Judy's Novelty Wool
Judith, also known as Judy has long been involved in the wool industry.
Over 20 years ago we bought our home in Centerville, Utah. With it is almost 2 acres of pasture. My husband said, "We need something out back to keep the grass down". He then suggested "bummers". Being a "beach bunny" from Southern CA, I had no idea what a bummer was. My first thought was a beach bum. Blaine then explained they were bottle fed lambs. Of course I thought that was a great idea. The lambs would be smaller than I and as Blaine was still teaching in Van Nuys, CA. the lambs would be a great distraction for me after work. So, 3 bummers later, I'm bottle feeding before work, during lunch, after work, and before bed. I fell in love with these Suffolk girls.
That first fall Blaine said to my horror, "Which one are we going to slaughter?" There was no way I would allow my girls to be slaughtered. A neighbor came to the rescue and traded a wether for one of my girls.
The following spring they were sheared. Blaine was going to throw the wool away. I said, "No, I think I'm supposed to learn what to do with the wool". By chance there was a hand spinning class being taught at a local high school in the evenings. I was hooked.
Blaine died in 1994. He had left me with a future in sheep, the love of spinning, and eventually teaching spinning.
By time I retired I had a small business going with selling fleeces/ dyed roving, teaching beginning spinning basics, 4H, attending fiber events as a student, then being a vendor at several fiber events each year.
The Sheep
I have developed a love for cross breeds. My base breed is Rambouillet. I have had Columbia, Jacob, Cotswold, Targhee, Karakul, Suffolk, Corriedale, Navajo Churro, a pigmy goat, and Merino. Currently I have a small family of 14 breeding sheep. I sell all the lambs, except when I know I will have to replace an old ewe. If she has a good ewe lamb I will keep that lamb. There are about 7 neighborhood children that work for me. When lambing season begins, which for us is in January, these kids get to name the lambs.
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