And that, fellow citizens, is how The New York Times describes Democrat Cecilia F. Tkaczyk, (KAT-chik), who was declared the winner in the race to become state senator for New York’s District 46, only 73 long days after election day. In an incredibly tight race Ms. Tkaczyk defeated Republican George A. Amedore Jr., a state assemblyman and businessman, after an appeals court ruled that 99 additional disputed ballots should be counted. Also? District 46 had been gerrymandered for Republican success.
“It was especially gratifying for the school board member and farmer to defeat the exceedingly wealthy assemblyman for whom the district was tailor-made,” said Dan Cantor, the executive director of the Working Families Party, which backed Ms. Tkaczyk. “David beat Goliath on this one, and that’s always a satisfying feeling for everyone involved.”
But now, back to the spinning and weaving.
Ms. Tkaczyk, from Schenectady County, is a third-generation farmer, and among her hobbies is spinning wool from her flock of Jacob sheep.
Interesting breed, the Jacob. According to the Jacob Sheep Conservancy
A Jacob sheep is a primitive, domestic, multi-horned, black or lilac (deep gray or blue/purple cast) sheep with white spots. The Jacob is an ancient breed, sometimes referred to as a primitive breed. They are small in stature, with mature ewes weighing 80-120 pounds, and rams weighing 120-180 pounds. Seen from a distance or after shearing, observers often remark that Jacobs look like goats…..The Jacob fleece is open, soft and light with little grease (lanolin). The white and black wool may be blended before spinning to form various shades of gray and brown. The colors may also be separated after shearing to produce various shades of yarn from a single fleece. The fleece generally weighs 3-6 pounds and varies in crimp and fineness.
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