replying to a few questions all at once...
I rarely send out gifts... I try to hurry on,harvest, plow, and replant in as little time as possible. In fact, I believe I have about 40-something gifts I haven't even gotten around to accepting yet. OOPS. Sorry, neighbors, it's not you!! I just don't tend to have time!! I am JUST as bad with FT, too, though.
I have managed to adopt TWO black sheep. One in 7 minutes, and one in about an hour. But mostly, I try to adopt and am too late...even if it's only been 3 minutes!!