So there it was, again.

A bunch of suckers and squishy-headed people who can’t say no to two beautiful animals in urgent need of a home.

They need some shearing pretty urgently too, and our shearer Jim McRae has already agreed to come shear these two at our Open House on Columbus Day Weekend. The public is invited and it is worth a trip to see Jim work and get this wool off of these two girls.

Details of the Open House will be posted on Maria’s blog.

When Donna told us she had rescued four sheep when the women who owned them was evicted from her property, we thought we might take one. Romney’s are famous for their beautiful wool and Maria loves to take the wool up to Vermont and get it spun into yard, which she sells. One of our richest and most rewarding rituals.

We don’t need two, we said, and we certainly don’t need four. I am of that age when some animal ethicists say it is unethical to get an animal if it is likely to not outlive you. Nuts to that, I think, it is always ethical to save an animal if you can and if it fits into your life. Animals are highly adaptable, these two above fit right into the farm in about 15 minutes, they were not mourning their old life. We will give them a good one.

You can’t do much better in the world than be one of Maria’s sheep or animals.

When I saw Izzy, and then Rosemary, I felt this very strong feeling that these two beautiful animals could change the farm, could transform the process of raising wool sheep, could somehow take us to another level. I thought these sheep were the most beautiful sheep I had ever seen, and I couldn’t bear to see them go to slaughter, which was a real possibility if they were not adopted.

I just felt they needed to be here.

It was actually mostly my push and Maria was surprised by it. Initially, she balked, like I usually do, but then she came around. We switched gender roles, as we often do. We are cross-gender people.

I’m not all that crazy about sheep, I spent too much time with the dogs and have embraced their point-of-view. But these Romney moves have moved me in some way I don’t quite understand, I think they really need to be here. I feel quite connected to them, and they keep looking at me in ways that suggest they think the same.

I feel they will uplift the farm in ways we don’t quite see yet. Just a feeling. I think I am good at spotting unusual animals, spirit animals. They come for a reason, they leave when they are ready.

Maria was very happy to see these two new ewes here today.  So was I. It is a sweet feeling to give an animal a much-needed home. I have a hunch these two are pregnant, if I’m correct they’ll give birth around the time Maria is in India. Of course.

Getting them was a wild ride, I can’t imagine doing it without Red, he is the most remarkable animal. He just sees into my head. The farm is richer today, and I am grateful for our lives. When I am up with Red on an adventure like today’s, i think, this is why I am here, this is why I have come. To live this life.

I like this chapter.

So another chapter for us, another day in the real lives of people who love animals and the animals themselves.