Stories and Paintings
As a child, Connor Dooley dreamed of becoming an Olympic Athlete. Simeon Toribio, to be exact. Why Simeon Toribio? Connor never said. He just spent his days in the backyard trying to jump over his mother’s tomato plants. Physically, Connor never had much chance of convincing anyone he was Simeon Toribio. Simeon Toribio... Continue Reading →
Shem turned and trotted along the base of the north hill until in the distance to his left a large shadowy form emerged above them. “That’s the farmhouse! We have to go back that way.” The famer’s voice yelled above the whooshing of the rain. It was a frightening yell. Shem waited. “Well,” he... Continue Reading →
The engine growled and a small truck came speeding around the corner. Shem jumped back from the edge of the road. Candace spun around and stood frozen and silent as the vehicle charged. It slowed down with a mechanical squeak and a shudder until it rolled gently forward. A man stuck his head out a... Continue Reading →
“I don’t think we can break through this fence,” said Shem. A guttural bleat blared behind them, with the frantic thunder of little hooves. Delilah raced across the grass, straight toward them. “Look out!” cried Candace, and she and Shem jumped aside. Delilah charged between them at full speed and rammed face-first into the gate.... Continue Reading →
They went up the gentle hill from the horse yard and stopped at the wide dirt path that ran from the farmhouse all the way down to the front gate. On the other side of the path was the chicken yard. Hens and chicks scratched around in the dirt in front of the henhouse,... Continue Reading →
In the horse yard, Shem was studying half a carrot he had found in the grass, while Candace was standing right beside the old Clydesdale, talking almost too fast to make sense. “I always knew there was more to all this than just trudging around the sheep paddock eating grass,” she said. “I’d never... Continue Reading →
“Come on,” said Candace, skipping ahead. Shem and Delilah followed. The three sheep made their way across the cow paddock, until they came to the big barn. “Oh my!” said Delilah. The sheep stopped and stared in wonder at what lay inside: a mountain of stacked hay bales, machinery for milking cows, machinery for... Continue Reading →
The three young sheep trotted right up to the fence where the sheep paddock met the cow paddock. The fence posts were of old, thick timber and stood taller than the sheep. A timber rail stretched along the top of the fence, apart from one short section where the wood had rotted and collapsed.... Continue Reading →
Early the next morning, the chief rooster’s mighty crow trumpeted from the big white fencepost near the front gate. The animals began to stir. One by one the sheep crept out from the barn and into the chilly air and gentle sunlight. Beneath a clear blue sky, a hundred thousand lingering dewdrops had turned... Continue Reading →
Beyond the deep green and autumn red hills west of Butterberry Farm, a soft orange sunset bloomed. Shadows stretched across the low paddock south of the farmhouse. There the sheep strolled toward the shearing shed, to hear what Candace had assured them was an important message. Candace was one of the lambs born in... Continue Reading →
