Atypical Friday

Not a typical, but atypical.  I know of no one else who has ever spent a Friday this way.

As I walked up behind the barn I saw hubby's car.  He was home early.  I saw him and called out to him.  "Get your rifle, Honey."  He could see I had mine.  I'd been out for an hour and finally found the carcass.  The sheep 'notified' me when I saw them rushing around the barn, herded in tightly, heads and ears up, eyes half looking behind them.

I'd been in to town earlier and so my rifle was locked up tight.  I ripped through the procedure to get it out, grabbed the ammunition, a coat, hat and jumped into the easy to don rain boots.  I tried counting the sheep but they were jittery and jambed together.  It's easier to count them when they are spread out.  I counted twenty-six three times and did not want to believe that one was missing.  After all, I often had to count three times before I actually got twenty-seven. 

Millie had come into the field with me.  Only a half hour before she and Ruby and I had been out with the sheep for over an hour.  We had been exploring the bush alongside the field.  I had collected some old glass bottles.... 

Millie went right up to the sheep and nuzzled their faces, a behaviour I had not yet seen.  I had not seen Millie try to get this close to a sheep nor had I seen the sheep allow her to get that close.  They were not feeling good and Millie knew something big was up.  Since Ruby's arrival the sheep have been more accepting of Millie.  Unlike Ruby - I refer to her as their 'dog-thing' - who is full of puppy playfullness, Millie is calm and clearly is trying to make them safe as she heads out to the field first thing each morning.  Millie is once again trying to befriend the sheep but they are not the sheep with whom she was once best buddies.  It remains confusing for Millie and as much as Ruby is very grounded at the barn, Millie avoids going into the Big Barn.

Together hubby and I walked out to the field and surveyed the scene.  I had brought my camera to take photos of the carcass.  The sheep were grazing restlessly nearby.  They had followed me out the second time I went out to search. 

At first I did a quick check of the field.  I could see neither a carcass or coyote in the field.  I went back to the barn and counted sheep again.  I counted fourteen ewes and thirteen lambs.  Clearly, a lamb was missing.  I made a mental note of my favourites and they all seemed to be present.  I know, I shouldn't have favourites....  Now I knew I had to find the missing lamb.  I searched the entire field edge, looking closely into the brush.  At the very end of my search, there it was - a dead lamb with grass still in its mouth, chewing unfinished.  He was still warm.  I looked at my watch and sixty-five minutes had now passed since I first looked up from my desk and saw the frightened sheep at the barn.

Hubby was all decked out in his hunting clothes.  These allowed him to be camouflaged, warm and somewhat waterproof.  In addition I sprayed him down, including the soles of his feet, with a no-scent product to allow him to be less known to Mr. Coyote.  It was now about 3:15 pm; he'd gotten home early and was now at work in a different capacity.  I would not see him again until just before seven.  He lay in wait for Mr. Coyote to return to the carcass while I took the sheep back to the Front Field near the barn.

I spent an hour on the phone trying to figure out how to navigate the system(s) to get a Livestock Evaluator to accept my application for compensation for the coyote loss.  This was our fifth loss - plus a major and expensive injury - seventh attack, and tenth sighting.  Hearing them is in addition to these stats.  I could no longer go without compensation; I was losing too much money.  Dear reader I am sparing you the details of the challenge of navigating a contradictory government bureaucratic maze.  I managed to arrange for the Evaluator to come the next evening. 

The Friday evening barbecue plans were postponed.  I had put soup in a double boiler on low so it would be hot and ready whenever we wanted it.  I puttered around outside for the evening, awaiting hubby's return.  I was near the sheep and the dogs, observing behaviours and ensuring safety.  I cleared out a shed and set up for salting hides which I would retrieve from the butcher and then salt to preserve them until ready to ship to the tannery for finishing.  In addition I retrieved from the shed the heated buckets I would need when the freezing temperatures required them. I put up a few items for storage and in the process secured a few rodent passageways into the shed.

I was putting the sheep into the barn when hubby appeared at the back gate.  "I'll help you"  I called out.  It is very awkward to navigate the secured gate with a rifle in hand.  He was
cold and had had enough.  There was no longer sufficient light for the task at hand.  Together we lifted the heavy lamb into the wheelbarrow.  We put it in the big box stall in the Small Barn where it was safe from scavenging and so that the Evaluator could look at it the next day.

There was a fleeting visit by a coyote.  It quickly circled the carcass.  It was so quick that hubby does not recall seeing it's head or tail.  It seemed to be assessing the situation and the return of the entire family was a distinct possibility.

We were away the next day attending a prior commitment -  a gun course, my third one, all part of this new life punctuated with unwelcome visits by coyotes.  The sheep were not put out back but left in the Front Field.  Both Millie and Ruby are very attentive to the sheep when they are in this field.  When we got home I only had to count them once to get the right number, now twenty-six:  fourteen ewes and twelve lambs.

The compensation I will receive - providing all bureaucratic hoops are jumped - is far less than would have been earned had the male lamb lost instead gone to the butcher's next week.  As the Evaluator was leaving this evening he said he has been at one sheep farm seven times in two weeks for many losses, and the farmer has already shot two coyotes during that time.  This does put things into perspective.  Yet, it is such a shame to lose lambs in such a worthless way.  I feel very little control when these things happen. 

And, what a loss of a fine Friday night!
 

Dogs, Colour & Reno

GOOD DOG!

I say "Good dog!" a lot.  As well, Ruby hears frequently "Off!" and "No Chase!".  She is learning and once she settles a bit knows to sit when she comes to me and then I will pet her right away.  She is very excited in the morning.  And she sometimes chases the sheep.  In turn the ewes are getting kind of hard on, immediately setting out to bash her when she is near.  I've only seen and heard Ruby stand up to the sheep when they get near her food.  Millie on the other hand would never get bashed by a ewe.

With the addition of Ruby and the intense bonding we experienced over the time of her spay surgery, Millie is getting much closer to the sheep.  She rarely parks under the veranda now.  And most of the time she will stay in the Front field which is a safer place from which to chase cars.  I really discourage the chasing of cars in front of the house as she gets right on the road.  The fellow who drives the big red motorcylce says very unpleasant things when chased by Millie.

Part of the attraction to the road is that the coyotes live on the other side of it.  Many evenings now we hear the coyotes howl and yip at dusk just across the road.

With Millie's surgery we locked her into the Small Barn.  She only escaped three or four times - !  She can climb a four and a half foot wall, but not five.  I am still locking her in there at night.  There are a few other animals in that barn now and I am hoping Millie can bond with them.  In addition, we have thought about putting a doggie door into the Small Barn so that Millie can come and go; however, I'm not sure yet.

Millie has improved in leaps and bounds over the last few weeks.  She eats more than she ever has and hangs around the back door from four o'clock until dinner time at seven; she's hungry.  I increased her food again.  She is resting better.  The barn is much cleaner than under the veranda and although she is a happy outdoor dog, she is out of the weather at night.  And she is sleeping.  She has only barked a few times in the last week while locked up in the Small Barn at night.  Before this she worked all night, running all over, barking at shadows and howls and barks and squeaks.  So, she was also too tired to do much sheep guarding in the daytime.

She will now come out to the Middle Field where the sheep are grazing a few times a day.  She will not stay there.  She will however stay in the Front Field for long periods of time.  She can escape out of there but also will slip back into the field.  Interestingly, she blasted Ruby in a major way making it clear that SHE was never to leave that field.

The two dogs play beautifully together.  This makes them both happy. 



HEAVY LAMBS

A few weeks ago the neighbour girl helped me to weigh all thirteen lambs.  Wow!  In the thirty years since I had sheep it seems, sheep have gained in the rate at which they gain.  My scale goes up to one hundred pounds and most male lambs were off the scale.  Lucky was the smallest at seventy-seven pounds.  The ewe lambs were all around eight-five pounds with one at ninety-five pounds.

By the end of that session, we were both filthy.  You would have thought we had rolled in the manure pile.  I will never get my jeans completely cleaned.  We used the hose to clean up a bit before I drove her home.  Good thing it was a warm day and we could hose down.

As a result I have made arrangements to have lambs butchered over a one month period.  Mostly this is to allow me to manage freezer space.  I will still need to purchase an additional chest freezer.  So, we are taking orders and collecting recipes, looking forward to enjoying some yummy range fed lamb.

I've had to make arrangements with the trucker to get the lambs to the butcher.  I will also have to make arrangements to have the hides tanned.  And I am looking into taking my fleeces to a mill to have them washed and prepared into roving for spinning and some into wool, ready for knitting.  There is a lot to arrange!


COLOUR ADDED

Yes, it's Fall and the colours are lovely.  But that is not what I want to tell you about.

I have added colour to my flock.  I have purchased a coloured ewe and a ram who will pass on colour genes.  I have decided to call the ewe "Libby" after Elizabeth Hoey for whom I worked as a teen.  Her coloured flock was a great inspiration and this is the first colourful ewe I have, and she is several colours indeed.  If she were a pony she'd be called a pinto.

The ram is young but will do the job as expected.  He comes with the name "Birch" which I think we'll keep.  I have a marking harness for him to wear when he is put out with the ewes in November.  When he does what he is supposed to do a crayon mark will be left on the ewe.  If three weeks later there are new crayon marks on the ewe, we will know he is not working.  We hope there is only one mark on each ewe.

In addition to passing on colour genes, he has very nice fleece which will also be passed on as well.  His sire was a Blue Faced Leicester.  Spinners love to spin this breed of wool.  The breed is also known for producing good quality meat animals.  So, a good dual purpose breed.  The seller sent me this photo after they left her place.

Libby and Birch

BASEMENT RENO / RECOVERY

Over the last few weeks a variety of service people have been in and out and we finally have a basement again.  Recall that we planned to renovate to finish the basement as it was just rough drywall down there.  Then there was the flood on April 9th.  So, we went into recovery mode.  So, we have completed the rebuild to recover from the flood; and the Reno, as originally planned.

It is really really nice.  It is bright and white and clean and dry.  Hubby has been unpacking his stuff and setting up his space.  There are 'flood goods' still across the house but we will get it all put away, hopefully by Christmas time.

There are still some shelves to be built, so books will remain scattered or in boxes.  And finally, the sea container in front of the house will go away, hopefully in the next week.  It has been blocking the view of sunsets!

As well, I can finally clean.  There is - of course - a fine layer of drywall dust over everything.  And since I don't expect workmen and shoes and boots any longer, it might stay cleaner. 

Dog Days

The last two weeks since I wrote have flown by and been consumed with dog activities. 

On the Friday Ruby arrived and she has settled in quite nicely.  The poor dear eats lunch mid-afternoon since that's about when I remember.  She doesn't seem to suffer for it.

The following Thursday Millie was booked for her surgery.  We were to arrive at eight.  I had been feeding her in the car for a month.  This was the day, and as I was pushing her into the car she escaped.  Two more times I caught her but she would not get into the car and I could not drag her or lift her into the car. 

I had just caught her the second time when my neighbour arrived after I telephoned her for help.  She had come right away.  Her idea involved long towels looped underneath Millie and I had just remembered Beau-dog's car harness.  I gathered up these things and together it worked.  We had the harness and a towel for the hind end. 

Beau came too to keep Millie company, he in the front seat and Millie in the back.  She was nervous.  At the Vet's she slid nicely along the floor, me pulling on the harness and the Vet Tech pushing on the back end.  She weighed in at 88 pounds, a bit lighter than I expected. 

I commented that it had been a hectic morning and a particular beverage might be in order.  I went to the drive-thru for coffee on my way home.

Getting her home and settled wasn't too bad as Millie was groggy.  On day one I tied her outside.  When I returned a half hour later Millie was walking up the driveway having just inspected a passing vehicle.  She had slipped the harness and I dubbed her a Houdini relation.  On day two I found her in the alleyway in the barn, having jumped over the four and a half foot door.  She had worked under the metal rack over the window and ripped out most of the screen.  I have since tied these to the wall. On day three she was outside, having chewed the mesh from above two stall doors and jumped each of them.  Later she slipped the harness while tied up and I was watching.

A piece of wood, nails and hammer resulted in the four and a half foot doorway becoming a six foot doorway.  She hasn't gotten out since. The harness has been very well tightened.

Now the world looks differently.  Today Millie came out with me and Ruby to mind the sheep.  After a thorough check of the field and some play time with Ruby, Millie disappeared back to the house.  By late morning she went into the box stall by herself and stayed there to rest.  It has become her happy place.  I locked her in for a few hours midday and then let her out late afternoon.  She has walked on a lead without being dragged. 

As desired Millie is becoming more grounded and solidly oriented to the Small Barn rather than the house.  Today she did get under the veranda for a short time - I could tell as she got fine dirt in her incision!  We went out this evening for a short time and I left Millie out to keep an eye on the sheep.  As we drove down the driveway I observed her enter the Small Barn heading for her stall.

I have learned that Millie really does trust us.  She is very loving and accepting of each of us now.  I have learned that she will allow us to do anything with her without responding in an angry snarl or physical behaviour.  She's a big dog so it is good to know this about her.  I have really pushed her in the last ten days and she has taken it all.  She knows now that no harm will come to her.  She knows that we might lock her up, but we let her out again. 

The harness has remained on her and will for another week.  Right now Millie is not on night duty.  I have not even heard her bark at night from inside the barn.  In addition no cars have been chased.

I really need Millie to check the Middle Field when the sheep go out.  We heard coyotes in that area this evening.  I really need Millie to teach Ruby some stuff. 

Ruby started barking this morning at something.  Millie had returned to the house but she heard Ruby and began to bark as well.  The sheep herded together and watched and listened.  All was well.

Ruby likes to play chase - including chasing sheep.  She knows she is not supposed to do this.  The sheep do not run helter skelter away from her but they do move away from Ruby - especially the one she is chasing.  I can correct her verbally and she does respond - if I see her.  In general she does not stay out in the Middle Field with the sheep.  However this evening Ruby had gone out into the Front Field with the sheep and was chasing them.  I need Millie to help correct this behaviour too.

Ruby is very grounded in the Big Barn.  The sheep look at her and stamp their feet and Ruby just looks back and says "I'm here right where I'm supposed to be".  I have seen her lick Clover's face twice.  I have seen adult sheep try to butt her and Ruby just moves more quickly.  All in all, Ruby is settling in well.

Dog days yes, and the Indian Summer weather makes me think of the dog days of summer.  These days are numbered for sure.  And I know - and am reassured by my neighbour - that next year will be totally different when the sheep and dogs are well bonded.  Stay tuned!

Photogenic Ruby

Hubby got out the big camera and we had a very sunny afternoon for taking pictures.  Here are some of the special ones.

Although she has a nice pen on the other side of the barn, Ruby has adopted this location as her preferred perch.  Here, outside the hen's area - the hen's workbench, really - Ruby can see outside and the entire inside of the barn.  As well, she can squeeze under the workbench where today I found her sprawled out and sleeping.

Here she is looking out the back door of the barn, through which the sheep come and go during the daytime.

I quickly put a bandanna on Ruby to begin collar training her, which seems foreign to Maremma owners.  The bandanna is made of cotton and can slip off or break if hung up.

Like me neighbour's Great Pyrenees, Ruby as a snarly greeting smile.  The sides of her mouth curl up and you wonder if she's going to growl, but she's happy to see you - it's a fancy smile!

A priceless puppy photo with the droopy ear.  She is 3 months old so these gangly looks won't last long. 

Millie's eyes are brown and her nose is a dark pink while the 'classic' Maremma is like Ruby with black eyes and nose.

Oh, the ears are properly in place now, but the hip is drooping.  Oh, well, this is a long time for a puppy to be still!

Amusing, Ruby stayed tucked behind me.  She did not accept Beau near her barn and told him so.  Ruby fiercely defends her barn with snarls, barks, growls and raised fur.

Beau had to leave the barnyard.  He wasn't really too hurt as he is rarely allowed in there.

I have taken to wearing overalls or coveralls since Ruby jumps, sometimes on my back.  She is learning quickly - and the hard way at times - not to jump.  As of this writing she now greets me by coming to me and sitting, then rolling over for a belly rub.  The jumping is subsiding, so maybe the laundry volume will return to normal.

A happy puppy and a happy puppy owner!

Ruby Tuesday

It was a Tuesday when he got the Maremma puppies.  My new friend, the elderly gentleman who has Millie's mother, got all five puppies.  The owner is an impatient man and threatened to shoot them to get rid of them.  And at one third of what I paid for Millie, yes, we'd take one of the puppies.

There were three females and two males and he wanted to keep the males.  So, my neighbour and I went over on the Friday to pick out our puppies.  Hubby and I had wanted to go together but he was not available and someone else was coming for a puppy on Saturday morning.

Ruby came up to me several times and sat down for a good scratch, which none of the others did.  Ruby was the smallest of the litter but that didn't matter to me.  She is three months old.

Coming down the road to the house she puked.  My poor car; I put it through so much.

I had prepared a pen for her, one in which she could get in and out but the sheep cannot.  The sheep will bash her before accepting her.  The dog needs its own safe space to call its own.  I pulled the car through the gate and right up to the barn, then carried Ruby into the barn and heaved her over into her pen.  She is solid.  She stayed in the pen, exhausted, stressed, sick.

The pups had been well handled by grandchildren.  They had been living with sheep and were also used to chickens.  Llamas are very new to Ruby.  The adult parents were on the farm.  And the puppies are related to my neighbour's amazing Maremma, Charlie.

I gave Ruby some water and cleaned up my car.  I checked on her every few minutes and she just stayed put in the pen.  A little while later the dairy farmer arrived with a wagon load of second cut hay.  Ruby fell asleep nearby as we unloaded and stacked the hay.  I fed her some kibble.  She stayed in her pen and slept for the remainder of the afternoon.  She was upside down and looking very content.  I had locked the sheep out of the barn for the rest of the afternoon.

In the evening she ate up her kibble again which was followed by some dry heaves.  She explored a little bit, returning always to the barn.  The barn quickly became her safe place. 

The sheep did not want to go into the barn at night.  They did not want that dog-thing in there.  I bribed them with grain and Smudge - oh so food focused - was first into the barn.  Ruby stayed snug in her pen while the sheep took turns stamping their front leg, one of few offensive behaviours they possess.

On Saturday morning Ruby came out to the field with Millie and I.  She kept going to the sheep and they kept trotting away from her.  All the while Millie just ignored Ruby.  Then Millie came closer to me and it was Ruby that was aggressive with Millie, growling with high scruff.  I told them both to behave and they did.  There was one deep growl from Millie and that was it - for now.

Ruby already knows her name.  She is learning that I do not like to be jumped on and that "off!" can be followed with a good shove.  "Ah, ah, ah!"  receives a very quick response.  I suspect she has already been corrected for chasing and trying to play with the sheep.  She knows when I ask her to slow down and will sit and wait for me to say it's okay to move forward again.

When I returned to the house she eventually slid under the fence or gate and followed me toward the house.  Beau saw her and chased her.  Ruby ran up and into the barn.  Tonight I took Beau up to the barn on a leash.  Ruby clearly defended her barn with barking, growling and raised scruff.  It was some time before she backed down.  Beau of course does not care, really.  He is not aggressive and barely cares to be assertive.  Unless his ball is concerned...

We watched her this evening after the sheep were tucked into the barn with her.  Ruby came out of her pen and laid near the chicken area where she can see outside.  Coyotes began howling across the road and Millie began her night time barking routine.  Ruby did not bark.  It was safe in her barn.  The sheep stamped their feet and kept their distance.

We are pleased with Ruby.  The long range goal I have at present is to breed her.  For now, she needs to grow up.  She really is just a baby Maremma.  It amazes me how smart she is and how instinctive the protective aspects are for these dogs.  Stay tuned for more Ruby stories.

Being here

Eight seconds

We had a very nice visit with KJ and CB last week.  Hanging in my mind is CB's question, "How long did it take you to decide to buy this place, about 8 seconds?"  And that is pretty much how it was, really.  With all of the challenges over the past seven months it is encouraging to hear the views of others, that this is truly a lovely place and what a beautiful adventure.  And then, "Can we come and visit again?"  The answer, always, is "Yes, certainly.  Just let us know...."

Many deduce at first glance that this is an old house and it is not.  It is eighteen years old and was a rebuild following a fire.  There are several spots around that seem to be the remnant foundations of previous buildings.  I plan to research and find out more.  In addition I have met a man in his eighties who remembers coming here when he was a child of about ten.  There was an Ayrshire dairy herd here then.

Being there for a friend

When our friend called she was distraught, upset to say today was the day she had to put down her beloved dog.  It had to be today.  He cannot manage any longer.

We had said recently she was welcome to bury him here on the farm.  And so we organised our day and prepared for her arrival.  We had located a pet cemetery at the back of the small forest behind the house.  We went there and selected a spot.  Hubby got some tools and he went out to dig the hole.

He came back a while later to report he'd hit hard ground and needed a pick axe.  Off we went to the neighbour's to borrow one.  In the end the hole was not as deep as desired but it would do.

And so she arrived with the body of her beautiful old beast in the back of the car.  Hubby gently scooped him up and laid him kindly in the sheet lined wheelbarrow.  Goodbyes were said with teary eyes and the sheet was wrapped around him.

Hubby laid him in the prepared place and his owner took up the shovel and tearfully filled in the space.

We walked.  We talked.  We hugged.  After a cool drink on the veranda she headed home.  The next day she returned with her son and they placed a marker on the gravestone.

We were glad to be there for a friend.

Rain

A steady and gentle rain is perfect for running in, at least that's my experience.  I do like a soft and gentle rain.  If you are a grazing animal and need to eat, rain is accepted.  So, off we went the other morning, Millie and I and the flock of sheep.  I wore a full rain suit, thanks to hubby who often keeps me dressed for the weather in cool stuff.  I'm not sure rain gear is cool but I remained dry.

I headed to the cabin as the sheep had selected that area of the field for grazing this morning.  I removed some of my rain gear and hung out there.  I propped open the door and Millie actually put both front feet inside.  I put a chair nearby and petted her on the dry parts under her neck.  Because of the wet I had not brought a craft with me, but had my rifle along.

Rain.  It is needed.  It rained all morning.  I'd had enough after an hour and so had the sheep.  They headed in to the barn and I followed.

Northern Harrier

I saw this bird hanging around the other morning and hubby got out the big camera.  We asked our avid bird watching friend and she quickly identified it as a Northern Harrier.  They used to be known as a Marsh Hawk.  We thought it was a Golden Eagle but the tail feathers are wrong.  He - I am assuming gender - has been around a few other days.  Enjoy the photos.

Descriptions state that the Northern Harrier has an owl like flat face, which can be seen in this photo - okay, maybe you have to zoom into the photo to see it.  In addition, a distinguishing feature is the white patch at the top of the tail or the rump.
 

Each of these anecdotes is about being here...

LGD happiness, Garden and Craft

We've had lots of company over the past few weeks.  It has been great to share our farm adventure with friends and family.  They can now put animal names and faces together.  It is fun when people arrive and want to meet the animals.  It does surprise non-animal people that I can tell the sheep apart and have names for each.  Keep in mind however that I haven't figured out the chickens.  I can only readily distinguish one, Blondie, and that is because she is so much lighter in colour than the other reds.

Millie has been very busy indeed.  We are more than half way through a month of antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease and she seems to feel fantastic.  As hubby pointed out, it is possible that she has had the disease for years and this is the best she has felt in several years.  She seems to sleep a bit less, is more interested in the sheep and is eating lots.  Finally this big dog is eating big dog portions. 

I feed her breakfast in the car, thanks to DB's suggestion, to get her used to getting into the vehicle.  I have booked her spay surgery for later this month.  After eight, when hopefully the coyotes have all gone home, Millie meets me at the back door and we head out to the barn.  At first I bribed her with treats, now she just comes.  Actually now she's looking for me.  I open the gate to the back field and let the sheep out.  I go into the barn to feed the chickens and gather the eggs.  I get my lawn chair and head outside. 

These days the sheep wait for Millie to go first.  She takes her time, smelling and inspecting things.  We head out into the Middle Field where the cabin is located, and the sheep head to the right and down into the hollow while Millie goes straight and checks out the perimeter.  Millie continues around the entire field.  She goes into the bush along the back of the house and travels all the way back to the barnyard path and returns to the field.  I have been very impressed with this routine of boundary checking that she has taken on.

We spend about twenty to thirty minutes checking the field.  I more or less stay with the sheep during this time, paying attention to the south end of the field where we know there is coyote activity.  Then I set up my chair in the shade at an elevated spot.  I work on my craft which is interrupted by Millie sucking up to me.  This is the major suck up time of the day.  This is when Millie sucks up any love I am willing to dole out to her.  Sometimes I take the dog brush.  I remove burrs from her coat.  We have chats and I scratch her ears a lot.  Then she'll fall down and ask me to rub her belly.  Otherwise she lays down and dozes and observes the surroundings.  The nose goes constantly.

On occasion she has growled or even barked at something in the woods.  When the sheep run she does too.  Millie's goal is to get in front of the sheep to protect them from anything bad.  The sheep think she is chasing them and run faster.  Slowly, the sheep are becoming accustomed to her.  They run away from her less frequently.  The sheep move away and regroup instead of running headlong back to the barn.  Millie really wants to bond with them; instead, at this point in time, she is bonding to me.  We expect over the winter and with new lambs in the spring that the sheep will bond more closely with Millie.

Millie is very busy at night, barking at coyotes and other noises.  I awoke at three one morning to a howling coyote and Millie responding in kind with a howl, then a bark.  This went on for about five or ten minutes.  Now that she knows of the fields out back Millie is also more attentive to these areas, which is desired.

Oh, I recently met Millie's mother, Hillary.  I was speaking to her owner, petting this dog that came up to me and kept pawing me.  Her owner kept telling her to stop that.  She had a lovely demeanour and was the friendliest of the dogs.  The pawing behaviour was a giveaway since Millie does this.


The garden is exploding.  The broccoli has been yummy but is pretty well done.  Remember that I went small and only planted a half package of most seeds.  The cauliflower has been disappointing but there is still time.  The zucchini has been crazy and the relish, muffins and BBQ-ed products scrumptious.  Bush beans have been lovely and I wish I had planted more.  The butternut squash is like a crazy beanstalk plant, with tendrils overtaking space wherever it can.  The tomatoes are to the point where I must pick some daily.  We have had a beautiful freshly grated beet salad thanks to Sister.  There are carrots too.  Oh, and the red romaine continues to produce.

So, fresh veg we have lots of.  Some meals consist of all fresh garden veg which is just divine and oh so healthy for us all.  I am already planning on expanding the garden for next year.  I need to decide where to put asparagus and rhubarb.  The garden will always be a work in progress and that is just fine. 


So, my latest Shepherdessing craft - is that a word / phrase?  Oh, I was an academic once and that allowed me to make up words, so it will still work.  I was taking knitting with me which has been great.  However I realised that I really want to get Dot's fleece carded up.  So, I got out a larger back pack and stuffed it with a bag of some fleece and a smaller, clean bag.  While sitting I tease out the tufts of fleece, allowing the breeze to carry away the chaff and toss the undesirables.  The good stuff goes into the clean bag.  This has been working very well.  At the end of the day I card this up on the drum carder which I have set up on the veranda.  Each day I am able to produce a few more batts of fleece ready to spin.

I have a lot of fleece work to do.  It really needs to happen outside.  As the nights get cooler it is on my mind that any outside work must get done soon.  The seasons and the weather prioritise many of my days' activities for me. 

It's 8:01a.m. and Millie wants to get the sheep out.  She and Beau have played chase around the house and Millie has discovered digging in the sand pit left by the pool.  It is great to see her happy.