Ovis is a genus of mammals of the ruminant family Bovidae. Its five or more highly sociable species are known as sheep. The domestic sheep is one member of the genus, and is thought to be descended from the wild mouflon of Asia.

Female sheep are called ewes, males are called rams (also sometimes called bucks or tups), and young sheep are called lambs. A member of the ovis genus (when applying to sheep) is called an ovine. A group of sheep is referred to as a flock or mob. The term herd is also occasionally used in this sense.

In January of 2009, with my retirement approaching, I found myself without a running vehicle. I then call my friend in Tennessee to see if he has a minivan and he says "Yes, and it is a Ford!" He then offers it to me at a price I could not say no to. I booked a flight for the first week in March and soon, I am in Tennessee driving a green 1994 Ford Aerostar.

On the drive back to Washington, I stop to visit my baby brother and his wife in Colorado. After a short visit, I continue west and drive through Glenwood Canyon on IH 70 along the Colorado river. In one place, I see sheep just above on the canyon slopes, pull over, drive slowly to where the sheep are and take photos.

In the fall of the same year, the journey on begins and one stop is to see the Grand Canyon again. Stopping at the El Tovar Lodge for internet, I see a family of bighorn sheep and take photos.

Early the next morning, I rise for the suntouch and see that the female and juvenile sheep are grazing on the green lawn between the El Tovar lodge and the rock wall at the edge of the canyon.

It does not take long for the two legged creatures to notice that there are sheep grazing on the lawn in front of El Tovar and their number grows to a small crowd.

This makes the sheep nervous and after the mother looks at her billy, the mother with the billy right behind her both jump the rope fence surrounding the lawn, dart across the walk way and leap over the raised brick wall at the edge of the canyon. I follow with my camera to see how the two fair this perilous maneuver only to find both waking slowly along a narrow path about ten feet below.

With my camera in focus, I continue to take photos of these two walking on the rocks below the rock wall where I am now standing.