"You mean...rather than have you bring us breakfast?!?"
"Yeah! Let's go out and do something. Come on everybody. I'll lead the way!"
It was a gorgeous morning. After a few days of wind, snow and single digit temps, sunny and 20s was a treat. Yes, let's go out back!
Kate can take the sheep out by herself, but since I had the camera, I decided to go along. Some mornings we go out to the Pond Field. Some mornings we go to the Upper Paddock. Some mornings we go to the Back Field. Today we headed to the ponds.
Kate works her way back and forth to keep them headed in the right direction.
I had a question about the Liddy photobomb in the Kate post the other day. Yes, that was Liddy. Liddy is not included in the group of sheep (that's her trailing off to the right) because as far as Kate is concerned, she is not a sheep. In fact, if Liddy is loose in the yard and you tell Kate to "go get the sheep", she'll run right by Liddy, frantically looking all over trying to find some sheep :-).
That's okay, because she did a great job tolerating her as a bottle lamb living in the house. I'm not sure if she thinks Liddy is a member of the dog pack (remember, she also has to tolerate the "darling" Miss Weaslie, so her pack is pretty dysfunctional at best ;-) or what she thinks about her. Regardless, in Kate's mind she is Not A Sheep.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
On out they go :-).
It was still a little snowier than I thought it might be, but maybe they'll stay out for a little while.
That'll do, Kate.
Good job!
"Are you sure you don't want them a little further out? I could help you with that!"
They stayed out just long enough for me to set out a bale of hay. As they made their way back to the barn, a few decided to run in. Liddy was in the lead (being she's Not A Sheep, she probably knew what I was doing ;-). Maisie realized she was getting beat so she dug in and hit the gas and by the time they came up the alley, she was in the lead.
I have never seen a sheep who loved to race as much as Maisie. Even as a sickly little lamb, when she was having a good day, she loved to race around the yard and up and down the driveway. Remember her Super Maisie cape? Or her Super Maisie Parka? Or this funny video? I need to get a new video. She really is fast and the determined look on her face and her propeller tail is just classic.
23 comments:
I cannot tell you how much I love reading your blog and particularly interesting posts like this. Thank you so much!
Love those last two photos especially. "Not a sheep Liddy" makes me laugh!
This is the first time I see you have Kate. I thought Hank was the sheep dog. And as for "Liddy not a sheep" Brilliant. And I had a great time reading back about Maisie in her cape and parka. She is a real little runner. What a lovely farmyard you have.
I remember Maisie and her cape. :) I've only just figured out that the same dogs who push my sheep around when I don't want them to (Boomer, Blue, I'm looking at you guys), can also push them around when I do want them to. Duh. I get it now. Sadly, they're not as talented and directed as Kate, but maybe somewhere in there, there is some hope. Go Kate.
It was beautiful here today, too (NE Ks.) but we are about to plunge again! Loved remembering Maisie as a baby!
I am so happy to see Kate having fun! What a help she must be for you! She looks great!
I loved Maisie's cape and her propeller tail! We had a cat once who thought she was a person so anything is possible in the animal world. If Liddy is part of Kate's pack then so be it...I wonder what will happen with another bottle lambie! Seams Kate has her job down pat...way to go Kate:)
I think the second to the last picture is your "Kate" picture for the next calendar. She is in that strip of sunlight and the sheep are so nicely lined up!
I'll bet Kate loves having a job. The wind stayed away today and yes, we had two days of non stop wind prior to... Tomorrow we may hit the 40s.
Such cute sheep bums! lol
So interesting seeing Kate work.
I think Kate, Liddy and Maisie have found a great way to stay warm and have fun -- Even when it's 20 degrees and a heatwave! :-)
It's so much fun to revisit those videos!!! What adventures! What characters!
You have photographic proof that Liddy thinks she is Not A Sheep. She is clearly working the flock with Kate, holding back and off to the right. Sheepdog and Sheepsheep. Rofl. Kate is brilliant!
And I agree about the sheep bums - such a great view, and in such lovely, snow-touched fields. Thank you so much for posting this.
Aww, thanks for sharing ~ Kate's a good girl! I love watching stock dogs and their sheep. It's amazing and a different relationship than with their LGD, like Hank. Kate does love her job and wishes she could do it more! Like right now! And again right after lunch! Yea!
What a delightful post! I loved watching Maisie's video again (with Comby watching from the sideline!). I count a total of 29 sheep in these shots; is that close? I agree with Jane B.; that 2nd to last pic is wonderful. Thank you for a lovely way to start the day!
Hmmm, should be 32 out there. Three in DBV and Graham was lagging behind the pictures. The easiest way to count big flocks of sheep is to count all the legs and divide by 4 ;-D.
Here's a new puzzle I made from one of the pics last night if anyone's interested. http://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=27b1bd8a02b1
Kate is awesome :)
Sure DO remember Maisie and her cape. What a hoot, beating Liddy to the punch, er the food :)
That's so darling about Kate and Liddy! I hope Kate doesn't do the same thing with every years' lambs or you might end up with a hole flock of 'woolly dogs' that she won't herd. :)
What a wonderful life for sheep and dogs and You!!!
Thanks for the total; I had a feeling I was coming up short. That's a good idea, to count the legs. Looking forward to this puzzle too!
Thanks for the total; I had a feeling I was coming up short. That's a good idea, to count the legs. Looking forward to this puzzle too!
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