How Do Ewe Face Your Performance Review

“Skirting is my least favorite activity of the year.” 

This phrase was something I uttered for years.  But let’s face it.  When you are staring at 122 fleeces and lots of decisions to be made, that attitude isn’t going to get the job done. 

Just half of the flock's wool!

So last year I changed my mindset and it changed my energy.  What a privilege and honor it is to make my way through a year’s long effort by this amazing flock!  And just like that, skirting is now one of my favorite tasks to take on.

As I skirted this year, I reflected on why this had previously been such a burdensome job.  I certainly LOVE the outcomes of gorgeous yarns and rovings.  Fleece after lovely fleece had me questioning what was up with all of those previous years with a bad attitude. 

And then it happened…………

I pulled on a lovely lock of dark wool and it snapped in half.  I grabbed another lock from a different place on the fleece………it quickly tore apart in my hands.  Sample after sample the same sad moment occurred.  This big black fleece typically destined for my darkest yarn would be garden mulch this year.

What is called a "break" in the fleece.

Heather’s fleece (she came to our flock with this name!) had a distinct break line throughout.  Something had caused her health to shift in early summer and it compromised the strength of her wool.  We check the sheep for weight and overall health on a monthly basis and walk the flock daily.  But sheep are also superstars at hiding potential concerns.  We missed whatever moment in time this was, and although she had appeared well, her wool tells the story that for a brief moment something was off.

In one of those “Ah ha!” moments, I realized why I had always come into skirting with a sense of reservation and dread.  Skirting fleeces is hours and days and weeks of constant job performance review.

The fleece doesn’t lie.

Did I miss someone having a minor health issue?  Did I not keep up with salt and mineral consumption?  Did I miss a mildly toxic plant in one of the pastures?  Was there enough variety in their grazing to meet their needs?  Was pregnancy and nursing harder on a ewe than it appeared during those months?  Did I not get coats on the sheep in time to keep their wool the cleanest?  Am I changing coats enough? 

There are times as an employee to the flock one has to give themselves grace.  Some years you check all of the boxes and your outcomes for the year go as hoped.  Other years you wade through whatever stressors there are and do the best you can. 

Having faced my own health crisis while raising this year’s wool I’ve learned what it truly is to have grace with yourself.  Through it all, we kept 122 sheep alive and well, they happily grazed “naked” and dirtied up their wool, and I only lost a few fleeces along the way. 

I might be so bold as to think the results of this year’s performance review are the best I’ve ever received!  In spite of a few pounds of wool being lost, the sheep and I are all feeling pretty good about having the privilege of being here in this moment.  And we can’t wait to see the yarns and rovings when they arrive.  These are going to feel extra special this year.