Moses is only two and a half, so I don’t think of him as a “dog”. But being over two years old, he officially is. Still, he is a guy, so he is a little slow to mature, but he of course is also an individual. As I write this, Moses is tucked under my wife’s, Lori’s desk taking a nap after breakfast and morning chores. It is a Winter’s morning in mid-January. The last goose control client visit for the season happened now, weeks ago. There has been farm work with our sheep and poultry, herding. We also train herding with our sheep here at home. The herding practices on larger fields of my mentors has stoped for the time being due to winter footing, ice, and or snow.
As the wild songbirds flock to our feeders, the sheep chew their cud and the chickens huddle out of the falling snow, maybe it is time to stop and do what Winter has us do, best. Gently falling snow does bring with it more work, in the cleaning up, but it gives us days where we can or have to sit and soak in what was and what will or can be. Big boy pups, like Moses and the other dogs, snoozing here and there in the kitchen and dining room bring a sense of peace. Oh sure, life is a struggle and this last year is a strong strong reminder that is so.
That is why we need and take the time to reflect. Napping pups and songbirds making their way in the world. Our farm animals, sheep, chickens, and ducks sheltered from what Winter brings. Soon I will stop writing this blog draft and dogs and I will pop outside to make sure all is well. This is, to keep the hawks hunting elsewhere, the fox no further than the edge of the wood and the dogs skipping around in joy in the newly fallen snow. It is how we take care of all these relationships that matter. How we make choices in what we care for, and how we do it, and what we consume. It will soon enough be time for goose control and our farm work in places like Connecticut and Massachusetts soon enough..but for now..
As the Chickadees and Tufted Titmice, Cardinals, and Woodpeckers gobble down the black oil sunflower and suit, I will take Moses out to our field with some of the sheep. Spring will come and the geese will be back. Perhaps more than the very few sheepdog trials we had last year will happen too. I would love our demonstrations at festivals to be back as well. But Moses though a talented young fella, has things to learn. He is very good to the sheep when herding but he needs to learn to concentrate all the time. Just because you are a sweet guy with loads of talent does not mean you can work halfway. He also needs practice visualizing where he is in relation to where I standing and what the sheep are doing at any given moment. But those things will come as sure as Spring will.
So, Moses just got up from under the desk, gave a big stretch, and gave me a quiet look in his way, to say “what’s up?” His six-year-old cousin Blade has started wiggling and vocalizing, ready to go. Blade has grown into an amazing dog, eccentric but extremely talented both at goose control work and sheepdog trials. These dogs are definitely individuals. Moses will be himself, will be himself. A quiet somewhat shy super talented big boy. We will see. So, I will let the dogs out, now, put on my boots and hat and coat and step on out, outside.