It’s one of the enduring rites of Spring, and it feels good to see the sheep shorn as summer approaches. Maria will take the wool to Vermont for processing and sell some wool and roving. Zelda’s wool is much in demand, I think. She has become a rock star among sheep.
Zelda is cool and lean and Maria will have more yarn to sell.
Shearer Jim McRae came from Rutland, Vt. to shear Zelda and the other ewes. Zelda didn’t put up much of a struggle, Jim remember her from last year and said she was quite calm. He said all of our sheep were especially calm and nice to work with, which is nice to hear. Jim is a photographer and border collie trainer as well as a shearer and he is great fun to talk to. I’ve got a nice video to put together and I’ll post it later tonight, here and on Facebook.
It’s a big farm day in Bedlam, one of those days that blows the idea of writing right out of the window. Our thermostat blew out, so we are getting it replaced and having the furnace cleaned. The shearer, Jim McRae is coming noonish to shear the sheep. Todd Mason is coming by (weather permitting) to fence in the rear pasture in the woods. I’m finishing a video about Frieda to put up on You Tube when “Second Chance” dog comes out. Zelda is on the alert, keep an eye on Red and I have to figure out how to get her into the pole barn. Red will figure out a way.
Red may be (along with Lenore) the most grounded dog I have ever had the privilege to live with. He just doesn’t rattle and nothing will deter him from focusing on his work. There are some things only the very best breeding can offer. Donkeys are guard animals, I got them initially to guard the sheep and they are always uncomfortable – sometimes very hostile – to dogs coming near the sheep. Donkey see dogs as coyotes, as threats. Donkeys are also very smart and intuitive and they figure out after awhile that a dog is part of their community, but they always pay attention. Simon went after Red a few times, Red just danced around him.
Now Simon and Lulu will come up to Red and sniff him carefully – this is one of the ways equines gather information and communicate. You may notice in the photo that Red never looks the donkeys directly in the eye – eye contact signals aggression both in dogs and donkeys and other animals. Red stays focused on the sheep, never on the donkeys. Red sits still and allows the donkeys to smell him carefully. This says to the donkeys, I am here, you can check me out, I am not a threat to you. Of all the dogs I have had, Red is by far the most grounded, focused and calm working animal. He is a professional, even taking risks to stay at work. Even Rose, a wonderful dog, moved away when donkeys came near. In this way, Red permits the donkeys to get comfortable with him and also allows him to herd the sheep calmly. He keeps the peace.
I am quite blessed to have been given this amazing animal by Dr. Karen Thompson, who read “Izzy & Lenore” and decided God wanted me to have this dog. She would not accept any compensation for him. At the time, I thought she was crazy. Now, I see she was just correct. So these wonderful border collie, born and bred on a farm in County Tyrone, Ireland, came to Virginia and then ended up at Bedlam Farm. Life is strange, life is wonderful. I have changed Red’s life and he has changed mine. Can’t imagine what’ s next. In the short run, it’s shearing. Shearer coming to trim the sheep this afternoon.
