This week, all things being equal, we shall have a roof and the siding done on The Coupe. I hope!
I am trying SO HARD to be patient.
Blue has been very carefully helping Ton put the naughty Murphy back in his paddock each time we walk down by the creek. Yesterday he even finished the job.
I send Ton round to keep the little sheep from darting into the field, and then he goes down and waits just past where we usually put him back through to stop him there. Blue just trots behind him and keeps him moving slowly along the fence line. He is way way to young to be working any stock however he appears to be doing quite a good job with this simple task. As I was calling Ton to ‘walk up’ Blue made an executive decision and popped the lamb right through. (The lamb was willing though which was helpful). Working two dogs together is going to make jobs like this so much easier. Each dog must respond to his own name, ignoring commands to the other dog, so this is where we will begin our training, in a while. This Murphy has pointed out a weakness in the fence too so today we will take down a few T posts and start repairs.
The coyotes were out last night and that little fella would make a very fine dinner for them. When they start howling I go into the verandah which acts like a bell, and loudly shout back and clap my hands, they always go quiet when they hear my voice. But I bet they do not go away.
Good morning. The peafowl are all back in the Penthouse, they wandered quite happily back in there yesterday morning.
No sign of either of Author’s kittens yesterday. Maybe they really were too small to survive or possibly she has taken them into deep hiding. My instincts tell me they are gone though. Nature takes over again.
Yesterday I pruned trees, removed winter rabbit protection, retied stakes and even had to surgically remove a stake from the little walnut in our Daily View, John had to cut the stake with a big metal cutting machine and we slid it upwards out of the groove it had grown around the stake. This is a common error of mine, to forget to loosen or even shift the stake and tie on each tree each year. So all the apples and pears and thicket trees have been checked and retied. (Slices of old bicycle inner tubes are good for tying up trees.) The cherry tree that had to be shifted out of the work site and was carefully replanted is flowering and shooting up leaves. Much to everyone’s surprise actually. So I pruned it really hard (you need to take off a third of the foliage when replanting) and it is on a frequent watering rotation too. There is a good chance that it may survive.
Today I will pick the first of the summer lettuce and radishes. Bounty.
Have a lovely day.
your friend celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
49 responses to “Blue takes it upon himself to work the sheep.”
The loss of any animal is always hard. My heart goes out to the sweet little Momma. Now your building is finishing to the point you get to take over…I always find that part ever so wonderful…the possibilities become endless….and then you find the way to go and the master piece appears. I love painting inside and outside of my house—the change is always so well NEW!
Have a great day, Cecilia!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Much as I love all the company, it will be fantastic to have the house back to myself! And yes, once I start dressing this room it will be thrilling.. c
That clever Blue! So have you trained Ton yourself to herd and respond to commands and you will be training Blue too?
Yes I will train them, though i think Ton is kind of over trained and looks for direction too much, I am hoping Blue has more of an instinct.. we will see… c
Gracious, Blue is quite the prodigy!
Sounds like Blue has the makings of a good farm dog – Ton is a good teacher!
I’ve been so behind, the Coupe has grown quite spectacularly. As has Blue 🙂
That Blue is really something, isn’t he? Herding is hard-wired into their very being. This could be a big week for the coupe. Getting that drywall done and the roof installed will make a world of difference. Picking lettuce already? Nothing sweeter than the first leaves picked each Spring.
Have a great evening, Celi!
It’s wonderful to see that Blue “gets it”. He was meant for the Farmy. The Coupe is so close but yet so far. The fun part will soon begin 🙂 Pats to Author from me.
i need a Blue-dog! These Texels are half kangaroo.
Sad about the kittens.
Lovely progress on the coupe.
I hope Author is ok. She’s such a pretty kitty. Blue is doing such a good job. Ton looks like he’s proudly watching.
What a little treasure Blue is… wish he had a floppy puppy tail to wag… puppies have a particular way with their tails ! And I love his sweet concentration.,
Laddered knee highs are also good for trees, because you don’t have to cut them !..
Coyotes!!! How close to the house do they come?
to the fences, they pass along the creek, in the long grass.. c
I had no idea about pruning when moving fruit trees, so thanks my friend
when transplanting always take off a third, plus anything rotton or broken on the roots.. this is what I do anyway.. to help the tree focus on root growth.. morning claire! c
Thanks again. And it’s now evening for me, and a cup of tea and bed 🙂