I wondered Maria about what I should write about on the blog when we got unpacked and settled on the way home. Foolish me, if you live on any farm, but especially Bedlam Farm, there is no need to worry about coming up with things to right about.

The animals were pleased to see us. The donkeys were braying, the chickens were excited, and the dogs were wildly enthusiastic and immediately rushed to the treat drawer.

It is a very special thing to be welcomed so enthusiastically by different animals in our peaceable kingdom. It is very special to come home. Our absence, we were told, was noticed, the dogs were looking for us much of the time.

We love our animals, and they seem to return the favor.

When Maria went outside to check on the animals this morning, she was surprised. They weren’t there.

When the grass starts to grow, the sheep go somewhat mad, waiting to get to eat it and graze. Winter is unnatural for ruminants like sheep and donkeys.

They had broken right through the back pasture fence and were grazing happily around our neighbor’s RV camper. At times like this, we miss Red, who would have health with this problem in a flash.

We have to do the herding. Maria called me on her cell.

I was stepping into the shower when I heard the animals were out, the thing farmers and people who live on a farm never like to hear, especially when they live on a busy road.

Screw the shower; I pulled on pants, a shirt, and shoes and headed out with a walking stick in case I had to shout and bellow like a bear.

Maria had gone back out with some grain, and the sheep had all rushed back in by the time I got there. They have no desire to run away – they aren’t that dumb – but they were keen on getting to the green grass; we keep them out of the green pastures until the grass gets higher.

She spent an hour putting up some temporary fencing and then to the hardware store to get some heavier fencing. I offered to call for help, but Maria insisted on doing the work herself.

I am very lucky to have her living here with me.  She is handy and game.  And within reason, the animals trust her and listen to her. She got them all back in with some grain.

We both laughed about missing Red. He lived for this kind of thing and knew what to do without being asked. Fate ran in circles and got excited. We both muttered that she was useless in a crunch.

The odd thing is we both love this stuff, it is exciting and makes us feel very much alive. Having animals on a farm is like being a chess master. They make a move, and you make a move. Most of the time, we are smarter.

It is very common around here for animals to get out, they rarely run away, they are mostly drawn by fertile grass and shrub just outside the fencing.  Neighbors always let us know. Maria spotted this one herself.

We’ve fenced off the pasture with the hole in the fence, we’ll put down the heavy mesh tomorrow.

Animals always love what’s on the other side of the fence. The grass is often greener.

We let them graze on the South pasture while away, and they did an excellent job of mowing that down. We have to give it time to grow.

By 10 a.m., all was well. We got the heavy mesh fencing to plug the holes in the back. Fences always need attention; the animals know how to exploit weaknesses.

I spent much of the morning after the breakout cooking the chickpeas, wheat couscous, and barley that we need for ourselves. We are out of food, and I will need to do some shopping this afternoon and tomorrow to catch up.

I have a lot of work to do, including posting some more photos I took this week and writing about my life.

I made a reservation for four nights in October; we had so good a time this week, and we both realize we have to take a break more often. We were close to burnout, but are much refreshed.

We aren’t done with lobsters and oysters and crabs yet.

It cost about $300 to have the farm and the animals watched, exercised, and fed for four nights.

It is worth every penny to have such good people watching Bedlam Farm. We never have to think much about the farm while we are gone, and we are glad we opened up the south pasture.

It could have been a different story if the sheep escaped and gone on a grass expedition while we were away. But I bet one of the neighbors would have gotten them back. This is not a rare thing up here, and we all rush to help one another.