When the sheep gather around the feeder, Maria often sits down alongside the sheep, something which is neat to see but is also good animal husbandry.

Food is everything to most animals, and by eating alongside her, they trust and respond to her without the need of a dog or any drama.

Red has been dead for more than a year, and I miss him, but we’ve decided we don’t need another herding dog. The sheep respond very well to us and a cup of grain.

Issachar has taken this to another place, sometimes he rests his head on Maria’s while he’s chewing on his hay. Sometimes he just rests his chin on her shoulder. Issachairs came to us a young lamb, just a couple of years ago.

I think he thinks of her as a fellow sheep. The others eat calmly all around her. Maria is an animal whisperer, no offense to our wonderful border collies.

I was in the right place at the right time. The photo speaks for itself, another chapter in the Peaceable Kingdom.