Many years ago I was a spinner, natural dyer, and weaver. Spinning was a gentle, relaxing activity. At that time I was able to buy a whole, raw fleece or buy roving, which I didn't enjoy spinning. After my daughters were born a whole fleece was just too much to deal with and I laid aside both spinning and weaving. I love sheep -- or maybe it's the idea of sheep and what they give us that I love. I've never personally known a sheep and have had only a passing acquaintance with them at fairs, farms, or living history sites. But they look so sweet and most give such wonderful wool. I love burying my nose in the fleece of a freshly shorn sheep. A little bit of heaven.
My daughter and her husband have sheep on their farm. Their little flock is growing, especially after many lambs were born this spring.
The reason for this post is to share this bit of fun information. Not long ago I learned that there are alternative numbering systems for counting sheep which seem to have originated in various parts of the rural sheep country of England. One variation goes like this:
1 Yain
2 Tain
3 Eddero
4 Pederro
5 Pitts
6 Tayter
7 Layter
8 Overro
9 Coverro
10 Dix
11 Yain-dix
12 Tain-dix
13 Eddero-dix
14 Peddero-dix
15 Bumfitt
16 Yain-o-bumfitt
17 Tain-o-bumfitt
18 Eddero-o-bumfitt
19 Peddero-o-bumfitt
20 Jiggit
Can't sleep, you say? Imagine counting sheep with the English shepherd's version: yain, tain, eddero, peddero, pitts.... Perhaps I would chuckle my way to sleep or fall asleep trying to remember the numbers. We have it easy with our English numbers, don't you think?
And now I'll tell you how many lambs my daughter's sheep had this spring: bumfitt. Or maybe there were only tain-dix lambs. I lost count.
This is a Really Random Thursday post.
--Nancy.
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Ha!ha! Entertaining and informative! 😀
ReplyDeleteThanks, Allison. I'm glad you enjoyed the post.
DeleteReally random is right! LOL. I hadn't heard of that before, the etymology would be interested to research. "Dix" is French, but I am at a loss for the rest! And the photos are cute too!
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely random. LOL Some things just tickle my funny bone, and sharing them on my blog is one way to share the humor and save the thought.
DeleteI agree that it would be interesting to search the etymology. The link in the post tells a little (the words derive from a Brythonic Celtic language -- which is definitely a foreign language to me!) but I didn't do any further research.
So funny! The other day I was counting the lambs my BIL's sheep had this Spring--I can see them from my sewing room window. Can't imagine using this counting system!! Thanks for the smiles this morning, Nancy.
ReplyDeleteLucky you to have a pasture of sheep you can see every day, Janet! My daughter's lambs were very new when we saw them and still in the barn with their mothers so I didn't get to see them jumping and playing. One of these years! I can't imagine this counting system, either, especially because it only goes to 20! You're welcoming for the smiles.
DeleteLove these charming number words! I think I'll memorize them to recite during sleepless nights :)
ReplyDeleteThey are fun, aren't they, Jeanne. The information about them commented that they have a rhyming sound to them which, I suppose, could help a person fall asleep.
DeleteWell, I love sheep too and I have never heard of this counting method. I think it would only keep me awake! I do love the smell of a new born lamb.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this is a commonly use method, especially not in the U.S., Wendy. I tried this method the other night was I didn't fall asleep when my head hit the pillow and I almost had to get up, turn on the computer, and read the post to remember what the numbers were! I talked myself out of it.
DeleteMaybe one year I'll get to smell a newborn lamb. When we visited my daughter the lambs were new but they were also a little skittish so I didn't ask to hold one. When they're new next year I will!
Awwe! Little lambs are so sweet - and I love your post. Just fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda!
DeleteToo funny! Either way, that's a lot of lambs to care for.
ReplyDeleteYes, a lot of lambs, Robin. Thank goodness all the mothers lived this year. Last year they had a set of twins to nurse along and that really takes a lot of time!
DeleteWe used to call our babies with no mothers "bummers", so your lamb story spoke to my heart!
ReplyDeleteI think I've heard that turn used for orphan lambs, Julie, but forgot until I read your comment. Did you grow up on a farm?
DeletePure entertainment, and knowledge enhancement! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteEntertainment, yes, and perhaps a little nonsense to some readers, Susan. I like words, I like lambs, I like putting the two together.
DeleteOh, I am just tickled by your FUN post, Nancy! I have a soft spot in my heart for sheep too. I showed them in High School and I'm working on a post about how I grew up. I didn't grow up in agriculture and discovering FFA changed everything for me.
ReplyDeleteDoes your daughter sell the fleece from their sheep? If I tried to count sheep using this system, I would get the giggles. :)
Thank you, Karin. That numbering system just makes me laugh. I did try counting sheep while lying awake in bed one night. I had to give it up, though, because I couldn't remember the numbers. If I'd persisted in trying to count I would have had to get up and look up the numbers -- and then I would have been wide awake.
DeleteMy daughter has what her husband calls hair sheep. They don't have a regular fleece but hair that grows then falls out. He had talked about getting a merino for me but I think that idea has gone by the wayside. If he had sheep with fleece I suspect I would be spinning again.
I'll look forward to your post about your childhood. It will be interesting to read.