Scary full moons and creeping shadows
It's the middle of the night and the dogs are barking as though something large and scary was out there, something that is, maybe, creeping (well, I guess large scary things don't have to creep, instead they thump or storm) across the field right in front of our house.
The last time the dogs barked this loud and persistently and, well, with a tinge of fear in their bark, was the night the bear came through the gate that had mistakenly been left open and was in the process of tearing apart a beehive and eating frames of brood and honey.
I remember their barking that night. I went out to see what was happening and armed only with a flashlight stood there yelling at the bear to leave the hives alone.
Tonight, though, I don't think its the bear (though it could be) causing the ruckus.
Instead, of a bear, or some other night monster. I know what it is.
Its the moon.
If you've been out over the past couple of nights you will know what I mean.
A full moon. A harvest moon. One of the brightest nights of the year.
last night I was out about 2 or 3 in the morning checking on some loud squawking coming from the chicken pasture and it was so bright with clearly defined shadows that creep across the fields that I could feel it too.
Long, dark shadows everywhere. Constantly moving
Shadows that would be especially scary if you are a dog whose job, whose breeding, it is to watch every movement all night long.
On nights like this the dogs are running from one side of the farm to the other.
Barking.
Barking at creeping shadows.
It seems to me that natural guardian dog like our GP's have a strong thread of fear that runs right through the very core of their being.
There's something out there and they are afraid of it.
But instead of running they stand their ground.
And defend us with their first line of defense. Their bark.
That's why Twain is up their in the woods right now, barking. He's fearful of something scary out there, something unknown, maybe a bear, and he is using his first line of defense to protect him and us, and yes the chickens and our other farm animals.
He's out there barking at it, trying to keep those creeping full moon shadows at bay.
The last time the dogs barked this loud and persistently and, well, with a tinge of fear in their bark, was the night the bear came through the gate that had mistakenly been left open and was in the process of tearing apart a beehive and eating frames of brood and honey.
I remember their barking that night. I went out to see what was happening and armed only with a flashlight stood there yelling at the bear to leave the hives alone.
Tonight, though, I don't think its the bear (though it could be) causing the ruckus.
Instead, of a bear, or some other night monster. I know what it is.
Its the moon.
If you've been out over the past couple of nights you will know what I mean.
A full moon. A harvest moon. One of the brightest nights of the year.
last night I was out about 2 or 3 in the morning checking on some loud squawking coming from the chicken pasture and it was so bright with clearly defined shadows that creep across the fields that I could feel it too.
Long, dark shadows everywhere. Constantly moving
Shadows that would be especially scary if you are a dog whose job, whose breeding, it is to watch every movement all night long.
On nights like this the dogs are running from one side of the farm to the other.
Barking.
Barking at creeping shadows.
It seems to me that natural guardian dog like our GP's have a strong thread of fear that runs right through the very core of their being.
There's something out there and they are afraid of it.
But instead of running they stand their ground.
And defend us with their first line of defense. Their bark.
That's why Twain is up their in the woods right now, barking. He's fearful of something scary out there, something unknown, maybe a bear, and he is using his first line of defense to protect him and us, and yes the chickens and our other farm animals.
He's out there barking at it, trying to keep those creeping full moon shadows at bay.
posted by Bull Run Mountain Vegetable Farm at 12:19 AM
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