"WHERE THE ANIMALS ARE SERVED FIRST...AND AREN'T ON THE MENU!"

Monday, March 31, 2008

First Fly Predators of the Season Arrive in the Mail at the Ranch

The first fly predators of the season have arrived! I remember how grossed out I was the first time we received our fly predators package. First of all, fly predators are little bugs that eat fly eggs...hence helping keep down the fly population around the pasture, which is a very good thing. All you have to do is wait until you see some crawling around in the envelope (that's the creepy part)...and then you sprinkle them around where the manure is (o.k., that's kind of creepy, too!) and hope that they do their job. My problem with them last year is that after carefully sprinkling the fly predators around, I looked out the window to see a bunch of wild turkeys gobbling them up! So I've learned to wait until nightfall. Lots to learn here at the ranch...
Here's how they look before they "hatch"!


Cooped up canines.


Paco and Luigi were in good moods today!

Dust bath time.

First lilac of the season.
Ah- ha! The boys BETWEEN the East and West Pastures!



Sophia calmly lays an egg.
The girls eating corn....and I was so happy to get this thank-you note from a co-worker who brought her grandkids for a donkey visit last week! I love it!







Boulder being Boulder.

Solo and Toby play.






My rather scary canine patient!

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Planning the Veggie Garden, Hay Allergies & Other Stuff on a Sunday at the Ranch

Today was just another great Sunday at the ranch (how many great Sundays can there be?)...we did some fence planning for the veggie garden (the planned fencing did not pass the design committee--Randy-- so we're back to a different idea) and went to Randy's end of the season tennis party, where I finally met Randy's tennis partners and a very cute dog named Henry (my dogs knew about it as soon as I stepped into the house!). I'm discovering just how hard it can be to be vegan at a social gathering- but luckily I had brought a salad with lots in it to hold us over! In other news, I discovered that I am allergic to the new hay I just bought- it must be a different kind of grass hay- I get hives all over my arms and even a little wheezy when I get a flake to feed the boys. I'm glad I only got three bales...wouldn't look forward to dealing with this for a whole season!
Paco and Weegie soak up some sun.
Bird hangs out at the picnic table.
The boys watch Randy put fencing posts in.

Sophia by the terrace.
Boulder and Solo stroll.
Boulder steps over boulders!
The grass really IS greener on the other side...Paco comes in for a kiss...Isabella looks stern.



The boys in the morning.
Three well-rested terriers!



Saturday, March 29, 2008

This & That on a Sunny Saturday at the Ranch

The boys check out the new bench in the East Pasture!
Today was nice & dry and everyone took advantage of it! The donkeys played and hung out at one of their new favorite spots- under the oak tree in the East Pasture. The oak used to be on the other side of the fence, so having it on the inside of the fence is a big deal. There was more fence moving around today as we plan where to put the future vegetable garden...lots of plans in the works here at the ranch!

Paco plays a version of peek-a-boo by the oak tree.



Weegie was just so happy today!
The canine patient wears a daisy.
Toby is just about ready to join the canine circus!



Boulder spots a bird.
Happy, happy Luigi leans on Paco.
Isabella lays an egg.
She did not like being photographed!
Life continues behind the bars...



Note Solo in background.
Randy burns ANOTHER pile!
Luigi shares a private joke.































































































Running!