May 26, 2011
We were fortunate to have a new friend, Cat with Cats, visit us over the weekend.
The Boyz could barely contain their excitement when they realized Cat arrived bearing gifts of Paco treats.
As always, it was great fun having a fellow animal lover in our midst.
Cat was great fun and great help.
Thank you, Cat! ♥
May 25, 2011
May 24, 2011
Watching Bernard, Ellsworth and George exhausted Lucy and Alan.
Those crazy boys never stopped moving.
Alan thought George had lost his marbles.
Why was George cavorting with the city boys like that?
Oh, how they played and played and played!
What a posse. Small, medium and large. ♥
May 23, 2011
If you visited Carson’s blog over at 7MSN today, you already know that Bernard and Ellsworth were there yesterday for a play date and that Carson and I took an obscene number of pictures.
Bernard and Ellsworth had the time of their lives with the 7MSN herd. While the humans laughed and watched, the boys and beautiful Lucy ran and cavorted like they were enjoying a day in heaven on earth.
There were moments though, that Lucy and Alan seemed incredulous. Stay tuned to see what they were watching. ♥
May 20, 2011
The Boyz reminded me yesterday that they haven’t been featured on the blog in a while.
I’m sorry, Boyz.
You’ve missed the new game that Bernard likes to play. He comes up behind me and gently puts his head between my legs so that I’ll put one of my legs over his back.
I think know he just likes being hugged.
Patrick continues to come out of his shell more and more with each passing day. He’s a remarkable donkey boy.
So does Nigel, by the way. We’re now touching Nigel’s face, so it’s a matter of time before we get a halter on him. He’s a remarkable burro boy. (Many thanks to Mel in NY for your advice with Nigel.)
You’ve also missed how happy everyone is when Don daddy gets home.
Daddy pushes down tree branches so the Boyz can eat leaves. The Boyz love leaves. Good golly… just look at Ellsworth’s face.
I kind of think the Boyz look like giraffes when they’re eating leaves from the trees.
Yes, Patrick… that’s a good thing. ♥
May 18, 2011
May 16, 2011
From The Los Angeles Times:
Smoke, the Iraqi donkey, a favorite of Camp Pendleton Marines, arrives in U.S.
A donkey adopted as a pet by Marines from Camp Pendleton while they were deployed in Iraq has been brought to America to serve as a therapy animal for wounded military personnel.
Smoke arrived last week in New York aboard a cargo flight that originated in Turkey after a combined effort of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and retired Marine Col. John Folsom.
In 2008, Folsom and Marines from the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Logistics Group found the donkey at Camp Taqaddum in Anbar province. The animal quickly became a favorite. His name comes from his color and the fact that he once snatched a cigarette from a Marine.
In 2009 the Marines departed but Folsom never stopped thinking of Smoke and what a morale boost he was for the troops. With help from the SPCA, Folsom raised funds and cleared away bureaucratic obstacles to get Smoke to America.
The SPCA estimates the final cost at upward of $40,000. The group has brought dogs and cats from Iraq but Smoke was the first of his species. The U.S. ambassador in Turkey was recruited to help get Smoke from neighboring Iraq.
“Once you met him and saw what a unique donkey he was, it was hard to say no to him,” said SPCA official Terri Crisp.
Supporters are bringing the donkey by truck to Folsom’s home in Omaha, Neb., where Smoke will serve as a therapy animal for the Wounded Warrior Family Support organization.
“He’s an American donkey now,” Folsom told the Associated Press.
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Welcome home, Smoke. Welcome home. ♥
May 13, 2011
May 11, 2011
The weather was beautiful over the weekend, so we decided to take the ducklings outside for the first time.
Hillary, who we think will become Edmund, was an excited blur most of the time.
Hello, Harriet.
They all seemed to enjoy exploring their new world.
All of the sudden though, unidentified creatures appeared from nowhere.
Hazel (who we think will become Jake): Nobody move!
Edmund: If we don’t move, they won’t see us.
Fergus: Umm, mom? What are those?
Nigel: They sure are funny looking things.
Augusta (who we think will become Augustus, or Gus for short): Who are you calling funny looking, mister?
Hello, Beatrice.
Beatrice: Holy cow, there’s another one coming!
Me: That’s Patrick. You’re going to love Patrick.
I wish I could have known what everyone was thinking.
Bernard: Mamma, why are they making those funny peeping sounds?
Me: They’re ducklings, boys. It looks like we’re going to have three girls (Beatrice, Harriet and Isabelle) and three boys (Edmund, Gus and Jake).
Me: I hope you all are going to get along just fine.
Me: Let’s get your first outside group photo.
From left to right: Edmund, Harriet, Gus, Isabelle, Beatrice and Jake.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
May 10, 2011
If he survives, which we expect he will, he’ll be a golden goat.
It all started last Monday when Leland didn’t join the rest of the goats and the sheep on their morning walk to the pasture. I could tell immediately that he didn’t feel well, but had no idea what was wrong.
By lunchtime, he was on his side, moaning and straining. I was sure he had bloat. I got half a cup of vegetable oil down his throat, along with baking soda and milk of magnesia, and massaged his left side all afternoon. (The rumen of a goat is on the left side; it acts as a big fermentation vat. Bacteria and protozoa in the rumen supply enzymes to break down the fiber in the goat’s feed.)
Monday night, we moved Leland to the garage where he would be warm on a blanket and we could keep a constant eye on him. I know he didn’t feel well because he allowed me to sit with him and stroke his fur. By then, he at least seemed more comfortable.
There were calls to and discussions with several local vets, none of whom were helpful. By Thursday, Leland really seemed to be doing better, but we wanted to be sure he was alright. One thing bothered us… we hadn’t seen him pee in several days.
It happens that the vet who sees our dogs knows goats and agreed to see Leland on Friday afternoon.
After a sonogram, the vet was able to confirm that Leland’s bladder was the size of a pumpkin and full of stones. Leland needed to go into surgery to relieve the pressure on his bladder and make adjustments to his boy parts where it was certain that some of the stones were lodged.
The vet attributed Leland’s stones to his diet and his weight. I’m so angry with myself because I should have known – and didn’t – that wethered goats should not be fed grain. And… Leland’s weight… 104 pounds. The vet said that she was being generous when she suggested that he weigh no more than 70 pounds. I was loving him to death!
We brought Leland home on Saturday afternoon with strict instructions to cut out his grain, increase his salt intake to make sure he drinks a lot of water and to feed him nothing other than grass hay. The hope is that Leland’s bladder stones will pass and dissolve with the changes in his diet.
For now, he’s still peeing in drops rather than streams. We’re watching him and making sure he knows we love him. Fingers crossed. ♥
I’ve been in such a funk worrying about this boy. I’m sorry for not posting for so long. 😦
Morning Bray Farm 