Emergency Farm Call

When you have animals in your life you just know when they aren't feeling well.



Yesterday morning when I fed breakfast to the horses, donkey and goats I noticed Arnold hadn't eaten his supper. Oh oh, highly unusual!



I went ahead and gave him his breakfast since he acted like he was kind of hungry.



When I went out later to turn everyone loose he hadn't eaten his breakfast.



Hmmmm, not a good sign.



My first thought was colic ( stomach ache which is not good). Colic can sometimes cause the gut to twist which is very, very serious!



I went ahead and turned him loose with everyone else and watched him. He drank water, was walking around and not showing any signs of distress. Okay, maybe it isn't colic. No tell tale signs.



The day worn on and he was still not acting right.



I emailed a very dear friend who knows Donkeys inside and out. Instead of emailing me back she called me and told me to get a vet out asap. It was serious. Arnold was colicking! And it could be deadly!



She said after I called the vet to put a blanket in him, lock him in his stall and give him some pain medicine. Which I did. Arnold has never had a blanket on ever! I was expecting a struggle, but he knew we were trying to help so allowed me to put the blanket on.



Called the vet. He would be here in twenty minutes.

When the vet arrived I explained all of Arnold's symptoms. I also mentioned that I was looking for colic signs that horses show if they colic.



Come to find out Donkeys do not show signs of colic like horses do! Donkeys are very stoic and hide their pain very well.



After almost three hours out in the freezing cold at night, mineral oil put into Arnolds' stomach and some more pain relief, the vet said Arnold's chances of survival were high. All we had to do now is make sure his water stayed lukewarm and watch for when he poo'd.







All through the night I kept checking on him.

This morning when it was feeding time Arnold didn't get his breakfast. Had to make sure he poo'd. Also rechecked the water temperature.

This afternoon there it was! The poo I had been looking for!!! Yay!!!!

I know it sounds gross and funny, but poo tells you a lot! I even took a picture of it to send to my friend. Yes, she was happy to see it! No worries, no pic of the glorious poo!

Arnold is out of the woods and in a few days should be just fine.

Thank you dearest Kelly! And thanks to Dr. Benson for coming out on a very cold, freezing Sunday evening.

Until next time........................

Cheap Entertainment

It is a cold rainy day here today.
While I was busy doing some inside chores I noticed there was some cheap entertainment going on.

Ozzy and Jovi were having a heck of a fun time playing in a cardboard box.

Who the heck needs cat toys when a free box is available.

Until next time...............................

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope your Thanksgiving was filled with lots of love, fun, laughter, family, friends and of course food.


I would like to say thanks to some very special people in my life.

My three daughters who I am very proud of.


Rachael, Inger, Jan, Kim, Bonnie, Danni, Kelly and Richard who are dear friends.



My sister Connie who came into my life a little over a year ago.

My Aunt Bar who I adore. Chato who is a brother to me.


All the animals who are a big part of my life.


Thank you all for being who you are and for being a part of my life.

While we were waiting for the turkey and other fixin's to finish cooking, some of us played Guitar Hero. Others were on the computer.

Dinner is done and ready to go onto plates.

We went to my oldest daughter's, Jennifer, house. She wanted to cook her first Thanksgiving dinner. Rose, our 12 year old Boxer, went with us. I haven't left her alone since she had a stroke about a month ago. Here she is wanting some of dinner. Sorry, but no turkey for you Rose.

I hope all of you had full tummies. Smiles on your faces. Very relaxed. Just like Ozzy here is.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Until next time...................

Your Plate

This morning it was very foggy here. For some reason I started thinking about each of our 'plates' that all of us carry. When things are foggy and we just can't see clear.

Out thoughts get cloudy and frustrate us.

Eventually things do clear up. Become less foggy and cloudy.

And it sure helps to have friends and family to lean on when our 'plates' are really heavy in life.

We are never given more on our 'plates' than we can handle. Even if we think we just can't hold anymore.

When our 'plates' are light, we look back when our 'plates' were heavy and realize just how strong we really are.

Yup, just wanted to share with you.

Until next time..................................

Maggie--The Other Playroom Dog

Since I introduced Sugar aka Tick and her being a playroom dog, you should meet Maggie. She is our other playroom dog. Maggie is Rose's daughter. She is almost 9 years old now. Gosh, 9! My goodness it seems like last week she was a puppy.

Maggie is not allowed in the house due to the fact that she chases the cats and is way over the top hyper active. You've seen the Energizer Bunny commercials?Well, Maggie here can give that bunny a run for its money! She has always been a hyper girl. I wish I could tap into that energy of hers! In this picture she was getting ready to jump and start playing.......again.

Taking just these three pictures took about twenty minutes. She thought I was playing the whole time. Okay, I was making a game of it. She just cracks me up. What a goofy girl!

I forgot to say what breed of dog Maggie is. She is a Boxer. Thanks Razberry Corner for reminding me!

Until next time.................................

Cookies? Cookies!!!!!!!!!!

Want some home baked cookies? My youngest daughter asked me that earlier today. Um, let me think about it.............. a great big YES!!!! Ingredients all gathered.

Mini oven ready.

Ingredients getting mixed.

Mmmmmmm, getting closer.

Pan and spoons ready and waiting.

Oh look, almost to the finish line.

In the mini oven.

Ding.........first batch is done.

Note to self...................don't try to eat a cookie straight from the oven. Ouch!!!!

Couldn't help put a picture of our Cookie in.

Until next time...................

Sugar to a Tick

It dawned on me today that I haven't introduced you to one of our other dogs.


Her name used to be Sugar. But over the years we have had her,the name has changed to Tick.

Probably should have changed her name to Coward! Oh she barks a good game, but if frightened she runs into where it is safe and pokes her head out of the dog door and barks. Yeah, that's real scary!

Why did her name go from Sugar to Tick? She got fat as a tick!

Tick isn't allowed in the house anymore. She had knee surgery three years ago and while she was recuperating inside the house, she decided that instead of going out the dog door she would pee at the end of the hallway. Um, no. She also does not like cats and with the cats inside the house, well, it was not working out.

Now when I say she isn't allowed inside the house does not mean she is an outside dog. She is a playroom dog. Out in the playroom is a couch and loveseat, a television, carpeting, and a heater/air conditioner unit. All the comforts of being an indoor dog. And no, she does not pee in the carpet out in the playroom. She uses the dog door to go outside.

Tick and another dog, Maggie are playroom dogs.

Until next time........................

A Handsome Guy and His Girls

This morning as I was starting morning chores I stopped and started really looking at Stew Pot and the girls. It dawned on me that he really is a good looking guy surrounded by some fine looking ladies. It's funny how something is right in front of your face and you don't really 'see' it.

Just a nice pic of the 'group'.

Stew Pot, I owe you an apology. When you first came here to live with us, well, I didn't much care for you. Hence the name Stew Pot.

Now that the girls are 'big' girls now, you take really good care of them. You make sure they are safe and all in one place. Thanks big guy!

Until next time.............................

Fainting Goats

Today I thought would be a day to talk about my goats since I haven't mentioned them before. Our goats are all rescues.

We have Fainting Goats. Yes, Fainting Goats. You ask if they really faint? Well, sort of. They are a breed all their own and have a genetic condition called Myotonia Congenita.

Their condition causes their muscle cells to experience prolonged contraction which causes stiffness, stop moving and even fainting. The paralysis only last a minute or so.

The breed has been around since the late 1880's. And they had a purpose! Ranchers would place these goats in with their prized sheep or goats. When a predator came down, the goats would faint giving the rest of the herd to get away.

Yes, they were used as a sacrifice to save the more spendy herd.
This is Dick. He is between 12 and 14 years old now. Yup, he is an old man. In this pic he looks awful. His winter coat was coming off. Old Dick is still intact, but is unable to make babies. Although the old guy sure does try! When he gets scared, his back end stiffens up and he tries to hop away. Okay, I laugh when he 'faints'. Sorry.

This is Oreo. I know, a real original name! She is the sweetest of the bunch. Her age is about 8 or 9. Yes, she does the real faint. We have only seen it twice in the years we have had her, but I can tell you it was the funniest thing to see. She actually stops, drops and rolls straight onto her back with her four legs sticking straight up.

This is Baby. She does not like to be touched. Baby is about 7 years old. No, she isn't pregnant. Her mama is Gabby who is not pictured because she does not like people at all!

This is Goldie Goat. Isn't she pretty? In the winter time she grows a long curly blond coat. When she 'faints' she stiffens up where all four legs splay out and she just stands there. There have more than one occasion where she ''fainted' under a horse! Thankfully our horses stop what they are doing and wait until she moves out from under them.

If you haven't seen a Fainting Goat 'faint', go to You Tube and type in Fainting Goat. Be prepared to laugh really hard.

Until next time.........................

How Many.................

Today it has been raining on and off all day. Good day to do the laundry.

As I walked in to my room with a basket of clothes I see this............................

One big dog sleeping with five cats!

Looks like they have a real tough life!!!

Until next time..............................

A Little Help From Some Friends

The days and nights are getting alot colder now, so it was time to build a fire. But due to having to replace the seal around the stove door, this is the next best thing to actually having the real thing. This morning I was lucky and got some help packaging up some EBay items.

Squirrel is checking to make sure the printer and label is coming out right.

She knows there is another page that is suppose to come out. How nice of her to put her foot inside to make sure the page is not jammed in there.

Yup, the invoice came out great. A little crinkled, but other than that it's good to go inside the box.

Jovi decided to inspect the box to make sure it was packaged right.

It is always nice to have help when it is packaging and sending off EBay items.

Thanks for the help you two!

Until next time..........................

Longears

Hope the pics of some of the Longears here put a smile on your face.

Until next time...................................

Veteran's Day Thank You

Today is Veteran's Day.

This morning I was looking at a picture of my Dad who served in the Armed Forces. That got me to thinking how many in my family have served, as well as how many have served in yours.


To all Veteran's a BIG Thank You.


The above picture shows but just a few of my family members who have served.


May everyone has has served or in the service now be safe, thought of daily and always remembered.


Thank you.


Until next time................................................

An Onery Mini Mule

Yesterday I left everyone in their stalls/paddocks due to the rain. Usually I turn them out even if it is raining, but I noticed not a one of them was standing in their paddocks. They were all in their stalls so figured okay then, you don't want to get wet so you can stay in.


When I turned everyone out this morning, yup, you guessed it, they were all full of energy. They acted like they had been in their stalls for days all cooped up.
This is Patty Cake our mini mule. Here she is just looking so cute with her fuzzy winter coat.

The cuteness was over in seconds. She took off running, gaining speed with each little step.

She came running back into the front pasture, looked at me, turned around, kicked out and took off again.

Getting ready for another buck.

Patty Cake can be very sweet when SHE wants to be. And on the other hand she can be quite onery. Her antics keep me laughing.

Until next time......................