Typical Mornings with Two Black Dogs

Let me tell you about the morning routine.

I'm usually up first and feeding the dogs is almost #1 on the do-it-first-thing list.  Mostly because Dudley turns into a starved hyena until I do.

 (don't let those charming good looks fool you -- he can be a maniac when there's food involved)





OK, now breakfast is out of the way, I've looked at the paper and now it's time to go out and feed donkeys.  The dogs are insistent that they accompany me and I usually oblige -- just makes life easier.  However, the new rule is:  I, being queen of the pack, do not let you two dogs bowl me over while you fly out the door.  Dudley is 85 lbs and Gunner is 60 lbs.  When the two of them lunge for the door, I'd better hold on to my hat.  So, now they must sit and wait while I open the door to the garage, press the garage door opener and we wait for the door to completely open.  Waiting is r-e-a-l hard because out in the garage is the most scrumptious cat litter in the world!  That's why they turn into maniacs wanting to fly out the door.

I ride my bike out to the donks and we start morning duties.

Gunner isn't the helper that Dudley is, though.  He's usually prowling around the perimeter of the yard, sniffing who knows what.


Dudley stays with me, eating manure before I get a chance to scoop it up.

But the real sweet part  is -- he sits outside the gate, lies down and waits for me to finish chores.  Snow or sun, he waits for me. There's no incentive for him; he's just a sweet guy.

Double Take

I'm veering off from tales of the donkeys and pastures (pfffttt!!) to tell a small tale of Mr. Natural.

I had neglected the boy and needed to go to the horse barn to clean hooves, apply fly spray, feed treats and get a hug and kiss.  He's been a pistol this summer (again) and plays the runaway game, especially on those hot-hot-hot days.  I got there at just the right time -- before my dinner, but right after theirs.  Horses were just hanging around, chatting each other up before retiring out to the pasture.  Well, I approached Natural from the rear, without calling to him, and when I got up to within just a couple of feet, he turned and I swear, did a double take.  "Where the heck did you come from?"

The expression was priceless.


Out-takes from photo session ---

The "Pasture" -- in all it's glory

1.  No rain
2.  A strange weed arising
3.  No rain

This, gentle readers, is what our "pasture" looked liked until just a few days ago.  Doesn't look like a grass pasture you say?  I would agree, while gnashing my teeth.

Rick discovered this delightful foreign vegetation taking over, I'd estimate" 30% of the half-acre.  He delivered a sample to MSU Extension Service (have I mentioned how much I love these people) and they ID'd it as being in the turnip/mustard family.  Well great!

I called the store from whence the seed came and expressed my displeasure, trying to be as polite as possible while the volano was erupting in my head.

Then I called the "pasture guy" at the Extension Service back and he said those little turnip seeds could have been buried in our soil all along and when we tilled they were exposed to air and light, and voila -- a delightful addition to our already puny pasture.

Can you see me shaking my head???  The time and money we've invested -- ah yes.

 So, we decided to let the donks out on the so-called pasture -- don't have much to lose. 

P.S.  Rick mowed all the weeds down a few days ago, so from afar, it looks like the real deal.

Views From My Chair

Luigi

Luigi and Franny

Gabby

The fledgling, and very dry, pasture

and, finally, the skyward view.  Gorgeous, huh, if you take the time to look  

It's Done !!!

Can't believe the last steps were completed yesterday so now we have a seeded, rolled, raked, de-stoned, de-rooted pasture ready for rain.

This is a shot just before I went around to pick up some of the hundreds of rocks upturned from the rototilling.

Before Rick raked and rolled for the second time.

That's my load (rocks plus roots) and you can see Rick's previous bounty in the background.
Boy, have we got a rock pile now!

Now that the pasture is done I can think about planting.  Donkeys stay away!  (they ate my dianthus last year so I'm replacing them with these red beauties)
A "Keep Out" sign will have to go up.

Sweet Luigi

The boy is starting to shed his fuzzy winter face, a little bit at a time.

Readers, Please Comment

Readers,
Sending you a "please, please, oh please" message.

A new feature through the blog allows me to see how many folks are visiting the donkey site.  Yes, lots :)))) (at least to my standards).
But I'm not receiving comments  :((((
Help turn my frown into a smile, by leaving a little response.

It brightens my day.