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Thursday, January 24, 2008

The Hills Are Alive

...with the the sound of sheep. Normally we don't allow our sheep out in the "park" of the pond field, but due to the drought, their usual fields are thin this winter, and like every animal in Kentucky, they are scrounging wherever they can.


Interestingly though, Jacobs are not strangers to living in "parks". Now, I am no historian, so if you'd like the full and researched story, I recommend A History Of The Jacob Sheep by Araminta Aldington. What I'll provide is a quote from a 1911 letter reprinted in said book.

ahem "It has been a common practice among many landowners to keep in their parks various breeds of sheep which are not generally known to those who keep sheep for profit only (WHAT?!? there are people who make a profit with their sheep?!?...sorry, back to the letter). Some of these little flocks are of very old standing and have been more or less carefully attended to by their Owners.,...valued as much for their ornamental qualities as for the wool and mutton they produce...a most important [feature] is their ability to live like deer, on grass alone without the daily attention of a shepherd."

Whoa whoa whoa, back up. Live on grass alone?!? So, what's with being forced (at horn point) to feed not only hay, but pelleted food and COOKIES?!? It's looking like the only resemblance to true "park" sheep is the ornamental qualities part. I guess they DO look pretty good out there in the "park".


Here is Iris bringing them up for the evening. Notice Ewen's head in the foreground and her looking back at him. She's always so hopeful that he'll do what he's supposed to. Poor Iris.

3 comments:

~Tonia~ said...

Poor Iris. You would think that she would know better by now. LOL

Umm yeah I just don't see your sheep living on grass alone. ;)

Anonymous said...

You've been tagged!
The rules of the game are this–
Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Post 7 random or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
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Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

Anonymous said...

Ruffles would knock me to the ground and rip the pockets off my barn coat if I didn't have a treat for her :-)

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