Morning Bray Farm

November 8, 2010

Day of the Dead

Posted by Morning Bray under Albuquerque, New Mexico | Tags: Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos |
[14] Comments

Los Dias de los Muertos – The Day of the Dead – is a day that celebrates death.

Yesterday evening, Don and I went to the annual Día de los Muertos Marigold Parade here in Albuquerque’s South Valley, where we live.

Los Dias de los Muertos is a Mexican custom that celebrates loved ones who have died.

Family members and friends put pictures of the deceased on flower-strewn altars, often accompanied by their favorite food or things. See the photo of the gentleman in the lower left hand corner of the picture below?

Skull images symbolize both death and rebirth.

The amount of color in the parade was surprising and beautiful.

November 7, 2010

Bernard’s excellent adventure

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys, Friends and Family, Horses | Tags: Alan, Bernard, burros, Carson, donkey, George, Hank, The 7MSN Ranch |
[23] Comments

I think yesterday was one of the best days of young Bernard’s life. While his brothers were contentedly eating breakfast, Bernard wanted a part of whatever was going on as soon as Don started backing up the trailer.

It was a perfect New Mexico day as we drove to The 7MSN Ranch.

As soon as we arrived, Bernard expressed his excitement by letting out a big, loud bray. George and Alan were so excited, they floated on air.

I simply loved seeing Bernard in this environment.

After a delicious lunch on the porch – while watching the burro brothers and Bernard gallop past in single file – we all took a walk in the pasture. Bernard made himself completely at home and led the way.

George, Alan, Carson and Hank were right behind us.

And when it was time to head back to the barn, Bernard led the way once again.

At the end of the afternoon, parting was such sweet sorrow. By the time we arrived home, the sun was beginning to set as we crossed the Rio Grande, and the only thing Bernard could talk about was the next time he visits The 7MSN, Ellsworth will be along for the ride. ♥

November 6, 2010

Saturday Stuff – Places to go, people to see

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys, Saturday Parts & Stuff | Tags: Bernard, Bernard's excellent adventure, donkey, road trip |
[11] Comments

We’re heading out on an excellent adventure with Bernard today. I’m sure the scene before we leave will go a little something like this:

Bernard: Mamma, do you have to brush my hair? I hate it!

Me: Yes, Bernard. Remember you only get one chance to make a first impression, and I won’t have you looking like a vagabond when we get there.

Bernard has his first play date today. I’m so excited I can’t stand it. ♥

November 5, 2010

Baby goes to the dentist

Posted by Morning Bray under Dogs | Tags: canine dental work, canine tooth extractions, dog, dog dentist, Kassie |
[17] Comments

Baby Kassie went to the vet to get her teeth cleaned on Wednesday. She came home Wednesday afternoon with a purple bandage on her leg and two fewer teeth.

From both the effects of the anesthesia and her pain medication, she was very groggy.

The important thing was that she was comfortable and feeling no pain.

When her eyes started to close and she started leaning over, I knew she was alright.

Sweet dreams, Baby.

With tons of cuddles and lots of coddling over the last couple of days, she’s doing great. Thanks to C and Wilbur in WI, Kassie even had ice cream for dessert after breakfast this morning.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

November 4, 2010

Fall beauty

Posted by Morning Bray under Farm, New Mexico | Tags: autumn colors, cottonwood |
[22] Comments

November 3, 2010

Who knew poop was such a popular search term?

Posted by Morning Bray under Farm | Tags: blogging, poop, search terms, toad poop |
[30] Comments

Technology allows us to see which search terms folks use to find us online at Morning Bray Farm. There are the usual and expected terms and phrases, such as “morning bray” and “the morning bray farm blog,” and terms and phrases generated by earlier posts we’ve done, such as “hummingbird moth…”

…and “stuffed jalapeños.”

But who knew “poop” was such a popular search term? Because of our post on “toad poop,” “poop” – in one form or another – has generated a total of 345 visits to our blog so far this year.

We’ve had visits from folks who searched on the following phrases: toad poop, skunk poop, poop, skunk poop pictures, frog poop, skunk scat, toad poop picture, what does toad poop look like, toad scat, toad poo, toad feces identification, raccoon poop, what does frog poop look like, frog feces identification, poop in my garage, toad poop pics and identifying toad scat.

If you do a search on Yahoo! for toad poop, our toad poop picture comes up first. I suppose there are worse things to be known for, right? ♥

November 2, 2010

The Democratic donkey

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: Democratic donkey, donkeys, election day |
[17] Comments

Today is election day in America. Because I didn’t know, I figured now was the perfect time to look up why the donkey is the symbol of the Democratic political party in the minds of most Americans.

It so happens that when Andrew Jackson ran for the presidency in 1828, his campaign slogan was “Let the people rule,” which caused his opponents to label him as a “jackass” for his populist platform. Jackson was not dismayed, but instead, embraced the donkey for its tenaciousness and used it on his campaign posters. Later, during Jackson’s term in the White House, he was widely depicted as a donkey for his legendary stubbornness.

The famous political cartoonist, Thomas Nast, is actually credited with making the donkey the recognized – yet unofficial – symbol of the Democratic Party in January 1870. Nast used a donkey as a symbol for the Dems in “A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion” published in Harper’s Weekly to comment on Northern Democrats’ (nicknamed Copperheads) dealings with Edwin M. Stanton, Lincoln’s Secretary of War.

The donkey stuck.

October 29, 2010

Suni Lou Who loves to dream

Posted by Morning Bray under Dogs, Donkeys | Tags: dog, donkey dreams, donkeys, dreams, Suni |
[32] Comments

Suni’s middle name is Lou Who because she reminds us so much of Cindy Lou Who from Whoville.

Suni Lou Who loves to dream.

Fortunately for us, when Suni dreams about donkeys, we can consult the following notations from 10,000 Dream Interpretations, by Gustavus Hindman Miller (1901):

To dream of a donkey braying in your face denotes that you are about to be publicly insulted by a lewd and unscrupulous person.
If you hear distant braying filling space with melancholy, you will receive wealth and release from unpleasant bonds by the death of some person close to you.
If you see yourself riding on a donkey, you will visit foreign lands and make many explorations into places difficult of passage.
To see others riding donkeys denotes a meager inheritance for them and a toiling life.
To drive a donkey signifies that all your energies and pluck will be brought into play against a desperate effort on the part of enemies to overthrow you. If you are in love, evil women will cause you trouble.
If you are kicked by this little animal, it shows that you are carrying on illicit connections, from which you will suffer much anxiety from fear of betrayal.
To see children riding and driving donkeys signifies health and obedience for them.
If you lead one by a halter, you will be master of every situation, and lead women into your way of seeing things by flattery.
To fall or be thrown from one denotes ill luck and disappointment in secular affairs. Lovers will quarrel and separate.
To dream of drinking the milk of a donkey denotes that whimsical desires will be gratified, even to the displacement of important duties.
If you see in your dreams a strange donkey among your stock, or on your premises, you will inherit some valuable effects.
To dream of coming into the possession of a donkey by present, or buying, you will attain to enviable heights in the business or social world, and if single, will contract a congenial marriage.
To dream of a white donkey denotes an assured and lasting fortune, which will enable you to pursue the pleasures or studies that lie nearest your heart. ♥

October 27, 2010

The best tomatoes ever

Posted by Morning Bray under Friends and Family, Plants and Flowers | Tags: egg yolk tomatoes, first frost, Heirloom tomato, Tomato, tomatoes, Vegetable |
[34] Comments

I officially have a new favorite tomato.

Thanks again to Danni over at On the Way to Critter Farm, I grew these egg yolk heirloom tomatoes from seed this year. Just as she promised, they’re a sweet, yellow tomato about the size and color of an egg yolk.

We had our first frost on Monday night, which means no more tomatoes from our garden this year. Hmmph.

I think it’s possible that instead of visions of sugar-plums dancing in my head over the holidays, I’ll have visions of egg yolk tomatoes. Seriously. Go figure. ♥