Liz Lewis, our shearer, drove down from central Vermont to shear our nine sheep (she did seven, two need more time to grow their wool).

Liz is a good friend and an amazing shearer, her handling of the sheep is forceful, gentle, and skillful, and it is grueling backbreaking work. Maria just made a quilt for Liz out of fabric she’s owned for years.

And Liz refused to take payment for the shearing (Maria wouldn’t charge for the quilt). These two very powerful and strong-willed women were in a standoff for a while.

Maria wanted to pay Liz for the shearing, Liz wanted to pay for the quilt. I explained to Maria that Liz loved the quilt dearly and felt the shearing was worth less than the quilt.

“That quilt is gorgeous,” she said, “It’s worth so much more than shearing seven sheep.” Maria will fight to pay you, I said. It doesn’t matter, she said, “I won’t take it.”

The last place in the planet I would care to be is between these two. They love one another, but they have cast iron wills.

This argument could have gone on all night, Maria is just as willful as anyone.

Liz’s mother Barb just laughed and told me Lize was very strong-willed. Wait until you have a fight with Maria, I said.

When I explained to Maria that it was getting dark and windy and that Liz would just tear up the check if she insisted on giving it to her, she relented. Maria hates to waste anything, even a paper check.

Liz needs to get home, I said, she lives nearly two hours away.

I have the feeling this isn’t over.

These two have become very good and close friends and I wouldn’t really want to engage in a test of wills with either of them. Around here, that never works out for me.

Liz is coming back in three weeks to bring us two ewes and a lamb, sheep she is trying to find a good home for.  I bet she won’t take any money for them either. There will be another struggle.

I suggested sneaking the money to Barb, she’ll find a way to buy something for Liz.

(Liz with the quilt Maria made for her, her mother Barb came along for the ride.)

She also asked me if I would be interested in a border collie puppy with great herding instincts if her dog was bred. I know Katie and love her. We have bonded more than once.

She is a dog you can simply speak to, no commands are necessary.

Maria gave me a fierce look, I said I wasn’t looking for another dog right now, we had a border collie who loved sheep but wouldn’t herd them. She was a great dog and loved her life.

I couldn’t imagine bringing another border collie into this mix. Three dogs are plenty for me. Our farmhouse is not huge, and Zinnia is almost as big as a pony now.

Well, said Liz, just keep an open mind. Maria’s eyes were burning holes right into my chest. I said goodbye to Liz and I went into the house to cook dinner.