rambo (flam tap)

September 23, 2010

We had a flood here the other night – never had that happen. We have a creek runs by our place, and there was so much rain that it was probably running 20 feet deep. We didn't lose any buildings, but our livestock was in danger. After we got the vehicles moved out to the road, we found the sheep and calves huddled together in the middle of the pasture on some higher ground, about belly deep in water. Angus and I cut the fence and waded out towards them. When the water got to be about belly deep on me we turned back, figuring the animals were not worth risking our lives. The water was moving pretty fast. When we turned back they all plunged in after us and swam to the hole we'd cut in the fence, and we helped them out onto drier ground. Sheri was with us, but we couldn't find Rambo. We headed for the pigpens, and the pigs were just eyes and snouts above the water, so we helped them over the fence and they swam to higher ground. Then we heard Rambo barking, and he was trapped under a shed by the rising water, so we waded over and Angus carried him out to solid ground. Rather depressing to watch all your belongings float away. But we didn't lose any animals, and really only lost one watering trough, so other than the massive amounts of debris, it wasn't too bad.

The next day when the water subsided Angus was occupied with getting the pigs back in their pen while I was at work. We just let the sheep roam, no close neighbors. Angus heard Rambo barking at the sheep most of the day, and when he went to check on them later, they were all in the pasture – Rambo had herded them back through the hole in the fence. He knew they weren't supposed to be out. Good dog, Rambo.

July 8, 2011

Hello,

Just thought I'd give you a little update on our Sadie...the love of our life. Sadie has grown up to be quite the little English Lady. She is very obedient and well-behaved. Runs (high speed), swims (high speed here too), chases rabbits, and wrestles with our daughter's German Shepherd in her fun times. Seriously guarding and watching over everything -and trying to make sure the other critters half-way keep their place seems to be her outdoor work. Inside, she is perfectly calm and lies down and doesn't move (I think she hopes we will forget her and leave her inside)...never crosses the threshold that marks her limit unless we give her permission...she is seriously a good dog.

Sadie is starting into the ministry next week (said jokingly, but she will be working with me at church 3 days a week). I am on staff and by myself in the summer, so she is to start going with me as security...she will stop a strange man in his tracks in our driveway with just a look and warning and never move from between us until I let her. I will be very happy for her company too, and it won't take ten minutes to teach her not to leave my office without permission.

We have been thrilled with the English Shepherd disposition, intelligence, and agility, and adaptability. Her first real animal attack was disrupted when I called her name and she thought I was calling her off, but soon afterwards an opossum was around the barn and Bob heard her "special" bark and went down and sicced her on it...she fought it in water and killed it, coming back needing a bath to get the blood out of her white fur...but with a very proud Bob.

Thank you for introducing us to our dear Sadie.

July 31, 2011

It's been almost a year since I drove out to pick up Piper from you. During that time, she has grown into a very smart, loving and wonderful companion.

Every night Piper starts out sleeping on the pillow next to me. She then moves down to the end of the bed, and when I'm finally asleep, she crawls under the bed to sleep. But she always waits until I'm asleep. She is very respectful of the cats until they start to sharpen their claws. I have taught her to chase them whenever they start to scratch their claws on the carpet or furniture. She can differentiate the sounds between the cat scratcher and objects that are off limits, so she certainly earns her keep.

Thank you for providing me with the most wonderful companion I could have imagined. Piper is a fantastic dog and I can't imagine life without her. Many, many thanks.

October, 2010

The other night after I had gone to bed Max began acting very strangely. I had gone to bed, taking out my hearing aids, as I do every night. Max always sleeps on the foot of my bed. Somewhere in the middle of the night Max began jumping on my bed. He would jump up on the bed, jump over me, jump back again and again. I woke up and could not imagine why he was acting so strangely.

As I was putting on my house shoes I noticed some strange lights coming through my bedroom window. I finally realized the house next door was on fire. As I walked down the stairs a fireman was knocking on my door to tell me that we needed to evacuate the house. Max and I were already on our way.

As it turns out, my house was unharmed. However, the fence between our properties burned down, and I lost my outbuilding. But Max knew we needed to leave, and knew how to wake me up without my hearing aids.