The toad has indeed no superior as a destroyer of noxious insects, and he possesses no bad habits and is entirely inoffensive himself, every owner of a garden should treat him with utmost hospitality.
– Celia Thaxter, An Island Garden, 1894
June 17, 2010
June 16, 2010
Bernard reenacts a scene from Footloose
Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, chicken, Footloose, tractor |[18] Comments
Remember the scene from Footloose where Kevin Bacon’s character plays chicken with a tractor?
Fast forward to 2010, Bernard and Morning Bray Farm…
Fergus and Nigel thought Bernard had lost his marbles.
Bernard, really?
Here too? No, Bernard, you can not chew on the tractor. ♥
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June 15, 2010
While we were spending time with the boys over the weekend, Don said, “I can’t wait to see Linda’s reaction when she sees Ellsworth.”
It’s not as if Carson doesn’t see the boys on a regular basis, but it suddenly hit home as I was brushing Ellsworth what a remarkable transformation he’s undergone. Look at the difference between his hair here shortly after he came to Morning Bray Farm in September:
And this past weekend:
His hair is soft and smooth and beautiful. He’s healthy!
It didn’t take us long to see how miserable parasites cause donkeys to feel and what a difference proper care and regular grooming makes. Ellsworth is noticeably more at peace today than he was last fall. He doesn’t bite or scratch at himself anymore. Instead, he now often sighs deeply and contentedly.
And he smiles a lot more than he used to.
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June 14, 2010
An odd couple at play
Posted by Morning Bray under Birds, Dogs, Farm, Friends and Family | Tags: puppy, rooster, Sam, Tina Louise |[14] Comments
We had so much fun watching Tina Louise; our neighbor’s puppy, play with Sam the rooster yesterday. Tina Louise would chase Sam… then Sam would chase Tina Louise…
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June 13, 2010
More of New Mexico
Posted by Morning Bray under New Mexico | Tags: New Mexico, Rio Grande Gorge Bridge |[9] Comments
Yesterday, we traveled north (about ten miles west of Taos) to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Standing 650 feet above the Rio Grande, it’s the fifth highest bridge in the United States.
The bridge span is 1,280 feet.
In 1966, the American Institute of Steel Construction awarded the bridge “Most Beautiful Steel Bridge” in the “Long Span” category. The bridge was built in the cantilever truss style and is the second highest bridge of its construction in the country.
Funny how last week in the hot air balloon, I was cool as a cucumber. Walking across the bridge yesterday, my legs felt like jello. Go figure.
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June 12, 2010
Saturday Stuff – Love
Posted by Morning Bray under Dogs, Saturday Parts & Stuff | Tags: Kassie, love |[21] Comments
Monday is Baby Kassie’s 11th birthday. Umm, someone… hello? Honest, she was three years old just yesterday.
Kassie came into my life in June of 2002. An acquaintance asked me to take care of Kassie for a week while she went on vacation with her family. I was puzzled when she told me, “If you like her, you can keep her.” What?!
Back then, it was just Enzi and me. The day the acquaintance brought Kassie over, the first thing Kassie did was attack Enzi… full-on barking, snarling, snapping and biting. Poor Enzi was understandably terrified. The first thing Kassie did when she came into the house was pee on the floor. I remember the acquaintance saying very softly, “Oh Cassie, no, no.” Wow, ahem.
A stake and chain were included in Kassie’s “overnight bag.” The acquaintance told me I could put Kassie outside on the chain and leave her there all day. Kassie was used to that, after all. The first thing I did after the acquaintance left was throw the stake and chain in the trash.
Eight years later, I’m so happy I didn’t listen to those who told me I was crazy to take Kassie on. I will forever be grateful to the Baby for teaching me a very important lesson in life.
“If you wish to be loved, love.”
Seneca (Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)
She’s my baby, my Kassie, my little baby Kassie. ♥
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June 11, 2010
Red skies at night
Posted by Morning Bray under Albuquerque, Farm, New Mexico | Tags: sunset |[15] Comments
June 10, 2010
Just about every evening as the sun starts to set, the boys come alive with play.
I think they relish the departure of the intense sun.
Sometimes they play in pairs.
Sometimes it’s all four.
Oh how they play.
And play.
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June 9, 2010
Happy Dance for Fergus
Posted by Morning Bray under Burros | Tags: Fergus, halter, Happy Dance |[18] Comments
Would you care to join us in doing the Happy Dance for Fergus?
While we were browsing at the farm supply store on Sunday, Don mentioned something about trying our rope halter on Fergus because maybe it was the metal buckles on our other halters that were spooking him.
Sure enough, using the rope halter last night made a world of difference. Just like that, no spooking and no resistance. Fergus even thought it was okay to continue eating his dinner.
I am so happy. This means that most likely Fergus’s feet will get trimmed when the farrier comes later this month. Our amazing boy has done such a good job of letting us pick up and pick at his feet these last couple of weeks. Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh. Happy Dance, Happy Dance, Happy Dance!
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June 8, 2010
Hanging out with the boys
Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys, Friends and Family | Tags: burros, Don, donkeys |[16] Comments
Morning Bray Farm 