Liam and Bridie earned their relaxation time in the front yard yesterday.
For a brief moment or two, they got to be "working dogs."
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Not a lot of significant news this morning.
Twas one of those "git 'er done" days starting off with a trip to Wood's Hay and Grain to pick up a bale of straw.
Half of the bale has gone into the shelter in the dog run to add to the other bedding and make life a bit cushier for Liam and Bridie as they spend their days there.
The other half may get used later to protect plants for winter.
After finishing that project I went to town and bought a few groceries.
And, I complained at the check stand.
For the third time over these summer months, the same three pound package of lean ground beef has almost doubled in price---yesterday, $19 plus.
On previous occasions, the price has held for a week and then dips back to $11-$12.
It made no sense, but I bought a smaller package of ground beef just out of protest.
I was nice about my complaint, and the checker had no idea why this is happening.
I did hear somewhere recently that meat and gas seem to be the items that tend to Zig and then really Zag.
I gave away my age when I told the checker that I could remember when Mother would buy hamburger and get three pounds for a dollar.
That was probably back in the early days when McDonalds was selling 10 burgers for a dollar---ten cents a burger. Imagine it.
Sure did help Mother on our 1958 road trip to Michigan when she was feeding three hungry mouths and herself.
While I'm at it, I couldn't believe when I paid my last two months' paper subscription---up $20 bucks from the previous payment.
Okay, enough of that. Here's some good news about beef.
Two potential hamburger producers came visiting yesterday. Bill reported seeing the calves on the west side of the barn near the pumpkins.
"Let's see what Bridie will do," I suggested. So, he let Liam and Bridie out of the run, and we directed them to the area where the visitors were with their herd spectating from the other side of the fence.
The instant the dogs spotted them, both went to work, maintaining a wide separation between them.
Just like that, in the span of maybe two minutes, Liam did his part and Bridie, hers. The calves jumped through the fence were back with their friends. The second that was accomplished, the dogs quit herding and came back to us for their praise.
Our guess is that the electric fence at the Meserve place wasn't working, but Liam and Bridie were.
It did our hearts good and inspired a bit of nostalgia for our beloved Kea.
This loveable Border Collie had the natural talent for herding outsiders from the place---cows and turkeys alike. Always very efficient and always responded appropriately when the job was done.
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As I write this morning, it suddenly dawned on me that today marks eight years since sweet Kea was viciously murdered in our woods in front of our daughter by two neighbor dogs.
Once again it makes me cry.
Kea's death was senseless, and none of us will ever get over the grief of that day.
Maybe the cow visit yesterday had a purpose.
Maybe it was doggie divine intervention with Kea summoning the two calves over our way to see if Bridie and Liam have what it takes to keep things in order around here.
Well, Kea, they do.
You would have been proud, and we are proud. We still miss you so much.
On to the dirt!
It is SO dirty around here. Everything outside is coated with thick dust. Dust swirls were going ballistic in the barnyard yesterday and, in the afternoon, the western sky was filled with dust.
As I walked toward the kitchen yesterday, I could see a film of dust on the island which I wipe clean every day.
We live much too close to "Dump Truck-Rattly Wagon Road," which normally wouldn't cause much attention.
But the washboard surface and the flying dust every few minutes is hard to ignore.
We had about twenty drops of rain last night, but that didn't bother the dust one bit.
Still, in the midst of it all, those falling, turning leaves are creating some lovely distractions.
And, so, we can still enjoy some beauty and some variety in where to look for it.
Happy Tuesday.
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