Day: August 4, 2015

A landmark for Fate, she brought the sheep out to the rear pasture all by herself – Red sat back in the outer pasture watching,  she stayed with them and also with Maria and Chloe, who joined the parade. The sheep are getting easier with Fate, respecting her more, she is not timid around them, but not as assertive as she needs to be to get them moving when she wants them to.

Today, for the first time, she moved them a good distance, kept them together, kept an eye on them. Her instincts are really showing, really maturing.

Life happens to everyone, a bit happened to us yesterday. The thing that worried me the most was the pasture  fence, I assumed when the tree fell, the fence would have been destroyed. The animals would be in jeopardy of getting out and running into the road, the fence might have to be repaired, and that could be expensive. I was surprised when I got closer to see that the large pine tree, many years old, had fallen squarely on the top of a fence post, the post is holding it up, it seems to have saved the fence. It is hard for me to figure the odds of the tree falling so evenly on the post.

The baby barn swallows are leaving their perch high up in the barn rafters, the last one was holding his spot this morning when we came into the barn. He was gracious enough to let me take his photo before he leaves.  Yesterday, he hopped onto Maria’s hand, she carried him to the barn door.

Puppies are like human children in one way, you look at them one day and realize they are growing up. Fate is approaching six months of age, she a great ride-along dog as well as a budding farm dog. Fate is the most intense dog I have ever been around, also one of the brightest and most curious. She loves to ride along in the car, she is fascinated by every movement, every change of light, every thing she sees. Fate’s love of life is infectious, as it her love of work.

She is an interesting contrast to Red. When he comes in the car, he lies down in the back seat and rarely moves. Fate is very rarely still. I liked this portrait of her, it captured her focus and intensity.