Epilogue

Tim, Tilly and I want thank you so much for all your kind words and hugs.  The sheep don't seem to care one bit.  In fact, after getting bum rushed at the gate for the second time without her standing guard while I tried to pass through to carry in a bucket of water, it really sunk in.  We've not only lost a really good friend, but a really hard working farm partner.   

Tilly has taken it pretty hard.  She relied on Iris for guidance all day long.  "What are we doing now? Is that something we need to bark about?  Where are we going now?   Is dad home?  Yeah, a nap would be good.  Should we go check the sheep?  Who's driving up Stella's driveway?..." It's sad to see her always looking over her shoulder waiting for Iris to race by.

And Iris was able to race by until this past weekend.  You wouldn't have known anything was really wrong with her until Monday morning.  I noticed she was a little "off" over the weekend, but nothing concrete you could really put your finger on.  Monday she started having trouble breathing.  X-rays showed fluid build up around her lungs and an ultrasound showed why - cancer throughout her lungs. 

It was a heartbreaking, but easy decision.  The vet came out to the farm and we all sat down in front of the Wool House for one last late summer nap.  Tilly stayed by her side until Tim came home.  It was a sad, but beautiful, peaceful afternoon and now no one is suffering anything worse than a broken heart.