March 24, 2011
Mamma, why are you taking pictures? You’re not going to put this on the blog, are you?
Well, yes, Patrick, I am. You’re so cute and everyone wants to see how you’re doing.
Aw Mamma, my head looks like a big ol’ cotton ball now.
Only the cutest cotton ball ever, Patrick. ♥
March 18, 2011
Don made green beer and we toasted to Patrick.
Patrick became a member of the Save the Drama for Your Mamma Club.
We rejoiced at our first spring flowers.
And the boyz played and played and played. ♥
March 17, 2011
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
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 15, 2011
There was no midnight raid. Bernard didn’t have bolt cutters. We aren’t on New Mexico’s most wanted list.
We’ve named him Patrick, he’s here and he’s safe. And he’s already been surrounded by people who love him.
We spent a wonderful day on Sunday at 7MSN with Carson and Danni from Critter Farm.
On our way home from 7MSN, it happened. For a couple of weeks now, Don and I have talked about making an offer to buy Patrick as soon as we saw his people. As we drove past Patrick’s corral on Sunday evening, we saw they were there.
We pulled in and Don got out. I stayed in the car and pretended to read the newspaper because I couldn’t be involved in the conversation. Don is much more even-keeled than I am… if Patrick’s person had said no, it’s likely that I would have either started crying or yelling at him.
It turns out that Patrick’s person said yes, and here’s what we now know about Patrick:
By the time Patrick arrived at Morning Bray Farm on Sunday evening and we got him settled in, it was dark. That explains the pictures in yesterday’s post. (We were exhausted after a wonderful day, but we had to let you know that he was here.)
He is a very sweet boy and he’s going to do well with lots of love… which he got lots of yesterday, thanks to Carson and Danni.
He’s handsome too.
He’s hiding underneath a bit of hair.
We are so fortunate to have such wonderful friends. Carson and Danni spent the day working with and loving Patrick while Don and I were at work. Thank you, Aunt Linda and Aunt Danni. We love you.
Don came home bearing gifts for Patrick. A brand new, shiny green halter and lead rope.
Green is Patrick’s color.
It makes him look exceptionally, super cute.
We have no doubt that life is going to come back into Patrick’s eyes. Bernard will make sure of that.
The vet is coming this morning and we’ll start introducing Patrick to the boyz as soon as we get the all clear. ♥
To read more about Carson’s and Danni’s day of love with Patrick, be sure to visit their blogs at The 7MSN Ranch and On the Way to Critter Farm.
March 14, 2011
Morning Bray Farm 