Anxiety Sets In as Weather Delays

We've been delayed significantly with our pasture project due to weather conditions -- too cool temps and wind.  Today was another example.  We decided to forge ahead with weed spraying in spite of the cooler temps (means you have to wait longer for the herbicide to work) and once at the ready, found the wind was much too forceful.  Another potential work day down the drain.  We've got to finish this stage soon or we'll be in real trouble!

So, we set to work on two other donkey-related tasks.  Clearing out a consistently mushy area right in front of the shed, and straightening out the fencing that keep the donks separated from hay and straw.  (They had recently done a right fine job of pushing the fence in toward the straw and made a holy mess of things.)  We scraped and shoveled the mush out and then laid some sand on top.  Rick found some scrap metal to weave through the fencing to brace it against nosy noses.  Ha!  Take that you three hooligans!

The semi-relaxing afternoon meant I was able to spend a leisurely hour working on some homeade soup.
Yummy.

A New Start

Work has begun on re-invigorating the donkey pasture.  We're starting over to cultivate a sustaining source of food (there's not much of value left now).  To those readers shaking their heads, clucking, saying "but they didn't do it right", I say, but we tried.  Brush hogged the fields to prevent weed seeding.  Kept the donks off in the spring.  Just didn't work.

Step 1:  remove dead bushes (mostly autumn olive)
First Rick cut down all branches and, after the donkeys had examined them carefully and chewed any last goodness from the bark, they went into our burn pile.

Here's Rick using the tractor to extract the bushes.  Hard, hard work.  

Close-up of the remnants.

The dogs pretended to be king of the mountain, resting casually but regally on top of the dirt piles.

Today we begin Step 2.  Killing weeds.  Good times...

Mauled by Three Lovies

It's a beautiful March day in Michigan (no, we normally never ever say that) so I thought it a fine time to take a deck chair out to the donkey yard, park it for a few minutes and talk/scratch things over.

I started with sweet Fran.  Was giving her good scratches when normally touch-me-not Gabby horned her way in.  She was insistent!  It's my turn.

Although she is normally adamant she does not want her head touched, I started scratching the side of her face and she couldn't get enough.  More, more, more...  She was practically in my lap.

I got stomped about three weeks ago by Natural, the large equine boy, and my foot is still tender.  So while Gabby is getting closer and closer,  I was anxious to keep that right foot out of the line of 300-lb beasties.

About this time, Luigi, not to be outdone by anyone else's cute antics, pulled his if-I-inch-my-way-backwards-you-won't-notice-me trick until his behind was pushing the chair.  Thought I was going to get bowled over so I politely told him to knock it off.  Then Fran and Gabby started to snipe about who's getting way too much attention. Sitting there wasn't the wisest move.  Who am I with anyway, the three stooges?

I got a brush out of the tack box in the shed and started some vigorous brushing.  Wasn't that just the cat's meow.  Ooh-la-la.   Everyone enjoyed their turn immensely.

A fine March afternoon indeed.

Ahhh... It's Spring (at least for the moment)

Let's review the situation.

No snow.

No mud (or not enough to shake a stick at)

No straw thrown (warm enough at night)

Equals:

Easy morning feed and clean-up!

All this could change in a microsecond if Michigan weather throws us a March snowstorm or the 3" mud returns, BUT, for the moment, it's spectacular.

Fuzzy Faces

Luigi is willing to pose

Gabby stops eating long enough to catch a quick look 

Luigi thinks it's self-serve

Jolly Ball Thief

We were at Tractor Supply last weekend, buying a gate and while Rick looked for the essentials, I was wandering the horse section.  Came across a small Jolly Ball. I said to myself, "what a great idea for the donkeys." I've been keeping the pasture off-limits so they won't tear it up (all this soft mushy ground does not wear well under little donkey hooves) and thought they might like a fun diversion.

Well, Gunner has taken ownership of the ball; I'm not even sure the donks have had a chance to check it out. And, I can't keep track of where the little devil has taken it.

Yea, doesn't he look like a little angel here!

So, if you see a red jolly ball floating around, please give it back to the donkeys!

The Amazing World of Electricity

You know by now that our donkey set-up is very basic and simplistic.  No well by the donks so haul water up from the house in the winter and snake a garden hose out in the summer.  In the dark winter days, carry a lantern to navigate.  The only lights are those Rick installed in the shed which either operate via solar panel or a boat battery.  Until recently that is.

Look at these beauties Rick put in at the corner of the yard.  I can now flip a switch and actually see what I'm doing in the morning hours.

You see Rick had labored a year ago to trench in an electric line from the house to put a water heater out for the trio.  They didn't tend to like frozen water.  Sooo, as the title says, electricity is an amazing thing.

The only (ironic) caveat -- I actually like to flip OFF the lights as soon as possible after clean-up.  The naturally dark surrounding are pleasant in their own right.