Cheap Socks = Fly Protection

My intention for this day's blog post was a creative fly protection idea I read of on Facebook.  But, of course, in the meantime I now have other miscellaneous items to report on.

Firstly the flies.

So often Facebook is maligned as a frivolous waste of time.  Au contraire I say.  I belong to several donkey groups on FB and find many of the suggestions quite useful.  This is one of them.
Dollar store children's socks to cover fly-bitten donkey legs.

 Here Luigi shows off his new pair of socks.  I selected the smallest size athletic sock the store had and got two pair for my $1 package.  Cut off the toes and voila.  They do slide down a bit during the day, but absolutely nothing works well.  Not even the made-to-order expensive sets I purchased last year.  The problem with those was the velcro that wrapped around the leg stuck so darn well, I really struggled to get them off.  And I mean struggled. I'm more pleased with these cheapie socks for the moment.

Not to be outdone, Alice shows off her beauties as well.

One of my side stories involves the ever feisty Gabariella.  Today when I called the donkeys off the pasture, Alice and Gabby came in first.  I can only take a wild guess as to what happened, but as Gabs moved off toward the donkey barn, she started bellowing like a house afire.  Not your typical donkey bellow.  Luigi and Fran came running in from the pasture on the fly, so clearly it was a come help me bellow, although I didn't believe she was in distress.  It only lasted a (long) minute or so and then all was quiet.  When I checked on her munching hay in the barn, all appeared OK.  

Lordy.

And then, there is the milkweed.

Not pretty you say.

But, good golly oh so very fragrant.

Ahhh...  

Buffy the Chicken, Computers, and Life

My intention was to update you on Buffy (the hen) and her integration into the flock of four other nutty chickens.  But I need to diverge for just a quick moment.

Technology!

My desktop was out of commission for almost two weeks and I was beside myself with worry.  Of course I hadn't been diligent in backing up photos, documents, music, etc.  (yes, that is now high on the list).  I was so afraid I had lost emails concerning an upcoming BIG trip.  And on it went...  I'm sure you understand.

I'm now back in the 21st century but I'm reflecting on my dependence on this darn computer. Something is just not right with this picture.  I'm mulling.

Back to the topic at hand.  Buffy St. Marie.

This will give you a sense of where we stand with Buffy entering the fold.  Right as rain!

Typical picture of the girls hunkering down for evening sleep (I had to turn on the overhead light which explains why it's so darn bright at dusk).  Five girls cozying up on top of the nesting boxes.

I'd say it was about the three-week mark where Buffy started really following the routine, including me calling the girls for treats and to come in off the donkey pasture.  Until then, it was a pain in the royal derriere to try to gather her in.  Now she's johnny-on-the-spot AND loves the morning banana treat.  She had previously turned up her nose and asked why the other four were turning cartwheels over the stuff.

So, all is right with the world, at least for this precious moment.