We’ve only had Issachar a few weeks, but he has assimilated easily and comfortably into our family, along with his brother Asher. We’ve actually never had a sheep like him.

I think Issachar is the sweetest sheep we have ever had, he loves attention and appreciates having his head scratched. He was bottled fed when he was born, which explains some of his gentleness.

But he isn’t pushy or clingy, as many bottle feed sheep are, he just seems like an affectionate animal who loves and trusts people. He isn’t annoying or intrusive. We are both attached to him and grateful to Liz Lewis, our shearer, for bringing them both to us.

These new additions to the flock have inspired us to rethink the role of sheep in our lives. Maria is planning all kinds of creative new moves with her wool, from new colors to more roving.

I’ll leave that to her. For now, it’s a new experience to have a sheep who acts more like a Lab than a sheep. I’ll keep you posted.