THE MESQUITE BEAN SHUT DOWN IS BEGINNING

This is the problem........!!!!  This is one cluster of beans on one branch of one tree among many on 30 acres.  The beans are just now getting ripe and are still on the trees.  But the taller donkeys have a lot of beans in their poo, so they've figured out how to reach a lot of them.  So far the minis and Casper haven't gotten to share in the bounty, BUT, everyone is getting to spend a lot more time in their pens than usual.  They are staying in overnight, so far they are getting out around noon and then come in about 5pm to be fed.  Usually John would go out about 9pm and let them all out for the evening.  He's still going out, I guess to tell them how sorry he is.  LOL  We've only been on this routine a couple of days and so far they really have been pretty good.  They let us know we've forgotten to let them out, but the only one that really insists that we're derelict in our duties is............Big Gus....!!!  He will stand at his gate and paw.  There's a rubber mat there to keep him from digging a hole for us to fall in.  So he makes sure he catches the lower rail of the gate when he's pawing.  Woke me up this morning and probably will continue to do so, until sometime in September or October, depending on how the bean problem goes. Once the beans start falling the donkeys will lose their afternoon outing and will be penned 24/7. 

Suzanne and her grandkids got back in record time, they even took a side trip thru Colorado, so the kids could see the other donkeys.  Their parents are driving out to pick them up in late July, so Suzanne won't have to take them back. Seems like the last few weeks, she's been on the road more than not. 

They've all been busy since they got here.  They've done chores, and groomed and probably will have the golf cart wore out by the time they leave...........LOL This was John giving a shake down tour I guess, since then they've pretty much been on their own with the cart ever since.  

Mikaela did this picture of Penny for our anniversary, she's very talented.

This is what DJ the pony looked like when he got here May 31st. 

This is what he looks like today.  The mane is gone, Mikaela spent a lot of time brushing him to get all the loose hair off him.  She even did his belly, which he wasn't interested in having brushed when he got here.  He's still got some ribs showing, but he's eating by himself now and we're feeding him senior and high calorie feed.  He was getting fed before, but he was in with 2 mini donkeys.  It was a good home, but I'm pretty sure the donkeys were getting more than their fair share of the hay.  Besides his teeth are worn from him being 27 years old.  We'll get a few more pounds on him, and he probably already has a new home, with donkeys, mules, and horses and a bossy little pony mare.  From what I've heard she rules the herd.....!!!  Shouldn't be a problem, he is very gentle and probably will be at the bottom of the pecking order, once it's re-established.  

This Thursday we're suppose to pick up 4 donkeys, one of which is probably going to be a project.  We're not exactly sure of what can be done for him, until we get him here and have him looked at  by Dr. Jeremy.  Unfortunately he's in his 30s from what we've been told, which limits surgery options.