Bernard

March 17, 2011

Meeting his brothers – Part two

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, Don, donkeys, Ellsworth, Fergus, Nigel, Patrick |
[39] Comments

Patrick’s braying started at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. He has an excellent set of lungs and begins his brays with an extremely high-pitched “WHEEEEEEEEEE!” followed by a bellowing “HAAAAAAAAAAAW!” “HAAAAAAAAAAAW!” “HAAAAAAAAAAAW!”

After this repeated four times over the next hour (every fifteen minutes or so), Don got out of bed, got dressed and went outside to sit in the corral with Patrick for a couple of hours. After Patrick brayed twice more, Don gave up and came inside.

Because we think Patrick was calling the boyz (he couldn’t see them or hear them because they had gone out to sleep in the pasture), we decided to physically introduce everyone on Tuesday evening to avoid a repeat performance of Patrick’s overnight serenade.

Patrick’s first inclination was to check out the green Jolly Ball. His first toy?

Everyone was very interested in saying hello.

Bernard insisted on being the first to meet Patrick.

Fergus wanted to be next.

Nigel joined Fergus.

They were very curious and assertive, but never really tried to touch Patrick.

I think initially whether it was from humans or donkeys, Patrick didn’t know how to handle the attention he was receiving.

As soon as no one was paying attention to him, though, Patrick covertly tried to check things out.

Nigel was the most expressive about putting Patrick in his place.

Meanwhile, Ellsworth was promising Don that he would be on his best behavior.

Bernard, Fergus and Nigel came out and Ellsworth headed in.

Ellsworth was a perfect gentleman.

He was gentle. My heart soared.

Patrick was still nervous.

I think Ellsworth did his best to reassure Patrick.

I’m not sure if Ellsworth’s feelings were hurt, but here’s what he did next.

He went to Don.

Don reassured Ellsworth that Patrick would soon come around. Don’t worry, Worth.

What happened next amazed me. When Don opened the gate to let Ellsworth back into the main corral, Ellsworth pushed the gate open all the way.

It’s as if Ellsworth was saying, “It’s okay Dad. Patrick can come in now.”

And Patrick came in.

And we all slept extremely well on Tuesday night. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

March 16, 2011

Meeting his brothers – Part one

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, donkeys, Ellsworth, Patrick |
[35] Comments

Patrick met his brothers yesterday evening.

I don’t think I could be more proud of Ellsworth. His behavior with Patrick was nothing like it was when we introduced Fergus and Nigel to Morning Bray Farm.

The vet came to see Patrick yesterday morning and all is well. He’s a tad bit underweight, but we’ll fix that in no time. We’ll have the full story on the introductions tomorrow. Turns out I took over 400 pictures in less than an hour last night!

Thank you all for your incredibly kind and supportive comments over the last couple of days. ♥♥♥

March 6, 2011

The little grey donkey takes on the little grey Fergie

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys, Farm | Tags: Bernard, Don, donkeys playing, Little Grey Fergie |
[15] Comments

March 4, 2011

Happy Friday

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, donkey, thank you |
[13] Comments

Thank you all for the kind and supportive comments you left on yesterday’s post.

We don’t have the answers yet, so stay tuned. ♥

February 4, 2011

Don’s 400-pound dance partner

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, Don, donkey |
[28] Comments

After being cooped up for three days, Bernard was in a very playful mood yesterday.

And Don had himself a 400-pound dance partner. ♥ ♥ ♥

February 2, 2011

Thankfully there’s more than a drop in the bucket – Part two

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, bucket, Ellsworth, Fergus, Nigel |
[25] Comments

I promise this is the last bucket post you’ll see for a while.

If you’ve ever wondered, this is what happens when you combine four inquisitive donkey boys with one bucket filled with water. Mind you, there’s a perfectly good tub filled with water just steps away from the bucket. (In other words, don’t let them convince you it’s been three days since their last drink.)

No surprise that Bernard is always nearby. That’s Ellsworth’s tongue again, by the way.

Bernard convinces Fergus that this water is worth going out of one’s way to drink.

Then manages to drag the bucket away from Fergus. See the water sloshing out of the bucket?

Fergus makes an appeal for help. Mamma, isn’t there anything you can do about Bernard?

Fergus gives it another shot, with Bernard up to his usual antics…a la Lochness Monster.

Fergus: Look here, you little squirt.

Fergus: Mamma, do you see that he’s outta control?

Me: It’s a madhouse, I tell ya.

Ellsworth: Mamma, isn’t there anything you can do about the pipsqueak?

Me: Well, will you look at that? Nigel has finally overcome his fear of bucket alligators. (Nigel was terrified of buckets when he first came to Morning Bray Farm.)