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@ 30 Aug. 2008 – 20:19:14
As I stepped over the threshold into the warm night air, I was greeted with an urgent throaty call. It happened again. I turned to look from where the salutation came. Looking appealingly at me, from the field opposite, was a shorn sheep. I acknowledged the ruminant with a nod, it seemed happy with that.
This plain looking sheep was in the field with two drop dead gorgeous friends of the same ilk, all smartly dressed up in their party gear. Why on earth did this one want to attract me? 
isadora101
menhir
There's a thought!
skip2468
Maybe you just had to feel 'sheepish' for a change. lol
menhir
That would take some doing! 
Maybe it was a feeling a little 'wooly' headed that day. Or perhaps, it just thought ewe seemed nice 
menhir
Bearing in mind the sheep was shorn, the woolliness probably did go to its head, but I much prefer your last thought. 
I'm sure it was nothing baaaad. (Ok sorry, I know this has to stop! I'll stop bleating on.)
menhir
Today, there a few rams in the yard opposite, absolutely exhausted and one can barely walk. Now what do you make of that?
At least they won't be getting rambunctious with you.
menhir
Certainly not! I wouldn't allow anything that has to wear a colour coded pad to come anywhere near me. 
I should think not
Maybe it was hand-reared like some lambs are and wanted a cuddle.
menhir
Aha, you know about pet lambs, Ann. With a 6' chain link fence, a path and a dry stone wall in between me and the field this sheep was in, a cuddle was highly unlikely.
The 'pet' lambs are rarely handled other than to be bottle fed. 'Pet' becomes a misnoma, as these lambs are not petted. (They may be on inner city farms). Nevertheless, it is odd to see how they imprint themselves on humans, even just with bottle feeding. Generally, when there are flocks as large as the farmer here has, orphaned lambs who can't be resettled with another lactating sheep, are penned together for a while to make it easier for them to be fed. These lambs can grow to be a little smaller than they might have been, if they had retained a mum.
It is very amusing to see 'pet' lambs standing with the farmer while other sheep in the flock are being brought in; they look as if they are helping. A touch of Animal Farm perhaps?
Nice to hear from you Ann.
When I was growing up a girlfriend's parents kept sheep, and there were always a few bottlefed lambs each year. They tended to hang out near the house, run with the dogs and were just as eager as the dogs to rush up to humans and say hello. It was always strange to pull into the driveway in the spring and have your car charged by an assorted "pack" of barking dogs, bleating lambs.
menhir
Just say it. It is curious - such is life.
You remember the drop dead gorgeous sheep in their best bib and tuckers, that you and I corresponded about? Two were sold at a market in Southern Scotland for £3000 each (approx $6000 ea) and one other breed - a North Country Cheviot - was sold in another market for £2000 (~$4000). It just tells you how valuable the stock is. They are pedigree sheep for breeding.
It's good that the farmer's hard work and good husbandry come to positive fruition.
menhir
from foster_hayden@hotmail.com
Wow. Those are fancy prices! BUT - I completely agree with you. I'm glad the farmer got his due.
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Probably just a plain ol' attention seeker