I'M MAKING THE EFFORT TO TAKE PICTURES

Big Gus is a fan of humanity, not other donkeys so much, including Rambo, who had been his companion for about 6 years, until they came back to us a few weeks ago.  They basically ignore each other.  But whenever we go outside or Big Gus sees anyone, we get greeted with a very loud deep voiced "Hi" and he comes to us to be petted.  

He spends a lot of time out by the area around the driveway gate and if he is farther away and we drive in he always heads towards the gate to say hello.  It's never been a problem..............until a couple of days ago.  

John and I had been to Tucson and when we got home Big Gus wasn't actually very close to the driveway.  Since I've been in the brace, I just sit and John has to open the gate, drive in, and close the gate.  Big Gus saw us drive in and headed for the gate, as John is doing his thing.  John drove thru and all that time Big Gus was moving towards the gate.  When John drove thru I noticed that it looked like Big Gus was going to get there just about the time John got out of the car and back to the gate.  That's what happened and it wouldn't be a problem.  When the donkeys do that, we just trap them behind the gate.   Big Gus didn't even slow down as he maneuvered around the gate and towards the road.  The few times this has happened wasn't a problem, because the greedy donkeys always stop to check out what is available to eat.  Not this boy, he hit the road headed east, with John in hot pursuit.  

Didn't take John long to figure out this wasn't going as usual, so he came back to the car, drove up to the house, got the golf cart and a halter and lead and took off after our wayward "fur" child.   

We were late getting home, so I went out to start cutting up carrots and fixing feed.  Went out to start rounding up and here comes Big Gus out of the big wash.  How in the heck did he get back on the property?  And why?  The last I'd seen of him he was moving out on those long legs as a pretty good speed, headed down the road.  

John finally showed up with explanations.  For those that have been out here, by the time John caught up with him, he was to the mail boxes, which is about a 1/4 of a mile.  The mail boxes are on the paved main road, with traffic.  Even though it is open range country, people don't pay that much attention and cows are hit.  I'm sure they wouldn't pay anymore attention to a big floppy eared donkey than they do to the cows.  

So John bails out of the golf cart, with his halter and lead and surprise, surprise.......Big Gus isn't the least big interested in John and his halter and lead.  John can put a halter on a cooperative donkey, and uncooperative one......not so much.  I guess they wrestled and tussled and went around and around for some time, before John managed to get him haltered.  John said he ponied behind the golf cart just fine.  Rather than drag Big Gus all the way to the driveway gate, John let him in the gate beside the wash, which is why that's where I first saw him.  

So in the future, I guess coming in the driveway gate might get a little more exciting, with Big Gus around........!!! LOL

I must say his fanny looks much better than it did. 

    

Here is a cute picture of Lil' Turbo, sparkling white Casper and little brother Link.  Casper is actually staying home and hanging with the A team, which consists of these two, plus BlackJack, Loki Joe, Boaz, Tula and Frijolita.

You might say this is an after picture, after a 1/2 inch of rain yesterday.  I don't know how he can get that dirty.  What's really interesting is, once he dries out he is pretty and white again.  Jasper is behind him, and isn't much cleaner. 

Jasper is a love bunny, he loves to be around people.  He's lost quite a bit of weight and his feet seem to be comfortable now.  He use to walk like he was walking on eggs or hot coals.  He isn't a speed demon, but he goes wherever he wants.  He is almost always the 1st one in his pen at feeding time, has a certain corner to stand in so he can see the hay wagon coming around the corner.  I guess that makes the hay get there faster.