A big week for me on many levels. Planning our move to the new house. Inspections, Mortgages, deadlines, book tours to plan. Beyond that:
– Wednesday, I’m speaking at the tiny Stony Creek Library in Stony Creek, N.Y., (the Adirondacks) at 6:30 p.m. If it’s cool, I’ll bring Lenore. I’ll be talking about writing, my e-book, my children’s book and my life with animals. Maria will be with me.
– Thursday, the Hubbard Hall Writer’s Workshop kicks off and the writer’s group will meet for the first time and plan our ideas about rural life, hopefully for a book. I am very excited to meet all of these gifted people. Some people think writing is grim and painful, I think it is fluid and yes, fun. We’ll see.
Next weekend, a big event in my life, the arrival of Imported Red from Dr. Karen Thompson’s farm outside of Richmond, Va. Dr. Thompson and I have spent hours talking about Red, his very compelling story, his hard times, his great work. He is a short-haired working border collie, very focused as you can see in this video. Red was born in Ireland, was trained in the rough way of many Irish shepherds, ended up as Dr. Thompson’s demonstration dog. He is not housebroken – in the farmhouse, he was in a crate, or he was out working – knows nothing of roads, and has been intensely focused on his work. He is eager to please, loaded with energy, bright and responsive. A nice guy, everyone says.
Red is the father of 70 little Reds, but yesterday, was neutered in Virginia. He is five years old, and I won’t be breeding him. He will be a serious challenge for me. I think the work will come naturally for him, and also for me. My years with Rose taught me a lot. I know the commands Dr. Thomson uses and I will forego the whistles. I have no plans to trial Red. I know many people love to watch herding trials, and the dogs often do amazing things, but I do not really care for them. Red will be a busy farm dog, as Rose was.
Our work on the farm will be steady but simple – move the sheep from one pasture to another, bring them to us for health care and other needs. First I will housebreak Red – I’ll share that process – then simultaneously work the soon-to-arrive sheep with him. That will help him settle and bond the two of us. Border collies worship the people who bring them work. I will gradually – slowly – introduce him to life beyond work – driving around, visiting other farms and people here, affection from Maria, and a life with me and the other dogs. He has had little life as a pet.
I think this will take a couple of years. My goal is for him to work steadily and also to develop beyond work into a companion dog. I can’t wait to bring him places, as I do Lenore. Red is, I am told, a cuddlebug already. I see no problems other than the ones I will bring. Red knows his stuff. I need to be patient, loving and consistent, to paste that on my forehead and memorize it every day. This is a great dog and I intend to be worthy of him and I will share the process here in detail, honestly and in words and photos.