An iconic photo for me at Bedlam Farm, a young dog, is permitted by an older dog to work with her around the sheep. Up until now, Fate has been chasing Zinnia off when she comes near her in the pasture.

Today, she relented, and she and Zinnia ran around and around the sheep, as Bud has also learned to do, and the sheep paid no attention to either of them. The only dog they listen to is Bud, and he’s not interested in sheepherding, only sheep intimidation.

Laura W wrote this beautiful message to me this morning. I was thinking of it when Zinnia walked calmly out amidst the sheep and donkeys and looked as if she had been out there for years.

“As you heal,” wrote Laura, “I hope this brings a smile as it has many times already for me. Your picture days ago of Zinnia on the lake was beautiful. I loved all the blues, the distance, and the feel of it. But Zinnia looked uncertain and timid in this new situation.
Then you showed us the confident, happy adventurer Zinnia, and it made my day. Now it is my screen saver, and each time I see it, I smile and feel a little surge of confidence. I think Zinnia is saying, ‘I can do this! ‘
Thanks for sharing your light.”

Zinnia is an “I  can do this” spirit, for sure. She takes on one mystery and challenge after another, and she also inspires me to do the same. Zinnia’s soul is full of light and love. She is all sweet and has a great passion for life.

She has entered our lives and become a part of us, and our love and our history. And our story, of course.

It was a landmark of sorts for me to see her out there in the pasture, the sheep and the donkeys walking right by, she alert and keeping a good distance. She’s a farm dog when all is said and done. I think we are all farm dogs here.

(I want to thank Laura for her message, I think she understands the spirit of ethical messaging, she is not trying to correct me or warn me or chastise me for my decisions, she is reaching out and connecting in a way that is useful to me, and I hope, to here. Thanks Laura.)