donkey | Morning Bray Farm

March 7, 2012

He’ll be your best friend

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

Bernard was our first donkey.

I wish I still had a copy of his Craigslist advert. If I knew then that donkeys would later become an obsession, I would’ve kept it. I do remember the listing said that his name was Little Guy and, “He’ll be your best friend.”

Well. He is a cute little guy. I’m always telling him the cutest in the universe. He likes that.

Because I believed he deserved a distinguished name, we renamed him Bernard the day we brought him home. No need to constantly remind him of his short stature, right?

And, it’s not that I love Bernard any more than I love any of the other Boyz or Gracie, but he is my best donkey friend.

More than any of the others, Bernard always wants to be where I am. I like that.

I trust him completely, and I’m pretty sure he feels the same way about me.

I love just being with him, and he’s been getting more and more to the point where he can be with me quietly; without the need to have an article of clothing, a rake or a camera in his mouth.

Yes, just being with my best donkey friend. I ♥ Bernard.

February 22, 2012

Wordless Wednesday

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: donkey, donkeys playing, Ellsworth, Gracie Belle |
[14] Comments

January 25, 2012

Wordless Wednesday

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: donkey, donkey yawn, Ellsworth |
[25] Comments

January 23, 2012

A busy day for our beautiful boy

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys, Friends and Family | Tags: Bernard, donkey |
[29] Comments

Our beautiful donkey boy had a busy day yesterday. He played chess with his rocks:

Had a deep conversation with his good friend, GK:

Was a trusty steed for the first time in his life. Oh goodness, Bernard was so proud:

Ry thanked Bernard with a hug afterwards. I heard Ry say to Bernard, “I love you.” Melt my heart.

If you know Bernard, you know he always ~~wants~~ needs something to do. After such a busy morning, Bernard still insisted on helping his dad carry a big, heavy bucket.

I will never be able to express how much I love this beautiful boy. ♥

January 11, 2012

The beginning of a beautiful relationship

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, donkey, Jolly mega ball |
[18] Comments

January 7, 2012

Ellsworth loves his daddy

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: Don, donkey, Ellsworth |
[27] Comments

January 4, 2012

The green monster

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: Bernard, donkey, Jolly mega ball |
[18] Comments

We presented the Boyz and Gracie with a shiny, new Jolly mega ball over the weekend.

For some, there was great interest in the new toy:

Ellsworth was more interested in his lunch than he was in the ball:

Initially, Patrick was too:

Because they were spooked by the green monster, most everyone headed out of the corral. Bernard’s curiosity had him by the ears though.

He stood as close as he could to the monster while standing as far away as possible:

He approached it from every possible angle:

And wherever the wind blew the monster, he followed it:

In the end, we moved the green monster out to the pasture. It was then that Bernard finally summoned up the courage to touch it.

We figure it’s just a matter of time before Bernard finds something entertaining to do with it. ♥

December 18, 2011

Sometimes really funny things just happen

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys, Friends and Family | Tags: Buck, Don, donkey |
[32] Comments

In chronological order:

December 11, 2011

Dear Fergus,

Posted by Morning Bray under Donkeys | Tags: donkey, foot trimming, Nigel |
[40] Comments

Dear Fergus,

We promised we would take care of Nigel when you left us, and want to thank you for being here when Nigel had his feet trimmed for the first time yesterday.

Nigel was so brave, but he was incredibly frightened. I know you were here because you heard my little prayer to you… “Dear Fergus, Please be here to help Nigel right now.”

Nigel shook like a leaf and made the first sound we’ve ever heard out of him.

We were all thinking about you, Fergus. Daddy told me afterwards that for reasons he couldn’t understand, he kept whispering your name in Nigel’s ear.

Unlike you the first time you had your feet trimmed, Nigel never really tried to kick Daddy or Shorty. Instead of kicking when Shorty went to work on his back feet, Nigel kept sitting down.