The Potting Shed Revisited

We came up to the farm late Thursday evening. Friday was a perfect day for shifting sheep - sort of warm, sort of dry, and occasionally sunny. But Dan was working flat out all day (I'm pretty sure I saw him with a cracker in his teeth) and didn't have time to sit down to eat. So Friday kept its great weather and the sheep stayed shiftless. Saturday was out, so Sunday was nominated Sheep Shifting Day. It was also cold, wet, and very overcast. Just what I had been hoping for!!

So by midday the flock was in the lower pasture and I went to alert Dan and Yael that we should move those sheep now before they clambered back into the woods or the third paddock. Off we went. Sure enough 10 sheep were in the lower paddock but Starlight and his mom were up in the woods. Alternate Plan #1 was ruthlessly put into action. Get the two sheep in wth the rest of the flock and move them as one. Not a bad plan as plans go but we forgot to consult the sheep. Remember Starlight's mom is the one who was never enamored with the joys of motherhood.

After a spirited romp through the woods with Starlight struggling to keep up, Mom Ewe charged through the fence leaving Starlight to his fate. Mommy ended up in the final destination paddock and Starlight led Dan a merry chase over roots, under branches and through the woods. Finally he (the lamb I mean) streaked for the flock in the lower paddock. And back came Mom, herded by Yael. Remember we have been adhering to Alternate Plan #1 which was to keep the flock together. I watched in puzzlement but wisely decided to save my questions for later.

Back in the lower paddock, the flock is streaming swiftly up and down dodging Dan. I sigh and head through another wet, hip-high grass filled, pockmarked  paddock, not even trying to avoid the sheep turds and cow paddies. My wellies have seen it.all. The long, serious sheep faces watch warily as I plod up the hill toward them. I decide to sing to them as I go. "I love lamb chops, I love meat. Leg of lamb is good to eat." They are not music lovers. They bolt. Eventually we get the flock running full tilt for the correct paddock. BUT and you knew there'd be a but, the ram sees his old sanctuary, the potting shed, and runs straight in. Luckily he was the tail end of the procession.

Dan and I swerve to intercept him but he is too fast for us. So while we try to coax a reluctant ram out of hiding, Yael is left to move the rest of them by herself. She does this magnificently. So well in fact, that I think she should take this sheep shifting chore on as her own personal task. I hope she reads this blog and takes the hint!

Then Dan and I concentrate on the ram. We bang the building, we poke sticks in the doorway, we order him out, we beg him to come out. Sounds pretty pathetic doesn't it? Well, how about this for pathos, Dan tries to lasso him. I will forever treasure the picture of Dan trying to loop a rope over the ram's head. The ram waited patiently until the last possible second and then dipped his head and smirked as the noose dropped forlornly to the ground.

I relay my previous experiences with the ram and his potting shed and we decide to leave the poor beast alone until he comes out on his own. Yael checked him later, so did I, but whenever he saw us, he ducked back into the shed. Once we saw him far down the driveway but he had scurried back to the shed by the time we could get out to shut the gates. Finally as the day was ending, the ram had wandered up the driveway again looking for his harem.

I stayed with the kids (again) and Dan and Yael, went out closing gates and edging the ram toward the one remaining gate which would open into the first paddock. Yael went down and opened the second paddock gate and Dan tried to muscle the ram in the first gate. He dodged in the trees, skipped around the car and eventually ran in the first paddock. Then he ran up and down the fence trying to find a place to jump. Dan and Yael both saw the danger and sped toward the ram. The ram sped away from the fence and those two crazy humans.

Then it started to really rain. It had drizzled off and on but this was a massive downpour. The ram seemed to enjoy it, particularly the part about the humans getting soaked. He ran into the woods and watched as Dan and Yael hunkered down inside their sweaters and resolutely followed. Now they were out of my view and I waited to see the outcome. And I waited. And then I waited. It took a while but back came the drenched humans and Yael went to move the car and Dan came in, reported that the ram was in the second paddock and began to make tea and a fire. In that order. I guess we can call them true Kiwis now.