Dr. Dolittle Jr.

This week has been one where we have had more contact with the animal world than with humans outside our family.   At the park, Sabrina befriended a ladybug.   She literally played with this ladybug on the slide and rock wall.   The ladybug would fly off and land.   Then it (or perhaps another--not sure how to tell them apart) would land on her hand or head.   This would happen over and over for fifteen minutes or so.
The next time to the park, Sabrina looked for the ladybug but only found a spider. 
To her delight on an evening walk to feed Wilbur the duck, she met Baquera (a black cat resembling the black panther from Kipling's Jungle Book).   For about an hour, this black cat enticed Sabrina and allowed her to pet him.   He even let her carefully hold him.   This memory we are told about in statements like, "I am so strong.   I can hold kitties!"
This afternoon, she met a new friend while visiting Wilbur.   He was a fledgling goose.   Young enough to not attack and friendly enough to allow us to feed him.   Wilbur, however, was not sure he liked competition while bread crumbs were being delivered and chanced him away until all food was consumed.    To the joy of Sabrina, the goose returned and watched us from a safe distance.   Now to name him.  
All these animal skills in Sabrina parallel the ability and confidence Julie's Grandma Agnes had with animals.   Grandma Agnes felt animals sensed confidence and being friendly and really did not meet a dog or cat that would not come for a petting.    She grew up on a homestead with the animals in the barn, out in the field or under the house as her main companions.