Morning Bray Farm

April 17, 2010

And then there were four

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, burros, donkeys, Ellsworth, Fergus, Nigel |
[23] Comments

Fergus definitely picked us.

And so did someone else. We haven’t picked a name for him yet and it’s driving me crazy that I don’t know what to call him. I’m driving Don crazy too.

There’s so much to tell you and we promise to fill you in as soon as we can. We got home yesterday afternoon to miserably high winds, followed by heavy rains, which lasted all night. It’s a big mucky mess here today.

The donkey boys are very excited about their new brothers. Bernard seems super excited and we all can’t wait to physically introduce donkeys and burros… perhaps later today. I have reassured Bernard that he is still the baby and always will be.

For now, everyone is doing fine.

And I can’t imagine being happier.

April 15, 2010

A burro brother

Posted by Morning Bray under Burros, Donkeys | Tags: BLM, BLM burro, Canon City, Carson, Colorado, East Canon Correctional Complex, jacks, jennies, Pueblo, Raton Pass |
[23] Comments

We’re on our way today to Canon City, Colorado to adopt a BLM burro. If all goes well, our plan is for Bernard and Ellsworth to have a burro brother tomorrow.

We’ve been planning this adoption for several months and had to be sure that we could safely cross the Raton Pass along the New Mexico-Colorado border before confirming our trip. As recently as a week or two ago, snow made the route impassable.

Canon City is about 40 miles west of Pueblo, Colorado and is the same facility where Carson adopted George and Alan (of 7MSN fame). We’ll spend the night in Pueblo tonight and will be at the East Canon Correctional Complex at 9 a.m. on Friday morning.

The BLM folks there currently have 15 jacks (14 of them gelded) and 15 jennies ranging in age from one to ten. The burros have been there since March 25th… we’ve been counting the days!

BLM holds adoptions at Canon City two Fridays per month and tomorrow is the first time this group is up for adoption. There isn’t much more we know about the burros until we get there to see them. How in the world will we be able to choose just one from thirty?

Carson, thank you for your advice, your help and your friendship.

April 14, 2010

Daddy’s little helpers

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, Don, donkeys, Ellsworth, pampas grass |
[18] Comments

According to the boys, pampas grass is delish. With the new fence giving them access, the boys were able to chew our once beautiful plants down to a nub.

Yesterday, I asked Don if he would put up some wire to give the grass a chance to recover. In the interest of helping Don turn a mundane task into something challenging and fun, the boys decided to help.

Here’s Ellsworth providing suggestions for how to begin the job.

And checking in on Don’s progress a few minutes later.

Bernard really wasn’t into how Don got the job done. He was more interested in tools and materials, and most specifically, what each tasted like.

April 13, 2010

Riding Ellsworth

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: donkey, Ellsworth, riding, riding gear, surcingle, The Donkey Companion, training |
[18] Comments

After talking about this for several weeks, Ellsworth and I have reached an agreement. Our goal is for Ellsworth to be my trusty steed before summer’s end. I’ve been doing my research and I think we can do it.

A lot of my reading has been with The Donkey Companion, written by Sue Weaver. Sue says that, “Because they’re intelligent and affectionate, and they aim to please, everyday pleasure-riding donkeys are incredibly easy to train. They need not be sent to a trainer; owners can do the work themselves.”

Furthermore, (I find this fascinating) “They’re reliable; donkeys don’t put themselves or their riders in harm’s way. They rarely spook, they don’t bolt, they’re surefooted, and they won’t venture into danger of any kind. These traits make them superlative mounts for children, the physically challenged, and nervous adult riders of all kinds.”

One of my most daunting tasks will be navigating the world of tack and figuring out what types of riding gear fit donkeys. The first thing on our list is a training surcingle.

For the next couple of weeks, we’ll be working on having Ellsworth lead at my side, back up when I ask him to, and stand patiently when he’s tied. I just know he’s going to do great.

April 12, 2010

The ass is jealous of the horse

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: proverb |
[10] Comments

The ass is jealous of the horse until he learns better.

-Turkish proverb

April 11, 2010

Sunday Cinema – Baby Bonanza

Posted by Morning Bray under Sheep, Sunday Cinema | Tags: Baby Boy, lambs, Momma, sheep, twins |
[7] Comments

This is the farm down the road where Momma and Baby Boy came from. We counted a total of 20 lambs yesterday, including quite a few sets of twins.

It’s hard to believe Baby Boy was really that small just a year ago. He has grown up to be such a handsome boy, don’t cha think?

April 10, 2010

Saturday Parts – Feet

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys, Saturday Parts & Stuff | Tags: Bernard, donkey, feet |
[11] Comments

Carson has pointed out that there probably isn’t anything about the boys that I don’t “absolutely love.” Okay, fine, she’s right. But I do absolutely love the way Bernard always stands with his back feet so perfectly positioned together.

April 9, 2010

Princess in training

Posted by Morning Bray under Dogs | Tags: diva, dog, Enzi, princess, Suni, training |
[9] Comments

You might recall Enzi being described as the diva of Morning Bray Farm.

We lovingly call Suni our princess in training because she often seems to emulate Enzi’s behavior.

I think Suni is currently closing in on mini diva status. Oh dear.

April 8, 2010

The land of green lips

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys, Farm | Tags: Bernard, donkeys, Ellsworth, green, lips, pasture, watering |
[13] Comments

With watering season underway, the pasture is greening up nicely.

And so are Bernard’s and Ellsworth’s lips. Life is good.

April 6, 2010

Don’s starling and donkey laws

Posted by Morning Bray under Birds, Donkeys, Friends and Family | Tags: bird, book, Don, Donkeys Can't Sleep in Bathtubs, laws, starling |
[10] Comments

Over the weekend, Don took what I think is a National Geographic quality photo of a starling sitting in a palm tree. If someone is doing an essay on starlings and needs a photo, they know where to look. 😉

While we were gone, a book I ordered from Amazon arrived. The title: Donkeys Can’t Sleep in Bathtubs. It’s a funny little book about laws that are real, but not enforced.

In Ohio, it is illegal to gallop your donkey.

In Brooklyn, New York, donkeys are not allowed to sleep in bathtubs.

You’re probably wondering the same thing I am. What are the stories behind these laws? Alas, it is a cutesy little book. The author does say, “I wish I could tell you more about all the zany laws in this book. But there is not the space…”

Do I sense a mission coming on?