The sun comes up over the hills around 6:30 in the morning, we come up out of the house about the same time. The animals take up their work stations Red and Fate run to the gate and wait for their favorite time of the day – working with the sheep. Chloe stands right at the gate, whinnying, demand carrots or apples. The donkeys line up behind her, patient, not quite as assertive. The sheep, eyeing Fate and Red carefully, stand behind them by the feeder.

It’s feeding time as well as work time, the animals hear us get up in the house, hear us in the shower, hear us talking inside. Whenever we come out, they are lined up, waiting for breakfast and some grooming and attention. We let the dogs in, they move the sheep around for practice, but quickly, we bring out the hay and that is the one thing the sheep will defy Red about, their food. They will run right over him to get to the feeder, and he knows it.

We fill the heated water tank, shovel out the manure, call back the dogs. Red usually has the sheep in the barn, Fate is giving them the eye. Soon, Maria will come out with her baling wire and work on her fiber chair, already a distinguished work of art and a favored cat seat. By now, I am feeding the dogs and making breakfast. We will take a walk if we have time, but soon get to work, where we separate for most of the day. I think the Work Station by the gate is the heart of the farm.