When the pasture is limed, somebody has to open and close the gates. This time of year, the sheep and donkeys are eager to break through and into the greener pasture.

Normally a truck that big and that loud would scare the animals away. But green grass is their weakness, they’ll do almost anything to get to it.

I call Maria “the little squirt,” but she is tough, and she held off the donkeys and sheep while they massed for a charge through the back pasture.

She just stood near the gate and held up her hand. Lulu and Fanny thought about a charge, then backed off.

When Doug opened the gate to the South Pasture, the donkeys were clearly getting ready to mount a charge.

Doug got out of the truck (he closes the gate when he enters a pasture) and I charged over to help him hold them off. I waved my arms and cursed, which usually does it.

At one point, I got too close to the truck and was showered with lime and manure. Doug got out of the truck and smiled. “Didn’t see ya,” he said.

Vermonters.

I did miss Red though, no dog was ever better at keeping order.