Friday, July 24, 2009

A little-known side-effect of keeping sheep

They give you gray hair. Seriously.
I was checking email at 9:30pm when I heard a commotion out the window. It's totally dark out there, so I listened a bit longer, didn't hear anything, and went back to reading.
Then Goldie started blatting her distress call. And the new little ones started blatting. Only... their blatts weren't coming from the pen.
Shit!
The only flashlight I could find was my little clip-on LED light. I grabbed it and ran out into the darkness. (Madman is out visiting his best friend, so I'm by myself here.)
Both the younglings were out in the driveway. In the dark. Crying.
Now the last time we had a sheep out, we had a devil of a time getting her back in. Even though we'd had her for several weeks at that point, she wasn't used to us yet and wouldn't come when we called.
We just got these two yesterday! I was near tears. I figured I had a near-zilch chance of getting hold of them, especially since it was dark and the LED made a really weird light. A scary light...
But I lucked out. These two are so friendly that Merlin came running up to me immediately. I hoisted him back up over the fence and into the pen. Then while I was trying to coax Onyx to me, she leaped in by herself - which showed me where the fence had drooped and let them escape in the first place.
I did what emergency fence repairs I could manage, then staggered back into the house, wobbly-kneed with relief.
All's quiet out there now.
I need a beer.
at

7 comments:

  1. pacalagaJuly 24, 2009 at 10:17 PM

    Oh man, I'm loving Merlin more and more. What a sweetie. Sorry about the worries, though. There's nothing worse than a pet emergency when you're there alone.

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  2. Anna MJuly 25, 2009 at 7:25 AM

    Yikes! I'd much rather hear the raccoons out the window. Glad they kids are okay.

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  3. NormaJuly 25, 2009 at 8:38 AM

    Oy, you poor thing. I don't suppose there's such a thing as sheep day care to give you a respite, such as I use/need with Mr. Jefferies at least once a week!!! :D

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  4. LeighJuly 25, 2009 at 9:44 AM

    Life is so much easier when your critters run toward you when they see you instead of away... except perhaps bees...

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  5. CookieJuly 25, 2009 at 2:00 PM

    Thank goodness Merlin is such a good boy.

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  6. LaurieJuly 25, 2009 at 9:23 PM

    So scary, and to be alone.

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  7. DianeJuly 25, 2009 at 9:50 PM

    OMG, I think you deserved more than one beer. I'd have had heart failure.

    ReplyDelete

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