Puk, puk...

... zapukał do drzwi listonosz.

Zbiegam po schodach, ukradkiem zerkając w lusterko i przeczeszując palcami potargane kudły. Przed domem stoi facet w granatowym uniformie i szczerzy kły w przyjaznym uśmiechu.

- Dzień dobry! Mam dla Ciebie przesyłkę.

- ???

- Proszę o autograf.- Mówi wręczając mi sporej wielkości kopertę. - Dziś tylko jedna. Miłego dnia!

Tak wyglada większośc moich spotkan z listonoszem. Zupelnie niespodziewanie pojawia się ze stertą przesyłek. Większość z nich, ostatnimi czasy, nie do mnie, ale zdarzy się że i ja dostanę jakiś "prezent". Tak było i tym razem. Paczuszka przyszla już daawno temu, ale jokoś nie było okazji się pochwalić.

Próbki prosto z Polski. Nasze rodzime wełenki. Zdjęcia owieczek (i baranów) w części angielskojęzycznej, zawierającej krótki opis każdej odmiany.

1. owca wrzosówka
2. owca górska - cakiel
3. owca pomorska - kamieniec (?)
4. len

Ciągle czekają na skręcenie, na razie cieszą oko. Dziękuję Elu!

Knock, knock...

... the postman knocks at my door.

I ran downstairs briefly glimpsing at my reflection in the mirror trying to comb my messy hair. There's a guy in the navy blue uniform standing in front with a big grin on his face.

-Mornin! Got something for ye!

-???

-Can I get yer autograph? - Says he giving me a large size packet and a piece of paper to sign. - Only one today. Have a good one!

Most of my mail deliveries look like this. Totally unexpected visits from the local postman. Most of the packets, at least recently, not sent to me, but sometimes I too get to receive something unexpectedly. Such was the case with this packet. It arrives some time ago, but I never blogged about it before.

What we have here are samples of the native Polish sheep breeds and hemp. These are all coarse fibres, which were (and still are in some parts of the country) traditionally used to make warm winter socks and some super scratchy jumpers ;) I am yet to spin them but for now I enjoy having them in my fiibre stash.

Thanks a million Ela for a lovely packet all the way back from home!

1. Polish Heath (Wrzosówka)
   
   
   
   The Wrzosówka belongs to the Northern type of short-tailed sheep which have been kept for centuries in different regions of Europe, including Northeastern parts of Poland. It is unique among Polish sheep breeds, since it is extremely adaptable to difficult conditions, disease-resistant, and prolific. It is able to reproduce all year round.
   
   The Wrzosówka is rather thin and small, proportionally built. The fleece is usually consists of two layers: down and medulated hair. Its skins are usued for fur coat production. Ewes are usually polled, while rams have widely set black horns. The Wrzosówka is the only surviving primitive sheep breed in Poland. A conservation program was started in 1981.
   Breed categories: primitive, rare, short-tailed, fur
   Distribution: Poland
   
2. Polish Mountain Sheep (Owca górska)
   
   Evolved from the old Carpathian Cakiel, and especially one of its varieties - the primative Podhale sheep. The breed can be found in the whole Polish part of the Carpathian mountains; however, it is most frequently found in the Podhale region near the town of Nowy Sacz, where the breed traditionally originates. It has a light build, thin but strong legs and narrow rump.
   
   Polish Mountain sheep are milked. The milk yield is 50 to 100 liters per lacation and 40 to 80 liters in a milking period of 150 days with a fat content of 7 to 8%. Meat production is rather poor. The wool is white and coarse, suitable for carpet manufacture. The thatch-like coat consists of loose locks, with a characteristic parting line along wthe back.
   Breed category: carpet wool, dairy
   Distribution: Europe
   
3. Kamieniec (owca pomorska)
   
   Kamieniec are a Polish breed. They were created in the years 1954-1965 in the Kamieniec farm of the Breeding Center in Susz, near Olsztyn. The starting point was a flock of primitive ewes of the Pomeranian type, from individual farms in the regions of Gdansk and Koszalin or brought from settlers from the East. They were initially crossed with Leine and Texel rams, and then mated to Romney Marsh rams.
   
   After selection, the progeny was interbred in order to obtain genetic consolidation of the required traits and a more uniform type. Sheep of this strain have rather large, deep, and broad bodies. Their wool covering much of the body is uniform in quality, with long staples and high clean yield. This variety is also highly resistant to diseases, especially foot rot.
   Breed categories: dual-purpose, medium wool
   Distribution: Eastern Europe
   
4. Flax

All the above information was copied from this website.
There's a short document about the sheep breeds and breeding in Poland here and a whole book dedicated to it here. 

And look at the Polish Lowland Sheepdogs! They are totally cute!