Stay-cation.

    "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately,

to front only the essential facts of life,

and see if I could not learn what it had

to teach, and not, when I came to die,

discover that I had not lived."

-Henry David Thoreau

     In the past, I have made numerous new years promises that I have not kept.  This year one of my resolutions was to work on big walls (destructing) and little boundaries (constructing). I very rarely take time off. This year I had the good fortune to be able to take a weeks break in our off season of work and herding to go visit a friend in Canada.  I left my dogs behind.  

 

  

    

          Dogs were still the center of the visit.  Working dogs.  On a small working farm.  It was timeless in nature.  I felt like I had slipped back in history in a way. Reaching a time when my Grandma and Grandpa or Great Aunt or Great Uncle ran their farm/ranches in the west.  It held the magical nature of slipping into an element long passed us, while still utilizing the progressive technological advances that we benefit from. Reminiscently, I think that the allure was, it showed the balance of livestock and the assistance that dogs provide for the shepherd.  This was not put on, like a dog show.  Very little had to do with looks.  Although, I believe the stock and dogs to be very attractive in nature doing what they were intended to do.  Pastorally, of course.

    The guard dogs started on the job training at a very early age.  They needed absolutely no training.  Again, the genetic package was already preprogrammed and fully installed at arrival to the farm at 10 weeks.  The two adults spit time with the flock.  One would stay with and keep post with the woolies, while number two would go on a big several mile circular march around the girls.  The Irish Wolf Hound, was huge and amazingly congenial.  But her nature changes when she picks up scent of a Coy-wolf.  The Coy wolf is an eighty pound coyote (possible hybrid) who reaps massive damage to a flock of sheep.

     Day to day activities required quite a bit of skill and work.  The temperatures and amount of snow had been quite challenging so the hay was delivered by tractor spike.  Not just to sheep, but to all farm animals.  Love love loved the big bat 'n board barns... that all matched.  The matriarchal house.  The artistically crafted cabin.  The bunkhouse.   

     Two litters of upcoming sheepdogs were snuggled away in warm nooks and crannies.  One litter proven in the North American continent, and the other imported from over the pond.  All with the potential to be fabulous family additions, working shepherds, or precision trial dogs.

     One day we received a call that the time was right to move the sheep.  Being from the high desert mountain regions, I could not fathom where one might envision moving sheep to this time of year.  It is a tradition, however, to move the sheep to Waupoos Island right when the ice would hold.  This was about 1800 sheep across Lake Ontario for about a mile.  Amanda traditionally has the job of moving mobs of ~200 sheep at a time from the farm, across the road, through the residents to lake edge with her working dogs.  The really tough job is convincing the sheep they want to step out on the ice!!! The ice was only 6" thick and the family workers all wear life vests! 

     Ideally, they break the flock up to about 2-3 wide and spread the weight out in a line.  In this picture two of my friends are guiding the front of the line (with the quad) and one nice dog is trailing and tucking flanks about 300 yards in the back.  This was ALL about stock handling.  The family uses another breed of dog called a Huntaway to get the big mob moving from pasture to pasture.

     So this is my stay-cation.  Hanging out with friends and animals. Seeing that the lifestyle is so-much-more!!!  It's not just timing and your whistle.  It's a lot of sacrifice and dedication. Grit, with class! A little bit colder than Jamaica man, but oh so much more enriching.