I love Fate and Zinnia, but in the morning, as we feed the donkeys and sheep their hay, I do miss Red. Without ever being asked, he kept order in the pasture. He kept the sheep away from Maria and me, he kept the sheep at their feeder and the donkeys at theirs.

We went about our chores in peace. It is not the same now. The sheep run all over the place, the donkeys try to steal their hay, and Fate, and now her acolyte, Zinnia, tear around the pasture together, running madly in widening circles.

These two are not as serious or useful as Red, but they sure have fun, and it is a good way to start the morning to see two great dogs have so much fun racing around. Fate doesn’t mind Zinnia chasing after and Zinnia doesn’t mind not being able to catch here.

Neither dog gives a whit about the sheep, or where they are, or who they might be bothering. Fate is obsessive about her running in circles and Zinnia is a Lily Of The Field, everything is good.

It’s messier out there, but everybody gets their hay and we do love the spirit of joy and mischief. I worry sometimes that poor Red must be spinning in his grave at the disorder in the pasture.

Most mornings, they run right over him.

But more and more I accept the twists and turns of life, everything is good in its own way.