Well a week ago we had a lot of rain – I checked the rain gauge, and it was 2″ in two days! Everything is green again, and it is warm this week.
I lay in the shade and watch mom work like a squirrel getting ready for winter – well, a lot slower and not so twitchy, but as intent.
Of course I help too, riding the 4-wheeler as we check the orchard, gather rocks for the foundation wall, put away hoses, and dozens of other jobs, big and small. Because it may be that cruel deception of summer again, but I know winter is coming.
This will be my 4th winter; you may remember I arrived on St Paddy’s Day, but we had a huge blizzard in April, so I really got in another whole winter in my first few weeks here! In case you missed it, here is my introductory story:
https://cowdogsadvice.com/2023/03/introducing-redhawk-rose-the-flying-heeler/
It seems every critter around knows winter as well as I, and knows it is coming soon.
The deer, who have graciously passed flowers, gardens, bushes all summer, have come down from the mountains, a hoard of voracious munching machines, intent on mowing down every green plant they can reach!
They stripped the sunflowers, nipped off Marigold blooms, even barged through garden fences to eat all the green tomatoes!
Don’t ever believe any growing plant is safe from them! They even eat milkweed pods!
Them, and every other critter, come in for a free buffet!
I, however, am not allowed to run them out of the yard. I do it in stealth though, casually loping past them, staring and veering as I close in – and that usually works. I cannot stop them after dusk or early morning however.
Which brings us to our second season of bears. You remember we had plenty of them in the Spring –
They are just starting to look around here again.
They come in for berries. Chokecherries, Hawthorns, Rose-hips and Serviceberries. 
And they love apples.
They again stripped one of our favorite trees, and we wait to pick others, always a gamble between too early [late ripening fruit needs some cold nights], and too late [bears and raccoons!]. Oh, and this year some late frosts ensured there were just a lot fewer apples to go around!
We will soon wrap the little evergreens, because dozens of turkeys will show up and clean needles off the trees, but I think they really are looking to clean up after the chickens and horses.
I guess all critters, wild or not, are on a relentless quest to prepare for winter too.
It seems getting ready for the leanest season means herding a lot of wild animals, for this little Dingo! Don’t get me started on squirrels, magpies, chipmunks and bobcats!
I’ll be ready to come in and rest when the snow finally comes, but for now it’s go dog go!
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13
