Caring for the Tools that Care for Our Animals

Well, we've come a long way as a society in the tools we use to care for our animals. I swear, my dog has a more thorough health screening every year than I do. And while I love to do things the old fashioned way, and would love to tell you that Zach and I use these old sheep shears to shear our goats and rabbits, alas, I cannot lie. These beautiful antique hand shears hang in our laundry room, and the only use they have in our house is to look rustic and charming.
There is however, a whole group of people who still use hand shears to shear their animals, and they do it faster than Zach and I with the electric ones.
As quaint as the old shears are, I find them incredibly daunting. We opted for the electric ones, more modern, but not nearly as scary.

  This is our collection of tools that we use to take care of our animals. It includes shearing tools, grooming tools, and nail and hoof clippers. We also keep a good grease cutting soap like dish-washing liquid on hand, small machine oil for shears or sewing machines, styptic powder, peroxide and triple antibiotic ointment.






Many of these tools are a considerable investment, it's important to take good care of them, not only to protect our own expenses, but so that they work properly and will do the job they're made for without injuring us or our animals.

 Shearing season is done for us for a while, and other than trimming up our Golden Retriever now and again, cleaning his ears and feet puffs etc. (he gets these pom pons on his toes and he looks like he's wearing fancy lady slippers), we will be packing up the clippers for a few months.

We have two sets of shears, our large electric sheep shears, and a smaller pair of animal clippers. They both work in basically the same way. They have a stationary row of angled teeth, then the lower section that slices back and forth.

The teeth on the sheep shears are spaced much wider than the animal clippers this is necessary because wool is much more dense than fur or hair. The head base is also wider which allows the fleece to come off faster, therefore putting less stress on the goat. These however, are a more dangerous set of clippers because it's easy to get your finger or the animal's skin in between those wide spaced blades. Unfortunately, someone always seems to get nicked. Either one of us or one of the goats. If the goats get nicked, we clean the area well with Peroxide, and smear triple antibiotic ointment on the wound each day until it's healed.

The animal clippers have a more narrow head, smaller teeth and spaced more closely together, but not too close together to where they wouldn't be able to get through the fur. Human clippers like the ones used in barber shops are meant for hair and will not work on animals with wool or an under coat, the teeth are too close together. We use the animal clippers on the rabbits and for our dog because they are safer and more easily manipulated for smaller areas.

This is what the clippers looked like after we sheared the rabbits.
I take the clipper head off, and brush out much of the wool and debris with an old recycled dog brush. It has soft bristles that work like a tooth brush and get between the teeth of the blades.

Then I brush the blades with grease cutting soap

and rinse under very hot water so much of the moisture evaporates and will not cause rust. Dry the blades well and oil well.

Our sheep shears have oil ports,

where the clippers I just run a bead of oil down the blades and turn them on for a minute to spread. They are now clean and ready to be stored.

We also use a collection of different brushes on our dog and the rabbits. We have a soft slicker brush which is the main brush for removing snarls and everyday combing on the rabbits. Slicker brushes have different bristle types, this is a soft brush used for cats or rabbits and won't scratch their delicate skin. The dog slicker has more firm bristles for removing his undercoat. We also use this great little tool called the Furminator, each of the teeth has an angled blade that removes mattes and loose fur extremely well. Ceddie also has his comb for after his bath and a shedding loop with teeth that draw out loose fur. It's also important to have a nice pair of scissors designed for cutting hair or fabric. These are quilting shears but they slice through fiber with no problem. Using dull scissors on a squirming animal can be extremely difficult and somewhat dangerous.

The last collection of tools we have are used for clipping nails and hooves. We use these large clippers for trimming the goats hooves, about every three weeks, see January 26th post Trimming Goats Hooves.

After each use we clean them with soap and hot water, dry thoroughly moving the clippers back and forth, and oil. It's important to keep them clean as to not pass bacteria between each goat causing hoof root etc.








For Ceddie and the rabbits we use a guillotine type clipper. We keep a vile of styptic powder on hand in-case someone get's clipped below the quick.     

Wild Wednesday, Puff Ball Mushrooms

We went for a walk in the woods this weekend and came across these adorable little mushrooms. I think they are puff balls, as they are a white rounded mushroom growing low to the ground with a short stem.

They have small spikes or warts on them as once sight referred to these as pineapple markings. I guess there are some poisonous look a-likes to this mushroom, and some can be deadly.

Shearing the Angora Rabbits

Knit and Purl weren't the only ones who've received a hair cut lately. Wallace and Grommit our two Angora rabbits were also sheared.

They are a mixed breed of Angora and Thrianta. Wallace is a Chestnut and Grommit (shown here) is a Black.

You can shear Angoras up to 4 times a year, so long as the fiber is over 2 inches or so. But I've been having a really hard time spinning the Angora at that short of a length on its own. It slips apart and the yarn breaks. The Angora is very soft and slippery. Many spinners blend it with other fibers that have more of a tooth, like wool or Mohair. I've not tried this yet, instead I let Wallace and Grommit grow for six months to see if a longer fiber would take the spin better.

Their wool is a little over 6 inches and it is beautiful! I was thinking about having it commercially blended with the Mohair, but it's so long and gorgeous that I might give it a go again, alone.

We use electric clippers which makes it easier and faster, which I feel, places less stress on the rabbit.

 They are surprisingly calm throughout the whole process. I think they're getting used to being handled all over because I brush them at least twice a week with a slicker brush.










I think they are sort of relieved to get all that wool off. We let them run around outside after they were sheared and they were jumping and running and kicking their legs sideways. 

When we were done we had more fur on us than the rabbits, it's very feathery and fluffy and seems to stick to your face, nose and clothes.

The poor rabbits look like skinned rats,  but they'll fill in very fast. If it gets too chilly at night, we will put a heat lamp on them. They are already making little dens in their wooden cave boxes, they must know winter is coming.

New Projects, Patchwork Plaid Purse

I made myself a new fall purse. I found this adorable material at Jo-Ann fabrics in the cotton calico section. It is quit squares all sewn together.
I made the purse in a sack style with a magnetic button closure that I found in the accessory isle. I lined it in a rusty red fabric to match the plaid.

The handle is extra long so I can drape it across from one shoulder, to the opposite hip and the top is tied in a floppy Hobo Knot. I know hand bags are in right now, but I hate carrying them around. It only gives you one hand to shop.

Fiery Friday - Cubicle Forgings

Hello Everyone,

    It's getting chilly now and again here in Michigan and the trees are starting to change colors. It is definitely the time of year that sparks inspiration and the cool weather is great forging weather. Standing in front of a 2300 degree forge when it's 98 degrees out makes you want to call it quits. Crisp, cool air keeps me motivated.   

    Having a lot of repetitive work to forge lately and there being no end in sight can be a bit, well, not so fun. I try to throw in a project of my own now and again to keep me moving and motivated. While I was at my 9-5 desk job, I noticed that I did not have a name tag for my cubicle. Yes, I work in a cubicle in front of a computer all day punching in data and writing codes. It's the nerd in me and I enjoy it. Anyway, I thought I could bring a little of my hobby into my daily life by making things for my cube. First off I'm going to be working on a name plate of some sort, perhaps a decorative coat hanger that hangs over the wall of my cube and then maybe a picture frame to put some pictures in of my family. Then, if I'm having a bit of an off day, maybe even a case of the "Mondays" I can have something to put a smile on my face. Next week I'll give you some pictures of these new in-between projects.

Thanks for stopping in
Zach Sartell

Orchard Images, The Pumpkins are Ready

There is something magical about a pumpkin patch. Pumpkins have a human quality to them, they have personalities. I'm not sure if it's the fleshy, globular characteristics, or maybe in the back of our minds there is the ever present suggestive fact that we've carved faces into them every Halloween, but they are encompassing and somehow warmly comforting.

Wild Wednesday, Goldfinch

I snapped this photo in Bay City while we were on a walk re-visiting the site where Zach and I were engaged. It's a shipwreck cemetery along the Saginaw River. The Goldfinch was devouring this thistle plant at an incredible rate. At different times it had bits of the fluff all stuck to it's face feathers.
Male Goldfinch's change to their bright yellow plumage in the summer months, where in the winter they turn a dull greenish gray, much like the female color.
I've been wondering something, we feed the song birds year round, has anyone else noticed that the songbirds look sort of tattered this year? Was it the oil spill, something environmental? But all of our song birds have feathers missing, and look sort of dingy. I thought maybe it was something with just our yard or area, but we've gone a few places and I've noticed several pathetic birds as far as two hours north, even this Goldfinch has some messed up feathers along it's chest. I know birds molt after nesting, and Goldfinch's evidently molt twice, but I've never noticed it as much as I have this year.

New Projects, 4 Ply Crocheted Rug

I thought I might share some projects I've been working on. I crocheted this rug for my Mother in law for her birthday. I used a homespun wool blend yarn in rich browns, tans and periwinkle. I used four strands at a time and a huge crochet hook. I loved this project because it went so fast. I started with a 17 stitch chain then crocheted an oval around and around. Occasionally I'd have to add a row of extra stitches because it would want to curl. It would be a great project for odds and ends yarn.

Baking Apple Pies

Apple pie baking is just as much of a tradition in my family as picking the apples themselves, that's the primary reason we pick them. For as long as I can remember, a day or so after picking apples we would start the process. There is no recipe for our apple pies, just a eyeball, tactile sort of thing that has been passed down from my Grandma, to my Mom, and now to me. The average number of pies we make each fall is around 15.

We pick a packed bushel, some years we get more, some less. Some years we save some for caramel apples, apple crumbles, or apple dumplings. This year I would like to make apple butter. We bake one apple pie to enjoy for that day, and freeze the rest raw. Then all winter long we can take out an apple pie any time we want. It warms up the house with the delicious smell of cinnamon and on cold, bleak snowy days, we are reminded of the colorful fall bounty.
Each pie takes approximately seven apples, my favorite is Jonathan's but you can mix in some Red Delicious for sweetness and a creamy texture.

The crust is a pile of flour I would say around 3 cups, I can tell when it's right by looking. Then a few heaping spoonfuls of vegetable shortening, and a dash of salt. I cut the shortening in with a pastry cutter until the mixture gets crumbly.

Then I slowly add milk and mix till the dough is pliable.

Flour your work surface and rolling pin and roll out two rounds about 1/4 inch thick.

Usually we have an assembly line, one person rolling, one person washing, peeling and chopping apples.

Lay one crust in a pie crust and fill the crust about half way with chopped apples.
Then I douse with white sugar, and cinnamon.
Fill the pie the rest of the way and douse again. Then I put about five pats of butter around the top.

Fold one of the crust rounds in half and slice small vents before placing it on top of the pie.

Trim the extra.

Then, we do the pinch all the way around to create a scallop and to seal the sides.

Bake for approximately 1 hour on 350 degrees.
Serve warm with vanilla bean ice cream or the best is a Marnuche, a runny French Canadian custard that my Mom makes. 
 

Apple Picking, Our 100th Post

Apple picking has been a family tradition since before I was born.

It is always a pleasant day, walking among the apple trees, munching on crisp shiny apples, and trying to find only the most perfect apples to put in the bag.

We picked mostly Jonathan's this year, but we always throw in a sampling of some of the others.

I like Jonathan's because I think they make the best pies. They hold their shape in pies, but don't dry out in the oven and are just the right mix of apple-y tartness.

Occasionally I'll throw in a few red or green delicious to add sweetness, and they break down just enough to give the pie some creaminess.

Wild Wednesday, Dryad's Saddle Mushroom

I didn't expect to be writing about mushrooms as much as I have, but nature keeps presenting such beautiful specimens this fall. We took the goats and Ceddie for a walk in the woods this weekend to find saplings to transplant and we came across this beautiful clump of mushrooms.

 I believe they are Dryad's Saddle Mushroom. The largest one was over a foot in length. This area of the woods is always damp. It's a low spot and in the spring it floods and forms a small pond that lasts until the hot weather comes.

These were growing just under on a tree that had fallen. They look like they may be just a white shelf mushroom, maybe an Oyster Fungus?