May 16, 2010
We visited Santa Fe yesterday. According to one of our travel guides, Burro Alley is one of the top 10 sights in Santa Fe’s old town.
Burros carried firewood on their backs down this notorious alley lined with gambling halls in the 1830s and 40s.
“For many years, the people of Santa Fe relied on the burro for their welfare.”
We were an entire 50 miles away from home and the boys. Don demonstrated how easy it is to go into donkey withdrawal.
May 12, 2010
We’ve noticed Ellsworth and Fergus playing together a lot lately.
They look happy together,
and seem to have a genuinely good time.
They don’t mind if Bernard or Nigel want to join in their fun,
but the play between Ellsworth and Fergus often seems to go on indefinitely.
While all the play was going on yesterday morning, Bernard was only interested in what time breakfast was being served. I think he was serious.
May 10, 2010
Canada geese were still hanging out in our pasture yesterday after we irrigated Saturday. Seeing as how Fergus and Nigel hail from just outside Death Valley National Park in California, I wonder if they’ve ever seen geese before coming to Morning Bray Farm. Fergus seemed quite intrigued.
Poor Fergus. The geese didn’t seem quite as intrigued by him.
Wrapping things up from our 100th post celebration, Sandra asked to see what a Morning Bray Farm tote bag looks like. Here it is:
CeeCee asked us to explain how the boys had four very distinct emotions going on in the photo for that post. The answer: apple slices. ♥
May 9, 2010
May 6, 2010
We’re celebrating 100 posts today, and once again, we’d love to have you join us for some fun. (You can click on the photo below for a larger image.)
One lucky, randomly chosen winner will receive a Morning Bray Farm tote bag. To enter our 100th post contest, leave a comment on this post completing the caption for the above photo. If you’d like to modify the caption and do your own thing, we’re good with that too. The contest will close Friday at 7 p.m. (Mountain time) and we’ll announce the winner on Saturday.
We love you all,
Bernard, Ellsworth, Fergus and Nigel xxooxx
May 5, 2010
For the first few days they were here, Fergus and Nigel were terrified of the water tubs we have in the corral and pasture. Naturally, we were concerned about them taking in enough water. Fergus was much more bold about drinking from the tubs and from what I could tell, Nigel was only drinking when Fergus was drinking, which also worried me. Yesterday, I saw Nigel drinking with Bernard, which brought joy to my heart.
Of course, I was excited to get more pink donkey tongue pictures.
May 3, 2010
We were hoping we might have Fergus in a halter by the time our farrier came around on Saturday.
Not yet, but that’s okay.
Okay because Shorty; our farrier, said the difference in Ellsworth this time versus last was night and day. It was only last time Shorty was here he was able to trim Ellsworth’s back feet.
Don bought a new (smaller) saddle cinch for Ellsworth and we tried it on for size later that afternoon.
Everything looked good, so we gave Ellsworth a test drive. Our gentle boy walked me around the corral several times. I never asked Ellsworth to move, but he did turn and stop when we asked him to. I couldn’t believe I was actually riding Ellsworth! ♥
I finally got pictures of one of the boys with their pink donkey tongue left sticking out as they tend to do after they have their drinks of water. It was Bernard.
Love you, love you, love you, love you Bernard. Okay, so here’s another secret. My nickname for Bernard is Buhbee. I don’t know why.
And then, after the post last week about mutual grooming, guess who I saw grooming each other? Ellsworth and Nigel!
April 30, 2010
Oh, the wind. I never knew it could be the way it is here. Some days it’s relentless.
Like yesterday. Oy. According to the National Weather Service, gusts in the valley where we live reached as high as 74 mph.
Fergus and Nigel don’t seem too affected by it.
Neither do Bernard or Ellsworth. As is always the case, wind or no wind, they’re in line ready for dinner before it’s served.
Don’t worry Mom. There’s no place like home.
April 27, 2010
Sunday afternoon, I looked out the window and saw Nigel and Fergus doing something that up until then, I had only seen illustrations of in The Donkey Companion. They were mutually grooming each other.
Then again, in the exact same location, yesterday afternoon. In this video, notice Ellsworth in the background rubbing his head on the pipe fencing.
I wonder why Bernard and Ellsworth don’t do this. Do George and Alan do it? What about Chester and Beau? Ruby and Gracie? What about your donkeys or horses or other critters? I wonder if it’s a trust issue. Surely Bernard and Ellsworth trust each other; they freak out if they’re separated for five seconds. You equine enthusiasts out there must have some thoughts, and we’re all ears.
April 26, 2010
Each time a horse and rider pass the road in front of Morning Bray Farm, time seems to stand still for the boys.
They watch with rapt attention,
and gentle curiosity.
I always wonder what they’re thinking.
Morning Bray Farm 