Things to Consider Before Raising Sheep

Hello dear friend, Mary is doing very well and has gained weight. She has settled into life here, so there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

 I hope that fewer people will keep living animals just for the fun of it—like my Mary, The Abandoned Sheep—and I would like to write a little something about that, People who are not farmers raising animals. 

 If you are keeping them on a moderately sized plot of land, goats are the better choice. Sheep are fine if you have vast acreage, but the most important thing when raising animals is whether you can properly clean up after them.(In that respect, cats are the easiest.)

Problems arise if things are kept unsanitary. Mary had scabies, a skin disease caused by mites.

Compared to goats, the sheer volume of sheep droppings is surprising. I am constantly sweeping and hosing down the small area where  kept. 

Both goats and sheep share the trait of living in herds; you cannot keep just a single, and their bleating can easily be heard up quite a long way away. They can be quite noisy during the mating season.

Then there is the matter of whether there is enough grass to feed them properly. We regularly buy dried hay, the cost of food for our dog and cats is far lower ( Especially in winter )

Please be careful not to accidentally eat grass that has been sprayed with herbicide, weedkiller. 

 And then, there is the matter of shearing . If the process isn't handled properly, the sheep will never let itself be shorn again. Mary had a rather painful memory associated with it; she was so thin, her skin hung loosely, and she apparently bled during the shearing. We were inexperienced, and it took us hours to shear the terrified sheep. Mary would only let me get close to her, so I had to cut her wool little by little with the shears. Poor Mary—and poor us, too. ( My husband was knockout by Mary ) 

She sometimes helps out a little with the mowing in the garden.

Sadly for her, it doesn't fill her up..

Eat salt

Ultimately, unless you are an extreme animal lover, I wouldn't recommend keeping goats or sheep. Since you are the kind of person who reads this blog—someone with a gentle nature—I trust you won't do anything reckless.

Recently I comprehend why sheepdogs are necessary.　My Mary, she doesn't stray far from me, but when she's engrossed in eating, she doesn't notice even if I call her. "Mary! Mary!" I shout.

I run fast while calling out Mary. Then, before I know it, She is right beside me, running along too. What she fears most is likely being separated from me. but, I didn't know sheep could run fast.

From time to time, I would recall certain passages from the book I read a few years ago, along with the context in which they appeared. "The shepherd's life. by James Rebanks. Something you can fully appreciate through the pages of this book.

P S,

Sheep cannot survive in the wild without human intervention.　What we can do is enjoy meat from time to time with a sense of gratitude and make use of the wool.

Goat or sheep

 It was after the snow had melted. We really couldn't believe it when "Kojiro, my brown male goat died. 　The veterinarians suspected kidney stones first, but the diagnosis was that he had apparently accidentally eaten poisonous plants. His legs were stiff. 

Oh Dear friend, I was terribly confused, because there was no grass growing in the garden.

I cried and grieved for a while, He had a very thoughtful and gentle goat. 

He was six years old

my goats snuggling me tightly often.

Japanese farmers have traditionally kept several goats, which served as emergency food ( Eating goat is rare these days ). Their milk could be used as a substitute for breast milk ( in the past ), goats are resistant to mosquitoes, and they eat Japan's tough grass well. Can be kept in the garden.

Natsuko (Summer Girl) is 9 years old

While we were still grieving his absence, a strange twist of fate occurred, We rescued a sheep and took in.

　That sheep was alone, malnourished, were in a Waste material storage area with full of stones ( Crushed concrete)  and terribly dirty. Its age is unknown, female. They had abandoned their care.  I was truly furious afterward. She had been treated terribly.

I always think that sometimes cruel people live as if they were good people. They talk normally. You need to be careful too.

Name her Mary

It's been two months since she arrived. She's gained weight. Her doctor is doing everything they can. As a member of the family, I want her to live peacefully .

Sheep are difficult to raise because they only eat soft grass and they need a certain amount of pastureland because they eat a vast amount of grass.

Anyways,  I've been spending more time gardening. Sometimes, as I sow hay seeds, I think that what I'm doing isn't gardening, but rather cultivating the soil and creating a high-quality Sweater !!

Tea for eye health

 Back when Japan was still in a period of civil war, People made tea from this tree and used it to heal eye injuries. (wash the eyes with cooled tea )　According to legend, it improves your eyesight, allowing you to see up to 400 km away.　This story takes place over 600 years ago.

I suffered from "dry eyes", so I drink it once every three days. It's more effective than the medication prescribed by doctors, but you need to continue drinking that tea.

For eye injuries,　It worked well when my dog ​​injured his eye. I used it by dropping it in like eye drops (Of course, the doctor prescribed three types of eye drops for a week, but it didn't heal well. The tea helped it heal faster.)

The tea is made from dried and crushed branches and leaves, and you boil 10g of them in about 1,5 liter of water for about 10 minutes.　The taste is extremely bitter.

I have planted one tree in my garden, but it doesn't grow big right away. Then, I buy the tea leaf. 

The leaves are characterized by being made up of three leaflets joined together, and they turn salmon pink in the autumn. 

The name of the tree is　"Megusuri no ki ", English name is Nikko maple ? (Acer maximowiczianum)

It is also effective for severe burns inside the mouth. However, for pain caused by a virus, this herb Strawberry Geranium is recommended.

If blindness is a concern, you should see an ophthalmologist immediately, but for preventative measures of Glaucoma and cataracts, I recommend learning and pressing acupressure points as well as this tea.

Second Ribbed Cardigan

 Hello, The cardigan I knitted in January and wore in February was so comfortable that I wore it almost every day. So, I knitted a second one.

 I used rustic, undyed camel yarn. I'm sure I'll wear this one every day too.

 I like to use a circular needle for the sleeves. 

And the pocket , using scrap yarn and then set aside. After knitted front body, 20 stitches are pick up and knit.

ribbed-cardigan.

↑　From Vintage Pattern . Have you already knitted one ?

Progress of interior work

 When I gazed blankly at the miniature house, I feel that there is a world there that brings me peace, just as I did when I was a child.

 There is a world without war, without tax payments, there is wonderful  greenery and flowers, gentle breeze. It seems to be a peaceful world that is simply beautiful.

 I'll post a few photos, but none of the rooms are finished yet. I still need to tile around the gas stove in the kitchen, and I'm planning to tile the bathroom floor as well.

This house has one guest room, has a balcony. Your heart can come and stay here whenever you like. ( The ceiling isn't finished yet, and we're still figuring out the lighting.

I'm in the process of making the walls between the attic and the roof.

Wish on a flower

 I am saddened by how powerless I feel and how I cannot offer any help during the war. Whether I'm sowing flower seeds in the garden, planting potatoes, or browsing in a bookstore, even I am knitting, I feel sorry. Sadness follows me like a shadow. Please, God, protect my friend.

 I designed this motif with inspiration by apricot blossoms . (The name is "Apricot but some types that do not bear fruit.) The flower blooms at the end of winter, it sometimes mixes with snow has beautiful and The flower has a wonderful fragrance.  We feel, spring will come.

Just as a small flower blooms from the bare snow, may you find small joys in your sorrow. 

 This motif is a little difficult.. It's a rare pentagon ( because the flower have 5 petals ) then you will need your art sense when connect them.  

Wishing Flower Motif

Designed and Chart making by Riuko Yamasaki

Writ out pattern and checking by Mona Bahmani

Start with a magic ring:

Rnd1: ch3, dc14, join with a sl st.

Rnd2: ch1, *ch6, skip 2 sts, sc1* 4 times, ch6, skip 2 sts, slip st in the ch1 of the beginning of the rnd.

Rnd3: ch1, *[1sc, 1hdc, 2dc, 1hdc, 1sc in the 6 ch space], sc1 in the sc between 2 ch6 groups of the pervious rnd* 4 times, [1sc, 1hdc, 2dc, 1hdc, 1sc in the 6 ch space], sl st in the ch1 of the beginning of the Rnd3.

Rnd4: ch3, 2 incomplete hdc in the 3rd ch from the hook, yo and pull through all the loops on the hook, ch1 to secure, ch1, *[between 2 dc of the previous rnd work: pop 1, ch1, pop 1, ch1, pop1, ch1], pop1 in sc1 of the previous rnd, ch1* repeat **4 times, between 2 dc of the previous rnd work: pop 1, ch1, pop 1, ch1, pop1, ch1, sl in the securing ch1 of the first pop stitch of rnd 4.

Weave all ends and enjoy !

>> One point,

When I was checking, both my friend and my sis made the same mistake at the same point. It works fine as long as you don't get the very first stitch wrong.

PS: I designed it around 2016. It was 10 years ago, but I'd like to thank Jackie Hodson of Intambo yarn shop for her kindness.( She recommended that I make patterns.)