I'LL BE GONE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS

With Lynn and Linda here, we can take off for a few days and they will take care of the donkeys.  There is a big stock car race at Lake Havasau on the west side of Arizona, almost in California.  Some of the guys that race at Tucson Speedway are going over to see if they can keep up with the locals at that track.  We're suppose to meet them in the morning and we'll all travel together.  I think we're the only ones going without a race car and trailer, they don't race Hornets there.   We're just going to be nosy and I'll be the rooting section for Tucson, I guess...........!!!!

Thanks Susan

Got this picture today, of Ruger and Wister in their new forever home.  I'm sure they are really enjoying all that green grass. 

LYNN, LINDA AND THEIR "FUR" KIDS HAVE ARRIVED......!!

John and I went into Benson yesterday afternoon and when we got home, Lynn and Linda had already parked their RV in their spot.  They had quite an audience, most of the donkeys were standing and gawking at the whole process and their donkey Leddy was standing at the front of the herd.  

Doug had to put a fence around his RV to have any privacy at all.  They use to all but climb the steps to see why he wasn't coming out to play.  L and L might have to do something like that, if they want to have any privacy at all... LOL  When they set up in November, the donkeys kept pretty close tabs on what they were doing in that "thing".  

Their 3 dogs ran up to the car when we came in  and Lennon jumped right in like he was ready to go for a ride.  They seem to think we are part of their family, Lola started picking up sticks for me to throw.  She is a typical cattle dog and thinks fetching sticks is her job and can get really insistent about you throwing sticks.  Lynn finally started picking her sticks up and throwing them on the hood of their truck.  She didn't care, she just found another stick.   

Poor Saddik was beside himself, he was in the pen and they weren't.  We usually let Saddik out while we're doing chores and he comes back when he hears John running the leaf shredder to cut up hay for the donkeys that have trouble chewing.   Night before last he didn't come in, until it was dark, John was through and had come in the house.  That gets him "pen" arrest for a few days to think about it.  I don't think he spends much thought process on the problem unfortunately.  But he does usually behave for quite awhile afterwards.  He's such a smart dog, I wish he'd figure out that if he doesn't come in, he doesn't go out.  If you get stern with him, he just wiggles his tail and shows no remorse at all.  We started keeping him in the pen last year, when they were here, because he and Lucy their 3rd dog took off and were gone almost all day.  That was after they had taken off before and not come back for a couple of hours.

Some of you long term readers might remember Ruger and Wister the brothers.  Wister was born here on Christmas Day in 2012.  Ruger came in with his Mom and Dad and Ruthie was PG with Wister at the time.  

Boaz is still here, Ruthie is in a foster home and the boys have been in a foster home for almost 2 years.  It looks like they might be getting a permanent forever home.  What is really weird is the family that is fostering them now, are friends with the family that might adopt them.  But neither knew of the others involvement with us or the boys.  I found out there was a good home out there looking for a nice pair of donkeys and I threw these 2 boys into the pot.  There's actually another pair, a jenny and gelding from another rescue that are being discussed too.  It sounds like a wonderful home, so hopefully friendship will give us the inside line, if it's as good a home as it sounds.  

I love this time of year, no doctoring and no fly masks.  Well no doctoring, except for Miss Penny and her smelly mouth.  Her mouth hasn't smelled since about the 2nd day of antibiotics.  BUT, she is not a fan of antibiotics, believe me that is an understatement.  With antibiotics once you start them, the bare minimum time to give them is 5 days, 7-10 is much better.  Saturday the 7th will be the 10th day and we can't wait until it gets here.  

We've just been throwing the SMZs in her mush and keeping track of how many of them disappear.  Some feedings she does pretty good, maybe 1 or 2 left.  John was doing pretty good getting her to take the leftovers with animal crackers, but she finally figured out what was going on and refused to even take a "naked" animal cracker from him.  One morning she left 6 out of 8 tablets..... SIGH......!!!  So I threw 14 in her evening mush and they were all gone.  John even checks the ground to make sure she hasn't figured out how to hide them.  

It wouldn't be so bad, but she looks like you like the picture of her in the last blog page, and you can just about read her mind, "you people think you are putting something over on me, and you might get some of those pills down me, BUT, I'm watching you and you better be at the top of your game, or I'll outsmart you, and not even blink".  SMZs have very little taste, early on I tried grounding them into a powder and mixing them with molasses.  She wouldn't even go close to the feed pan.  Maybe she doesn't like molasses, who knows.  I have other flavors I could try with her, BUT, have a feeling it would be a waste of SMZs..........LOL

I HOPE SANTA BRINGS WARM WEATHER.....!!!

Really getting tired of cold weather.  Nights in the teens and days in the 50's...........not good...........LOL

So far this week John and I have been gone every single day.  Nothing really exciting, just things that needed to be done in town.  Yesterday we helped Santa by taking the great grand-kids goodies into Tucson for Christmas morning high excitement.  Last year they got Strider bikes, which have no pedals.  They have to balance and steer and use their feet to push off.  This year they are getting "real" bikes with pedals.  They also come with training wheels, which our grandson is going to take off, that's the beauty of the Striders.  The boys should already have that balance thing figured out and not need the training wheels.  

We also went back to where we delivered Ruger and Wister to give them their rabies shots.  The woman was tied up in the house when we got there, so we went out to where the boys were.  There are pole fences around some of the trees and Wister was inside the fence.  When he saw us coming he put his head down, scrunched his body down and out he went.  Unfortunately the poles are set at horse, not donkey height.........LOL  

THEY OBVIOUSLY THOUGHT WE WERE BRINGING COOKIES............SURPRISE....!

It looks like they are in a pen, but they really aren't.  They are standing in their turn-out, but the end gate is open, so they can roam all over the place............like where the mesquite trees are suppose to be in protective custody. I should have gotten a picture of the barn, it's really a nice one.  I noticed Ruger had figured out how to go in and out of the barn with no problem.  

The fencing is suppose to be put up in January at their foster home, and they will go back there and be permanently adopted.  There will be a strand of barbed wire 6 inches above the no climb fence, to discourage fence leaning by the boys.  

Julius, the outdoor cat has been coming in more and more.  He likes to come in mornings and clean up the canned cat food, the other 4 have for breakfast and then he lays in the sun, or gets in Snooky's doughnut bed, much to Snooky's disgust.  So far he usually goes back out in a couple of hours, but he has stayed in all night once and all day once.  I don't know if he is getting out of the cold, or if he is trying to figure out if he wants to give up his independence.  He's actually a full brother to Snooky and a half brother to Sunny.  

The donkeys are all doing good, enjoying a little extra hay because of the cold.  I've tried upping the amount of hay pellet and beet pulp mush, and some of them are leaving a little bit of it.  That's good to know, we were wondering if they needed more than we were feeding them.  Obviously not, or at least we're pretty close on what we're feeding.  As long as they don't start gaining weight, we'll probably continue feeding extra.  

HUMANS WON THE BATTLE...........SO FAR.......!!

This is Ruthie on the right, Wister and Ruger, working  people for treats

Well, not without a few changes in their routine at least for a few weeks.   Yesterday was cold, windy and rainy here.  We were lucky, some of the area got snow, so I'm not complaining.........but moving donkeys around in that type of weather isn't fun for us or them.  Donkeys really hate to be messed with if they are wet.  We drove in the driveway and they come running across the pasture to greet us.  I think they were actually excited to see if there was anyone in the trailer..........LOL  

Sarah was there and had been to 3 different feed stores to buy rabies vaccine.  The woman where the boys will be staying insisted on them being vaccinated for rabies.  But the feed store didn't sell rabies, although they do sell other types of vaccines.  I thought it might be a county thing, I've always bought my vaccines thru Valley Vet and haven't bought rabies for years, actually since Buddy Brat had a reaction, which scared the devil out of us.  When we came home I went by my feed store and sure enough, I guess feed stores can't sell rabies, even though you can buy it from catalog or on-line stores.  So I went to my vet and got them.  We actually called a vet clinic while in Tucson to see if we could buy the vaccines from them, but they required a $70 exam and they would give the shot.  SIGH...!

I'll be going in again this week sometime to "shoot" the two little trouble causers...... Actually "Santa" has to take a couple of bikes and train set into, Tucson so his "helpers" can make sure Christmas morning is a good one.  Santa was going to bring an outdoor playground, but we decided that would be a good spring project and the boys could help put it up.  Santa couldn't figure out the logistics of installing it in the back yard without getting caught and he certainly wasn't interested in doing it in the dark, after 2 little boys went to sleep..........LOL

Ruger and Wister are staying in 5 star "digs".  They have a real nice stall and turn-out and also a paddock with lots of room to run and play.  They weren't too impressed with the stall, which is inside a barn, which was another negotiating subject.  In fact Ruger was so unimpressed he wouldn't go in at all, and had to be brought in from the gate at the end of the turn-out. He still hadn't gone in when we left, although Wister had went in and out a few times.  The raised door jam was a stumbling block, literally, I'm sure they will figure it all out.  Her mare was acting like an idiot, running and blowing and staring and glaring.  Her gelding just looked at them like no big deal.  

John and Larry got to Belen to pick up the car, drove almost 800 miles and managed to get home before bedtime.  Didn't have any problems as they got farther north in New Mexico, he said there was snow on the ground, but the roads were clear.  

I think this car will be the last thing I buy sight unseen.  I told the guy what I would pay based on the picture, and actually it was quite a bit less than he was asking.  He agreed, and off the guys went to get it.  

It will be just fine as a race car, but he could have never sold it as a street car.  It's covered with frost in the picture, 24 degrees will do that you know.........LOL  But the rear window is not there, the bumper cover is torn and it hasn't even been raced yet.  The transmission won't engage, John thinks it might just be undone.  Not the right word, but it's too early for my brain to come up with anything else.  John said the motor sounds good, so now we have 3 motors and 2 transmissions, if this one does work.  Hopefully that will be enough to get me thru a season........!!!  

John's got a few more little things to do on the asphalt Dodge Neon and it will be completely done, except for the graphics.  Then he will start on this one.  

I'm not sure how running 2 cars at 2 different tracks is going to work out.  I know one thing John will probably be sorry he came up with this idea, before it's over.  All the work will be on him.  I would have been perfectly happy to just go back to the dirt, but we already had the Neon for the asphalt track.  I tried to get him to race it, but he is sticking to his "retired" guns, no more racing for him. 

FOR THOSE THAT THINK THEY ARE SMARTER THAN A DONKEY.......!!

PEPSI AND HIS GIRLFRIEND LYNN

 

 

I got a call this morning from Sarah, her family has been fostering Ruger and Wister for a few months, to see if they want to adopt them permanently.  Permanence depended on how they got along with the new goats and how they fit into the family.  

The goats came and everyone is getting along fine.  BUT, last week the neighbors harvested their pecans with a shaker.  The shaker shakes the pecans out of the tree, and also shakes the leaves off the trees.  The leaves blew over next to the fence.  I guess the boys started out leaning over the fence to get to the tasty leaves.  Pretty soon the fence started suffering from this abuse.  Next thing the boys are over the fence, not once but on a regular basis.  She said yesterday it was down low enough she could walk over it.  They have plans on having a new fence put in, but not until in January.  She said she had been crying all morning, because they have become so attached to the boys.  She also said the neighborhood loves them, cars stop and one girl that lives in the neighborhood comes twice a week to groom them before school.  A good home like this is worth fighting for, so I offered for us to take the little travelers until they got the new fence in, which she agreed to.  She also had another idea which I like even better.  The woman that takes care of their 2 little girls, lives with her parents about 3 miles away.   They have 2 horses and a nice pasture area and are willing to let the boys stay there until the fence is finished.  

So we will probably be transporting the boys Monday.  I also suggested running either barbed wire or an electric fence along the top of their new fence.  I don't like electric because it can kill birds, and I hate to accidentally get shocked more than anyone else in the world.  But a lot of people don't like barbed wire either. Our perimeter fence is barbed wire and we've only had one scratched nose in all the years we've had donkeys.  And that includes them sticking their heads thru the fence to get to whatever goodies are on the other side.  We actually find quite a few of the fly masks stuck on the wire, fly masks don't seem to make the trip thru the fence as well as their heads do.  

The reason we can't do it this week-end is, today John is going into our son's in Tucson to work on a friend's motor for his race car.  Tomorrow John and Larry, the friend are driving to Belen, New Mexico to pick up a KIA SEPHIA to make into my dirt car for this year.  So as usual our plates, or at least John's plate is over full.  SIGH..........  We didn't want to let this car go, since we've been looking for one for weeks. 

The Dodge Neon to run on the asphalt track is finished.  John and Larry spent 2 days last week, welding on the roll cage.  Road racing roll cages aren't exactly like circle track cages.  If they wreck, they usually wreck differently, so the strength is in different areas.  They got it all ready to go, so all that's left, we hope, is to get the graphics on.  In the old days I made them with patterns cut out of brown paper bags.  But that's not good enough anymore I guess..........LOL  

I had to take a picture when John pulled in

Time Marches On.........!!

It seems like there is always something going on around here, it certainly helps to stay flexible.  LOL  Every morning when I doctor with my excellent vet tech, John I never know what I'm going to run into.  Right now I have 3 of them with what I assume is bacterial infections on their legs, or shoulders or in Rosie's case, whatever she has had on her belly all summer long.  It seems to less weepy when I use the homemade salve or is it because it is getting cooler?  Who knows.  Quilla's legs absolutely got ahead of me for some reason.  The problem with using a salve is unless you cover it with bandages or something, it ends up with dirt caked on the sores.  This morning I ended up "diapering" both front knees and wrapping the rest of his lower legs separately.  If anyone knows of a workable way to wrap a knee and leg together I'd like to know how..........!!!  

Coquette has it on her legs and shoulders, but she's actually doing pretty good with just socks on her legs.  I tried socks on Quilla, but he has sores on his knees, that stick to the socks, which rips the scabs off when it does try to heal..........SIGH!  So far hers is just on the canon bone "ie" shin bone.  They are all improving, if I can just keep Quilla sores from sticking to something. Next summer I am going to be ready with nitrofurazone at the 1st sign of skin problems.  

Heard from Reba and Rusty's foster mom.  She said they  really enjoy having them with their mule Ruthie.  They make a little herd, although she says the 2 girls won't answer Rusty when he gets lost, but they will answer each other.  Poor Rusty, he thinks he's a ladies man............guess not..........!!!   LOL  She said Rusty has excellent hearing, anytime he hears the barn door, he comes running from wherever he is and does a western type slide stop in his stall, just in case she might have something for him to eat....!!  Her parents live in a little house on the property and the mules all go down to visit every morning at 8am.  Her mother isn't very mobile and really enjoys seeing them.  It sounds like they are enjoying all the extra attention, we didn't have time for here.  Reba still isn't real friendly, but she was never anything but a pack mule to be used.  But Kris said if they are paying attention to Rusty and Ruthie, next thing they know Reba is standing real close, so maybe she will decide that letting people into her space has it's rewards.  

Also talked to Sarah about Wister and Ruger.  They have fit in very well, although they still aren't thrilled with the little 4 year old girl.  I guess it's OK if one of the parents are holding her, but when she's on the ground they still aren't sure.  She said Wister is the dominant one, even if he is the youngest, which surprised me.  They went into this home as fosters because the family planned on getting some goats which is going to happen in a couple of weeks.  The donkeys are to be protectors of the goats, which means no chasing, no picking up by the neck and no stomping them.  If any of those things happen, I would imagine they will be coming back real quick.  I have my fingers crossed, because it would be an excellent long term home for them.

My good friend Patti came out this afternoon for a visit.  She makes it out about once a year, but we always have a good time, when she does.  
 

WHO WOULD EVER THINK THIS WOULD HAPPEN.....!!

I got a phone call a couple of days ago from a woman that had to put her horse down the night before and the molly mule they had gotten as a companion for him a few years ago, when they had to put their other horse down, was very upset.  In fact her husband was sitting out in the pen with the mule, so she wouldn't be alone.  We talked for awhile and she sounded like my kind of person.  I told her we don't send donkeys out as companions, and actually donkeys and mules don't naturally bond.  In all the years we've had both, the closest they have come is Reba will sometimes go with the jenny herd for an hour or so.  Other than that, they could be on different planets.  

I half way seriously threw out the fact that I have 2 old mules, but they would have to stay together.  She said no problem, she came out yesterday and  I was even more impressed than I was on the phone.  So Kris is going to foster Rusty and Reba and we will be delivering them today, so her husband can get some rest.  She has 20 acres of grassland and also has a dry lot if the mesquite beans become a problem.  I hope it works out, she wondered if they might team up against Ruthie her mule.  I doubt it, the females usually bond and Rusty thinks of himself as a "lady's man", so it shouldn't be a problem.  Glad he's over whatever was wrong with him the other day.

So wish us luck on this new adventure.  I think it will be a wonderful home, she even has a 4 stall barn.

Of course that isn't the only thing going on.  Yesterday morning I noticed Anubis the dog was having trouble urinating.  She has spaying incontinence and is on medication to help keep her from dribbling.  I was afraid it was working too well and she couldn't go.  Called Adobe Vet Clinic in Tucson and they said bring her in.  I can't keep up with when the local vet is available or not, so am starting to just bypass her altogether.  We've had Anubis at Adobe a couple of times before.  Without an MRI it's hard to tell.  She is very wobbly, and the SWAG (Scientific Wild Ass Guess) is she is having strokes or has a tumor probably at the base of her brain.  The vet seemed to think the problem urinating is caused from the Predizone she is on right now.  She's only got 3 more doses, so hopefully she'll be as well as can be expected after that for awhile.  She is also drinking massive amounts of water which hopefully is because of the Predizone and not kidney problems.

So we get home from that, just in time to feed and find Penny laying down...............again.  She has been laying down more than normal the last 3 or 4 days and getting less and less interested in eating or treats.  Wouldn't even take an animal cracker, which is her absolute favorite.  She will usually run John down for a cracker.  I have thought that her lack of interest in eating is because she is filling up with grass and mesquite beans, which her poo looked like.  Of course it's after hours going into a week-end, typical timing for an emergency.  

At bedtime when John went out to let everyone out, she was still laying down in the same place, but got up when she thought the gate was going to be open.  WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO........!!!  I really hate to be in charge of these guys, and not know more than I do.  I keep telling myself that even though vets go to school and have a lot of experience, even with them it's somewhat of a guessing game sometimes.  I finally decided to try to put some Kayo syrup down her in case she wasn't eating and might be going into hyperlipidemia, even if she isn't fat.  John got her in the redneck squeeze and she wasn't having any of that syrup, or anything else I might want to put in her mouth.  John thought her mouth smelled bad.  Of course I couldn't get my fingers in her mouth anymore than I could get the syringe of syrup  She is really adamant about not having her face and mouth touched.  She's had a broken jaw, which probably has something to do with it.  I thought the smell on John's hand smelled like rotten food caught in her teeth, rather than infection or something like that.

Well since I couldn't get the syrup down her I thought I'd give her a shot of banamine, just for S and G's, she didn't mind that..........!!!!  GRRRR........!!!  Of course I worried most of the night about her.  When I went out this morning I saw her following right in John's hip pocket on their way to her pen.  She hasn't laid down and was eating her breakfast, so I assume she's feeling better.  I'm still not sure it wasn't mesquite beans.  We left quite a few of the fatties in the pens yesterday and she stayed in with Coquette, so didn't have access to beans for the day.  Who knows, I know I sure don't.............LOL

The Adobe Vet Clinic is right up the road from where Ruger and Wister are staying, so of course we drove by.  They were out eating grass and looked good, so I guess everything is OK.  I haven't heard from Sarah in a couple of weeks. 

THE BOYS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED

 Here are the boys, with Sarah and Eric, getting to know each other.  The boys had already figured out that was grass under their feet, and saw no reason to waste time getting acquainted with new people.  So they were a little bull headed about being cooperative.  I thought at one time Sarah was going to go skiing if she didn't let go of Ruger's lead, but he finally settled down enough to let us lead him around.  Wister was a little more cooperative, but not much.  These two boys have never been on grass in their lives, and seemed to think they better eat all they could while it was available.These guys have never gone hungry, so I hope they will just eat what they need.  It isn't seeded pasture, so it's not really lush thank goodness.

This is Peyton looking on.  She's a little fast moving and of course has a high pitched voice, but I think once they get use to her, it will be fine.  Ruger was a little less forgiving that Wister, but they both did pretty good.   Her little sister is a little over a year old, and was taking a nap I guess.  So that will be another little person to get use to........LOL

I took this right before we left, you can tell they were very upset at us leaving them there........NOT! 

The momma fly catcher has been taking care of the baby.  When we left this morning it was raining really hard and Amy was cleaning pens.  When we got home this afternoon, she had put a bucket over the nest basket sitting on Pancho's flat shelter roof on it's side.  The momma was having a fit because she wouldn't go in the nest, so John removed it.  The little bird was quite lively and skittered away from John twice before he could get it back in the "nest".  Came in the house and when he went out later, the little bird was gone.  It wasn't close to feathered out, so it didn't hop out and get in the tree.  We think it probably got out of the nest like it did with John and when it got to the edge of the roof, fell on the ground.  Saddik was running around waiting for his supper and we think he got the baby.   

I feel terrible, the momma had adjusted to it being in the basket and she has been calling and calling.  We looked all around just to make sure, but it's not on the ground anywhere.  I know percentage wise a lot of baby birds get lost every year, but I wish it hadn't happened on our watch.   

HEAT AND HUMIDITY, A LOVELY COMBINATION.......!!

This is without a doubt the worst video I've ever taken, not the subject matter, but where did all that color come from?  YUCK, I couldn't do a take over, so here it is.......!! 

We will be taking Ruger and Wister to their new home tomorrow, they will be going as fosters, but I think it will become permanent.  You couldn't ask for 2 more well behaved young donkeys, they are curious and love to "help" when you are trying to do something outside.  I'm sure they will get a lot of attention with this young family, which will really bring out their personalities.  

This morning Doug came in with a handful of foam, that use to be part of one of the seat cushions on the golf cart.  It seems Saddik is continuing a long tradition the donkeys started years ago of seeing if the seats taste good.  Usually the donkeys just take one bite, but he obviously was having fun.  Doug just left for town to get some gorilla tape.  

Yesterday morning Amy and her son Joseph were here cleaning pens and found a baby bird on the ground.  They put it in a box on top of Pancho's shelter and later I changed it to a small basket with some hay in it.  It's starting to feather out, with lots of skin still showing, so it's still very helpless.  At first we thought it was a sparrow, because lots of sparrows hang out in the cat claw tree above the area.  But the birds hanging around it are a type of flycatcher.  It's still alive this morning, so they have to be taking care of it.  We're staying away and observing from afar.  Hope it makes it.  

I had a visitor on the back porch this morning. 

Not sure what kind, looks like a coach whip by shape.  They come in various colors, but haven't ever seen one this color with stripes.  That is a 3 foot opening in the door, and his tail is as long as the edge of the picture, very long and not very big around.  He's still on the porch behind a piece of plywood leaned up against the wall.  There might be a small problem, if he plans on staying there all day.  Julius, the outdoor cat usually spends his afternoons behind that plywood.  I don't think they would probably co-habitate.  Not sure that's a word, but I don't think they are going to do it........LOL 

THE BOYS ARE GOING HOME.........I HOPE

RUGER, WISTER, AND MOMMA RUTHIE IN THEIR "STARVING" MODE

Well, I survived the races Saturday night, that's about all I can say........LOL  It started trying to rain just as we went out for our main event, which is a new experience.  Rain on dirt just adds to the fun, rain on asphalt..........not so much.......!!!!  

 We only ran 11 laps because it started raining enough to be a problem, so they called it.  In the meantime I actually got to race in the dirt a little bit.  One of the other drivers rooted me in the rear coming out of a corner and we both went in the infield.  I kept on going, and came back up on the track, probably dragging grass and dirt with me.......LOL  It drove a little weird for a lap or so, till the dirt all fell off.  Because they called the race, I didn't have a chance to catch up, so I finished 12th.......but at least I finished.  

Yesterday we did a home study for Wister and Ruger.  It's in Tucson, just down the road from one of the big Vet clinics.  In fact it's the one that gelded Wister, when he was 4 months old.  I think it is going to be a great home for these two boys.  It's a young couple with 2 cute little girls, one is about 4 the other is a little over one.  They have about 4 acres of pasture and their property backs up against one of the large washes.  Really a nice place, when we drove up John asked if he could stay instead of the boys.  They want to lead them on walks in the wash and teach them to pack.  Of course the girls want to learn to ride them, the little one Hee Haws if you ask her what sound a donkey makes.  They are going in as fosters, but it should work out.  I've been wondering why I couldn't find a Forever Home for them, maybe this is why, the right one just hadn't shown up.  

NO, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABDUCTED BY ALIENS......!!!

THIS IS REALLY A MOMENT CAUGHT IN TIME, I LOVE IT....!!

But it does seem like the days have been flying by.  We haven't been home one day this week.  Yesterday we did a home study for Ruger and Wister.  We sure are having a hard time finding them a FOREVER home.  These people would be great, but they live in a very hilly area, I mean up and down......everywhere.  There would be no place for the boys to run, which they run, chase and play every day.  Now Saddik, the new dog is part of the game.  They also have lots of pretty pots with flowers and quite a few tasty looking small trees.  The ground is rocky, gravelly perfect for keeping hooves trimmed.  But the lack of running room is a downer not to mention when they started eating all her pretty flowers.  I'm afraid they would live to regret taking these two because of the damage the boys would cause to their daily lives.  They would be much better with some older ones, we thought 2 jennies, but in their teens, geldings would be good too.  Or maybe a PG jenny, that way they could raise a baby.  So I will be keeping an eye on Craigslist to see if we can find something for them. They live way past the sidewalks, on solar power.  Eventually they would like to let the donkeys free range, once they know where "home" is.  When I say free range that is exactly what it would be.  Outside the fenced area around their house goes forever.  That's another problem with the boys, given free range, no telling where they'd end up......!!!  

I'm getting a new cook stove today.  I've noticed as stoves evolve and have computers in them, "things" break.  Mine has been limping along for a couple of years.  The timer doesn't work, the oven temp setting doesn't work, I have to use a match to light it and I just put up with it, but it was getting really irritating, so I bit the bullet and ordered one.  I've noticed one thing, if you don't buy something for 20-25 years it's quite a "sticker shock" moment.  I don't even want the bells and whistles, self cleaning oven and oven temp that works, and that's just about it.  But it's still quite a shock.  

It's cooled off again and we actually got a few sprinkles of rain last night.  I'm suppose to go to practice with the race car and so far today it's pretty cloudy.  If we have any moisture falling at all there won't be a practice.  The guys have changed a bunch of stuff on the car, and I need to find out if the right front tire  is going to stay together or not.  I don't race until the 20th of June, so if the tire is still wearing, they'll have time to come up with something else.  Unfortunately I think they are just about out of ideas........!!!   LOL

Boofer is feeling well enough to fight with Saddik............SIGH!  Boys will be boys I guess, but I don't need another vet bill.  He will get a blood test next Wednesday and hopefully his numbers are going up.  We've all figured out we can't give him his pills wrapped in deli meat by hand.  He has bitten Doug and both of us.  He got John pretty good, one of his fingers is pretty punctured.  It's not like I didn't warn him just before he went out with the "snack", Boofer had gotten me already that day.  So now he gets it on top of his kibbles.  

Donkeys are all doing good.  I am happy to report that I'm staying ahead of Boaz's skin problem, whenever it is.  A few days ago, we noticed he had places on him that looked like he had stood under a mesquite tree that was oozing and it had dried in his hair.  John pulled on one spot and the hair came off, leaving oozy raw skin underneath.  He had maybe a dozen places all over his body.  WHAT TO USE, WHAT TO USE........!!!  That is always the question.  We have quite a few different types of skin problems, every year quite a few of the donkeys have problems, and they aren't all the same.  If you have the vet look at it, they basically shrug their shoulders and say it's going around.  The treatment for all of them seems to be about the same, wash with a medicated soap, and keep covered with "something".  I have about 6 or 7 things to choose from, this time I tried Underwood Horse Medicine and it is really working good.  Dries the area on the first spray, then all I have to do is pull the hair around the edges the next day.  If it comes loose, spray some more.  He's the only one I'm having to doctor right now, well except for Rosie and Cisco.  They always get doctored, except for a couple of months in the winter. 

SADDIK IS MAKING HIMSELF AT HOME

 LOOKS RIGHT AT HOME ON "HIS" GOLF CART

A few days ago I showed him how to get in the cart and since then he seems to think it's his.  He's also figured out if he stays in it, he probably won't miss any trips.  LOL  He really is a smart boy, wish we could find him a great home.  

We've been working on not chasing cars when they leave.  He's actually doing very good, we went out the other day and probably stopped the truck, with me getting out 4 or 5 times in the driveway to apprise him of the fact that I was going to "kill" him if he continued trying to follow the truck.  We're still working with him, so far he hasn't shown any interest in chasing the truck again, guess I made my point.........!!!  But Doug's little SUV is still a possibility.  This morning he went out, Saddik was sitting by John and John distracted him every time he started to get up and it worked.  We'll see what happens when there isn't someone to distract him.  

We've got some people coming Saturday to visit with Wister and Ruger, but I don't think they have a large enough area for the boys.  They love to run and play, but I think these people just have a small pen.  Too bad from what I've heard they would make real good donkey parents. 

This is Amy and Beau in the Dragoon Saloon last Saturday after the races.   It's an outdoor type of bar and he had no qualms about going in to visit.  

Yesterday morning Amy was here to pick up poo and came in the house limping.  It seems she had seen Boofer and Nicki playing "wishbone" with Saddik.  What makes it really interesting is Nicki was in the pen, but they both had hold of him, Nicki on one side of the fence and Boofer on the other.  Amy said all she could think of was vet bills.  Unfortunately she stretched the large muscle across the front of her thigh, had to go to the emergency room, get it wrapped in an ace bandage and walk with crutches until they tell her different.  Saddik didn't even act like anything happened to him.  

The equine are all doing pretty good.  Rusty the mule is still gimping around.  He bowed a tendon probably stepping in a rock squirrel hole, we have plenty of them.  He's doing better, but it seems like with a bowed tendon, it takes forever to heal. 

We're fighting the battle of keeping socks up on legs and polo wraps on Penny's rear legs to keep the stable flies at bay.  I've figured out how to use polo wraps on rear legs pretty good, well at least I thought I had figured it out.  Just noticed Penny is dragging one of them, so we'll have to catch her at feeding time in a redneck squeeze.  She's so much better than she was when she came here about 3 years ago, but she will not stand to let us work with her.  Well, actually that isn't true, John can pull up her socks on the front without the squeeze or tying her.  Unfortunately I'm not in her inner circle for some reason.  If I want to work with her, it will be what we call "official".....!!! LOL

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN........!!!

Ruthie, Ruger and Wister after goodies......!!!

It looks like the boy won't be going up to Flagstaff after all. For some reason in all the e-mailing back and forth the subject of their size never came up.  She had seen pictures of them, but for some reason assumed they were minis.  I just assumed she knew they were standards.  She mentioned something about minis, I said they were standards and we finally got on the same page for information.  I am certainly glad we didn't drive all the way up to Flagstaff, a distance of about 300 miles, open up the trailer and have her say, "they aren't minis".  That would have really been disappointing for everyone involved. Makes John happy, he never wants to see any of them leave for a new home. Neither do I, but I guess I'm more practical, if we find homes for the adoptable ones, then we will have room for others that aren't adoptable.  Although at this time we're still trying to get our numbers down to our self imposed limit.  Haven't been there in years unfortunately..........

Today we went down by Tombstone to borrow some portable panels to use for the Kiss an Ass booth in Tombstone this Saturday the 9th.  We're still working on the logistics, we've never developed a set pattern for setting up a display, so every time is an adventure.  The woman has the cutest little mini horse and a beautiful big black Standardbred gelding and 3 other horses, I think all of them drive and also ride, except for the mini, she just drives.  She has a real nice horse motel, which I was admiring.  She said when they moved down here from Phoenix years ago, the first thing they built was the mare motel, not a place for them to live, a place for the horses.  That's my kind of person........!!! 

It's starting to stay in the 40's and low 50's at night now, so I'll probably try body clipping my 3 victims next week.  One a day will probably be about all I can handle, my clippers are the biggest ones Stewart makes I think, probably used to clip cattle.  I know they are a lot bigger than the ones we use to use on the show dogs when I was a kid.  My hands are so small and my wrists so weak, it's quite a wrestling match.  John said he'd try it, but they'd probably look like they'd been thru a war.  Not that they look groomed when I get thru with them either.  LOL

STARTING TO FEEL LIKE SUMMER AROUND HERE

Not my idea of nice weather, but that's what happens as we move out of spring.  Hasn't made it to 100* yet, but it won't be long.  The nights are still getting chilly, so I'm waiting to body clip Daisy and Quilla. 

Looks like Wister and Ruger will be going to a new home up by Flagstaff this month.  Sounds like it will be a good fit, but it's a long way up there to do a home study.  So we will make one trip, and as I told Anna, if we didn't think it would work out for the boys, we'd have no qualms about turning around and bringing them back with us.   She has reining horses and says she's admired donkeys some of her friends have, so she isn't a total newbie to equine.

ANOTHER PICTURE FROM KARTCHNER CAVERNS EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

Lynn must have poked her eye last night, it was closed and dripping this morning.  Rusty the mule is limping on a normal looking cool front foot and Penny's legs are starting to look like a science project because of flies.  I wrapped her front legs in polo wraps a couple of days ago.  She lost one of them yesterday and I noticed the flies were just moving up her legs to above the polo wraps.  So this morning I put some IMMUNE ONE HEALING BALM on her legs and put men's crew socks on both front legs.

Thuja Zinc Oxide is my usual "go to" balm for cuts or anything that needs to be protected from flies, BUT, it is heavy and gets on everything.  Immune one balm is less sticky, gooey and all that, so I could put it on and rub in, so that it almost disappeared.  Then put a sock over it.  If I tried to put a sock over zinc oxide there would be zinc oxide everywhere, except where I wanted it.  And the Immune One seems to start healing and drying up wounds real quick.  Penny was actually pretty cooperative, although she refused to take an animal cracker from me.  She took them from John like no big deal, but I swear she pursed her lips if I tried to give her one. 

Gus' legs are already covered as is one of Rosie's front legs.  For some reason the outside of her knee on one leg gets all tore up when she lays down, guess she has bony knees.  Boaz's scarred knee is doing really good, so far it's holding it's own and hasn't gotten bloody thank goodness. 

Sounds like business as usual around here..............LOL

GOOD NEWS............!!!

I got my computer back and he didn't have to re-format it............so I didn't have to reload everything, and try to figure out where everything was...........YIPPEE.....!!!  I'm still trying to catch up from being without a computer for 3 or 4 days.  I"m not sure what it is I do, but there does seems to be a lot of it to catch up on.........!!!!  

Yesterday we took Wister and Ruger out to Kartchner Caverns as planned for a day of being available for petting and hugging.  I was very proud of them, first of all, they hopped in the trailer like veterans, even though they had just been dragged away from their morning hay.  When John and Doug got them out there, they had to be tied to the trailer, while the pen was set up.  John said they wiggled a little, but mostly because they were gawking and  looking around. 

They did great, until late afternoon.  They had been in the little pen all day and the parade of “admirers”  had slowed down and they were full of timothy pellets.  So full in fact, we had to stop people from feeding them pellets, Wister was so full he refused to eat anymore.  For a young donkey that is definitely not normal behavior.  Since there wasn't anything else to do, they started trying to play fight in a 12x12 pen.  But other than that, they were perfect gentlemen.  Little kids with tiny hands and fingers fed them pellets all day and not one accident, one little boy was only 2 years old.

We hurried home, changed from donkey rescue to racing clothes and headed for the track.  Doug and Amy fed for us, otherwise we wouldn't have gotten there before the races started.  John was pitting for friend that runs a Pro-stock, I just went along, so I wouldn't miss anything.  

Didn't get home until about 2am.  Needless to say today isn't very dynamic for either of us.  We mostly just try to stay awake until bedtime..........!!!   LOL

John has been busy tweeking this and changing that on my car for the next race the 2nd of May. I don't think they are going to have a practice, so I probably won't get a chance to try all these new ideas he and everyone else has.  He says it's ready to go except we have to go to Tucson this week to get a tire to replace the one I wore down to the steel belts in 17 laps.  We're going to try a harder compound, the softer tires grip the track better, but if they won't last 25 laps, I'll have to give up grip for longevity.

Everyday there are more flies.  Tomorrow I'll put out one of my stable fly traps.  Stable flies will not go to the normal fly trap bags.  They feed on protein and like to feed close to the ground, which is why they spend so much time on legs below the knee.   I'm hoping if I start catching them this early, maybe they won't be so bad.  I do have Quilla's legs covered already, his bare legs are just too tempting.

TODAY'S THE DAY.........!!!

DON'T KNOW WHERE OR WHEN, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE WORD WENT OUT THAT A PICTURE WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN...!!

My computer will be going to the "doctor" this morning.  He knows I want it back ASAP, but I would imagine that is the usual request by all his customers...!!  LOL  I don't know how long he will have it, he stays busy on calls during the day, and assume re-formatting gets done at night.  So it will take as long as it takes, I guess.

Everyone except BlackJack have on fly masks now.  It's still getting into the high 30's at night, so it will be awhile before I body clip Daisy and Quilla.  I hope their pergolide comes in the mail today.  I'm out for both of them, Daisy as of today and Quilla as of yesterday.  We only get mail 3 days a week, so if it doesn't come today, it will be Wednesday before the next mail delivery.  

Everyone else seems to be doing good.  This week-end is Earth Day and we will be sitting up a booth at Kartchner Caverns Saturday.  Of course it starts early for us, that have lots of hungry mouths to feed before we go anywhere.  So Doug and John are going to load up the boys, Ruger and Wister, along with all the "stuff" that goes with a booth and I will come later after feeding everyone else.  Actually I think feeding will be easier than set-up, so maybe I got the best deal after all.......!!!

I'LL BE BACK.........HOPEFULLY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER  

HAY DAY TODAY.......!!!

 One of BlackJack's relatives, look at those ears......!!! 

Today we got hay delivered.  I was really surprised it only went up about 60 cents a bale.  This time of year can really sock it to you, in price sometimes.  A truckload is lasting us about 5 months.  Amy that cleans pens, gets hay to feed her critters, so if that wasn't happening I guess a load would last us about a year.   Chris doesn't mind driving her squeeze out here to unload a split load, which is 1 trailer, out of 2 trailers, so that works out great.

Haven't heard from Diane on how Ruthie did without the boys, last night, so I assume no news is good news. I think I heard Wister bray a couple of times last night.  He hardly ever brays, so we aren't sure it was him, but it wasn't a bray we recognize.  This morning he was busy playing with Pancho before John went out, and later on he was playing with Ruger, so I don't think he is too traumatized.  Ruger might be a little shocked though, last night John saw Wister attempting to nurse on Ruger.  John said Ruger took off in a hurry........LOL

THE GRAND EXPERIMENT

Well we'll see how this works out.  Some of you might remember that Wister and Ruger are both overly attached to Ruthie, their mom.  Diane and Steve, whom Miss Daisy belonged to said they would like to foster a donkey as a friend for Miss Daisy's mom, Marcy.  Since we haven't managed to find a home for the 3 donkeys together, I got the brilliant idea of seeing how Ruthie would adjust to being away from the boys, even though she has never shown much interest in the jennies around here.  And also seeing how the boys adjust to her not being with them.  Since it's a foster and they live fairly close, if it doesn't work out, it won't be a crisis to go get her.  

Today was the day.  This morning after she got done eating her hay, we loaded her up and away we went.  She hopped out of the trailer, looked around and didn't seem overly upset by this change in her lifestyle.  

 This is Ruthie with Hank.  Hank was really fascinated with her, didn't want her out of his sight........she..........not so much, she basically ignored all his attention getting antics, of which he had many.

 Marcy wasn't sure she wanted to interact with Ruthie, but after being a little stand offish, they touched noses thru a fence that will separate them for a couple of days.  Neither of them showed willingness to be passive, so not sure who will end up in charge.  They will have to figure it out. 

On the way home we had to wait for a train to pass by.  Once it was gone, there was a train work truck on the other side of it, ready to get off the tracks and on the road.  I've never seen one change it's mode before.  There is a set of little wheels in front of the front wheels, where the man is standing.  The little wheels are the ones that pull the truck along on the tracks.  We got to sit there and wait while they  pulled up the little wheels, then drove off on the road.  It's interesting to see how things work, especially something you never thought about.  When I was a kid I remember seeing little work carts going down the train tracks, with two guys pushing handles up and down to make it move.  This looks a lot easier.......!!! LOL

ODD COUPLE

 This morning before we went out for chores, the dogs were barking like they do, when the donkeys are running or playing.  Looked out and low and behold, it was Pancho and BlackJack........!!!  For one thing BlackJack doesn't usually play, it takes too much effort and for another, Pancho usually plays with Ruger or Wister.  I came in to get the camera to record this unusual occurance and of course as soon as they heard the door open, they quit.  I thought perhaps Pancho was the instigator, but BJ was going after him, if he quit.  At one time Pancho had hold of BJ's rather large jaw and was hanging on for all he was worth. 

 Resting up for round two

If you will notice, this cholla has some bright spots on the one upright twig.  I don't know how they do it, but right now quite a few of the donkeys are eating cholla.  Adding it to their usual diet of greasewood i.e. creosote bush, and prickly pear cactus.  When we first starting getting donkeys the vet told us nothing eats greasewood.  She should see what our one time abundant greasewood, looks like these days.  The bushes will struggle to survive, putting out fewer and fewer leaves until they just finally give up and die.  We love the smell of the greasewood after it rains, smells like the desert.  

I think this is Ruthie chowing down on a tasty cholla.......!!!! 

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE DID A HOME STUDY

I always love to go visit with people that are enthralled with donkeys and want to add them to their family.  Bobbie and Jim are those people and are interested in Ruthie, Ruger and Wister as a family group.  They have 10 acres of perfect donkey country, lots of rocky ground and even some "over hill and dale" country" to give them exercise.  BUT.........isn't there always a but?  They spend most of their time in Tucson, although they have a routine of spending time on the acreage on a regular basis.  But, there is the worry of the donkeys getting hurt or maybe getting out.  Without a daily routine of having people around, there is a good chance even though that trio is very people orientated they would learn to rely on themselves rather than people and probably lose some of their friendliness.  

So right now we're on hold, they have been talking about moving to the acreage full time, but don't know when.  We'll see how it goes, I can't imagine anyone else showing up wanting to adopt 3 donkeys, any time soon.  So I think the donkeys are pretty safe for now.  

Bobby and Jim's place is just a "hop, skip and jump", from 2 of our alumni, Nina and Benny.  In January they will have been in their forever home 8 years.  I never thought we'd find a home for Nina.  Her nose had been ripped open and not doctored, so she has an open nostril, which has to have Swat put on it each morning during fly season to keep the little buggers at bay.  When Susan and Tom came out to see if they wanted to adopt these two, I had to show Susan Nina's nose, she didn't even notice it and didn't see it as a problem.  

Since we were in the neighborhood we had to stop by and see how they were doing.  They looked great, a little fat from mesquite bean season, but like we told Susan, we've got 5 or 6 that are in the same situation.  Bennie came over to me and put his head on my shoulder.  I don't know if he remembered me or not.  He was always very friendly and I don't think has ever met a stranger.  Nina is a little more reserve, but more than willing to accept any and all attention.  I didn't have my camera, but have some pictures from when they were here.

NINA

BENNY BEING A HAM, WITH A TOUR

Anubis finished up her antibiotics this morning and seems to be feeling much better.  I didn't realize how lethargic she had been acting recently.  Now she's back to jumping around and wanting attention. Having bad teeth can be bad for people or animals I guess.  She's actually missing some of her side teeth, Dr. Nancy and I decided probably from the raw beef bones I get the dogs occasionally.  To say she has always been an enthusiastic chewer is an understatement....!!!  

Every night when it gets down in the 30's, I expect the flies to take the hint, but so far they are hanging in there.  There are less and less each day I think, but John is still putting on fly masks every morning and I'm sure the donkeys appreciate them.  But doctoring is down to just a quick look before we let them out in the morning.  Coquette is my only patient now, even Cisco is doing well.

Reba went to her dental appointment and was absolutely the best patient ever.  Dr. Debra said Reba got "best behaved" award for the day.  She had some hooks, but nothing really bad although she did have one tooth that was longer than the others.  Next month we'll take Penny in for a check up after having a tooth pulled last month.   Because she has had a broken jaw, and had a tooth pulled Dr. Debra wants to make sure everything is doing OK.