"Don't mess with Moose," she says.

She doesn't miss much, this dog. She often is sitting just like this when I do nighttime feedings, calm, alert, always happy to see me but also ready to bark at the bird that just flew overhead. I mean, it could have been a flying saucer.

Last night we heard coyotes for the first time. Marcella was calm, but Benedetto, took up his rallying bark. Benedetto has been with the flock in the new barn and fields, Marcella is in charge of the smaller barnyard. Somebody has to keep Moose and Goose in line.