There are three sheep related facts that I know. First, I like socks and shirts made from Spanish originated Merino wool. Second, I know that in the late medieval and early modern periods, numerous English cities became wealthy centers of the wool trade. Third, I don’t know any children or family that have pet sheep. Oh, and a fourth, I’ve counted 14,592 sheep during this walk, not counting those before I fall asleep.

While I’ve read some brief fascinating museum plaques about the history of sheep in England, I’ll save some of that information for another day. Yet, one exclamation point about the importance of sheep. According to Wikipedia, “since the fourteenth century, the presiding officer of the House of Lords has sat on the Woolsack, a chair stuffed with wool.” There you have it!

Of course, there are artistic depictions of sheep. A sheep bench. Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

On a much lower key, I’ve noticed two features of how sheep have permeated English culture, and I’ve thought about a third feature.

There are some individuals who have an obsession with sheep. Rather than family photos, rather than beautiful landscape scenery decorating the walls, there are some who can’t get enough sheep. If you look at some of the photos, you’ll see sheep art, sheep on cushions, multiple sheep decorating a fireplace, and, yes, a sheep toilet paper dispenser. If Mary went this far in home decorating, I don’t know what I would do.

There are also the signs along the trail pertinent to sheep. This trail utilizes public pathways which often cut through pasture land. These permissible path ways did not come without a struggle. No farmer wanted folks tramping through the pastures, leaving gates open, allowing livestock to escape, requiring hours of search to find the animals. Most of the signs are the typical, very politely worded signs, “Please close the Gate.” However, as I paid attention to the signs, the English sheep farmer can be very different from some of their more polite neighbors. “Your Dog can be Shot.” They want to make a point! They have encountered walkers who have no sensitivity to the difficulty of being a sheep farmer.

In that vein, I paused to read numerous panels promoting a book “Forty Farms” while I had a rest day in Grasmere. The displays are heartwarming given the precariousness of all small-time farming. I show the picture of Angus Richardson. He became an orphan farmer at the age of 16 after his mother and father died. Along with extended family and friends, he has been able to persevere with his sheep farm. Hard work compounded with grief. Hard work shared though with others who wanted him to succeed. In our age of corporate farming, I’m humbled by a young fellow who wants to make a go of attending to, and probably loving, some of those sheep he raises.