Sheep Shearing

Recently I had the opportunity to visit a sheep farm in Clyde, NY.  The sheep farm is owned by our friend Mikey and his wife, Chris. They have other full time jobs, they just do this because they love sheep, over 200 of them, actually. 

These little guys grow their beautiful wool for months and then they (not always so willingly) get it all shaved off so that we can have nice warm sweaters, blankets, mittens, hats, coats, socks and all sorts of other things that keep us warm.

The man shearing the sheep in the photos comes to the farm for 2 days and does this all day long. And believe me, it doesn't look easy. The sheep are not all that obliging to lay down and let you shave all their fur off. He will go from farm to farm all spring and do this. (I'm starting to see why wool sweaters aren't cheap.) I imagine getting all that wool off in the month of May feels quite nice.

Once the wool is shaved off it's put into bags and taken to market (sounds like the old west, right?). There the seller will be paid whatever the value of wool is that day. 

There were quite a few lambs baaaaaa-ing in the barn too. When I asked Mikey if they were always so noisy he said that on the shearing day the mothers and babies are separated from each other and they are calling to find where each other has gone. But no worries, after the shearing they are reunited.

Ba Ba Black sheep - have you any wool? (I had to throw that in there for this little fella).

That's it - thanks to Mikey and Chris for letting me visit their sheep farm and witness the love and hard work that goes into all of our clothing that keeps us warm on those cold winter nights in 315 land.

This is a small part of the other 315.

Don't fence me in.

This is a fence on an Amish farm (Maple Street Road, Lyons, NY)  so you know it was human hands that nailed all those boards and wounds those wires. They keep animals in and people out - or vice versa. There is something about an old fence that grounds me. I'm on the computer all day long, I live in the village, the only fence is the one in my backyard that keeps the neighbors dogs from pooping in my yard, my fence is not nearly as pretty as this one.

The fences in the humbling battlefields of Gettysburg, PA were replicas of the ones that the soldiers built for protection during the day and then later at night they would burn the wood to keep warm.

Sand and Snow and Sodus Point

We actually (finally) got some snow in the beautiful 315. So my friend Martha and I set out to Sodus Point to take some shots. Normally a favorite summer hang out but, this time of year Sodus Point has a whole different beauty of it's own. There's some artistic magic that happens when the wind meets the snow and sand. This is Sodus Point...

Dickens Skaneatles

Last weekend my sister and I strolled the streets of Skaneatles, NY. The Dickens Christmas celebration begins the day after Thanksgiving and runs every Saturday and Sunday through December 18th, from noon to 4 pm, and a limited show on Dec 24th (noon to 3). Charles Dickens and his cast of characters, directed by Jim Greene of Scarlett Rat Entertainment, will interact with residents and visitors in the streets, stores and restaurants.This is Dickens Skaneatles...

Thousand Islands

There is a cluster of over 1800 breathtaking islands that straddle across the US and Canada border along the St. Lawrence River. In the 1870s, vacationers discovered the area and began building summer homes and hotels. 

I spent a few days there this past October  - the weather was perfect, when I say perfect - I mean sun, fabulous cloud drama and, yes, even a little rain. This is the Thousand Islands. (which by the way - the dressing really was named after - another famous factoid for 315)

Gantz Cider Mill

On the back roads of Lyons, NY there is a cider mill that will soon be 100 years old. Gantz Cider Mill. $3.50 a gallon for the best cider you can buy in this beautiful apple country. Run by brothers Tom and Ed, the equipment to run the mill was originally purchased by their father in 1913.

Welcome!

Area code 315 is a telephone area code in upstate New York. It stretches from the eastern border of Monroe County to Little Falls, north to the Canadian border, east to Massena and south to near Cortland.

This blog showcases photos in the 315 area code. The photos are of people and places, of pieces of life and snippets of time that have inspired me and make every day a little more beautiful. I hope that you enjoy this blog and it inspires you too.

I always appreciate any constructive comments or critique so please feel free to share your thoughts and ask questions if you have any.

Most of the photos in this blog can also be found on my website at marycd.com. Thanks so much for visiting and come back soon.