Ted E. Behr

A friend, Laila, from Woodstock, NY makes beautiful music and on an album she has a song that begins: "For a long time somethin' was missing, nobody under foot in the kitchen,no cold, wet nose on the back of my knee and then, it occurred to me; A dog, yes, one of those with a wagedy tail and a sniffedy nose." Yes, this is what the farm has been missing. Maybe not because of all the afore mentioned things, but we just have been missing Gus and we need a dog.

Our friend, Elaine Clark from Limerick, Maine raises Icelandic Sheepdogs and has been trying to entice us for some time. We have hedged. What if this dog is not what we need? What if he won't help us herd sheep? What if....what if? Then Elaine e-mailed with the offer of a yearling dog who needed a new home. We decided to give him a try.

We met Teddy and his owner Todd at a truck stop on the Mass. border. We knew the instant we saw Teddy that he was a dog we could learn to love. He smiled at us so hard, we just couldn't help but smile right back!

He was named Teddy by his previous owners, but we decided to change his name to Ted E. Behr to make him more of our own (no relation to Freddie or Eddie Behr for those who knew them). He usually doesn't have cuckleburrs in his fur, but he has been chasing cats across the road and into the puckerbrush, resulting in a solid day of brushing to get him back to beautiful. He knows that cats are up to no good and seems to realize that we don't want him anywhere near the road (regardless of what the cats may say).

Walt took Ted E. down to meet the sheep and after their initial intimidation tactics (that have worked previously with dogs who were more feint of heart) they fell in line and did as Ted E. asked! We couldn't be more thrilled with him. He seems to know what to do!

The boys are just finishing school and have come to meet Ted E. Josh (Joanne's 11 year old son) and Ted E. have found they have something in common. They both love baseball and are excellent players. Ted E. is quite the fielder for someone who has no opposing thumbs and no glove!

We are so thankful for Elaine for thinking of us and getting us together with Ted E. Also to Todd and his family for allowing Ted E. to come and live at Common Threads Farm. He is truly a gift for us.

Kitties!!!
	Walt has received his summer "batch" of kittens and is looking for homes for them. They are a little bit scattered about due to the recent dog invasion, but they will come back around. All but one of the nine are yellow with blue eyes. Several have no tail (Maine Coon Cat Style).Best of all, they are free for the taking!

Chickens

A few weeks ago, Walter went down to the post office to pick up chicks.....literally! We have decided that these plucky birds will perhaps help us with keeping our parasite load in check with the sheep and help feed us. We have some layers and meat birds. We may, in the late summer and early fall have some naturally raised birds for sale. Check back in toward the end of summer if interested in purchasing chickens for your freezer.