I was looking through the viewfinder during our afternoon feeding of the sheep and the donkeys, and I noticed an odd shape down in the feeder.

I look out and up and was surprised – although not really – to see Maria sitting down in the middle of the feedling and talking to the sheep.

This is not something a lot of farmers or sheep farmers do, and it is not somethint I have ever done.

But it was lovely to see the depth of Maria’s love for animals and their extraordinary comfort and trust with her. In a couple of minutes, both donkeys – determined to never let the sheep have something they dont have – came over and nudged the sheep aside.

Maria was happy to see them and talked to them as well.

The Peaceable Kingdom, afternoon style. I was very happy to get the shot.

This is sweet but also smart. Animals instantly love the people who feed them. They associated food and human feeders with every good thing in the world, and often the difference between life and death. Maria knows how to talk to them. Humans never look better to sheep than when they are sitting low at a hay feeder full of hay.