Day: May 16, 2013

I’ve decided to do a series of portraits of Zelda (feel free to use them as screensavers or print them out), she is a charismatic and compelling animal. She has touched many other people, I see, and I am constantly amazed at the animals here and how they react to us. Every morning I get up early, and especially when the sun is hitting the back pasture, and now, Zelda is always there, usually by herself, waiting for me, watching for me. I do not give her treats or have all that much to do with her except when I appear with Red, which is interest to her. She stands quite alertly, looks at me directly. I do not know what she is trying to communicate, I have never seen a sheep do this before. Maybe she is reminding me that will kick my ass again if I try and tell her what to do (she is like some other women around here in that way) or maybe she is trying to figure me out. Either way I will pay attention to her as well.

There is nothing more wrenching than a border collie waiting at a gate to a pasture with sheep in it, except maybe a Lab waiting to eat. I think he believes that if he looks at me long and hard enough, I’ll just open the gate and let him in. He is often right.

Animals speak in many different ways, with their bodies, their posture, their tails, their eyes and their ears. Donkeys in particular communicate with their ears. When they are down, they are angry or protective. When they are up, they are focusing on something that has caught their attention. This is how they say good morning to us.