Sheep are odd creatures on the surface…They seem dumb …but are not…Simple…and yet not. If I am in a hurry or the weather is changing…I will have to WORK with my dog Drover to pen them for the night. But most days they stick to a routine “the one they think best and choose for themselves” …
This evening we walked down late after the sun had set. The sky was a beautiful blue and pink and there were big white marshmallow clowds in the west. The birds were singing their evening songs, and the crickets and frogs singing along in harmony. The air smelled clean and fresh and the dogs were happy ! All of them! They bounced and played and did some mousing on the way down. The puppy that is still here… he went along and was clearly enjoying his wet state (he some how got thrown in the pond) smile! He loves the water as do all my dogs but Timber. (Montanna is not a big fan but she does enjoy being wet) …
So off across the field and down the driveway we walked. Seven English Shepherds and a few Ghosts in the form of memories in my head…
I could hear the tractor running …and see Grandpa working the field. I could smell the ground as he plowed it. And as I took him cold water to drink and handed the jar filled with ice and well water I could smell his overalls ( you know the dried on the line in the sunshine smell) and the dirt he was turning had a earthy smell very pleasant and cool feeling to my bare feet. Along with the diesel fuel burning in the tractor. That tat, tat, tat, the exhaust stack makes when you idle the engine of the John Deere Tractor low.
I saw Daddy coming home from work in his pick up truck and knew all was well…
Then they were gone!
I proceeded on down to the sheep pens and the sheep walked in the gate . I shut it. Then looking round me… I asked Timber if she would like to help me count the sheep. OH YES! so in we walked quietly, and the sheep were all bunched up impossible to count. So Timber and I drove the sheep from one end to the other to string the sheep out so I could count them. She was very quiet and easy, but had a purpose that she understood. So after I counted sheep all 46 of them 3 times…I had some fun …we kept moving the sheep around for a few more minutes!
What a nice dog Timber is and what a good worker she is going to be! I praised her. She sat at the gate and waited as told… and then back up the hill to the house. All the dogs were quite happy and I could hear Grandpa on his way back to the house for supper Grandma had fixed green beans and corn tomato sandwiches and ice cold sweet tea. Of course there was a slice of pie too!
