winter coat

I need a new winter coat. I would really like one that is exactly like my old coat, purchased at The Gap about fifteen years ago: a plain, black, super-warm puffer jacket, snap-on hood, deep pockets, no frills. In 2007, the zipper on this jacket died. I couldn't find one the right length to replace it myself and the tailor said it was too hard to do anyway. So I got rid of the jacket and am still looking for a replacement.

Our three sheep and lone goat do not have to go shopping for a new jacket--they grow their own luxurious winter coats every year. Lately, they have been getting furrier and furrier. I am truly impressed by this.

The sheep are Barbados hair sheep. They have hair instead of wool. The hair is rough and coarse, almost like plant fiber. When you pet them vigorously, you can get a nice handful of dirty hair like the bunch pictured above. The other day, I was petting the sheep,wondering what I could do with this hair. Could I stuff it into some fabric to make something warm? As I considered the possibilities, Ike came up, gave my hand a little sniff, and proceeded to eat the hair.

 

In case this was a freak occurrence, I gathered more hair and offered it to Fern, who also gobbled it up. Huh. Nature is so very interesting. I have not seen anyone coughing up a hairball out there.