Prickett’s Fort: Wait, it gets better.

Take a moment to breathe in the fresh mountain air. It’s the beginning of summer. No need for coats or hoodies, just swim trunks and tankinis.

Just wait for it…

♪♪I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day

When it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May♪ ♪ ♪

Well, sad thing is, it’s still a cloudy day, and it’s still cold outside. So what do you do?

If you’ve got a sheep, we’ve got answers! No sheep? Just listen.

Pricketts Fort will show you how to get warm clothes from sheep at Sheep to Shawl May 23 and 24 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). That’s right— from an adorable sheep to the gorgeous shawl wrapped about the neck and shoulders.

This process sounds daunting, and for amateurs it probably is. Let me explain:

sheepshawl2 First. The sheep must be sheared. This is a process of becoming one with the sheep.
 Second. You must grade and skirt. Just remove the unusually dirty wool (what would that even look like?) and separate the fibers based on length and thickness.
 Third.  (This one is pretty gross). Wash it and scour it. Of course, sheep are livestock and live outside. Washing is to be expected. But scouring? What are you scouring for?  Apparently, vegetable matter and grease. Yuck!Spinner
 Fourth. Make it pretty. Pick a color and dye it. Neon orange, puce, magenta! (I don’t really know if those are options. It would be so cool!)
 Fifth.  This next stage is for carding and blending. The wool is straightened in preparation to be spun, and the dyed strands are blended together.
 Sixth. Like a record player, baby! Spin it. Spinning finally creates what is needed to make a fancy shawl: yarn.
You might be wondering, “How does this girl know this? She’s just a blogger; what sheep shearing experience does she have?”

Well, I’ll have you know that I do some much more than blog. I research… and read “Sheep Shearing for Dummies.” So long story short: no sheep shearing experience whatsoever.

For more information on sheep shearing, visit  this site or this one.

Now that you know how to keep warm on those cooler summer nights, you can enjoy the beginning of summer. Bright sunshine, clear skies, no worries at all. Livin’ the good life, right?

whispers Prickett’s Fort will host its annual Whispers in the Wind May 25 and 26 at 7 p.m. This doesn’t sound too bad; it’s windy and someone’s whispering, so what?

Add in a graveyard, dusk, and the stories of those buried in that very graveyard.

 *Don’t forget to bring your bwankie and bottle.

If you “can’t make it” to Whispers in the Wind because you’re “too busy,” there are still more opportunities for fort fun.

Mountain Thyme, an all-female Celtic band, will perform June 6 in Prickett’s Fort amphitheater at 7 p.m. It’s free!

Mt-Thyme

Blog author: Leah Nestor

Blog author: Leah Nestor

So if you’re craving amazing music with beautiful scenery, this one’s for you!

No need to wait. If you can’t make the dates you can still have the fun…

Prickett’s Fort has bike rentals every day of the week on their beautiful paths. Check their events list to see what else is going on.  Stop by for a tour of the Fort and the Job Prickett House.

What’s your favorite event/aspect of Prickett’s Fort?

Tags: , , , , , , ,