up and down days
Mar. 17th, 2024 02:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
unicorndukeFirst shearing day of the season went pretty mediocre for me on Friday. The first sheep I did, I managed to do some techniques that I'd been hoping to practice and overall it went really well. I had some dizziness after sheep 1, which I've come to realize is going to happen every time and I need to take a decent break before sheep two. I don't get it again the rest of the day, so there's just something about getting started that is really hard.
Stop two was supposed to be 45 smaller sheep, but we got there and the sheep were in bad shape. I don't think it's particularly anyone's fault. They're more hands off, the owner had leukemia and literally can't go in the sheep barn and his brother taking care of them didn't quite seem to comprehend the problem. Not in a malicious way, but, I don't know, like he maybe couldn't grasp some concepts. Both J and I did two sheep each to see their condition, we could just grab sheep to shear which is not normal. Bad nutrition, probably parasites and some had lambs. So we left. We'll come back in six weeks or so if they're in better shape. J said they weren't like that last year.
After that, it was huge sheep for the rest of the day. I had so much trouble. In total I did eight but my back just absolutely couldn't do anymore. I could bend over for 20 seconds at a time before my lower back would hurt, I would straighten up until it stopped, then do another 20 seconds. J recommended getting an inversion table to help stretch that area since that's probably the issue. The sheep were mostly well behaved except for one absolutely huge yearling. She was technically 8 months old and easily 150 pounds and tall with really long legs. I needed help for her but I got her done. There were nine super pregnant ewes at that stop too, and they were super sweet and well behaved but my back was done at that point, so I just helped J with catching and handing him clippers, things like that. And entertaining one of the ewes who had been a bottle baby at some point. She was tall enough that she could tap my shoulder with her nose and spent some time investigating my jacket, my belt and tried to bite my wallet.
I also wore a hat the whole time which helped with chills as we went stop to stop, plus my red coat.
Sigh. Could have been better. Could have been worse. I was sore in weird ways again.
Yesterday, F and I went to the co-op for my groceries, a hilarious estate sale and a yarn shop. The estate sale was at a rich person's house, and they had weird things like a 10 foot metal horse statue, a five foot tall citrine geode and a signed Dali print. They also had more normal things like nice lamps and like six couches. I picked up two nice lamps and some yoga blocks.
At the yarn store, I got a replacement circular needle for the one that I broke last weekend, some new needles for weaving in ends. I also went digging through the weaving yarn but it wasn't all priced and the owner was away so I left my number and they'll get back to me tomorrow. I might go visit the shop owner's farm on monday or tuesday since they're shearing and she invited the weavers guild members to visit during shearing.
I made ice cream, bread and granola this morning. I'm getting some progress made on sidejob work, getting plans written and sent out. I haven't gotten a ton more requests this week, so if I spend some time this week I might be able to catch up more. One of my work night classes has finally ended so I'll have a little more time to work on them. I billed for february today and it's a good check that I'll get.
I'm calling the vet tomorrow for Mara, I think we're at the end. She's fallen over four times in the past week, she bit my housemate (didn't break skin thankfully) Friday night when she tried helping Mara get up to go out, and this morning Mara got her head popped over the side of the bed and panicked (I think), she was thrashing around when I checked on her between baking. I got her back onto the bed and she calmed right down, but it's not good. I was planning to wait until after the third pain shot, but they're less and less effective and she's declining faster than they help as far as I can tell. Mara seems tired after ten minutes slowly wandering around the yard. She's been sleeping a ton, she's been eating less, especially since she no longer wants to stand up and eat, but she'll eat if I put it on her bed when she's laying down. It just feels bad now.
Stop two was supposed to be 45 smaller sheep, but we got there and the sheep were in bad shape. I don't think it's particularly anyone's fault. They're more hands off, the owner had leukemia and literally can't go in the sheep barn and his brother taking care of them didn't quite seem to comprehend the problem. Not in a malicious way, but, I don't know, like he maybe couldn't grasp some concepts. Both J and I did two sheep each to see their condition, we could just grab sheep to shear which is not normal. Bad nutrition, probably parasites and some had lambs. So we left. We'll come back in six weeks or so if they're in better shape. J said they weren't like that last year.
After that, it was huge sheep for the rest of the day. I had so much trouble. In total I did eight but my back just absolutely couldn't do anymore. I could bend over for 20 seconds at a time before my lower back would hurt, I would straighten up until it stopped, then do another 20 seconds. J recommended getting an inversion table to help stretch that area since that's probably the issue. The sheep were mostly well behaved except for one absolutely huge yearling. She was technically 8 months old and easily 150 pounds and tall with really long legs. I needed help for her but I got her done. There were nine super pregnant ewes at that stop too, and they were super sweet and well behaved but my back was done at that point, so I just helped J with catching and handing him clippers, things like that. And entertaining one of the ewes who had been a bottle baby at some point. She was tall enough that she could tap my shoulder with her nose and spent some time investigating my jacket, my belt and tried to bite my wallet.
I also wore a hat the whole time which helped with chills as we went stop to stop, plus my red coat.
Sigh. Could have been better. Could have been worse. I was sore in weird ways again.
Yesterday, F and I went to the co-op for my groceries, a hilarious estate sale and a yarn shop. The estate sale was at a rich person's house, and they had weird things like a 10 foot metal horse statue, a five foot tall citrine geode and a signed Dali print. They also had more normal things like nice lamps and like six couches. I picked up two nice lamps and some yoga blocks.
At the yarn store, I got a replacement circular needle for the one that I broke last weekend, some new needles for weaving in ends. I also went digging through the weaving yarn but it wasn't all priced and the owner was away so I left my number and they'll get back to me tomorrow. I might go visit the shop owner's farm on monday or tuesday since they're shearing and she invited the weavers guild members to visit during shearing.
I made ice cream, bread and granola this morning. I'm getting some progress made on sidejob work, getting plans written and sent out. I haven't gotten a ton more requests this week, so if I spend some time this week I might be able to catch up more. One of my work night classes has finally ended so I'll have a little more time to work on them. I billed for february today and it's a good check that I'll get.
I'm calling the vet tomorrow for Mara, I think we're at the end. She's fallen over four times in the past week, she bit my housemate (didn't break skin thankfully) Friday night when she tried helping Mara get up to go out, and this morning Mara got her head popped over the side of the bed and panicked (I think), she was thrashing around when I checked on her between baking. I got her back onto the bed and she calmed right down, but it's not good. I was planning to wait until after the third pain shot, but they're less and less effective and she's declining faster than they help as far as I can tell. Mara seems tired after ten minutes slowly wandering around the yard. She's been sleeping a ton, she's been eating less, especially since she no longer wants to stand up and eat, but she'll eat if I put it on her bed when she's laying down. It just feels bad now.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-17 07:17 pm (UTC)So sorry about Mara.
Sheep-shearing is an absolutely brutal whole-body workout. Being able to do it on an occasional basis at all is impressive from this corner.
The mental image from the bottle baby trying to bite your wallet made me laugh.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-18 02:38 pm (UTC)She was so sweet!
no subject
Date: 2024-03-17 07:31 pm (UTC)I'm very impressed that you can shear a sheep TBH. It seems to me a mystical and gruelling art.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-18 02:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-03-17 09:38 pm (UTC)Having just done P.T. for my back, here is what I learned.
Abs, abs, abs. I thought I was doing well with the exercises in my Yoga class, which might have been true, but... The first exercise they had me do was:
- Lie on the floor looking at the ceiling. Press lower back into the floor, tuck my tail bone up as far as possible and then lift knee until it is vertical and shin is parallel with floor. Return leg to floor. Do not move lower back. I thought I was doing fine, but the Physical Therapist (Joe) put his hand under my lower back and said I was releasing pressure from my back as I was lowering my knee. Said I had to be able to keep constant pressure down with my lower back. 10 "steps" x 3 reps; if you can, do twice daily. When that is easy then modify to: lift one knee/leg till shin is 90 degrees to floor, then lift second leg to join it, then set first leg down followed by second leg. Breathe. Don't let the lower back leave the floor... When that gets easy to keep back flat and pressing down, then add: pick up yoga block with -right- hand, lift -left- knee vertical, with shin parallel to floor or leg vertical, and push block into thigh so you are pushing the leg away from the torso. Lift right knee till shin is parallel to floor. Repeat lift x 10. Switch sides. Keep lower back pressed into floor, tail tucked AND breathe! The last variation is from my yoga class.
These two, from my P.T. are also very helpful.
- Stand at kitchen counter with elbows and forearms on counter. Tuck tail bone down, flatten lower back. Lift leg behind you. Do not arch back keep it firm and flat. 10 reps each side x 3.
- Lie on your side on the floor, knees bent. Tuck tail and flatten lower back (as if you were pressing it into an invisible wall). Hold back flat, keep feet together while you lift one knee (like a clam). Knee lift is not huge, maybe a foot or a little more, back should not move.
Hope something in this is useful!
no subject
Date: 2024-03-18 02:43 pm (UTC)My lower back muscles will spasm after a while since I figured out that my hamstrings are relatively stretchy if my legs are straight, but not when they are bent holding sheep. But I don't feel sore at all when standing or sitting normally. So I've already started making adjustments to my workouts to work that area more. It's definitely a flexibility thing that is very specific to shearing. Who knew!
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Date: 2024-03-18 03:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-03-18 01:25 am (UTC)Much love.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-18 02:43 pm (UTC)