This Dog learned a new trick

Just got back from learning how to make soap.

How amazingly simple it is! And how utterly stupid I feel for not trying to go about it myself. However, if I have the opportunity to learn something from some one in the know, then I will jump at the chance.

I made goat milk soap. I will have photos Tuesday, when I get my batch of soap.

Extracting Lanolin

With Donkey now sheared, I decided to take on another task I have been meaning to do the extraction of lanolin from the wool.

Lanolin is that thick ear wax looking stuff that is stuck to the wool and the skin of your sheep. You can feel it all greasy over your hands. Why yes, that is sheep sweat you are using. Makes you really want to put that chap stick on doesn't it?

First step is to build a fire outside and stuff the freshly shown wool into a large pot along with water and 1 -2 tablespoons salt. Simmer this for several hours, adding water as needed.


Here comes a problem, the Kansas wind. It has been a busy bee as of late, and a fire isn't prudent. We couldn't keep the water boiling. So I scoured the internet and through my books, all they say is to boil the water and if you have a large amount of wool, you might think about doing it outside with a large kettle. ok. . . good advice.

However. . . you knew this was coming didn't you?

I brought the pot inside and place it on the stove. Brought it to a boil and let it go. After awhile I could smell the wool, it wasn't awful, just smelled like a dirty wet sweater. I left it boiling and went outside to deal with the new sheep which we are trying to break a little of their wild streak in them. They are big over-reactors, never been handled in their life, and don't trust people at all.

I came back in and...oh my. . . gag. . .what. . .gag. . I can't. . . gag. . .

I stepped back out the door to get some fresh air. It was almost like boiling cabbage, where you have this disagreeable smell, yet an underlying order that makes you hungry, but 10x worse.

The house was open, but that didn't alleviate the smell. I opened the doors wide, putting up baby gates to keep the goats and turkeys out. I stayed out of the house, only entering to check the level of water.

For some reason the smell was tolerable to Medium who was playing on the computer when I came back into the house to strain the wool. As I poured, and gagged to the brink of vomiting, he asked me what was wrong.

uckgagwoogagukool (gasp) stiukgagukinksgag (gasp) was my reply.

So no matter what the books tell you, Never do it in the house.

Once it has drained and the wool will no longer burn you, squeeze it out into another pot. Take said (not as stinking) pot, and simmer it until it reduces. This is where I am at right now. It doesn't smell so bad, and is in the oven reducing. We will touch back on this subject soon.

No Matter What the Books tell you

Never do it in the house.

And Sometimes Pictures Suffice

Easy as tearing the wings off Butterflies

The crowd gathered around. Necks strained to see what the screaming was about. They prodded and pushed, and when they could see that they could do nothing to help, they milled around until it was decided that there was nothing more to do. He was left to his attacker, alone to fend for himself.

But I guess a good story really needs to start at the beginning. It is quite simple really. It began as any attack would, the victim was stalked. He was watched carefully. The attacker learning his movements and his habits. The attacker paid great attention to the details of how alert his victim was, who he hung out with, where he ate and even how often he had to defecate. With enough amassed knowledge the attacker determined it was time. He employed a lovely distraction. The woman slowly, and seductively approached him. Lulling him into a sense of safety. She held his favorite dish of food out to him, willing him with her mind to pay attention only to her, and what she was carrying. The attacker approached slowly. The crowd that stood looking on did nothing to help, and witnessed the entire episode. They merely watched in detached interest. Suddenly the attacker jumped and grabbed the victim. A split second later the woman had dropped the food and started pushing the victim as the attacker pulled. Quickly, and with little noise, the two were able to get the victim to the blanket laid out under the tree and threw him down on his side. The woman straddled him to hold him down as the man removed a pair of long, shinny, and sharp scissors.

The first cut wasn't as simple as they had hoped. Slowly the man clipped up the side of the victim's leg. Once accomplished, getting the wool of Donkey was simple. The tangles this year weren't as bad as last. The shears slipped easily between the wool and cut cleanly. It took us 3 hours to shear him completely, a record. For those of us that aren't a practiced hand at hand shearing, it is a grueling process. Your back, knees, shoulders and wrists begin to burn, and your cuts become jumpy. It is always a good idea to have a tag team going.





Zombie and Ni took vigilance on the blanket beside us. Ni, acting cocky and cool.



He had the lone honor, as he takes no heed of Zombie unless feeling frisky, of sitting next to us cool people. Zombie even decided to get into the act, and helped us shear by eating the wool.



The group of cows that had gathered, quickly dispersed when it was shown that Donkey was overreacting. My ladies won't stand for the overly dramatic types. The bulls had to be shooed off as they wanted to play hook the sheep in my horns.

Husband and I had done our best, but I missed one mutton chop on him. He has an awful haircut. Husband even posed for you all.



While you have your sheep down, hoof work is important. Takes a few minutes to finish them up.



It is also wise to check the health of your animal at this time. Fix what needs to be fixed, clean what needs to be cleaned.