This morning, we pile Red into the car and drive off to Shushan to save a sheep, a white Romney. The person she lived with was evicted from her farm, the people who took her in have not been able to catch her so they asked if we could try and get her with Red. If we can catch her, we’ll take her in, she’s described as being a “real mess.”

We’re also trying to get a shearer to come if we get her here, lots of warm weather coming. This week, another chapter in our lives. We decided not to take in a female calf (cow) this summer, we don’t really need another large animal eating up the pasture.  The sheep are different.

Maria sells the yarn and the dogs love and need to work, so the sheep work for us in a very practical way. I don’t love sheep, but I love working with the dogs and having them around. Maria does love sheep. This week – we took Izzy from the same flock – has reminded us how important animals are to our lives and to the farm.

I am wary of the rescue impulse, as you know, but saving this sheep seems right to us. Romney sheep are known for their beautiful wool, and we already love having Izzy here. She is a great sheep, grounded and calm and pretty smart, at least for sheep.

It is gratifying to save an animal, especially one you can afford, and one you have a real use for – more than one.

Maria and I have discussed it and we feel good about getting these two sheep, it makes sense for us, for the farm, for Maria, for me and the dogs, for me and my photography. Sheep are easy to maintain, they cause little trouble. I hope we can catch her, I have faith in Red.