The Woolly Invader

My goats hate me right now. I introduced a woolly invader into their premises and they're sure that it's a goat-eating monster, or something heralding the apocalypse.

I keep telling them to chill out. The newcomer is only half their size for Pete's sake.

Yep, I got myself a sheep. I realize that I kinda' sprung that surprise on you guys yesterday with my one teaser picture, but in my defense, her arrival was all very last minute and impulsive. ;)

A dear lady (who is also THE person who taught me to spin) knew I was hankering for some sheep. She has a lovely flock of her own and the fleeces she gets off those ovines are to die for. It turns out that she had one wee, chocolate colored ewe lamb that she didn't really want to send to the auction with the rest of this year's lamb crop, so she offered the lamb to me. 

Thursday morning's phone call was pretty brief with her; she called, asked if I wanted a sheep, and I said "Sure! Why not!?" I mean, what's ONE more animal around the place? LOL.

So a couple hours later I had myself a little sheep. She's a funny little thing; all chubby looking in her wool coat, and baaing at the goats (which scares the dickens out of them). Breed wise, she's a crossbred between a Cormo and a CVM; which means she should have a mighty fine fleece come shearing time... I still don't have a name for her, but I'm sure something will come up eventually; I'm pretty slow when it comes to naming things...

Aaaaaand I might as well tell you now that she's not going to be an "only sheep". I have another little crossbred coming in a couple of days, but this time it's a little, white wether. I'm sure the little lady might eventually get used to hanging out with the goats and cows, but right now it's rather sad watching her try to flock with them when they keep running away in terror. They run, she follows, they run again, and she follows again. It was kind of funny this morning though; it was raining outside, so the goats were all in the barn (when it rains, they don't step foot outside their shelter) and little Miss Sheep was so excited that they couldn't run away from her in the small area. So you can imagine 8 goats all huddled in one corner with their eyes rolling and looking like they're waiting to be eaten. Meanwhile there's a 24" tall sheep who just barely reaches their sides in height, and grunting in happiness that she's finally caught them. They do say that Nubian goats are the most dramatic...

But hopefully having another sheep buddy will make her feel more comfortable here, and it certainly doesn't hurt my feelings to have two of 'em. :)

Now I just need to get a shepherd's crook...