September 28, 2010

Really, Bernard?

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: , , , , , |
[19] Comments 

Back in June, we took the boys’ Jolly Ball away after we discovered Bernard stepping on and shredding it. Naturally, we were terrified that Bernard would eventually swallow a piece of it.

The following week, we brought home a brand new Jolly Ball for the boys.  Blue Jolly Ball wound up with the same fate – in the trash can – after only one day. Just like that, Mister Bernard had shredded it.

Fast forward several weeks. Guess what happened to neon orange traffic cone? If you guessed trash can, you’re right. Poor, poor traffic cone… chewed to bits by Bernard. Note: This picture is obviously not from July of this year, but it is the cutest picture ever of Barnyard with the traffic cone. It may also be the reason Bernard felt it was necessary to shred traffic cone.

So, imagine our surprise yesterday evening when we looked out the window to see something that looked a bit like this. Really, Bernard?

Don had obviously parked the tractor too close to the corral and Bernard was sucking/chewing on the tractor tire. Really, Bernard? ♥ ♥ ♥

Note: Tractor is not in trash. Tractor was moved.

 

September 27, 2010

Birthday scritches for Ellsworth

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: , , , , |
[41] Comments 

It was one year ago today that Ellsworth came into our lives.

We’ve had an incredible year with him and are looking forward to many, many more. To celebrate his fourth birthday, he’ll be getting Paco treats and lots of extra hugs and scritches. And he’ll be showing us where to scritch.

You see, Ellsworth has learned that he can show us where he wants to be scritched.

Mamma, scritch right here, please.

A little to the right, please, Mamma.

That’s perfect…

…but I’m just going to move your hand over a tad to exactly where I’d like it.

Umm… Mamma? You’re not stopping now, are you?

Pretty amazing, hmm? Watching Ellsworth blossom over the last year has been incredibly rewarding. We think the sky’s the limit for Big Red. ♥ ♥ ♥

Okay, Bernard, it’s like this… I point here and you scritch…

Happy Birthday ‘Worth! We love you so! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

 

September 26, 2010

Sunday Cinema – Coyotes

Posted by Morning Bray under Dogs, Sunday Cinema | Tags: , , , |
[13] Comments 

Just the other day, we were comparing notes with Carson about how our respective dogs react when they hear coyotes. Normally, our dogs completely ignore them.

You’ll see that was not the case with Kassie on Friday evening as the sun was setting and a pack of nearby coyotes started howling, yipping, yelping and barking.

We measure Kassie’s alert status by how close the tip of her tail is to touching her back. ♥

 

September 26, 2010

Sunday Stills – The Letter “S”

Posted by Morning Bray under Sunday Stills | Tags: , |
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This week’s Sunday Stills challenge was to photograph things that start with the letter “S”, so I figured it was as good a time as any to face one of my biggest fears… spiders.

Being as how I can barely stand to look at pictures of spiders, this was not easy for me. The easy part was finding one to photograph!

 

September 25, 2010

Saturday Stuff – Nigel’s weakness

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Saturday Parts & Stuff | Tags: , |
[17] Comments 

You know that one thing each of us has that can make us go weak in the knees? Turns out, Nigel’s weakness is weeping willow leaves.

(By the way, if you click on the picture below, you’ll see that not only is Bernard smiling, he has green lips.)

My goodness. Look at the unwavering concentration on Nigel’s face, and the cute pattern of color that travels up from his lips to his nostrils. Another discovery. I noticed this for the first time yesterday.

In any case, I’ve never seen Nigel so animated and excited… more proof he really is getting more comfortable here. Love it. ♥

 

September 24, 2010

It’s a good thing she loves them

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys, Friends and Family | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
[48] Comments 

It’s a good thing Carson loves the boys, because they sure do love her. There was practically a riot here when she showed up yesterday morning.

Carson had the honor of being the third two-legged to touch Nigel. We think that’s quite appropriate because if she hadn’t come into our lives, our beloved boys probably wouldn’t have either.

Carson was there with us on day one for Ellsworth. It appears he hasn’t forgotten that.

Once the ruckus quieted down, Carson was able to spend some time with Nigel. Pretty cool.

For Don and me… one of the highlights of our day… fresh eggs from 7MSN.

And wait, there’s more. In true Carson fashion (this lady never does anything half-assed), look at the 7MSN egg carton.  Morning Bray Farm officially has the coolest egg carton ever in our refrigerator. Ever. ♥

9/24 Note from Carson: Click here for the source of the egg cartons – they come with label sheets and the vendor also has a Word template for the labels that you can download.

 

September 23, 2010

The silver lining

Posted by Morning Bray under Albuquerque, Birds, Farm, New Mexico | Tags: , , , |
[35] Comments 

It rained like hell yesterday. We had two inches between noon and 5 pm, and it was still raining when we went to bed last night. Gads.

As we were rushing around yesterday evening to make sure everyone would be warm and safe and dry for the night (my mantra… everyone MUST be warm and safe and dry), look at what we discovered in the goat stall.

Three beautiful, perfect guinea eggs. A couple of guineas from next door seem to have moved in over the last week or so. 

We’re totally okay with that and figure their eggs were the silver lining in yesterday’s clouds. ♥

9/23 Note for Posterity: Meteorologists recorded 1.74 inches of rainfall at the Albuquerque International Sunport – the greatest amount in one day Since October 22, 1969.

 

September 22, 2010

Save the drama for your mamma

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys | Tags: , , , , |
[24] Comments 

If anyone ever tells you donkeys can’t tell time, be assured they don’t know what they’re talking about. Every evening, right about 5:30 or so, the drama begins. If you didn’t know better, you’d think the boys were starving and hadn’t been fed for three days. It usually goes something like this:

Bernard thinks flaring his nostrils and sucking in his breath makes him look super skinny.

Ellsworth prefers to play the sympathy card.

Ellsworth: Oh mamma, I’m so hungry I can’t hold my head up.

Ellsworth: Bernard, let’s try puppy-dog eyes and see if that works tonight.

Ellsworth: I wish Carolynn was here. I bet she’d feed me right now.

Nigel and Fergus: Oh my gawd. Can you believe these clowns? Do they have no shame?

Bernard: Heck no, I have no shame! Look mamma, I’m flaring my nostrils again! I’m so hungry and skinny.

Ellsworth: Mamma, we need sweet feed, stat! I’m just going to pass out this instant!

Me: Oh, Ellsworth. I love you, my angel. You do save the drama for your mamma. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

 

September 21, 2010

A big little life

Posted by Morning Bray under Dogs | Tags: , , , , |
[10] Comments 

Trixie inspired me to look at things from a new perspective, made the familiar fresh again, somehow shared with me her recognition of great beauty in mundane scenes, and reawakened in me an awareness of the mystery that is woven into the warp and weft of everything we perceive with our five senses but can know only with our hearts. This may be the primary purpose of dogs: to restore our sense of wonder and to help us maintain it, to make us consider that we should trust our intuition as they trust theirs, and to help us realize that a thing known intuitively can be as real as anything known by material experience.

-Dean Koontz, A Big Little Life

I’ve always been convinced this is the primary purpose of dogs. After all, these are exactly the things that Enzi has inspired and reawakened in me. I’ll always credit the Diva for bringing me back to life.♥

If you’re looking for a good read – simple (in a good sense), yet good – read A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog by Dean Koontz. What a lovely memoir of his beloved Trixie. ♥

 

 

September 20, 2010

A recipe from Don’s dad – Pasta with sausage and herbs

Posted by Morning Bray under Recipes | Tags: , , |
[17] Comments 

Honest to goodness, yum. You’re going to love this recipe from Don’s dad. It’s one of our summer favorites and one of our new favorite ways to use fresh basil from our garden.

What you’ll need:

  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 medium-size red onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
  • 4 teaspoons oregano
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 16 ounces thin spaghetti, cooked and drained

To prepare:

  1. Break up sausage into large skillet. Sauté over medium-high heat 5 to 6 minutes or until thoroughly cooked. Drain off excess fat and set aside.
  2. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add mushrooms, onion and seasonings. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
  3. Add reserved sausage to saucepan and cook 10 minutes.
  4. Add sausage mixture and cheese to hot cooked pasta and toss gently. Spoon into serving dish and garnish with additional cheese, if desired.

Thanks, Papa Sutphin! ♥

 

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