What Makes A Stick Dog Happy?

Word spread quickly...

a storm that left sticks

which one?

the stick stare...which one should I choose?

Lil just laid down with all her sticks

Too many choices!

She decided to forget them 

and

go for a swim.

Today...

 the scenes kept changing

the fronts blew in and out

Between the rains I took a walk.

Shared my tiny discovery with Hubby.

Invaluable Farm Team and Treasures...

The rain and thunders storms rolled in and out all day.

We had uninvited visitors.

Not ours!

Why do ours stay in but we can't keep these out?

Lizzy and Junior

Squiggs, Junior and Ki

Add Border Collie Diamond Lil 

and you have an unbeatable team to move cattle.

To see stock dogs work is a thing of beauty.  Each dog is trained by the one above them.  Lil is a head dog, the smaller ones are heelers and movers.  

When the strangers arrive Marcy can clap her hands, I yell "Yhaw!" and the team moves like a well-oiled machine.  Itty-bitty Lizzy and Squiggy gets them moving, Ki and Junior separate the strangers from our cattle and Lil takes the head. 

I've never had the herds completely blended until today.  Squiggs (not twelve pounds) cut out our cattle and headed them back to their spot while Junior, Ki and Lizzy curved the strange bunch back out of our pasture.  It was simply amazing. I face an oncoming wave of half grown calves.  For a second, just a second, I doubted the power of my team.  I raised my arm and I pointed.  The dogs take our cattle one way and the strange ones are herded the other. As they hit the divide, Lil picks up the chase and takes them totally into their home pasture.

Pure dance and art when they work.  A motley crew of Border Collies, a tiny Cairn mix, a Jack/ Rat Terrier,  my hot pepper Ki-Anne of unknown origin and her son Junior moved together like a well choreographed Broadway musical.  

I am proud of our little pack.  All were throw aways except for Lil.  They fit perfectly together and make a fantastic irreplaceable farm team. Not only with herding but also on protection and patrol detail.

Between rains I took a short walk and discovered a few treasures the farm had to offer for my pleasure and enjoyment.

Wednesday Storm Brought Rain...

The rains came

and came

The storm slacked and I was out rubber booting in my holey boots.  Had to see the effects of all that rain in such a short while.

This is normally grass and a dry creek

no longer dry.

Our road about the time my umbrella turned inside out and the lightening began again in earnest.  I decided maybe rubber booting during the storm was not so wise.  It was invigorating. I shall see the damage tomorrow in daylight, repair water gates and check for fence damage.

The second storm coming in persuaded me to go inside.  I felt like a sitting duck in the middle of the storm but how refreshing to witness Nature's power first hand.

The diamonds in the raindrops were a sight that always makes me smile.  Dad used to have us watch for diamonds.  This evening I saw them and smiled thinking of him.

We are safe.  More rain falls as I write.  Can't wait til morning.  I will walking this flooded valley with holey boots and camera in hand.

Hope you stayed safe from the storms.

Driving Into The Storm...

Monday Andrew and I drove to meet his friend, Dalton.

We drove into the storm

 but didn't get a drop of rain here.

The weather was wild.

We ate lunch at The Front Porch

These innocent lads put hot sauce in my sweet tea,

while I was outta site.

They know I'm gonna get 'em back

they just don't know when...

and therein lies the fun.