Here’s what we did on Sunday. If’n you’d called me Sunday night to ask me what I was up to, I might have said something like, “oh, nothing, just washing out some sheep entrails.” (The casings are now soaking in brine solution in the fridge – preserved until we’re ready to stuff them with something…)

The day started with french toast. Nama and friend S and her daughter S came up. Then a third S came up, this one to help with the little girls (S & Lj) while B, myself, Nama with W, and S went outside to slaughter Little Ram. B caught him and took him to the site. We waited until Little Ram had become calm and then B slit LR’s throat while I held him down. He was a beautiful animal, and we told him we loved him and thanked him for his life.

After LR had not moved for a couple of minutes B & S started the field dressing process, aka gutting, while W dug in the dirt nearby for dinosaur bones, Nama took video, and I ran back and forth getting all the miscellaneous things we needed. B & S successfully disemboweled LR, though it took a little puzzling over how to get everything out without spilling bile or feces on the meat. B cut off the head and three feet and carried what remained, the meat and pelt, downstairs.

We strung up the body and proceeded to skin it. Then we restrung the carcass and let it sit for a day before butchering.

S & I, and the little girls, relocated to S’s house to clean the intestines – a process that definitely requires potable running water. We had planned on also cleaning the stomach (to eat) but our time was running out so we decided to compost it and wait until next time. The inside textures of the stomachs were amazing, and the thickness of the stomach walls really makes it a shame to waste this once prized organ. S reminded me that this is how people used to carry water. (I guess I’ll have to stick with my Klean Kanteen for now.)

While the girls were away B skinned the legs and salted the hide.

The next day, Monday, we returned to the carcass and B & S began the process of butchering the lamb. I hung out upstairs with the kids, so I can’t tell you much about it. (Maybe B or S will fill us in with a post.) We finished the day with a feast of liver, mushrooms, & onions, all fairly swimming in butter. It was delicious.

Today B finished getting the meat off the head as he wants to preserve the skull and horns. We still have to finish scraping the hide and tan it. Otherwise, the rest of LR is in the freezer, ready to be cooked.

Many thanks to all involved in this project. To Nama and S for helping with kids on slaughter day, to S for making the task tons easier and way more fun, to the kids for staying patient while we worked non-stop for two days, and to Little Ram, for making it all possible.

Here are the pics:

When Little Ram Was Alive

Holding the Horns

The Deed is Done

Preparing to Disembowel

Hanging and Skinning

Innards

S & S – Beginning to Butcher

The Cuts

The Skull

Salting the Hide