Zephyr breezes in

Shortly after my post about Apollo last year we received a call from our friend stating that Apollo’s brother needed a home for his owner was not doing well. After a lot of discussion we decided to bring him here. Apollo was still struggling with his past but still making gains each day. More about Apollo in a minute.

Apollo’s brother is a good size boy. He is a playful, fun loving and sweet collie named Zephyr. He is also a rabble rouser who instigated backyard antics and chases and barkfests. He is a notorious cat food stealer and yet is so sweet he melts one’s heart. He can get caught doing something like stealing cat food and look so innocent that you can begin to doubt what you saw.

He came here and met the collies. Apollo of course was upset, until it calmed down a bit and they sniffed each other. Their tails wagged and they instantly took off on a wild chase and this was the turning point for all the past was gone in that moment and Apollo has never looked back. These two have the most physical and intense chases since the Lad and Smoke chases of years ago. They are very physical and I hold my breath as they run full speed and end up in a rolling crashing end, only to get up and go again.

I can alway tell what is going on in the backyard for Zephyr is a talker and has different pitched barkeeps for each situation. A naughty yapping for when there is a wrestling match in the backyard that he instigated, a chase with Apollo with a quick series of barks or that famous Lassie sounding bark if the big chase with all the collies involved and so on.

Zephyr is a true gentleman that always looks at you lovingly, but I have learned behind those loving eyes mischief is being born. Apollo love to have me chase him and Zephyr will suddenly grab my arm, Thor the other while Shiloh grabs the back of my shirt or coat and I wonder why I am tired all of a sudden then realizing I am dragging three collies with me across the yard. All instigated by lovey dove eyed Zephyr.

A daily event is now what we call the Good, the Bad and the Ugly moment. All of a sudden on one side of the yard Apollo appears, eyes squinting looking across the yard. Looking over there appears Zephyr, wide eyed staring back. All goes quiet except my mind can hear that darn song from that western. One minutes passes, no one has moved, no one has blinked. Sometimes Thor may join in making it three, but sometimes not. But not one of the collies move as they watch… in silence. Two minutes and nothing has changed.. squinting Apollo and Wide eyed Zephyr. Three minutes and nothing…. Then boom off they go chasing each other and they run hard jumping over things between things full speed around the yard several times until one dives and the become a rolling, disheveled crashing wreck, only to get up and do it again. Not sure how the decide who wins but it’s a sight to see.

Zephyr has brought with him the rollicking crazy days of the past and best of all Apollo left behind those days of pain and suffering. Apollo has become a delightfully naughty collie. He has fun filled days and has become a bit mouthy telling me off when I say no and demanding his way. He has become quite vocal in fact with onlyZephyr talking more. To see him so happy and free makes me smile. So, as we mourn the loss of Rutherford we also feel blessed to have had him as a family member. It makes us more determined to enjoy every moment we have, for those moments end way too soon.

Zephyr and Apollo

Apollo

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