We hope you’re enjoying our favorite blog photos/moments from 2011. Remember if you click on any of the photos, you’ll be taken to the original blog posts.

June 2011

The expression on Bernard’s face the day we discovered the donkeys love watermelon:

And the drooling delight of Patrick:

The day Enzi got her very own beach in our backyard:

Ellsworth’s very first trail ride with his trainer, Ryan (I was beaming with pride for both of them):

Watching the ducklings thrive and grow over the summer was awesome:

July 2001

An Independence Day celebration with wonderful family and friends (and Maryland blue crabs!):

My first trail ride with Ellsworth, a.k.a. Big Red:

The afternoon the ducklings sat out in the yard enjoying a summer rain shower:

March 2011

A rare, quiet moment for Meggie Moo:

A tender moment between Momma and Baby Boy:

Ellsworth being an incredible big brother and officially welcoming Patrick into the herd:

A hug from Fergus. I will always cherish this photo:

The simple joy of taking Bernard for a walk around the block:

April 2011

Kassie watching squirrel television:

Patrick learning how to be a donkey and giving his very first hug:

Welcoming the ducklings to the farm:

May 2011

Donkeys and ducklings meeting for the first time:

Whisky romping in the Rio Grande:

The ducklings loving the lawn sprinklers:

One of our many donkey play dates. Oh, how we love our play dates:

Remember if you click on any of the photos, you’ll be taken to the original blog posts.

A lot happened at Morning Bray Farm this year. When I sat down yesterday to reminisce by looking through blog posts, the magnitude of the changes here really hit me. 

The blessing of Patrick came to us in March, followed by our beautiful Muscovy ducklings in April. Fergus left us in July, we adopted our BLM beauty Gracie Belle in August, and Buck arrived in October.

Whoa. It all happened so fast.

Last night, Don and I went through and picked our favorite blog photos/moments from 2011. We’ll share our picks this week. If you click on any of the photos, you’ll be taken to the original blog posts.

January 2011

The fabulous four:

Fergus was such a character:

He did an excellent James Cagney impersonation:

Sandhill crane:

February 2011

Our sleeping beauty:

Our first baby of 2011:

Tell me that Buck isn’t laughing at Patrick.

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In chronological order:

Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

~ Buddha

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Dear Fergus,

We promised we would take care of Nigel when you left us, and want to thank you for being here when Nigel had his feet trimmed for the first time yesterday.

Nigel was so brave, but he was incredibly frightened. I know you were here because you heard my little prayer to you… “Dear Fergus, Please be here to help Nigel right now.”

Nigel shook like a leaf and made the first sound we’ve ever heard out of him.

We were all thinking about you, Fergus. Daddy told me afterwards that for reasons he couldn’t understand, he kept whispering your name in Nigel’s ear.

Unlike you the first time you had your feet trimmed, Nigel never really tried to kick Daddy or Shorty. Instead of kicking when Shorty went to work on his back feet, Nigel kept sitting down. 

That was okay, though. With his gentle voice and patient hands, Shorty got all four feet trimmed.

I cried. It was everything I could do not to completely sob.

We will always miss you and love you, Fergus. And we will always take care of and love Nigel. We still promise.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

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