Lew unwound the skein of Issachar’s wool and held it between his hands as if he were going to play Cats Cradle with it. “See how it bounces,” he said to Jon, as he stretched it between his hands.
Lew was describing the difference between Issachar’s wool and Merricat’s wool. Both are good strong, hardy wools he said, but Issachar’s is more spongy. Lew got Jon interested in the wool in a way I have’t been able to.
It’s the difference between Romney wool, which is what most of my sheep are, and the unusual mix of Cormo, Blueface Leicester and Romney that Issachar and Asher are.
Lew seems happier than we’ve ever seen him. Since retiring from acting he’s at the Mill full time without having to commute to New York City and perform every night.
We spent over an hour at Nobletown Fiber Works talking wool with Lew and getting a tour of the new post and beam barn. It will house the incoming wool and the antique looms brought back from Scotland. The looms weave a specific tweed fabric. Lew already has the lambs wool, which he’ll use, that he bought from a neighbor.
My wool was all lined up in plastic bags waiting for me. I was as thrilled as ever to see it.
First was Issachar’s dark brown, then Robin’s dark gray, next Constance’s light gray and last was Merricat’s white. Each bag with a little fluff of roving on top.
There were also nine bags of roving and when Lew suggested that Asher’s wool would have made a beautiful yarn I thought I’d consider it for next time. But Asher’s roving is wonderful for spinning and I’ll be able to make a good amount of dryer balls with it, Lori and Kim’s roving.
Sometimes I feel like caring for the sheep comes so naturally to me, I don’t even really think about it anymore. It has almost become routine.
But for most of my life I didn’t live around animals the way I have for the past 13 years, although it was something I always dreamed of.
Now that I have it, I’ve sunk into in a way that transcends time. It’s like love, once you’ve had it, it never leaves even if the person or people are no longer alive. Living with and caring from animals in this way may only be a short percentage of my life, but it’s greater than the whole.
I jumped in, immersed myself and it has already fulfilled for a lifetime.
I love how you described having sunk into your life in a way that transcends time, and how once you’ve had love, it never is really gone. I really feel that has been true for me. Lovely words – thank you.
It’s a new idea for me LoisJean, but one I feel deeply.