Our animals are growing more and more comfortable with us here on the new farm, and more comfortable with one another. They are closer to us here, the pastures wrap around the farm. I came to Bedlam Farm to learn about animals and write about them and now we are closer to them than ever before and know more about them. They know more about us. Maria continues to deepen her relationship with all of us – me, the sheep, the donkeys, and so do I. Their relationships with one another are dynamic and evolving. Red and Simon. Minnie and Flo. The sheep and Maria and I. The sheep and the donkeys. The donkeys are much more at ease with Red, so are the sheep, they graze now within a few feet of him.

It takes time to build a connection to these animals. Trust is long coming and can easily be broken. Food is a connection point. So is attention, touching. Most of all, listening, shedding human arrogance. They are not like us. They do not think the way we do. Yesterday, Tess pressed her head against Maria for the first time. A breakthrough. A connection.