Shearing is the act of harvesting wool fleece from a sheep. ... This is generally done in the spring when the sheep no longer need their winter coat. Annual shearing benefits both the sheep as well as us humans. Shearing in the spring allows the sheep to begin growing their wool in time to have a full coat by winter.

What does the saying wool gathering mean?

: indulgence in idle daydreaming.

Where did Gathering wool come from?

wool-gathering (n.)

also woolgathering, 1550s, "indulging in wandering fancies and purposeless thinking," from the literal meaning "gathering fragments of wool torn from sheep by bushes, etc.," an activity that necessitates much wandering to little purpose.