“I’m sorry I’m late! There were sheep on the road!”
I’ve used this excuse a few times while trying to get to city appointments on time and it always manages to make me and the person (or professional) waiting for me laugh. Though this state of mine is being shook awake by an huge population influx at the moment, groaning with growing pains, shuddering beneath the thundering speed-enhancement that comes with multitudes of transplanted Californians…I like to think the heart of our rural spaces remains unchanged.
On the way to the post office yesterday, the shepherds were moving sheep across the river and up the road. It’s a thrill to see them working with their dogs and horses at this age old business of flock tending. I love the sight of the woolies moving as one across the sage, grabbing rogue bites of weeds and plant matter as they move, tramping the road flat, murmuring and bleating as they flow into empty space. They’re down from the high country now which means winter is on the way and I’ll testify to the fact. Idaho summer begins and ends with the yellow of balsam root and sunflowers as well as the bleat of sheep on the range.
The BEST reason for lateness! Mine is usually “the cat was curled up on me.”
Always a good moment when I peek in and see the New Noisy Plume has shared new adventures. Cup of tea, a bite of chocolate, and me getting lost in Idaho dreams on schedule this evening. 😊
Oi, for typos. Not “new” Noisy Plume. I’ve been a visitor for…Yikes! Almost a decade! 😁
I remember when I was living in the mountains in the French Alps, is was beautiful to watch, the word in french is “transhumance” and those pictures took me back to this life ages ago…beautiful, thank you.
What a wonderful memory!
that black sheep. i know how it feels. [~winking.]
xx
Oh man. Me too.
My…those sheep are orderly. A marching regiment of sorts. The black one knows he’s special.
It’s hard to be black in a sea of white. I mean that literally and figuratively, of course.