With Red gone, the sheep are free to move around more or less as they please.

They stay in the barn when they want, and no longer have to put up with a bossy border collie keeping them away from the treats and corn cobs Maria feeds to the donkeys every morning.

It is possible for us to control the sheep with grain or simple body language – outstretched arms. Sheep can be beautiful and contemplative, but nobody ever confused them with being too smart.

They have figured out that Fate is no threat, they completely ignore her now. They pay no attention to Bud unless he wants them to, but he’d rather chase chipmunks than herd sheep.

Liam marches to the beat of his own drum, in the morning he has taken to butting in on Maria’s communing time with the donkeys. Being affable and accepting creatures, the donkeys don’t seem to mind. And he loves corn cobs and some attention as well.

Every morning, Maria comes out with a dog food bowl full of gourmet treats for Lulu and Fanny. She also offers brushing and back-scratching. Liam wants in. Maria loves anything on four legs, or with wings.

It does look odd to see Liam there getting his back scratched while the donkeys wait their turn, but hey, it does make for a new and interesting photo.

Liam was Red’s major nemesis, they often butted heads as it were. I have this strange feeling that he misses Red, he seems to always be looking for him.

I miss Red, too, I told him, but things will remain lively around here. Another dog is on the way, she is not likely to bother you one bit.