but Noricum said that I was too small to ride without her, and she was too big to ride. Oh well... she took me to the petting zoo instead. (We were too busy petting the sheep, alpacas and goats to take any photos, though.)

We hope you enjoyed the tour! (And you didn't even have to pay admission, or get sore feet walking on the pavement!)

Love and hugs,
Swatchy