Torn Pad, Kailyard Planted.

Friday cut her dewclaw pad running around the farm like a fox on fire. She didn't even notice it, not until she came inside the farm house after morning chores. Little red paw prints coated the floor from the blood running off the fresh cut. I am used to this from Gibson, who in six years has cut his paw twice and once had it split open from a slammed tailgate. Paw pads are tough, heal well, and don't need much fuss for a small cut but this needed attention. Fri never had to be forced to be aided that way and so I wasn't sure how she would take it. It went as well as expected.

The trust of border collies amazes me. She let me scoop her up in my arms (she is only 40lbs) and carry her into the bathroom. Fear of the pain and the instinct to clean and care for her own wound was strong, but she let me hold her in place while I cut away the muddy and bloody feathering on her front leg, wash it with warm soapy water, rinse out the cut with a sterile syringe (without the needle, so it was a mini water gun) and apply anti-biotic cream, bandages, and vet wrap. I did it the way the vet taught me from visits with Gibson. I could tell she didn't need stitches but she did need to keep it clean. She was shaking, she was hurt. She stayed with me and let me take care of her.

Gibson and Friday are invaluable here. Gibson has become an amazing worker with the livestock. If I walk outside and see less then fourteen sheep, all I need to do is look at that dog and point up the road to the neighbor's pasture. Gibson is off like buckshot, Friday trails behind him (more excited to run beside her hero than herd sheep), and he gets them back with a beautiful, natural outrun. He lays down on a dime. He cares more about pleasing me than chasing stock. Friday, she's another story. And now with a badass armband accessory I think her own origin story is just getting more punk rock. She'll start proper herding training with Jim McRae in a few weeks, I hope. If he can fit us in, he is after all a sheep shearer and this is the busy season.

In other good news, I planted over 108 kale, lettuce, and spinach plants in the kailyard. The started plants all came from the good people at Stannard Farm and are fed well by last year's goat pen muck, well composted and black and rich. It was a morning of hoeing and pitching the compost and planting but I am very happy with the spread.

So glad to see the response to the little fox. I'll pick a winner tomorrow randomly. Just scroll and then close my eyes and place my finger on the screen. I'll try and do small gifts like this more often. You guys do so much for me, from buying books to signing up for the monthly subscriptions. I so appreciate it.

So wish that scrappy pup a fast heal. She's hopefully not going to need the vet's time but if it isn't closed up in three days we will. Dogs are top animal around here, after primates like me. They get the best, as that is what they give me.